49

A.—2

Enclosure. [Tkanslatiox.J (;55702.) Yotu Kxcellenct, — Austro-Hungaiian Embassy, 20th September, 1909. The Austro-Hungarian Consul at Auckland has reported to the Imperial Lord Chamberlain's office that the Government of New Zealand have handed over to him, for His .Majesty the Emperor, six kiwis and four keas. In accordance with the Imperial commands, I have the honour to request that the warmest thanks of His Apostolic Majesty for this presentation may be conveyed to the Government of New Zealand. The authorities of the Imperial menagerie at Schonbrunn have been instructed to place them selves in communication with the Consulate at Auckland. 1 have, &c, Tarnowski.

No. 80. Dominions Circular. Sir,— Downing Street, 11th October, 1909. With reference to Lord Elgin's circular despatch of the 25th September, 1907, respecting the Rules of Court relating to the procedure with regard to the execution of " Commissions Rogatoires " and Letters of Request emanating from foreign tribunals, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that, my attention has been called to cases in which such documents have been received by a Colonial Government, direct from the foreign State for whose Tribunal the evidence is sought. These are cases in which the territory of the foreign State is adjacent to or situated a comparatively short distance from that part of His Majesty's Dominions to which the " Commission Rogatoire" or Letter of Request is forwarded for execution. In such cases unnecessary inconvenience and delay would obviously arise if the depositions were to be returned through this Department and the Foreign Office, as contemplated by the rules adopted in most of the King's dominions. It is therefore desirable that they should be returned to the Foreign Court or Tribunal through the same channel as that through which the "Commission ' is received. T have to request that such instructions may be given as will insure that in the case of " Commissions Rogatoires " or Letters of Request received from foreign Tribunals through this Department the depositions will be returned through the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Foreign Office, and that in the case of similar documents which are forwarded direct from the foreign Stale they will be returned direct. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be good enough to take steps to amend the Rules of Court adopted in New Zealand as the result of the circular referred i<> above in any way that may be deemed necessary to insure this procedure. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 81. New Zealand, No. 188. My Lord,— Downing Street, 11th October, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a note addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the Belgian Minister respecting the Third International and Quinquennial Botanic Congress, to be held at Brussels in May, 1910. 2. I have also to enclose copies of circulars furnishing particulars of the Congress. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. 7—A. 2.

A.-l, 1910, No. 51.