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Enclosure,

Excise Duties in Operation in New Zealand, 1904. J e f du *y • • ■ • .. 3d. the gallon. Tobacco Is. thelb. Cigars and snuff Is. 6d. the lb. Cigarettes manufactured by machinery . . .. .. 2s. 6d the lb Cigarettes manufactured by hand .. .. .. Is. the lb. Perfumed spirits 2Os the X Urn ioilet preparations subject to 16s. the gallon on importation .. .. .. . 12s . Toilet preparations subject to 25 per cent, duty on importation ...... g g Toilet preparations subject to 25 per cent, duty on importation .. .. .. _ g g Pharmacopoeia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing more than 5 per cent, proof spirit .. 9d. the lb. Pharmacopoeia tinctures, essences, extracts, and medicinal spirits containing less than 50 per cent, proof spirit .. 3d. the lb.

No. 19. (No. 99.) SlE '~ T Government House, Auckland, 18th December, 1904 In reply to your despatch (No. 53) of the 6th August, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers, after careful consideration of the matter in question have decided that the time is not opportune for entering into the proposed commercial agreement with Belgium. I nave & c F The Right Hon. A. Lyttelton, M.P., PLUNKET Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A,-2, 1905, No. 16.

No. 20. (No. 4.) Sm '~ T , , . Government House, Wellington, 6th February, 1905 1 have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of a memorandum I have received from the Premier of this colony on the subject of tenders for the supply of meat, forage, &c. to the troops in South Africa, and shall be obliged if you wiU -ause this matter to be brought before the notice of the Army Council! mi t,- t, tt I have, &c, The Right Hon. A. Lyttelton, M.P., PLUNKET Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 25th January, 1905. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Premier desires to inform His Excellency the Governor that the forms of tender sent to this on W irnVe h™ *? Arm y C ° uncil for *• -PPlj of meat, forage, &c, to the troops In Sou nA £ arrive here too late to admit of New Zealand merchants or producers to tender. The PremSr entlo es dat2 IS th l^N 7 mf ° rma + tlOn I T t * ender form received with the covering letter attached thereto dated the 18th November, from which His Excellency will see that tenders have to be in the several districts mentioned m South Africa on the 17th January instant, which, so far as New Zealand ll thelffiitv Tf T° SSI S c - -7 he Premler res P ectM ly urges, therefore that HktowSi ,ti? % \t ole I" a ,f h ° nt ! es ' P° mtln g out the utter inutility of the present arrangement and suggesting that time should be given, between the date of the issue of forms in London anTS date o c osmg m South Africa, for New Zealand producers to tender. The Premier feels that in view of the quality of New Zealand produce, the-military authorities would be pleased to receive New Zealand out *V ™ " *** ™?¥> S5 *oZ JoiS

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