A.—2

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The said Consular officer shall have the right to appear, personally or by delegate, in all proceedings on behalf of the absent heirs or creditors until they are otherwise represented. Article IV. The stipulations of the present Convention shall not be applicable to any of the colonies or foreign possessions of Her Britannic Majesty unless notice to thac effect shall have been given on behalf of any such colony or foreign possession by Her Britannic Majesty's representative at Washington to the United States Secretary of State within one year from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the present Convention. It is understood that, under the provisions of this article, Her Majesty can in the same manner give notice of adhesion on behalf of any British protectorate or sphere of influence, or on behalf of the Island of Cyprus, in virtue of the Convention of the 4th June, 1878, between Great Britain and Turkey. The provisions of this Convention shall extend and apply to any territory or territories pertaining to or occupied and governed by the United States beyond the seas only upon notice to that effect being given by the representative of the United States at London, by direction of the treatymaking power of the United States. Article V. In all that concerns the right of disposing of every kind of property, real or personal, subjects or citizens of each of the high contracting parties shall, in the dominions of the other, enjoy the rights which are or may be accorded to the subjects or citizens of the most favoured nation. Article VI. The present Convention shall come into effect ten days after the day upon which the ratifications are exchanged, and shall remain in force for ten years after such exchange. In case neither of the high contracting parties shall have given notice to the other twelve months before the expiration of the said period of ten years of the intention to terminate the present Convention, it shall remain in force until the expiration of one year from the day on which either of the high contracting parties shall have given such notice. Her Britannic Majesty or the United States shall also have the right separately to terminate the present Convention at any time on giving twelve months' notice to that effect in regard to any British colony, foreign possession, or dependency, as specified in Article IV., which may have acceded thereto. Article VII. The present Convention shall be duly ratified by Her Britannic Majesty and by the President of the United States, by and with the approval of the Senate thereof, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London or in Washington. In faith whereof we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty, and have hereunto affixed our seals. Done in duplicate, at Washington, the 2nd day of March, 1899. Julian Pauncepote. John Hay.

No. 4G. (No. 81.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st September, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 54) of the 2nd August, stating that the French inhabitants of New Zealand have expressed to you, through their Consul, their condolence with Her Majesty on the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. 2. This message has been laid before the Queen, and Her Majesty commands me to convey her sincere thanks for this kind expression of sympathy. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEBLAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-l, l'JOl, No. 21.

No. 47. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 11th October, 1900. I have the honour to transmit, for the information of your Government, a copy of a circular despatch which I have addressed to the Governors of colonies employing the Crown Agents for the Colonies, notifying the appointment of Mr. William Hepworth Mercer to the vacancy of the third Crown Agent. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.