A.—2

16

No. 28. (No. 50.) My Loed,— Downing Street, 19th July, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 13th instant, conveying the congratulations of your Government on the passing of the Australian Commonwealth Bill. 2. The loyalty and the public spirit displayed by the Government and people of New Zealand in connection with this measure are gratefully appreciated by Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

No. 29. (No. 53.) My Loed,— Downing Street, 26th July, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 22) of the 9th April, forwarding a memorandum from your Premier suggesting that the Colonial Government should be empowered by legislation, if necessary, to commandeer vessels of the British mercantile marine for usp as troopships should occasion arise. 2. I referred Mr. Seddon's suggestion to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and their Lordships have embodied their views respecting it in the letter of which a copy is enclosed. 3. It is not possible to gather from the various telegrams which I received from you during the early part of this year the exact nature of the difficulties to which your Premier refers as having been experienced in connection with the procuring of transports for the conveyance of the colonial contingents to South Africa. I shall be obliged, therefore, if you will move him to supply me with a full report as to these difficulties. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-1, 1901, No. 10.

Enclosure. Sir,— Admiralty, 9th July, 1900. In reply to your letter of the 16th ultimo (No. 15410), and its enclosures, in which it is suggested that colonial Governments should be empowered by legislation, if necessary, to "commandeer" vessels of the British mercantile marine for use as troopships should occasion arise, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inquire if the Secretary of State has any information as to the difficulties which are stated by the Premier of New Zealand to have arisen in connection with procuring vessels to convey the contingents from that colony to South Africa, and whether it was a question of price or refusal to tender. I am to add that in this country it has hitherto been the experience that suitable vessels can be obtained without interfering with freedom of contract, and the proposal to " commandeer " appears to their Lordships impracticable. In their opinion, it would be much better to seize the ships and compensate the owners when the special emergency arises than to endeavour to legalise such high-handed action as " commandeering" in anticipation of an emergency. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. , Evan Macgbegob.

No. 30. (No. 55.) My Loed,— Downing Street, 27th July, 1900. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.