A.—2.

6

Her Majesty's Government, therefore, consider that the necessary legislation is within the competence of the New Zealand Legislature, and they will be glad if your Government will take steps for its enactment. I have, &c, J. CHAMBBELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c. No. 7.

No. 7. (General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th December, 1900. With reference to my circular despatch of the 30th May last, and to your despatch (No. 58) of the 9th August, relative to the conditions under which members of the Force raised in the colony under your government for service in South Africa were engaged, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the War Office in which the desirability of arrangements being made for furnishing all men discharged from colonial contingents with certificates of discharge is pointed out, and a form of discharge certificate is enclosed which Mr. Brodrick suggests might, if possible, be uniformly used with advantage. I have, <fee, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.

A.-2, 1901 No. 21. A.-l, 1901, No. 25.

Enclosure. Sir,— War Office, London, S.W., 30th November, 1900. With reference to your letter of the 19th ultimo (No. 15192/1900), forwarding copies of despatches received from the Governments of Victoria and New South Wales regarding the conditions under which the various forces were raised in those colonies for service in South Africa, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to invite your attention to the statement made in the case of the Victorian forces, which shows that provision exists for furnishing men discharged therefrom with certificates of discharge on application. If, as is presumed to be the case, the issue of these certificates is only intended to be made when men apply for them, the Secretary of State for War desires me to request that you will be so good as to move the Secretary of State for the Colonies to impress upon the Governments of those colonies which have furnished Contingents for service in South Africa, how desirable it is that arrangements should be made, if possible, for the issue of certificates of discharge to all members of colonial contingents discharged after service in South Africa. The experience of this department shows that various claims may be expected to arise hereafter in connection with the present operations in South Africa, and that the task of investigating such claims will be much facilitated if the applicants are able to produce certificates to show where, when, and in what Forces they served. Otherwise it will not always be easy to deal with claims, even when genuine, except after a more or less wasteful expenditure of time and labour. It also occurs to Mr. Brodrick that it would be an advantage if uniformity could be observed with regard to the form of the certificate to be given to the men of colonial contingents, and I am to enclose for Mr. Chamberlain's consideration a form of discharge certificate drawn up in accordance with that used for men of the regular Forces, but modified to meet the cases under notice. In the event of its adoption, I am to suggest the advisability of the certificate being printed on very stout paper, if the use of parchment is found to be impracticable, in order to withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. B. H. Knox.

No. 8. (General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th December, 1900. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the 15th May has been fixed as the day on which the International Telegraph Conference will be opened in London next year ; and 1 have, been asked by the Postmaster-General to convey to your Government, as a member of the Telegraph Union, the invitation of Her Majesty's Government to take part in that Conference, and to request that I may be informed, as early as possible, of the name and title of the delegate by whom your Government would propose to be represented. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., &c.