10

A.—2

members of any University should be exempted from the preliminary examination held in London by the Civil Service Commissioners on their producing a certificate showing that they have passed an equivalent examination in Australia. You will observe that the Civil Service Commissioners have intimated that they would be willing to hold preliminary examinations (except as regards geometrical drawing) in Australia, by means of papers sent out from this country, so as to relieve colonial candidates from the expense and inconvenience entailed under the present arrangement. It would be desirable to facilitate the task of the Commissioners, by selecting a common centre for the Australian Colonies where such examinations might be held, and I should be glad if you would invite your Government to place themselves in communication with the Governments of the Australian Colonies, with the view of determining what place shall be selected for this purpose, should the colony under your Government desire to participate in the concession which has been proposed for the convenience of the sons of colonists in Australasia. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBEELEY of New Zealand. [For enclosures to Despatch No. 24, see New Zealand Gazette No. 106, of 11th November, 1880.]

No. 17 Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 27 ) Sir, — Downing Street, Ist September, 1880. On the 25th February, 1870, Earl Granville addressed to the Governors of the Australian Colonies and of New Zealand a circular despatch respecting the working and progress of the system of conveyancing by registration of title as established in those colonies. I now have the honor to transmit to you a copy of an address which has recently been presented to Her Majesty on the same subject, and I request that you will enable me to comply with the terms of the address, so far as it relates to the colony under your government. I enclose a copy of the return of the Bth May, 1872, for convenience of reference. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBEELEY of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No. 17 Registration of Title (British Colonies) House of Commons, Thursday, 26th August, 1880. Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty that she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a return supplementary to those laid upon the Table of this House, and ordered to be printed on the Bth day of May, 1872, reporting on the working and progress of the system of " conveyancing by registration of title," in operation in the Colonies of South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, New Zealand, British Columbia,.and Fiji; such returns to be made up to the 31st day of December, 1879. Ordered, That the said Address be presented to Her Majesty by such members of this House as are of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council. T Ebskine May, Cleric, House of Commons.

No. 18. Copy of a DESPATCH from tlie Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. (No. 28.) Sir, — Downing Street, 4th September, 1880. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir H. Eobinson's