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No. 1. New Zealand, No. 53. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 150, of the 14th| December,! I|have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of correspondence on the subject of the date of celebration of His Majesty's birthday. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosures. No. 102. The Acting-Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir, — State Government House, Sydney, 23rd September, 1911. Referring to your despatch of the 3rd August last, No. 108, transmitting copy of a resolution of the Imperial Conference regarding the date of the celebration throughout the British Empire of the birthday of His Majesty King George V, I have the honour to inform you that Ministers have invited my attention to the fact that the law in New South Wales at present provides that the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty King George shall be celebrated as a public holiday on the Monday succeeding the day upon which it falls, unless a Proclamation is issued to declare that it shall be observed on the actual date. This latter course was, in obedience to the wish of His Majesty, followed last June. 2. Ministers are not quite clear from the resolution referred to, or your despatch of the 14th February last, whether the public observance of a holiday on the Monday succeeding the anniversary, and the holding of official functions on the 3rd June, would represent compliance with Imperial wishes, and, with the object of removing ambiguity in this respect, they have asked me to inquire from you whether the adoption of this procedure would fulfil requirements in this matter. I have, &c, W. P. CULLEN, Lieutenant-Governor.

New South Wales, No. 29. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir W. Cullen's despatch, No. 102, of the 23rd September, on the subject of the date of the celebration of His Majesty's birthday. 2. In reply, I have to request that you will inform your Ministers that I have laid Sir W. Cullen's despatch before His Majesty, who has graciously signified his pleasure that his birthday may be celebrated in New South Wales on the Monday following the day upon which it falls, if that procedure is more convenient to the Government and people of the State. I have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Chelmsford, K.C.M.G., &c. L. Harcourt.

No. 2. New Zealand, No. 56. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th February, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 135, of the 27th October last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the War Office on the subject of the carrying of colours by units of the New Zealand Forces. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir _ War Office, London S.W., sth February, 1912. With reference to your letter, No. 38980, dated the 17th January, 1912, forwarding a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, No. 135, dated the 27th October, 1911, on the subject of the carrying of colours by units of that Dominion, I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that they are pleased to observe that the Governor and Prime Minister of New Zealand recognize that Mounted Rifles should not carry guidons or colours. I am, however, to bring to your notice, with regard to the statement in the above-mentioned despatch that there are sixteen Infantry regiments in the Dominion entitled to carry King's and regimental colours, that of these sixteen regiments, eight are shown in the New Zealand Army List for October, 1911, as " Rifles."