A.—2.

4

second) report of the Civil Service Commissioners contains, inter alia, copies of the more material of the Orders in Council bearing on this part of the subject. The orders dated 4th June, 1870, and 12th February, 1876, are principally deserving of attention. As regards the particular points on which the Colonial Government desires information, I am to transmit to you herewith copies of the documents specified in the margin.* As regards trading by Civil Servants, a Select Committee of the House of Commons is now sitting on the question, and it is possible that further regulations may be founded upon the report. I am to add that no disability from voting in Parliamentary elections is now imposed on persons in the immediate service of the Crown in Great Britain, those which formerly existed having been removed by the Acts 31 and 32 Viet., c. 73, and 37 and 38 Viet., c. 22. One exception must be made to this last statement in respect of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which, although in the direct service of the Crown, is disqualified from voting for members of Parliament in Ireland. The County Constabulary and the Borough Police in Great Britain are not in the direct service of the Crown, but the members of it are disqualified from voting for members of Parliament in the counties or boroughs where they are employed. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. R. R. W Lingen

No. 4 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (Circular) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 1880. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the sth January last, relative to the detention in the colonies, in certain cases, of certificates suspended under the Merchant Shipping Acts, I have the honor to transmit to you, for your information, extracts from a correspondence with the Board of Trade, from which you will perceive that the time during which certificates suspended in the colony under your Government may be retained may, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, be extended to six months. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosures in No. 4. Extract of a Letter from the Board of Trade to the Colonial Office, dated 2nd April, 1860. (M-5060.) " The Board of Trade see no objection to the term for which certificates may be retained in the colony being extended to six months in the case of those colonies to which, on account of their distance from the United Kingdom, it would be impossible for the Board of Trade to return them within that period. " The Court will not, of course, retain certificates except with the knowledge and consent of the officers interested, for whose benefit only this departure from the strict letter of the law is sanctioned." Extract of a Letter from the Colonial Office to the Board of Trade, dated 24th May, 1880. " I am to request to be informed whether the Board of Trade wish a supplementary circular to be issued modifying, in accordance with your letter above referred to, or otherwise, the terms of your letter of the 2nd December, 1879, appended to Sir Michael Hicks Beach's circular despatch of the sth January last; and, if so, to what colonies it should be sent.'" Extract of a Letter from the Board of Trade to the Colonial Office, dated 3rd June, 1880. (M-10143. " With regard to your inquiry whether the Board of Trade wish a supplementary circular to be issued modifying, in accordance with their letter of the 2nd April, or otherwise, the terms of their letter of the 2nd December, 1879, I am to state that the Board see no objection to the extension of the term of three months to six months in the case of the colonies named in the margin,f and they would be glad to know whether Lord Kimberley is of opinion that the names of any other colonies should be added to this list."

* Treasury minute, 30/11/68 : Bankruptcy and insolvency. Treasury minute, 3/11/71 : Security from Civil Servants. Treasury minutes, 6/73 and 2/75 : lie communications to newspapers, correspondence 1877, and minute 1849, directors of companies, &c. t The Australian Colonies, Tasmania, Fiji, Hongkong, Straits Settlements, Ceylon,