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A.—2

No. 31. (New Zealand, No. 47.) Sir,— Downing Street, 10th August, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, copy of a correspondence between this department and the Foreign Office on the subject of the inspection by an officer of the United States Government of certain arms ordered by your Government from the Lee Arms Company of Connecticut. I should be glad if you would inform your Government that this application to a foreign Government for the services of an officer should have been made through this department and the Foreign Office, in accordance with the usual practice. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure 1. Sib,— Foreign Office, 25th July, 1887. I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit to you a copy of a note from the United States Minister at this Court, inquiring what are the wishes of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the inspection by an officer of the United States Government of certain arms which have been purchased of the Lee Arms Company, of Connecticut, by the Government of New Zealand. I am to request that, in laying this letter before Secretary Sir H. Holland, you will move him to inform.Loxd Salisbury what reply should be returned to Mr. Phelps. 1 am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. J. Pauncefote.

Sub-Enclosures. My Lord, — Legation of the United States, 19th July, 1887. I have the honour to enclose herewith the copy of a letter addressed by the Secretary of War to the Secretary of State of the United States relative to an application which has been made to the former to detail an officer to inspect certain arms which have been purchased of the Lee Arms Company, of Connecticut, by the Minister of Defence, New Zealand, " subject to the United States Government inspection ;" and I beg to acquaint your Lordship that I have been instructed to call the attention of the proper authorities to the matter, and to request you to be so good as to inform me of the wishes of Her Majesty's Government in reference thereto. I have, &c, The Marquis of Salisbury, E.G., &c. B. J. Phelps.

Si?,— War Department [U.S.A.], 30th June, 1887. A communication has been received from Mr. A. S. Winchester, the Treasurer of the Lee Arms Company, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in which he states that the company he represents has received an order for arms from the Minister of Defence, New Zealand, " subject to the United States Government inspection," and requesting the detail of an officer for making this inspection, suggesting the name of Captain S. A. Day, of the army, "whose certificate would be satisfactory to both us and our customer." The irregular manner in which this reaches our department leads me to think that some request for the purpose named may have been preferred by the properly-constituted authorities of New Zealand, and it is with a view of ascertaining this that I write you this letter. I have, &c, W. C. Endicott, The Secretary of State. Secretary of War.

Enclosure 2. Sib,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 10th August, 1887. I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, transmitting copy of a note from the United States Minister at this Court, inquiring as to the wishes of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the inspection by an officer of the United States Government of certain arms purchased by the Government of New Zealand from the Lee Arms Company, of Connecticut. In reply, I am to state that Sir H. Holland thinks that Mr. Phelps should be informed, in answer to his note, that Her Majesty's Government will be glad if the United States Government could assist the Government of New Zealand by detailing an officer for the purpose desired, and that the Government of New Zealand will be reminded that this application, being to a foreign Government, should have been made through the Foreign Office. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. 4—A. 2.