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Sub-enclosure. Sic, — Defence Office, Wellington, sth December, 1892. With reference to Army Order No. 170, " Volunteer Officers' Decoration," issued as a special Army Order on the 3rd August, 1892, I have the honour to state that at the recent session of the House of Bepresentatives a question was asked as to whether this decoration was available for the New Zealand Volunteers, which I was not in a position to reply to. I have therefore to request that this matter may be submitted to the Colonial Office, with a view to the Bight Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies being moved to recommend to His Boyal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief that the privilege of gaining this decoration may be extended to the New Zealand Volunteers on the terms set forth in the General Order above quoted. I have, &c, W. P. Beeves, The Hon. the Premier. (For the Defence Minister.)

No. 17. (No. 1.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 12th January, 1893. I have the honour, in reply to your despatch (New Zealand, No. 55) of 16th November, 1892, with reference to the imposition of quarantine on arrival from Hamburg, to inform your Lordship that, in view of the fact that more recent outbreaks of cholera have been reported to have occurred at Hamburg, my Government do not propose at present to relax any quarantine restrictions. Each vessel, on arriving, will be dealt with according to the state of health of passengers and crew, nature of cargo, &c. ; and the fact that a vessel has been medically inspected and quarantined prior to her departure will receive every consideration from the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, &c. GLASGOW.

A.-2, 1893, No. 36.

No. 18. (No. 4.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 7th March, 1893. I have the honour, in accordance with instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch circular of 24th October, 1892, to inform you that my Government are desirous that the stipulations of the Convention between Great Britain and Ecuador relative to trade-marks should be made applicable to New Zealand. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, &o. GLASGOW.

A.-2, 1893, No. 30.

No. 19. (No. 5.) My Loed,— Wellington, New Zealand, 7th March, 1893. I have the honour, in reply to your Lordship's despatch circular of the 30th August, 1892, relative to exemption of United States consular officers in British colonies from Customs duties in respect of official goods imported, to inform you that my Government approve of the suggestion, and will make provision for the exemption when the tariff is next amended. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, &c. GLASGOW.

A.-2, 1893, No. 22.

No. 20. (No. 6.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 28th April, 1893. In reply to your circular despatch, dated 27th August, 1892, inquiring what arrangements have been made by this colony for its representation at Conferences and Congresses of the Postal Union, I have the honour to inform you that at a Conference of representatives of the several Australasian Colonies at Brisbane, on the 21st March, it was moved by the Hon. J. G. Ward, Post-

A.-2, 1893, No. 20.

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