A.—2

42

Enclosure in No. 50. Second Supplement to London Gazette, Friday, 4th April, 1879. (See New Zealand Gazette, 24th July, 1879.)

No. 51. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Sir,— Downing Street, 6th May, 1879. I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury requesting, for the reasons therein stated, information as to the course pursued in the colonies on the death of intestates without known kin, whether legitimate or illegitimate, and whether natives or foreigners ; and I shall be much obliged if you will be good enough to furnish me with copies of any laws in force in the colony under your government dealing with this matter, as well as with any other information on the subject which may appear likely to be useful to their Lordships in connection with this question. I have, &c.j M. E. HICKS BEACH. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 51. The Treasury to the Colonial Office. Sir,— Treasury Chambers, 15th April, 1879. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint, you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that it has been represented to this Board by their legal advisers that it would be desirable to obtain legislation with a view that on the death of persons intestate and without known kin, the estates of such persons should immediately vest in some officer who should be clothed with some general authority to act as ad interim administrator; it not being intended, however, to supersede the appointment of administrator in the usual course, but only to enable some one to act during the long period which must, and the still longer period which in some cases may, elapse before administration is granted. I am directed hy their Lordships to request that you will move Sir Michael Hicks Beach to be good enough to assist them in this matter by causing inquiries to be made and information obtained as to the course pursued in the colonies on the death of intestates without known kin, whether legitimate or illegitimate, and whether natives or foreigners. I have, &c., R. G. W. Herbert, Esq., Colonial Office. William Law.

No. 52. Copt of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 17th May, 1879. I informed you by my telegram of the 13th instant that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury would continue the present arrangement for the carriage of the Australasian mails, but after the Ist of Eebruary next would retain 2d. instead of ld. on the outward correspondence; and I have now the honor to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter in which I caused their Lordships' decision to be communicated to the Agents-General, and to Mr. Graham Berry, as the representative of the Government of Victoria, who was then in this country. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.