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No. 54. (No. 107.) Sir, — Government House Wellington, 11th October, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (New Zealand, Honours), dated the 12th July, 1901, enclosing letters from the Secretary to the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. Those letters have been duly forwarded to those gentlemen named in your despatch. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.
A.-2, 1902 No. 55.
No. 55. (No. 108.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 12th October, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that the Postmaster-General of this colony (Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G.)has concluded departmental agreements with the Post Office Administrations of Chili, Costa Eica, Egypt, Italy, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal and Portuguese colonies, Siam, and Switzerland, under which letters from New Zealand, prepaid at Id. per Joz., are delivered in the countries named without surcharge. This arrangement is in each case made on the irnderstanding that letters from the countries which are parties to it must be prepaid at the rates heretofore existing—namely, 25 centimes for each 15 grammes. A reciprocal arrangement has also been made with the Post Office Administration of Servia, under which letters in both directions are treated as fully prepaid if bearing stamps of a value equal to 10 centimes for each 15 grammes, or a Id. per J oz. These arrangements have been reported to the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union at Berne ; but that office expresses the opinion that the postage cannot be reduced to places beyond the British Empire by simple administrative agreement, and points out that it is necessary that such agreements should be concluded between the high contracting States concerned. I have, therefore, the honour to request that you will represent to His Majesty's Government the earnest desire of the Government of this colony that the necessary action be taken to uphold the administrative agreements already entered into. My Government consider this matter of much urgency and importance, and trust that you will expedite their request in every manner possible! I have the honour to enclose herewith copies of the agreements. The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, 'EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.
No. 56. (No. 110.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 15th October, 1901. I have the honour to transmit to you a petition I have received from the parents of Charles Borland Tasker, a prisoner'undergoing a sentence of one year's imprisonment; also a memorandum from my Premier on the same subject. As I am not acquainted with any of the details of the offence I am unable to furnish you with any report or recommendation in this case. The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, "' EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.