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No. 49. New Zealand, No. 277. My Lord,— Downing Street, 25th July, 1913. With reference to my despatch, No. 220, of the 13th June, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the following countries have deposited with His Majesty's Government their ratifications of the International Radio-telegraphic Convention signed at London on the sth July, 1912, and of the final protocol and " reglement de service " : — Country. Date of Deposit. Siam .. .. .. .. . . 30th May, 1903. Italy . . .. . . . . . . 18th June, 1913. Germany .. . . . . .. 21st June, 1913. Roumania .. .. . . . . 27th June, 1913. Spain . . .. . . .. .. 27th June, 1913. Japan . . .. .. . . . . 16th July, 1913. 2. The Convention has also been ratified by the Government of Portugal. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 50. New Zealand, No. 284. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st July, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture regarding the regulations governing the importation of plants into New Zealand. 2. I shall be glad to know whether your Government would be prepared to accept the certificates of inspection issued by the Board in respect of the importation of plants from England into the Dominion. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c. Enclosures. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sik,— 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 11th July, 1913. I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to send, for the information of the Secretary of State, the enclosed copy of correspondence which has passed between the Board and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, respecting the regulations governing the importation of plants into the Dominion. The Board would be much obliged if it could be ascertained when a reply may be expected from the Dominion Government. I am, &c, T. H. MIDDLBTON, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Assistant Secretary. Sic,— Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4 Whitehall Place, S.W., Ist March, 1913. I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to advert to your letter of the 16th ultimo, and to forward for your acceptance two copies of a memorandum which they have recently issued respecting the conditions on which they are prepared to inspect the premises of nurserymen who wish to export their stock to countries which have imposed regulations designed to prevent the introduction of insect, fungus, or bacterial pests. The Board understand that the certificates which have been issued in accordance with the terms of this memorandum are considered sufficient in America and other countries to which English plants are exported, and they would be glad to learn that they will be considered adequate by the Government of New Zealand. Should this be the case the Board would be prepared to issue a certificate that the actual plants consigned have been examined in those cases only in which the consignment consists of bulbs, which are packed loose, and can therefore be handled and carefully inspected. In cases in which consignment consists of trees, shrubs, bushes, or perennials whose stems die down in the winter, certificates that the plants proceeded from a nursery which had been kept under observation during the summer and had been declared free from pests notifiable under

A.-1, 1914. No. 30.

Enclosures. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sib,— 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 11th July, 1913. I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to send, for the information of the Secretary of State, the enclosed copy of correspondence which has passed between the Board and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, respecting the regulations governing the importation of plants into the Dominion. The Board would be much obliged if it could be ascertained when a reply may be expected from the Dominion Government. I am, &c, T. H. MIDDLBTON, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Assistant Secretary. Sic, — Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4 Whitehall Place, S.W., Ist March, 1913. I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to advert to your letter of the 16th ultimo, and to forward for your acceptance two copies of a memorandum which they have recently issued respecting the conditions on which they are prepared to inspect the premises of nurserymen who wish to export their stock to countries which have imposed regulations designed to prevent the introduction of insect, fungus, or bacterial pests. The Board understand that the certificates which have been issued in accordance with the terms of this memorandum are considered sufficient in America and other countries to which English plants are exported, and they would be glad to learn that they will be considered adequate by the Government of New Zealand. Should this be the case the Board would be prepared to issue a certificate that the actual plants consigned have been examined in those cases only in which the consignment consists of bulbs, which are packed loose, and can therefore be handled and carefully inspected. In cases in which consignment consists of trees, shrubs, bushes, or perennials whose stems die down in the winter, certificates that the plants proceeded from a nursery which had been kept under observation during the summer and had been declared free from pests notifiable under