A.—2

6

tion towards this establishment shall amount to the sum of £1,000 for the financial year ending 31st March, 1874 ; but they request that, before the Estimates for 1574-75 a.re prepared, a further communication may be made to the Board, showing what progress has been effected in obtaining proportionate contributions from the Colonies interested in the settlement. I have, &c, E. G-. M. Herbert, Esq., &c. William Law.

No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 35.) Sir, — Downing Street, 31st May, 1873. I have to acknowledge Sir George Bowen's Despatch No. 17, of the 21st of Eebruary, on the subject of the allowances and salary of the Governor of New Zealand. The principle of the arrangement proposed by Mr. Waterhouse and his colleagues appears to bo unobjectionable, but I will express no further opinion upon it until I am informed of the exact terms of salary and allowances which it may ultimately be proposed to adopt. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of KIMBERLEY. New Zealand.

No. 4. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 38.) Sir,— Downing Street, 31st May, 1873. I have received Sir George Bowen's Despatches of the numbers and dates mentioned in the margin. I have read with interest Sir George Bowen's account of his parting interview with the Northern Maoris at Ngaruawahia, as affording a further proof of the friendly relations which exist between the English settlers and Natives in the Waikato, and of the satisfactory condition of Native affairs. I have to add that Her Majesty's Government are fully sensible of the success and ability with which Sir George Bowen administered the government of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

No. 22, March 15, 1873. No. 24, March 17, 1873. No. 25, March 19, 1873.

No. 5. Copy of DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Right Hon. Sir J. Eergusson, Bart. (Circular No. 1.) Sib, — Downing Street, 7th June, 1873. Her Majesty's Government have 'had under their consideration the expediency of concluding a convention with the German Empire for mutually exempting the subjects of either power from military service, or forced loans, &c, when resident in the dominions of the other Power. Such conventions, or equivalent declarations, already exist between this country and those named in the margin, and are, as you are aware, in force in the Colony under your Government.

Denmark, Grecco, Italy, Portugal, Bussia, Switzerland, Spain,