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Enclosure. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 11th October, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that I have appointed Mr. William Hepworth Mercer, of this department, to be one of the Crown Agents for the Colonies, in conjunction with Mr. E. E. Blake and Major M. A. Cameron, R.E., C.M.G. Mr. Mercer will fill the vacancy of third Crown Agent resulting from the appointment of Sir Montagu Frederick Ommanney, K.C.M.G. (senior Crown Agent), to be Permanent Undersecretary of State in this department. I have, &c, J. Chambeelain. The Officer Administering the Government of

No. 48. (No. 87.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 23rd October, 1900. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the War Office enclosing a copy of a telegram sent to the General Officer Commanding Lines of Communication, Capetown, giving instructions as to the mode of settlement with members of the oversea contingents serving in South Africa on return to their homes. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosures. Sib,— War Office, London, S.W., 19th October, 1900. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit herewith, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain and of the colonies concerned, if he deems it necessary that they should be acquainted therewith, the enclosed copy of a telegram which was recently despatched to the General Officer Commanding Lines of Communication, Capetown, giving instructions as to the mode of settlement with members of the oversea contingents serving in South Africa on return to their homes. I am, &c, G. Fleetwood Wilson. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W.

Post-office Telegeaphs. To General of Communications, Capetown. Members of oversea contingents returning to their homes on general disbandment to be paid to date of discharge, receiving a uniform advance of forty days' pay and messing-allowance, to be calculated from date of embarkation at South Africa, together with gratuity of £5, granted by Army Order 150 of 1900. Their discharge-certificates should date from the fortieth day after embarkation. Charges for the advance of pay, &c, will appear in the final pay-list, which should be rendered, if possible, before embarkation. These instructions not applicable to men coming to England with representative contingents. Their dates of discharge will be arranged in this country, and they should receive thirty days' advance of pay on embarking in South Africa. Accountant-Geneeal.

No. 49. (No. 91.) My Loed, — Downing Street, 31st October, 1900. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that Rear-Admiral Lewis A. Beaumont has been appointed to succeed Rear-Admiral Hugo L. Pearson as Naval Commander-in-Chief on the Australian station. I have, &c, H. BERTRAM COX, For the Secretary of State. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.