A.—2

No. 21. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 25th August, 1898. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of an order of Her Majesty the Queen in Council, dated the 9th August, 1898, for giving effect to the treaty between Her Majesty and the President of the Eepublic of Chile for the mutual extradition of fugitive criminals, signed at Santiago on the 26th January, 1897, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Santiago on the 14th April, 1898. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 20th October, 1898, page 1669.]

No. 22. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 2nd September, 1898. I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your government, a copy of a paper presented to both Houses of Parliament containing the exchange of notes establishing a provisional modus vivendi between the United Kingdom and Belgium, pending the conclusion of a treaty of commerce and navigation between the two countries The arrangement does not extend to the colonies or foreign possessions of Her Majesty ; but if any colonial Government should intimate to me its wish to enter into a similar arrangement, such a wish would be made known to the Belgian Government. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 23. (No. 55.) My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 40) of the 7th July, reporting the opening by you of the third session of the thirteenth Parliament of New Zealand upon the 24th June last, and enclosing copies of your speech upon the occasion, together with copies of the Addresses presented to you in reply by the Legislative Council and House of Eepresentatives. I note with satisfaction from your speech that your Ministers intend to give the Parliament of New Zealand the opportunity of discussing the question of preferential duties on goods manufactured in the Mother-country, with the view of securing an alteration in this direction of the Customs tariff of the colony if the colonial finances will admit of it. I have, &c, FEEDEEICK GEAHAM, For the Secretary of State. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, 1899, No. 10.

No. 24. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 14th September, 1898. With reference to my circular despatch of the 2nd instant, informing you of the temporary commercial arrangement entered into on the 27th July last between Great Britain and Belgium, I have the honour to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Minister at Brussels has 'reported to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that on various occasions both Monsieur de Favereau and Monsieur Capelle have expressed the hope that as many as possible of the

No. 23,

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