A.—l.
I am prepared, if it meets with His Majesty's approval, to remain till the completion of seven years in this colony. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, ' EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Premier presents his compliments, and has very great pleasure in informing His Excellency that, understanding the usual term of office expires in April next, it is the unanimous desire of Ministers, and would be in accordance with the wishes of the peeple of the colony, if His Excellency could see his way to remain as the King's representative in New Zealand for another term, or part of a term. His Excellency's Advisers fully recognise that to be absent from the Mother-country for so lengthened a period is a self-sacrifice which His Excellency should not be lightly asked to make ; at the same time, if he could see his way to stay some time longer, it would be of advantage to the colony and meet with general approval. The Premier respectfully advises that the wishes of the Government in this respect be at once communicated to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Premier's Office, Wellington, 21st September, 1901. R. J. Seddon.
No. 52. (No. 103.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 25th September, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that on the 15th February last, the Crown Agents for the colonies communicated'with the Agent-General for New Zealand, stating that they had received through the Colonial Office an urgent demand for twelve Maxim guns for the South African Constabulary, which they had placed with Messrs. Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, and asking tha/t an order for Maxim guns placed with that firm by my Government might be postponed, as far as six guns were concerned, for a month or six weeks, in order that the order for South Africa might be accelerated. This proposal was agreed to on behalf of my Government. The six guns for South Africa were only finished on the 6th June last, and the Crown Agents were asked by the Agent-General to press for the delivery of the New Zealand guns as much as possible. Under these circumstances I have the honour to request the earliest possible delivery of these guns for New Zealand, and my Government desire to protest against the long delay. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, EANFUELY. * Secretary of State for the Colonies.
No. 53. (No. 104.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 26th September, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that Lieutenant E. W. G. Collins, of the Fourth New Zealand Eegiment, who was granted a Commission in the Ist Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry, and who has received instructions from the War Office to proceed to South Africa to join his regiment, has been reported by the Pensions Board appointed under the Military Pensions Acts of this colony, as being unfit for further military service on account of the serious nature of the wound received by him at Ottoshoop on the 16th August, 1900. I have the honour therefore to ask, on the request of my Government, that as this officer was wounded whilst engaged against the enemies of Her Majesty the Queen, and was at the time serving as an officer of Her late Majesty's Auxiliary Forces, he may be placed on the reserve of officers instead of cancelling his appointment to the Oxfordshire Light Infantry. The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, I have, &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies. EANFUELY.
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