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3. In reply to the third paragraph of your Lordship's despatch, I have received the following minute from my Government:—" The discrepancy appears to have " arisen through two reserved bills being inadvertently transposed when sent to the " Government Printer, the numbers being in manuscript and not printed as is the " case with all other Acts. Reserved Bills not being statutes at the time are printed " for convenience after the Appropriation Act. As both of these Acts are repealed, "no further action appears to be necessary. The Acts as signed by His Excellency " the Governor are Chinese Immigrants No. 78 and Divorce & Matrimonial Causes "No. 79." I have etc., The Right Honble PLUNKET, The Secretary of State for the Colonies. Governor.

No. 26. No. 4. My Lord, Government House, Wellington, 4th January 1909. In reply to your despatch, No. 175, of the 22nd October, on the subject of the treatment of Commercial Travellers' Samples entering New Zealand, I have the honour to state that I have been requested by my Prime Minister to inform your Lordship as follows : — " The Customs marks and list referred to in the Agreement of the 19th Novem- " ber 1907 have not yet come within the experience of the Customs Officers in New "Zealand ; but there is no objection to adopting the proposal that the marks, stamps, " or seals placed upon travellers' samples by the Customs authorities abroad, and " the officially attested list of such samples, should be accepted by Customs officials " as exempting from inspection in New Zealand except in the following cases :— " (i.) When it may be necessary to view the goods to determine their " classification under the New Zealand Tariff. " (ii.) When it may be deemed desirable to identify the samples produced " with those specified on the list. " It is to be understood that the New Zealand practice of requiring deposit of the " duty in respect of all samples of mercantile value is not to be departed from, the " alternative of giving bond not being approved." I have etc., The Right Honble PLUNKET, The Secretary of State for the Colonies. Governor.

No. 27. ■ No. 5. My Lord, Government House, Wellington, 9th January 1909. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I have accepted the resignations of three of my Ministers and made five appointments in their place. 2. The Honourable W. Hall. Jones resigned to accept the position of High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, in place of the Honourable W. Pember Reeves ; the Honourable R. McNab was defeated at the General Elections ; the Honourable J. McGowan has retired and been called to the Legislative Council. 3. The names of the new Ministers are R. McKenzie, A. W. Hogg, D. Buddo and T. Mackenzie ; also A. T. Ngata, as member of the Executive Council. Mr. T. Mackenzie receives no salary and Mr. Ngata only £400 as representative of the Maori Race on the Executive Council. 4. Portfolios of the Executive have been rearranged and allotted as follows :— The Right Honourable Sir J. G. Ward—Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Postmaster-General, Minister of Telegraphs, Minister of Defence, Minister for Lands and Agriculture, Minister in Charge of Lands Settlement, Land and Income Tax Department, Advertising, Public Trust Office, Government Life and Accident Insurance and Electoral Departments. The Honourable J. Carroll—Native Minister, Minister of Stamps and Deeds, Minister in Charge of Cook and other Islands, Maori Councils and Advances to Settlers Office.