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Lord Salisbury would be glad if Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies would cause his thanks to be conveyed to the Premier of New Zealand, whose desire to assist the Egyptian Government will be highly appreciated. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. P. H. Villiers.

No. 45. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 20th September, 1900. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of a Convention between the United Kingdom and the United States of America relative to the disposal of real and personal property, signed at Washington on the 2nd March, 1899, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Washington on the 28th July, 1900. It will be observed from Article IV. of the Convention that, if it is desired that the stipulations of the Convention should be made applicable to any of the colonies or foreign possessions of Her Majesty, notice to that effect must be given on behalf of any such colony or foreign possession by Her Majesty's Kepresentative at Washington to the United States Secretary of State within one year from the date of the exchange of the ratifications. I shall therefore be glad to be informed, as soon as possible, whether the colony under your government wishes to adhere to the Convention. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Convention between the United Kingdom and the United States of Ameeica eelative to the Disposal of Eeal and Personal Peopeety. Signed at Washington, 2nd March, 1899 ; Ratifications exchanged at Washington, 28th July, 1900. Hee Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States of America, desiring to improve the condition of the subjects and citizens of each of the respective countries in relation to the tenure and disposition of real and personal property situated or being within the territories of the other, as well as to authorise the representation of deceased persons by the Consuls of their respective nations in the settlement of estates, have resolved to conclude a Convention for those purposes, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries : Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Eight Hon. Sir Julian Pauncefote, Knight Grand Cross of the Orders of the Bath and of St. Michael and St. George, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain; and the President of the United States of America, the Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States of America; who, having exchanged their said full powers, found in due and proper form, have agreed to and signed the following articles: — Article I. Where, on the death of any person holding real property (or property not personal) within the territories of one of the contracting parties, such real property would, by the laws of the land, pass to a subject or citizen of the other were he not disqualified by the laws of the country where such real property is situated, such subject or citizen shall be allowed a term of three years in which to sell the same, this term to be reasonably prolonged if circumstances render it necessary, and to withdraw the proceeds thereof without restraint or interference, and exempt from any succession, probate, or administrative duties or charges other than those which may be imposed in like cases upon the subjects or citizens of the country from which such proceeds may be drawn. Article 11. The subjects or citizens of each of the contracting parties shall have full power to dispose of their personal property within the territories of the other by testament, donation, or otherwise ; and their heirs, legatees, and donees, being subjects or citizens of the other contracting party, whether resident or non-resident, shall succeed to their said personal property, and may take possession thereof either by themselves or by others acting for them, and dispose of the same at their pleasure, paying such duties only as the citizens or subjects of the country where the property lies shall be liable to pay in like cases. Article 111. In case of the death of any subject of Her Britannic Majesty in the United States, or of any citizen of the United States of America in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, without having, in the country of his decease, any known heirs or testamentary executors by him appointed, the competent local authorities shall at once inform the nearest Consular officer of the nation to which the deceased person belonged of the circumstance, in order that the necessary information may be immediately forwarded to persons interested. 4—A. 2.