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No. 27. • \ My Lobd, — Wellington, 15th February, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th December last, covering copy of a letter which you have addressed to the Officers Administering the Government in the Australasian Colonies, dealing with the exercise of the Queen's prerogative of pardon, which was discussed at the Colonial Conference of 1887, and at the request of the Premier of this colony to convey to you the satisfaction of my Government that Her Majesty's Government is prepared to adopt the suggestion made from here. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 33.

No. 28. My Lobd,— Wellington, 15th February, 1892. With reference to your despatch of the 16th November, 1891, stating that the present Fostal Union regime will be replaced by the Convention of Vienna, I have the honour to inform you that my Government adhere thereto, and respectfully request that you will give the required notice accordingly. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 29. My Lobd, — Wellington, 15th February, 1892. With reference to your Despatch No. 160/91, of the 26th August, 1891, requesting information as to the potato-disease in this colony, I have now the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, a memorandum from the Hon. the Premier, embodying replies to the several queries contained in Circular Xo. 9326 from the Board of Agriculture. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1892, No. 22.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Befekring to the circular despatch from the Bight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated the 26th August, 1891, No. 160/91, transmitting a list of queries with reference to the treatment of potatoes in the several colonies, His Excellency is informed that inquiries have been instituted in various parts of this colony, the results of which may be thus briefly summarised :— 1. The variety of potatoes usually grown. —Early crops: Lapstone kidneys, Fluke Vermont, Bresee's Prolific, Early Bose, Pink Eyes. General or main crop : Derwents, Brown Biver, Hobarts. 2. As to change of seeds, whether these are frequent or infrequent. —Changes of seed are usually made within the colony, in some districts every year, in others about every three years, and in others the change of seed is not properly attended to. 3. As to whether the tubers for seed are -planted wliole or cut in pieces, dtc, —Whole tubers are used if of medium size, or cut if over the size of a duck's egg. 4. How frequently are potatoes grown in the same land ? —Barely more than once in succession, preference being given to virgin land, or fresh-broken-up grass-land. 5. The methods of cultivation adopted, and particularly as to the practice of earthing. —After stubble, plough in autumn, and reploughin spring. Harrow and plant in October or November (for main crops); drills 27in. to 30in. apart. Before the plant comes into bloom, earth up with doublefurrow plough. 6. The manures generally used. —Manures not generally used; if used at all, generally stablemanure or bone-dust, but neither is ever used to grow good potatoes. Potato-disease (queries 7 to 11). —There has never been any general or widespread disease of the potato crops in New Zealand. Premier's Office, Wellington, 28th January, 1892. John Ballance.