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A.—l

No. 33. (No. 6.) Sir, — Government House,. Wellington, 30th January, 1903. With reference to your despatches on the subject of the practice of the learned professions in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, I have the honour, at the request of my Government, to forward you copies of a Bill to amend the New Zealand Law Practitioners Act, to provide for the admission in New Zealand without examination, in certain cases, of barristers and solicitors admitted elsewhere. It is the intention of my Ministers to introduce the Bill during the ensuing session of Parliament, and I should be glad to be informed whether, if this Bill becomes law, an Order in Council applying the provisions of the Colonial Solicitors Act to New Zealand will be issued. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1902 No. 44.

No. 31. (No. 7.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Ist February, 1903. With reference to your despatches on the subject of penny-post agreements, I have the honour to request that the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation be advised that an agreement has been concluded between His Majesty's Government and the following places for the acceptance, without surcharge, of letters from New Zealand prepaid at the rate of Id. for each halfounce : Chili, Nicaragua, Liberia, Paraguay, Portugal and Portuguese Colonies, Siam. 2. The position in connection with the Peruvian agreement has been duly noted by my Government, and steps will be taken to reopen the question. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 35. (No. 8.) Sir, — . Government House, Wellington, 2nd February, 1903. With reference to your circular despatch dated 21st April, 1902, relative to the Brussels Sugar Bounties Conference, I have the honour to inform you that my Government do not desire application to be made on behalf of this colony for permission to adhere to the Convention. I have, &c.j The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 36. (No. 11.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th February, 1903. I have the honour to forward you a copy of a despatch sent by Lieut.Colonel Gudgeon, British Resident at Rarotonga, to the Hon. the Minister for Trade and Customs, in whose department the administration of affairs in these islands now rests. The offer of Ngamaru, Ariki, of the Island of Pakutea to His Majesty, if accepted, would solve the difficult problem of dealing with the few criminals in these islands, as from Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon's report it would be a suitable place for a penal settlement, and, the island being fertile, would provide suitable labour for prisoners.