A.—2

8

copy of a letter from the Agent-General for New Zealand expressing the wish of his Government to be included in the number of the colonies for whom the Imperial officer will be required to act. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, War Office. John Beamston.

Enclosure No. 5. The Wae Office to the Colonial Office. Sir,— War Office, 22nd March, 1892. With reference to your letter of the 17th ultimo, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Mr. Secretary Stanhope has approved of the appointment of an officer of Boyal Artillery as Inspector of Warlike Stores and technical adviser in this country for the Australian Colonies, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and that Lieut.-Colonel J. F. Harmon, Eoyal Artillery, at present Assistant Director of the Artillery College, has accordingly been selected for the post in question. Lieut.-Colonel Harmon has been made acquainted with the conditions of the appointment as required in the joint letter from the Agents-General of the Australian Colonies, and assents to them ; but he requests that, if possible, he may be granted the allowance of £200 a year for the expenses of a clerk and office-accommodation, as mentioned in paragraph (c) of the joint letter, in preference to receiving clerical assistance through the Agents-General in respect of each of the colonies concerned. I have to add that Lieut.-Colonel Harmon will cease to draw pay from the army funds from the date of his appointment, but no steps will be taken to notify it until a communication has been received regarding the views of the colonial authorities on the above question. I have, &c, The "Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Ealph Thompson.

Enclosure No. 6. The Colonial Office to the Wae Office. ■ Sib,— Downing Street, 30th March, 1892. With reference to your letter of the 22nd instant, respecting the appointment of an Imperial artillery officer to inspect and pass all warlike stores purchased in England on behalf of certain Australian Colonies, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to request that you will move Mr. Secretary Stanhope to acquaint him whether he would be right in informing the Agents-General of the colonies concerned that Lieut.-Colonel Harmon, R.A., meets the condition (/) mentioned in the joint letter of the Agents-General of the 12th ultimo, which, among others, it was desired should be observed in making the selection, or whether Mr. Stanhope will accept the alternative proposal suggested in the letter from this department enclosing a copy of the application from the AgentsGeneral. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, War Office. E. H. Meade.

Enclosure No. 7. The Wae Office to the Colonial Office. Sib, - War Office, Ist April, 1892. With reference to your letter of the 30th ultimo, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the. Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Lieut.Colonel J. F. Harmon, E.A., will be appointed an ex officio member of the Ordnance Committee, with access to the records of the Committee and to all meetings, &c, as requested in your letter of the 17th February last, on taking up the post of Inspector of Warlike Stores for the Australasian Colonies. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Ealph Thompson.

Enclosure No. 8. The Colonial Office to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Downing Street, 6th April, 1892. With reference to your letter of the 24th February, respecting the wish of the Government of New Zealand that the Imperial artillery officer applied for by the Governments of New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia, to inspect all warlike stores purchased in England on behalf of their respective Governments, should act similarly on behalf of that Government, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you for your information a copy of correspondence which has passed between this department and the War Office on the subject of the appointment. I am to request that, in concert with the Agents-General of the other colonies concerned, you will take into consideration the proposal made by Lieut.-Colonel J. F. Harmon, that he should be allowed a money-payment instead of clerical assistance, and that you will inform his Lordship of the nature of the answer that should be returned to Mr. Secretary Stanhope's first letter. A copy of the letter which was addressed to the War Office on the receipt of the joint letter from the Agents-General is also enclosed, together with a copy of a further letter addressed to that department on receipt of your letter under reference. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Edwaed Faiefield.