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her trade with the islands in the Pacific, bring her into constant relationship with the markets of Sydney. Wellington, on the other hand, trades in frozen meat and wool almost wholly with England, and draws from England nearly the whcle of her imports. Wellington especially, and the other centres in a lesser degree, resent Mr. Deakin's proposal for intercolonial Free-trade coupled with absolute Protection against the rest of the world (including the Mother country), in order, say the statesmen of Victoria, "to establish the protective principle in its fullest " extent to protect us against the underpaid workmen of the Old World." Meanwhile, Sir Harry Atkinson, the Premier, is recruiting his health at Hobart, and will probably remain there till February, to represent with some other Minister the interests of New Zealand at the conference of representatives of all the colonies to be held before or after the next meeting of the Federal Council. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 37. (No. 1.) Government House, Dunedin, New Zealand, My Lord, — Ist January, 1890. In accordance with your Lordship's Despatch No. 8, of the 7th May, 1889, the Colonial Government steamship " Hinemoa " was prepared to start, with provisions, and a wooden house for the accommodation of any persons who might land on the Macquarie Islands, having on board Mr. S. Percy Smith, the Surveyor-General, to whom I was about to issue a warrant directing him to make a Proclamation declaring her Majesty's sovereignty over the islands in question, when I received a telegram from the Governor of Tasmania stating that he had read of my intention in the newspapers, and informing me that the Macquarie Islands were included in the letters patent constituting the office of Governor of Tasmania. I accordingly transmitted my telegram of the 21st December to your Lordship, and in reply received your Lordship's telegram of the 28th December. Under the circumstances, I have directed the captain of the " Hinemoa " to refrain from exercising any act which may be deemed to denote an intention on the part of the Government of this colony to assume any rights over those islands, until I hear further from your Lordship. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1800, No. 12.

A.-2, 1890, No. 41.

No. 38. (No. 3.) My Loud,— Government House, Dunedin, 3rd January, 1890. deferring to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 19th September last, respecting the suggestion of the Board of Trade that it is not desirable to continue the practice of allowing owners of colonial certificates to be examined for Board of Trade certificates of the same value, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the suggestions contained in the letter from the Board of Trade will be adopted in this colon}'. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

A.-2, 1890, No. 81.

No. 39. (No. 5.) My Lobd, — Government House, Dunedin, 15th January, 1890. With reference to your Lordship's Circular No. 5, of the 29th March, 1889, respecting a treaty of commerce, friendship, and navigation between Her Majesty's Governmenti and the United States of Mexico, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, inasmuch as there is no prospect of any trade with Mexico", and the proposed treaty might "possibly interfere with other tariff arrangements, my Government would prefer that NewZealand should be excluded. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONBLOW.