75

A.—2

Government, prolonging the duration of the existing treaties of commerce and navigation between Great Britain and Prance, which was signed at Paris on the 10th of October, 1879. I have, &c, M. E. HICKS BEACH. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 93. Declaration between the British and French Governments prolonging the Duration of the existing Treaties of Commerce and Navigation between Great Britain and France. Signed at Paris, 10th October, 1879. The Government of Her Britannic Majesty and the Government of the French Republic, foreseeing the case in which the commercial and maritime relations between Great Britain and France should not have been settled by fresh arrangements before the 31st December, 1879, the period at which the existing commercial treaties and conventions are to expire, and wishing to secure for the manufacturers and merchants of both couutries a sufficient delay to conclude the operations in course of execution, — Have agreed to prolong, for a period of six months before their definitive termination, the conventional acts in force between Great Britain and France. Considering, besides, that according to the terms of the law passed in France on the 4th August last, which confers on the Government of the Republic the power of prolonging the commercial treaties and conventions, the duration of their prolongation cannot exceed six months from the promulgation of the new General Customs Tariff submitted to the approbation of the French Chambers, — The High Contracting Parties agree that the stipulated delay of six months shall commence from the day either anterior or posterior to the Ist January, 1880, on which the new General Customs Tariff shall have been promulgated. The benefit of the prolongation shall apply to the conventional acts enumerated hereafter, that is to say —(1) The Treaty of Commerce of the 23rd January, 1860; (2) Additional Article of the 25th February, 1860; (3) Second Additional Article of the 27th Juno, 1860; (4) First Supplementary Convention of the 12th October, 1860; (5) Second Supplementary Convention of the 16th November, 1860; (6) Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of the 23rd July, 1873; (7) Supplementary Convention of the 24th January, 1874; (8) Declaration of the 24th January, 1874. In witness whereof, tbe undersigned, acting in the name of their respective Governments, have drawn up the present declaration, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done in duplicate, at Paris, the 10th day of October, 1879. (1.5.) F. O. Adams. (1.5.) Waddington.

No. 94. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach to Governor Sir Hercules Robinson. (No. 7.) Sir, — Downing Street, 28th January, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 79,. of the sth December, forwarding six copies of the Statistics of New Zealand for 1878. The report of the Registrar-General, and the table showing^the progress of the colony for the last twenty-five years, which are prefixed to the volume, will, in accordance with your request, be re-produced in the printed papers relating to Her Majesty's colonial possessions which are presented to Parliament. I have, &c., M. E. HICKS BEACH. Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., &c.