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No. 7. (No. 118.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 4th November, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt this day of a telegram from you of which a copy is enclosed herewith. I have, &c., Wm. E. DRUMMOND JERVOIS. The Right Hon. Colonel Stanley, M.P.

Enclosure. Secretary of State for War offers commissions Royal Engineers graduates Australian and New Zealand universities, not more than twenty-two on Ist July last, good height and build, medically fit. Governor to submit names as physically, morally, and mentally qualified, in relative order of merit, from each university. Not more than one from each colony will be selected.

No. 8. (No. 119.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th November, 1885. With reference to the despatches from your predecessor, No. 18, of the 15th of April last, and No. 23, of the 27th of April, concerning Discipline Acts binding colonial contingents, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a memorandum from the Premier, Mr. Stout, stating that the Government of New Zealand consider it desirable that an Imperial Act should be passed, the provisions of which could be adopted by the several colonies as applicable to the case of the colonial forces operating outside the limits of a colony. I have, &c, Wm. c. drummond jervois. The Right Hon. Colonel Stanley, M.P., Colonial Office.

A.-2A, 1885, Nos. 47, 49.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. The Premier begs to return to His Excellency Despatches No. 18, of the 15th April, and No. 23, of the 27th April last, on the subject of Discipline Acts binding colonial contingents, which the Government has some time had under consideration. Before offering any advice to His Excellency on the subject it was deemed advisable to procure the opinions of the Governments of the Australian Colonies ; and a circular letter was accordingly sent, to which it will be seen only two replies have been received—from Victoria and Tasmania. Thinking it inexpedient to delay any longer, the Premier now desires to inform His Excellency that this Government considers it desirable that an Imperial Act should be passed, the provisions of which could be adopted by the several colonies as applicable to the case of colonial forces operating outside the limits of a colony. Wellington, 7th November, 1885. Robert Stout.

No. 9. (No. 120.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th November, 1885. With reference to the despatch from your predecessor, No. 33, dated the 12th June last, concerning the defences of King George's Sound, I have the honour to state that I forwarded it to my Ministers, accompanied with a memorandum (of which I enclose a copy) pointing out the importance to this colony of King George's Sound, and suggesting that the Government of New Zealand should place themselves in communication with the several Governments of Australia, with a view of ascertaining the course which each proposed to adopt. 2. I had previously, in my address to the New Zealand Institute on the 4th p. 23. October, 1884 (as also in a lecture which I delivered in South Australia upwards p. 34. of five years ago), suggested the Australasian Colonies should unite in sharing the outlay requisite for the defence of King George's Sound.

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