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No. 16. The Premier, South Australia, to the Premier, New Zealand. Sir, — Chief Secretary's Office, Adelaide, 23rd December, 1885. Adverting to the question of the New Guinea protectorate, I have the honour to inform you that it is not the intention of this Government to continue contributing towards the cost of maintaining such protectorate after the 30th June next. This decision having been arrived at, it is deemed only right that the other colonies contributing towards said protectorate should have an early intimation thereof. I have, &c, The Hon. tho Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Jno. W. Downes.

No. 17. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, —■ 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 14th January, 1886. Since writing to you on the 24th ultimo (No. 1,585) respecting the interview to which Colonel Stanley had summoned tho Agents-General upon New Guinea affairs, no further action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government, nor has any decision been come to. The whole question of New Guinea is still under tho consideration of the Cabinet; and I need hardly say that I steadily go on representing how desirable it would be not to settle questions relating to tho Pacific islands piecemeal, but to treat them at last as things which ought to be considered and decided together on broad principles of policy. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

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No. 18. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 26th January, 1886. I beg permission to express my obligation to you for sending me the memorandum which Ministers addressed to His Excellency the Governor on the 20th November last in reference to the Federal Council Bill. I have, &c, Tho Hon. tho Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

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No. 19. The Governor, Tasmania, to the Governor, New Zealand. Sir, — Government House, Hobart, 6th February, 1886. I have the honour to forward to you four copies of the Hobart Gazette Extraordinary of this day's date, containing my Proclamation of the Acts passed by the Federal Council of Australasia during its first session, and my Proclamation proroguing the said Council. I have, &c, Geo. C. Strahan. Major-General Sir William F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c, Wellington.

Enclosure. A Proclamation. By His Excellency Sir George Cumine Strahan, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Tasmania and its Dependencies. I, Sib George Cumine Strahan, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Oruei of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief as aforesaid, do hereby proclaim, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Council of Australasia Act (48 and 49 Vict., cap. 60), that, having assented in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen to the Bills passed in the first session of the Federal Council of Australasia, held at flobart, in the Colony of Tasmania, and published with this my Proclamation—that is to say,—- -" A Bill for shortening the Language used in Acts of the Federal Council of Australasia;" " A Bill to facilitate the Proof throughout the Federation of Acts of the Federal Council and of Acts of the Parliaments of the Australasian Colonies, and of Judicial and Official Documents, and of the Signatures of certain Public Officers;" " A Bill to authorize the Service of Civil Process out of the Jurisdiction of the Colony in which it is issued;" " A Bill to make Provision for the Enforcement within the Federation of Judgments of the Supreme Courts of the Colonies of the Federation;"