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Government of India : Department of Revenue and Agriculture (C.V.A.), Sir,— Calcutta, 9th February, 1911. With reference to Lord Morley's despatch, No. 87 (Eevenue), dated the 7th October, 1910, and enclosures, regarding the institution of an inquiry into the sterilization of animal manures as carried out in Indian factories, I am directed to forward, for information, a copy of a letter, No. 294/297, dated 3rd February, 1911, addressed to the Governments o Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and the United Provinces —the local governments largely concerned in the matter. A further communication will in due course be made on the subject. I have, &c, H. B. Holme, Under-Secretary. His Majesty's Under-Secretary of State for India. Government of India : Department of Revenue and Agriculture, (C.V.A.), Sir,— Calcutta, 3rd February, 1911. I am directed to forward a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No. 87 (Revenue), dated the 7th October, 1910, with enclosures, from which it will be seen that it has been suggested by the Government of New Zealand that an Indian veterinary officer should be directed to inquire into and report upon the sterilization of animal manures as carried out in Indian factories, and that the Secertary of State has asked whether the Government of India are able to comply with this suggestion. 2. The Government of India lias no information as regards the mills in which the sterilization of animal manures is carried out. A list of bone-mills is, however, enclosed, which has been prepared from such materials as are easily available to the Government of India. 3. The Government of India will be glad if a veterinary officer can be deputed to ascertain in which of these mills sterilization of animal manures is'carried out. The officer so deputed should, afterpersonal inspection of the mills, submit a report as regards the condition and present methods under which the work of sterilization is carried on, together with such suggestions as he thinks fit for their improvement. The report should be forwarded to the Government of India, and on receipt of the reports thus prepared by the various provinces the Government of India would decide what action it is possible for them to undertake in future. 4. It will be seen from the letter of the 4th July, 1910, from the Minister of Agriculture in New Zealand that Mr. R. L. Ward (care of Messrs. Landale and Clark, Calcutta), who is the New Zealand Government's Inspector in India, has been instructed to give every assistance to this Government, and the Government of India have asked Mr. Ward to be good enough to give the necessary help to any veterinary officer conducting the inquiries now ordered, who may apply to him for information. 5. 1 am desired to request that an early reply may be sent to this letter. I have, &c, H. B. Holme, Under-Secretary. The Secretary to the Government of Madras, Revenue Department. The Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay. The Chief Secretary to the Government of Bengal. The Secretary to the Government of the United Provinces, Financial Department.

No. 140. New Zealand, No. 94. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th March, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 287, of the 9th December last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, which has been received from the Foreign Office, respecting the proposed reduction of the minimum postage-rate between New Zealand and French Oceania. I have, &c, L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Paris, 2nd March, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 122 (Treaty), of 30th November last, I have the honour to inform you that I am in receipt of a note from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that the French Government have no objection in principle to the proposed reduction of the minimum postage-rate between French Oceania and New Zealand to 10 centimes and Id., and that they will be glad to consider any draft agreement in this sense which may be submitted to them. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie.