A.—2,

No. 18. (New Zealand, General.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 20th June, 1893. With reference to my despatch (General) of the 31st May last, I have the honour to transmit to you copies of rules made by the Sheriff of the Lothians for regulating the procedure and practice in the Sheriff Court of Edinburgh in connection with " The Colonial Probates Act, 1892." The Court of Session, before whom these rules were laid, have decided that the Sheriff is competent to issue them on his own authority. I have, &c, EIPON. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c. [For enclosure see New Zealand Gazette, 7th September, 1893, p. 1330.]

No. 14,

No. 19. (New Zealand, No. 29.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 24th June, 1893. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 14, of the 16th ultimo, reporting the death of Mr. Ballance, and the formation of a new Ministry under Mr. Seddon. I informed you by my telegram of the 28th of April of the regret with which I had heard of Mr. Ballance's death. I have, &c, EIPON. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1894, No. 3.

No. 20. (New Zealand, No. 32.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 4th July, 1893. I have had the honour to receive through the Agent-General for New Zealand the expression of sympathy and regret telegraphed by your Government on behalf of the people of the colony on the occasion of the loss of the ViceAdmiral, Sir George Tryon, X.C.8., and part of the crew of Her Majesty's ship " Victoria." My telegram of the 26th ultimo, in reply, sent through the Governor of South Australia, will have conveyed to you the expression of Her Majesty's thanks for the sympathy shown on the occasion; and I need not add that it has been a source of sincere gratification to Her Majesty's Government that the expressions of regret at the death of the distinguished Admiral have been so spontaneous and universal in Australasia, where he was so widely known and so much respected. Copies of the letter from the Agent-General were duly forwarded to the family of the late Sir George Tryon, as well as to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and their Lordships have requested me to convey their grateful acknowledgment of the sympathy evinced by the Australasian Colonies. I have, &c, EIPON. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 21. (New Zealand, No. 34.) My Loed,— Downing Street, 17th July, 1893. I have received and laid before the Queen your telegram of the Bth instant, expressing congratulations to Her Majesty on behalf of the colony on the occasion of the marriage of their Eoyal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York. Her Majesty commands me to request that you will express to the people of the colony under your government her cordial thanks for their congratulations. I have, &c, EIPON. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1894 No. 7.

16