A.—2

3

Lord Eipon would therefore propose, if the Earl of Eosebery has no objection, that in future the contemplated appointment of a foreign consular officer should be referred to this department only when the person it is proposed to appoint is resident in the colony in which he is to act, and that in other cases this department should merely receive notice that such an appointment has been made. I have, &c, Edwabd Wingfield. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office.

Enclosure No. 2. Sir,— Foreign Office, 11th February, 1893. I am directed by the Earl of Eosebery to state to you, for the information of the Marquis of Ripon, that his Lordship agrees to the suggestion made in your letter of the 6th instant, with respect to the preliminary inquiries which may be necessary previous to the issue of the Queen's exequatur to foreign consular officials appointed to British colonies, and I am to state to you, in reply, that the course recommended by Lord Eipon will be followed in all future correspondence on the subject. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. H. Sahdekson.

No. 3. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 6th March, 1893. As it is probable that the proposals of the Imperial Federation League will attract attention in the colonies, I shall be glad if you will be good enough to cause extracts from any Press notices or correspondence on the subject to be made, and will forward them to me at intervals, say, of three months. Such extracts cannot but be useful in assisting Her Majesty's Government, in considering the question, to know how those proposals, or others with the same object, are received in the colonies. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government EIPON. of New Zealand.

No. 4. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, Bth March, 1893. I have the honour to transmit to you, for information and publication in the colony under your government, a Proclamation of the Queen in Council, dated the 30th January, 1893, for giving currency to certain gold and silver coins, with a new design therein described. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government EIPON. of New Zealand. [For enclosure see New Zealand Gazette, Ist June, 1893, p. 833.]

No. 5. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 17th March, 1893. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 12th March, 1890, I have the honour to inform you that Her Majesty's Government have undertaken to lay before Parliament further papers respecting the operation of the liquor-laws in certain colonies, in continuation of those already presented. I request that you will invite your Ministers to furnish me at their earliest convenience with a report on the subject with respect to the colony under your administration. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government EIPON. of New Zealand.