A.—2

26

of America) are therefore as follows : For the first ounce, 3 cents; for each succeeding ounce, 2 cents. 2. I trust that your Ministers will not raise any objection to the imposition of this tax in respect of letters sent from British Honduras to New Zealand, and will give instructions for surcharging insufficiently prepaid correspondence. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

No. 38. New Zealand, No. 450. My Lord,— Downing Street, 19th June, 1916. I have the honour to inform you that I have laid your telegram of the 2nd June before His Majesty the King, who was pleased to command me to express his thanks to yourself and the Government and people of New Zealand for the loyal message of congratulation on the occasion of his birthday. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

No. 39. New Zealand, No. 455. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st June, 1916. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Governor of St. Helena has submitted a proposal for the imposition of a war-tax of Id. on letters addressed from St. Helena to the United Kingdom and other parts of the Empire. 2. I have expressed my approval of this proposal, and am informing the Governor that in order to avoid delay it may be brought into force in anticipation of the consent of the other Administrations interested. I trust that your Ministers will not raise any objection to the imposition of such a fax in respect of letters sent from St. Helena to New Zealand, and will give instructions for surcharging insufficiently prepaid correspondence. 3. This tax is designed to provide additional revenue called for owing to the expenses to be borne by the colony in connection with local defence services, and is intended to continue for the duration of the war. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

A.-l, 1917, No. 44.

No. 40. New Zealand, No. 458. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd June, 1916. With reference to my despatch, No. 219, of the 25th March, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Governor of the Windward Islands has since submitted a proposal for the imposition of a war-tax of Id. on all letters and parcels addressed from Grenada and St. Lucia to the United Kingdom and other parts of the Empire. 2. I have expressed my approval of this proposal, and have informed the Governor that the tax may be brought into force in the case of all three colonies, Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia, from the Ist June, in anticipa-

A-l, 1917, No. 43.