A.—2

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No. 96. New Zealand, No. 348. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd November, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 156, of the 26th September, or the subjsct of the appointment of Mr. H. R. Spence as Commercial Expert and Accredited Inquiry Agent for the New Zealand Department of Trads and Customs, with headquarters in London. 2. I request that you will inform your Minister? that the Board of Trade, to whom your despatch was communicated, have intimated that the Director of the Commercial Intelligence Branch of that Department will be happy to render Mr , Spence any assistance which can properly be afforcled him in connection with his inquiries. 3. I have so informed the High Commissioner for the Dominion. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

A.—l, 1913, No. 37.

No. 97. New Zealand, No. 354. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th November, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Home Office respecting the appointment of a departmental committee to inquire and report upon the precautions necessary in the use of celluloid in manufacture and the handling and storing of celluloid and celluloid articles. 2. I should be obliged if your Ministers would furnish, for the use of the committee, copies of any regulations on the subject which may be in force in New Zealand, together with any information available as to the working of such regulations and their effect on trade. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Home Office, Whitehall, 21st November, 1912. I am directed by Mr. Secretary McKenna to say, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that he has appointed a departmental committee to inquire and report upon the precautions necessary in the use of celluloid in manufacture and the handling and storage of celluloid and celluloid articles. The committee state that it would be very useful if they could be furnished with copies of the regulations dealing with this subject in force in the colonies, together with any information available as to the working of such regulations and their effect on trade, and Mr. McKenna would be glad if the request of the committee can be complied with. I am to add that it would be convenient if the replies of the various Governments concerned could be forwarded to the Home Office as they arrive. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. P. Byrne.

No. 98. New Zealand, No. 372. Sir, — Downing Street, 6th December, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the 22nd August, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Right Hon. Arnold Morley, under medical advice, has reluctantly asked to be relieved of the duties of the post of Chairman of the Royal Commission appointed in accordance with the resolution of the Imperial Conference of 1911 to inquire into the natural resources, trade, and legislation of certain portions of His Majesty's dominions. 2. His Majesty has been graciously pleased, on my advice, to confer the Chairmanship of the Commission on Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G., who has been a member of the Commission and Deputy Chairman since its inauguration. During the unavoidable absence from the chair of Mr. Morley, Sir Edgar Vincent has acted as