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(No. 44.) 8m, — Government House, Wellington, 15th July, 1898. With reference to your despatch circular, dated the 6th May, 1898' asking me whether my Government will allow non-commissioned officers, pensioners of the Royal Marines, or non-commissioned officers about to be pensioned from the corps, to be employed in the Bermanent Defence Forces of the colony : I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers consider it advisable not to depart from the custom of drawing Artillery Instructors from the Royal Artillery, but they would have no objection to temporary instructors being drawn from the Royal Marine Light Infantry. The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 12. (No. 45.) Sic,— Government House, Wellington, 19th July, 1898. I have the honour, at the request of my Fremier, to ask you to communicate with the United States Government on the following subjects:— That, in the event of the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands by the United States being concluded, the mail-steamer " Moana," which is now subsidised by both the American and New Zealand Governments, will be brought under the provisions of the shipping laws of the United States, which preclude any but vessels flying the American flag from carrying passengers and cargo between ports which are within the jurisdiction of the United States Government. If this be so, my Fremier requests that the regulations may be relaxed so as to permit the " Moana" and other British steamers to trade between San Brancisco and Hawaii with no greater restrictions than at present exist. That these steamers are under contract with the New Zealand Government, but this contract expires on the 31st March next, and unless some facilities be given it will in all probability lead to other arrangements being made after that date. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANBURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 13. (No. 47.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 27th July, 1898. With reference to your despatch (New Zealand —No. 73), dated the 26th November, 1897, requesting information as to whether the New Zealand Government would grant financial assistance towards an expedition in the antarctic regions, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers have given the matter their careful consideration, and have come to the conclusion that, in view of the Imperial Government and the Australian Colonies having shown themselves indisposed to assist and promote the exploration, New Zealand could not be expected to contribute at the present juncture. Should the other colonies decide to assist, my Ministers would be prepared to reconsider the question. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANBURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 14. (No. 50.) Sis, — Government House, Wellington, Bth August, 1898. With reference to your circular despatch, dated the 21st August, 1896, and to Lord Glasgow's reply thereto (New Zealand —No. 40), dated the 12th November, 1896, relative to the International Convention for the Publication of

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