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No. 44. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 27th September, 1887. I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, arising out of an application made by the Agent- General for Victoria that the services of a lieutenant of the Eoyal Navy might be obtained to assist in the instruction of the officers and men of the Victorian naval forces. You will observe that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty suggest that it is very desirable that a scale of remuneration for naval officers employed under colonial Governments should be laid down which should be applicable to all the colonies, and be sufficiently attractive to induce officers to volunteer. I should be glad if you will submit this proposal to your Government, and suggest to them that an endeavour should be made to come to some understanding with the Governments of the other Australasian Colonies, with a view to the adoption, among the several Governments, of a uniform scale of pay, as suggested by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. A copy of this circular despatch has been communicated to the AgentGeneral for the colony under your Government. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sib, — Admiralty, 15th September, 1887. With reference to your letter of the 27th June last, and Admiralty reply of the 4th July, No. 1889, relative to the request of the Agent-General for Victoria that the services of a lieutenant, E.N., might be obtained as an addition to the present instructing staff of the Victoria naval forces, on the following conditions—namely, salary, £350 per annum, rations as per scale, one servant, quarters on board, free first-class passage out and Home, —I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth was requested to provide an officer on the above terms, and that he has replied that he cannot recommend a lieutenant with the necessary qualifications to accept such an appointment with the remuneration offered. It is represented that a first-class torpedo or gunnery lieutenant of ten years' seniority in one of Her Majesty's ships might receive £328 per annum, against which the colony offers £350 ; that the officer accepting such an appointment may run some risk of losing chances of advancement in the service afloat, and will be subject to the increased expenses consequent on residence in such a colony as Victoria. My Lords observe that the salary offered is not equivalent to that which officers have hitherto enjoyed in such appointments : for instance, Lieutenant the Hon. P. M. Hely-Hutchinson, Torpedo Lieutenant serving under the Victorian Government, has been in receipt of colonial pay of £400 a year, and of naval half-pay £91 ss. per annum, and counts his time in full except for promotion, with rations and allowances equal to those granted to officers of similar standing in the Victorian navy. It must be remembered that officers in future appointed will not receive half-pay, but will count time for promotion. My Lords fear that the proposed remuneration would not be attractive to valuable officers; but they are of opinion that, in view of the inauguration of a new system, it is very desirable to have a scale of remuneration for naval officers employed under colonial Governments laid down which would be applicable to all the colonies, and be sufficiently attractive to induce officers to volunteer; and they would suggest consideration of this point before further action is taken. I have, &c, The Under-Seeretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgeegoe.

No. 45. (New Zealand, No. 62.) Sib,— Downing Street, 28th September, 1887. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 73, of the 12th ultimo, reporting the commutation of the capital sentence passed upon three Maoris, Aporo, Te Hau, and Te Uri. I have, &c, H. T. HOLLAND. Governor Sir W. F, D. Jervois, GhC.M.Gh, C.8., &c.

A.-1, 1888, No. 4.