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dent of the Council, arranging the temporary transfer of his duties to the latter. I therefore placed the memorandum in the hands of M. Marcel, the Chef de Cabinet of M. Ch.Lacour, and begged him to submit it to.the Minister for Foreign Affairs in my name. Speaking quite unofficially, M. Marcel said he thought there was little prospect of the Becidiviste Bill being passed in its present shape, and in any case many months must yet elapse before it can become law. He promised to call the attention of the Minister as soon as possible to the failure of the Government of New Caledonia to apply for the extradition of the three persons who had escaped from Noumea, as reported in the telegram from the Governor of Queensland of the 26th ultimo. I have, &c, F. B. PLUN3KETT.

Note Verbale. The Australian Colonies of Great Britain have made strong representations to Her Majesty's Government with a view to the adoption of effective measures for preventing the serious consequences which they fear will result to them if the Bill now before the Chamber of Deputies for the transportation of relapsed criminals to New Caledonia and its dependencies should become law. The Queensland Government, in particular, complain that the Government of New Caledonia now decline to demand the extradition of criminals who may have escaped from Noumea, and in the absence of such a demand on the part of the French authorities the British colonial authorities cannot act against these individuals. The Governor of Queensland telegraphed on the 26th ultimo that the French authorities have hitherto applied for the extradition, but now refuse to do so, and that consequently he had just been obliged to discharge three convicts who had escaped from Noumea. As the transportation to New Caledonia is intended to rid France of the worst class of her criminals, who apparently are to be set free when they reach New Caledonia, and whose neighbourhood will be a constant source of danger to the Australian Colonies, Lord Granville would be glad to know what course the French Government propose to pursue as to the number of convicts to be sent out to the Western Pacific, and as to the position of such criminals after arrival at their destination. His Lordship would also be glad to learn what course the French propose to follow with regard to the failure of the Government of New Caledonia to demand the extradition of the criminals who escaped, as explained in the telegram from the Governor of Queensland above referred to. 31st August, 1883. GEOGBAPHY. 1. Derive and explain the terms "tropic," "ecliptic," "nadir," "zenith," "solstice," "horizon," "equinox." 2. Explain clearly the causes of the changes of the seasons. 3. A person on a yachting cruise leaves Southampton and calls at Madeira, Canary Islands, Ascension, St. Helena, Trinidad, Bio Janeiro, Pernarnbuco, Cape Verde Islands, Azores, and so Home : draw a chart of his cruise. 4. What countries does the meridian of Greenwich pass through ? Mention some of the largest towns that are on it or within a few miles of it. 5. In what parts of the world are the leading races of man severally found? State their distinctive features. 6. Of what materials is the earth's crust composed, and into what two classes are they divided ? Describe these. LATIN. 1. Translate— Laudabunt alii claram Bhodon, aut Mytilenen, Aut Epheson, bimarisve Corinthi Moenia, vel Baccho Thebas, vel Apolline Delphos Insignes, aut Thessala Tempe. Sunt, quibus unum opus est intactae Palladis urbem Carmine perpetuo celebrare, et TJndique decerptam fronti praeponere olivam. Plurimus in Junonis honorem Aptum dicet equis Argos ditesque Myeenas. Me nee tam patiens Lacedaemon Nee tam Larissae percussit campus opimae, Quam domus Albuneae resonantis Et praeceps Anio ac Tiburni lucus et uda Mobilibus pomaria rivis. 2. Where were the various places, &c, mentioned in the above passage situated? 3. Translate— Otium divos rogat in patenti Prensus Aegaeo, simul atra nubes Condidit Lunam, neque certa fulgent Sidera nautis;