A— No. 5

68. February 5,1867.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. "W". Gisboene to Mr. John Morrison. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, sth February, 1867. I am directed to enclose a copy of a Report of a Select Committee of the House of Representatives, last Session, as to the best means of giving practical eifect to the proposed establishment of Courts of Arbitration in the Colony of New Zealand. The Government is desirous of being placed, as soon as practicable, in possession of full information on the subject of Courts of this kind in other countries, and of their practical operation; and I am to request you to be good enough to procure and forward to this office any printed documents or books which will explain the constitution of these Courts, their mode of working, and their practical results. If you apply at the several Consulates in London of countries in which such or similar Courts have been established, you will no doubt bo furnished with such information as will enable you to select the latest and most authentic publications of the kind required. I have, <fee, J. Morrison. Esq., W. Gisboene, 3, Adelaide Place, King William Street, London. Under Secretary.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from Mr. John Morrison to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. Office of the New Zealand Government Agency, 3, Adelaida Place, King William Street, Sib,— London (E.C.), 26th April, 18G7. Referring to your letter of the number and date as stated in the margin, wherein you direct me to procure and forward to you any printed documents or books which explain the constitution, the mode of working, and the praclieal results of Courts of Arbitration in other countries, I do myself the honor to inform you that letters were addressed to the Consuls, residing in London, of France, Austria, Prussia, United States of America, Belgium, and the Hanseatic Republics, and herewith I beg leave to transmit copies of the replies received, and to state that further proceedings are being instituted to obtain the information required. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, John Mobbison. Wellington, New Zealand.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Prussian Consul-Genebal to Mr. John Moeeison. Royal Prussian General Consulate, London, Sib,— 106, Fenchurch Street (E.C.), sth April, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your leßfer of yesterday's date, relative to Courts of Arbitration, or their equivalent, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and, in reply, I beg leave to suggest that you should make an application for the information you require either through Her Majesty's Foreign Office, Whitehall, or direct to the British Embassy, at Berlin. I have, &c, H. B. Hebeleb, John Morrison, Esq. Consul-General.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Belgian Consul to Mr. John Moeeison. Sib — In reply to your letter of the 4th instant, about the establishment of Courts of Arbitration in New Zealand, I hasten to inform you that in Belgium there are no such Courts. I have, &c, John Morrison, Esq. DeliEpieeee.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO ARBITRATION COURTS.