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A.—2

No. 54. (Miscellaneous.) My Loud, — Dawning Street, 31st October, 1902. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the War Office respecting the alterations to be made in the medals for meritorious service, for distinguished conduct in the field, and for long service and good conduct, to be issued in future to the Permanent Colonial Forces. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— War Office, London, S.W., 17th October, 1902. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you that the King has been pleased to approve of the medal for meritorious service in future bearing on the obverse the effigy of His Majesty, in place of the offigy of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria; and the medals for distinguished conduct in the field, and for long service, and good conduct, bearing on the obverse the effigy of His Majesty, in place of the trophy of arms as at present. Tho King's effigy will be that which has recently been approved for the new Africa General Service Medal, surmounted by the inscription " Edwardus VII., Bex Imperator." I have to add that the Deputy Master of the Mint has been requested to cause the necessary alterations to be made in the medals in future issued to the Colonial Forces. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office: G. Fleetwood Wilson.

No. 55. (Circular.) Sik, — Downing Street, 31st October, 1902. I have the honour to inform you that I have learnt from the Foreign Office that His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Home has reported that applications are being received at the British Embassy from various British Colonial subjects arriving in Italy for purposes of study, who, having left their colony in ignorance of the new regulations with regard to entry without payment to the national museums, galleries, excavations, and monuments of Italy, are not furnished with the necessary academic document upon which free passes are granted. 2. I transmit, therefore, for your information and for such publication as may be considered desirable, a copy of a notice recently issued from the Foreign Office, giving the substance of the law passed in April last in so far as it affects foreigners coming to Italy for purposes of study. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Eome has sent to the Foreign Office the law regulating entry, without payment of the ordinary fee, to the national museums, galleries, excavations and monuments of Italy, which has been approved by the Eoyal Decree of the 13th April, 1902. The privilege of free entry is by the law accorded to foreigners who are: (a.) Artists; (6) Art students and art critics who have issued noteworthy publications ; (c) Professors of archaeology, history, literature, and art; (d) Pupils of archaeological, historical, and art institutions, students in the departments of literature and philosophy, and in schools of practical engineering. Applications for a general permit for free entry to all museums, &c, must be sent to the Ministry of Public Instruction on stamped paper of 1 lira 20 c, with an unmounted photograph (of the applicant) not to exceed 5 centim. by 8 in size. Applications for free entry to archaeological and artistic institutes in a single town must be sent on stamped paper of 60 centimes to one of the heads of the institutes ; and, if the permit is required for more than a month, a photograph must be sent of the size mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The applications must be accompanied by the following documents : For persons under (a) and (c), by an academical document vise by the Italian diplomatic representative or Consul in the country to which the applicant belongs, or by the diplomatic representative of that country in