17

A.—2

Enclosure. The Admiralty to the Colonial Office. Sir, — Admiralty, 9th September, 1891. I have laid before my Lords Commissioners of-the Admiralty your letter of the 12th ultimo relative to the admission of boys and young men of New Zealand birth into Her Majesty's Australasian Naval Squadron, and after full consideration their Lordships desire me to state, for the information of Lord Knutsford, that, while they are not prepared to depart from the principle of the continuous and general service system, their Lordships will be willing to make arrangements for the admission into the Eoyal navy of men and boys of Australian and New Zealand birth on the following lines : —■ 1. Able or ordinary seamen to be entered on the Australian Station to fill vacancies as non-continuous-service men for six months' trial on the station, and if after that time they are found suitable they will be allowed to join the navy as continuous-service men, and will be paid (as continuous-service men) from the date of their original entry. Men so entered will be sent to England for training in gunnery, &c, but they will afterwards be employed on the Australian Station if they so desire. 2. Boys who volunteer, and come up to the standard, will be accepted and brought to England for training with the paid-off crews of Her Majesty's ships, and after undergoing the necessary training they will be employed, as far as possible, on the Australian Station, if they so desire. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Evan Macgregor.

No. 26. (New Zealand, No. 43.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th September, 1891. I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit to you, for communication to your Lordship's Government, the document specified in the annexed schedule on the subject of the retirement of Sir F. D. Bell. w. g. hebbeet.

The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. The Colonial Office to Sir F. D. Bell. Sir, —• Downing Street, 23rd September, 1891. I am directed by Lord Knutsford to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant notifying the provisional appointment of Mr. W. Kennaway, C.M.G., as Agent-General for New Zealand, pending the appointment of your successor by the Governor. His Lordship desires me to take this opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the courtesy and ability with which you have invariably conducted all your business with this department, and his regret that you are now retiring from the office which you have filled with so much advantage to Her Majesty's Government, as well as to the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G. John Bramston.

No. 27. (New Zealand, No. 47.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th October, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 54, of the 21st of August, respecting the proposed federation of Australia. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Onslow, &c. KNUTSFOED.

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No. 28. (New Zealand, No. 48.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd October, 1891, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 52, of the 11th August last, enclosing a memorandum from the Fremier of your 3—A. 2.

A.~1,1892,N0.1l

Date. Description of Document. !3rd September... Copy of a letter to Sir E. D. Bell.