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No. 61. New Zealand, No. 14. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 16th February, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's despatch, No. 193, of the 29th October, on the subject of the appointment of Mr. P. E. Davies as Vice-Consul for the Argentine Republic at Wellington. 2. From the enclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Davies it appears that he is not prepared to accept the appointment. I have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.—2, 1910, No. 85.

No. 62. New Zealand, No. 15. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 27th February, 1910. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I duly submitted to my Ministers for their consideration your despatch, No. 179, of the 24th September, in which was enclosed a copy of a note from the Chinese Minister concerning legislation in New Zealand relating to the immigration of Chinese subjects into the Dominion. 2. I herewith forward to you a copy of a memorandum upon this matter, received from my Prime Minister, from which it will be seen that the New Zealand Government are prepared to agree to two of the five modifications suggested by the Chinese Government. I have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1910, No. 71.

No. 63. New Zealand, No. 16. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 22nd March, 1910. With reference to Mr. Secretary Lyttelton's despatch (general) of the 6th July, 1904 t I have the honour to transmit a copy of a memorandum received from my Prime Minister on the subject of postage rates between New Zealand and French Oceania. I have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. K. P.O. 10-981(1). Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 18th March, 1910. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and begs to refer to Government House record 412/1904, covering a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies dated the 6th July, 1904, on the subject of postage rates between New Zealand and French Oceania. The Prime Minister would be glad if the question could be re-opened. Since 1904 this Dominion has established another mail route from New Zealand to Tahiti, which, with the original service, provides twenty-two voyages each way per annum at a cost to the Dominion of £8,200. In the meantime it is understood that the rates of postage between France and French Oceania have been reduced below Postal Union rates. Considering the proximity of Tahiti to New Zealand, and the close commercial ties which have been fostered by the action of this Government in subsidising the mail-services referred to, it is hoped that the present may be an opportune time for requesting the French Government to reconsider the question of entering into a reciprocal engagement under which letters between New Zealand and French Oceania may be sent at the minimum rate of Id. (10 centimes), instead of 2£d. (25 centimes'!. J. G. Ward, Prime Minister.