5

A.—2

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 84. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th February, 1913. With reference to your telegram of the 17th February, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of correspondence with the Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada on the subject of the reduction of the quorum of the Dominion Royal Commission when taking evidence in the oversea dominions. 2. I enclose copies of the new Commission, which has received His Majesty's approval. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G.,p.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. The Governor-General or Canada to the Secretary or State for the Colonies. (Telegram.) Your telegram of 12tli February :My Ministers advise that they consider quorum of five preferable, but if His Majesty's Government consider reduction to three specially desirable they will not object. Arthur. Canada, No. 159. Sir,— Downing Street, 27th February, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Royal Highness's telegram of the 13th February on the subject of the proposed alteration in the quorum of the Dominions Royal Commission. 2. With the concurrence of the Governments of the other self-governing dominions, steps have been taken, to issue a new Commission, of which copies are enclosed, empowering three or more of the Commissioners, in cases in which it is thought desirable, to exercise the powers of calling witnesses, &c, when in the oversea dominions. 3. At the same time, the attention of the Commissioners will be called to the preference expressed by your Government for the maintenance of the original number of the quorum. 4. A copy of your telegram and of this despatch is being sent to the Governors-General and Governors of the other self-governing dominions. I have, &c, L. Harcourt. Governor-General His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and of Strathearn, K.G., K.T., K.P., G.C.8., G.C.5.1., G.C.M.G., G.C.1.8., G.C.V.0., &c. Commission passed under the Royal Sign-manual and Signet, reappointing Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G., and Others to be Commissioners to inquire into the Natural Resources, Trade, and Legislation of certain Portions of His Majesty's Dominions, and reappointing Edward John Harding, Esq., M.A., to be Secretary to the Commission. George R.I. Dated 24th February, 1913. George the Fifth, by the Grace of God of the -United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India :To our trusty and well-beloved Sir Edgar Vincent, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Knight; our trusty and well-beloved Tom Garnett, Esquire; our trusty and well-beloved William Lorimer, Esquire; our trusty and well-beloved Joseph Tatlow, Esquire ; and our trusty and well-beloved Sir Alfred Edmund Bateman, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (representing our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable George Eulas Foster, Docto of Laws, Minister of Trade and Commerce of our Dominion of Canada (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and well-beloved Donald Campbell, Esquire, Bachelor of Laws, formerly member of the House of Assembly of our State of South Australia (representing our Commonwealth of Australia) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable John Robert Sinclair, member of the Legislative Council of our Dominion of New Zealand (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Sir Richard Solomon, Knight Grand Cross of our Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Knight Commander of our Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight Commander of our Royal Victorian Order, High Commissioner in London for our Union of South Africa (representing our said Union) ; and our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Edgar Rennie Bowring, member of the Legislative Council of our Colony of Newfoundland (representing our said Colony) : Greeting.

Canada, No. 159. Sm,— Downing Street, 27th February, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Royal Highness's telegram of the 13th February on the subject of the proposed alteration in the quorum of the Dominions Royal Commission. 2. With the concurrence of the Governments of the other self-governing dominions, steps have been taken, to issue a new Commission, of which copies are enclosed, empowering three or more of the Commissioners, in cases in which it is thought desirable, to exercise the powers of calling witnesses, &c, when in the oversea dominions. 3. At the same time, the attention of the Commissioners will be called to the preference expressed by your Government for the maintenance of the original number of the quorum. 4. A copy of your telegram and of this despatch is being sent to the Governors-General and Governors of the other self-governing dominions. I have, &c, L. Harcourt. Governor-General His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and of Strathearn, K.G., K.T., K.P., G.C.8., G.C.5.1., G.C.M.G., G.C.1.8., G.C.V.0., &c. Commission passed under the Royal Sign-manual and Signet, reappointing Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G., and Others to be Commissioners to inquire into the Natural Resources, Trade, and Legislation of certain Portions of His Majesty's Dominions, and reappointing Edward John Harding, Esq., M.A., to be Secretary to the Commission. George R.I. Dated 24th February, 1913. George the Fifth, by the Grace of God of the -United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India : To our trusty and well-beloved Sir Edgar Vincent, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Knight; our trusty and well-beloved Tom Garnett, Esquire; our trusty and well-beloved William Lorimer, Esquire; our trusty and well-beloved Joseph Tatlow, Esquire ; and our trusty and well-beloved Sir Alfred Edmund Bateman, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (representing our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable George Eulas Foster, Dooto of Laws, Minister of Trade and Commerce of our Dominion of Canada (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and well-beloved Donald Campbell, Esquire, Bachelor of Laws, formerly member of the House of Assembly of our State of South Australia (representing our Commonwealth of Australia) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable John Robert Sinclair, member of the Legislative Council of our Dominion of New Zealand (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Sir Richard Solomon, Knight Grand Cross of our Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Knight Commander of our Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight Commander of our Royal Victorian Order, High Commissioner in London for our Union of South Africa (representing our said Union) ; and our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Edgar Rennie Bowring, member of the Legislative Council of our Colony of Newfoundland (representing our said Colony) : Greeting.