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order relative to a pardon to deserters granted by His Majesty the King on his accession to the throne. In reply, I beg to inform you that the despatch has been copied and noted by the Minister of Defence, who will arrange for the order to be given due publicity. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, Governor. The Right Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., P.C., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 24. New Zealand, No. 100. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 19th August, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 17th June last, No. 127, with reference to the proposed suspension, for a period of fifteen years, of pelagic sealing in the Pacific Ocean and the JJehring Sea. In reply, I beg to inform you that, as already reported by telegraph, my Ministers regret that they do not see their way to take the necessary steps by legislation or otherwise to make good the undertaking into which His Majesty's Government and the United States Government propose to enter. The reason for this decision is that the Dominion of New Zealand, having kept its sealinggrounds closed for the past fifteen years, is unable to favourably consider the question of a further close season of fifteen years. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, Governor. The Right Hon. the Earl of Crowe, K.G., P.C., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 25. New Zealand, No. 105. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 26th August, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 4th May last, No. 99, transmitting copy of a despatch by His Majesty's Consul-General at New York regarding the high prices and importation of foodstuffs in the United States. 2. In reply, I beg to inform you that the information contained in the Consul-General's despatch has been noted with interest by my Ministers, who consider the report a valuable one. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, Governor. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., P.C., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1911, No. 92.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 106. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 26th August, 1910. With reference to my despatch of the 19th instant, No. 100, on the question of pelagic sealing, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a memorandum received from my Prime Minister. In conversation with Sir Joseph Ward on the subject, he expressed regret at being unable to meet the views of the Imperial Government, but he undertook