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Enclosure. (2618.) Extract. Transandine Railway.—A historic event occurred on the 27th November in the final meeting of the two tunnels commenced some five years ago from the Chilean and Argentine sides of the Andes. The work has been carried on steadily but quietly by a syndicate chiefly English, and the engineers have been entirely English. It is stated that at the point of piercing only a difference of inches in horizontal and vertical direction was found. The tunnel will make an all-train journey now possible between Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Valpariso, and, with a quick steamer service between England and River Plate, and between Valpariso and Sydney, it might shorten the journey to Australia—fifteen days from England to Buenos Aires, two days from there to Valpariso, and ten (lavs from the latter port to Sydney. The company expects to be able to run trains throughout the year, and it is felt here that Chile is not so isolated from Europe as she was before the advent of the tunnel.

No. 130. New Zealand, No. 29. My Lord, — Downing Street, 9th February, 1910. With reference to your despatch No. 77, of the 30th September, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of India in Council to the Secretary of State for India, on the subject of the compilation of statistics of Indians resident in the British dominions beyond the seas in connection with the census of 1911. 2. I shall be glad to learn whether your Ministers will find it possible to adopt the suggestions made in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of the Census Commissioner's letter of the 13th November last. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0.. &c

No. 131. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th February, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No. 85, of the 25th October, enclosing a memorandum from your Prime Minister urging that the rule relating to the recognition of the title of " Honourable " throughout His Majesty's dominions should be made to extend to the Judges of the Supreme Court. 2. I laid the "matter before His Majesty the King, and His Majesty has been pleased to approve of my recommendation that the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme and superior Courts of His Majesty's self-governing dominions, who by local usage receive the title of " Honourable " while in office, or who may have been or may hereafter be permitted to bear the title on retirement, should enjoy the title throughout the Empire.

A j, 1910, No. 73.

Date. Description. 1909. 'ecember 10 ... Extract from a report by H.M. representative at Santiago.