A.—2

21

Extract from Letter dated Wellington, New Zealand, 19th June, 1897. "We landed here on the 17th instant, and on clearing my baggage the Customs demanded payment of a tax of £50 before delivering up my samples. This is a law recently passed, it is said instigated by the wholesale merchants of the place to protect themselves specially from Australian competition. I consulted with Messrs. Turnbull, the chief of the Customhouse Department, and also with the Commissioner of the Income-tax Department, to whom I was referred from the chief of the Customs, to see if there was any possibility of exemption or adjustment on the ground of the short stay in New Zealand and the small returns. They stated that no discretionary power was given to them, so I had no alternative but to pay the £50. This holds good for one year; but in the event of your representative visiting New Zealand again in a few years, should the law still be in force, they will consider if it is possible to go free. I will send you the receipt on quitting New Zealand."

No. 28. (No. 49.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 20th August, 1897. I have the honour to inform you that a casket made of New Zealand woods, containing an art album of New Zealand flora, has been received in this department from Mr. James Townley, Mayor of Gisborne, New Zealand, for presentation to the Queen, and that I have now taken Her Majesty's pleasure in the matter. Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept the proffered presents, and has commanded me to convey her grateful thanks to Mr. Townley for the interesting casket, and to Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Fenton for the beautifully illustrated album. You will be good enough to explain to Mr. Townley that the delay in announcing to him Her Majesty's pleasure in the matter has arisen from the fact that I was not informed of the transmission of the case containing the presents, and did not receive the bill of lading for the case containing them, and that some time elapsed before it was handed over by the shipping agents. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &o.

No. 29. (No. 51.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 20th August, 1897. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, in support of an application which is said to have been made to the Colonial Government by Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company for a certificate of exemption, under section 201 of the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen's Act of 1877, in respect of four cargosteamers owned by them, and engaged in the New Zealand trade. I should be glad if your Ministers could see their way to give their favourable consideration to this application. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure. Board of Trade (Marine Department), 7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W., Sib,— 12th August, 1897. I am directed by the Board of Trade to request that you will be good enough to lay the following circumstances before the Secretary of State for the Colonies: — The Board have received representations from Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, a firm of shipowners of the highest standing in the City of London, to the effect that the New Zealand Government have intimated that they now propose to compel all steamers trading with that colony to be provided with Board of Trade certificates, whether they carry passengers or not, unless their owners obtain a certificate of exemption under section 201 of the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen's Act of 1877.