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A.-l, 1912, No. 22.

No. 13. New Zealand, No. 156. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th April, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 131, of the 13th October last, I have the honour to state that I have received an inquiry from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty as to whether the Wellington Harbour Board have yet arrived at any decision regarding the construction of a new dock at Wellington. I shall be glad to learn what is the present position as regards the construction of the dock in question, and, if no decision has yet been come to, to be informed when the matter has been definitely settled. I have, &c, L. HARCOUKT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 14. New Zealand, No. 159. My Lord,— Downing Street, 28th April, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 132, of the 7th instant, I have the honour to state that I learn from the Postmaster-General that he has received a telegram from the Post Office of the Commonwealth of Australia stating that the rate of postage of Id. the half-ounce for letters sent from Australia to the United Kingdom and the British Empire generally will be introduced on the Ist of May. This information has no doubt been communicated direct to the postal administration of the Dominion of New Zealand. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.S.O. &c.

No. 15. New Zealand, No. 160. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th April, 1911. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the New Hebrides Condominium, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that steps have been taken for the appointment of a Registrar to the Joint Court. 2. The appointment of the Registrar rests under Article X of the Convention of the 20th October, 1906, with the President of the Court, but the President, being unable to find a Spanish officer sufficiently conversant with both English and French, approached the Netherlands Government with a request for the recommendation of a suitable officer. Steps were accordingly taken by His Majesty's representative at The Hague in concert with his French colleague to invite the Netherlands Government to comply with the President's request, and the choice has finally fallen on Mr. Beugel, lately Registrar of the Court at Buitenzorg, Java, who is stated to be conversant with both English and French. 3. In addition to the salary attached to the office under the agreement of the 17th May, 1907, Mr. Beugel has been granted a sum of 1,000 francs, a first-class passage from Java to the New Hebrides, free passages for one or two servants, and an advance of three months' salary, and "he will receive half-pay during the period of the voyage. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 16. New Zealand, No. 161. My Lord, — Downing Street, 29th April, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 22, of the 24th February, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying 4