+ 3 197. Communications from the Governor to a British Consul, or to a foreign Consul-General or Consul, should be signed by the Colonial Secretary. 198. Communications from a Consulate to the Governor should be signed by the senior officer of the Consulate. G. Individuals. 199. Persons in a Colony, whether public func- tionaries or private individuals, who have any repre- sentations of a public or private nature to make to the Government should address them to the Governor through the Colonial Secretary. The duty of the Governor is to consider and act upon each such repre- sentation as public expediency or justice to the individual may appear to require, with the assistance in certain cases of his Executive Council; and if he doubts what steps to take thereupon, or if publie advantage may appear to require it, he will refer the Matter to the Secretary of State. 200. Any person in a Colony has the right to address the Secretary of State, if he thinks proper; in which case he must transmit such communication, unsealed and in triplicate, to the Governor, requesting him to forward it in due course to the Secretary of State. Every letter, memorial, or other document which may be received by the Secretary of State from a Colony Otherwise than through the Governor will be referred back to the Governor for his report. 201. The preceding rule requiring transmission of Correspondence with the Secretary of State through the Governor is based on the strongest grounds of Public convenience, in order that all communications May he duly verified, as well as reported on, before they reach the Secretary of State. It extends there- fore to communications relating to public affairs as well as to the concerns of the writer, to those from 5111