DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1911 Session I, A-02

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1911. NR W ZEA I. AND

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency,

INDEX.

No. of Series. Date. Subject. Page 1 2 3 4 5 0 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 10 17 18 10 20 21 22 23 24 25 20 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 30 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 00 l>1 02 ti:s 1010. Mar. 16 „ 18 „ 24 „ 30 „ 31 April 1 2 8 „ 12 „ 15 „ 15 ,. 22 „ 22 ., 22 „ 22 » 22 „ 28 May 4 6 6 „ 11 „ 13 „ 19 >. 27 „ 31 June 2 2 3 3 ,. 10 ., 17 „ 17 ,, 17 „ 30 „ 30 „ 30 „ 30 July 4 4 6 7 „ 12 „ 13 „ 13 „ 14 „ 15 „ 19 „ 21 „ 22 ., 27 „ 29 „ 29 „ 29 „ 30 Aug. 5 „ 19 „ 25 „ 25 ,, 25 25 „ 31 ., 31 ., 31 Recognition of French passenger-steamer certificates Purchase of Ayrshire cattle Leaving certificates for army purposes Wreck of s.s. " Waikare " Termination of Lord Plunket's tenure of office Prohibition of importation of bone flour into New Zealand from United Kingdom Examination and registration of horses Importation of frozen meat into Sweden United States tariff on goods from New Zealand Money-order Convention with France Gift of warship by New Zealand Casualties returns Entry of Australians and New-Zealanders into Imperial Navy Colonial merchant shipping legislation Money-order Convention with France Members of New Hebrides Joint Court New French Customs tariff .. .. Importation of foodstuffs in the United States United States tariff The Combines Investigation Act Forgeries of certificates of character on army forms Sale of liquor and ammunition by French citizens to Natives of New Hebrides Accidents at sea Conference of Surveyors-General Sympathy of Westport, Whitehaven disaster . . Resurvey of Rangitoto Channel Report on Dominions Department Pardon to deserters Expenditure on religious services in the Crown colonies South African Customs Union Convention Life-saving appliances on Danish ships Pelagic scaling in Pacific and Behring Sea Report of the Inter-departmental Committee on Naturalization Messages of condolence, death of King Edward Exportation of animals for breeding purposes Taxation of land-values in New Zealand Letters from New Zealand Anti-Opium Association Information re agricultural instruction in New Zealand for Denmark Act No. 10 of 1909 Services of Imperial naval officers in Dominions Postal rates between New Zealand and French Oceania Life-saving appliances on ships Customs facilities to Consuls Regulations re commissions in H.M. Regular Army Life-saving appliances for Dutch ships Messages of condolence, death of King Edward The Defence Act, 1909 .. .. Privileges accorded to ships of foreign nations in Swedish harbours Reorganization of prison system of New Zealand Imperial Copyright Conference Financial relations between central and local Governments Parliamentary Acts interchange Use by His Majesty's ships of the dock at Wellington Emigration of ex-soldiers Message of condolence, death of King Edward International Competition of Practical Telegraphy Messages of condolences, death of King Edward Messages of condolences, death of King Edward Addresses passed by Legislative Council and House of Representatives re death of King Edward Prohibition of nightwork for women in industrial employment Investigation and prevention of anthrax Use of Royal Arms by tradesmen Exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand , , , , ,, 3 3 3 4 5 6 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 15 16 16 17 17 17 18 19 2(i 20 2! 21 2-2 ■22 ■2-A ■2:>> 23 24 ■2i< 25 26 21 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 31 32 32 32 34 34 35 35 35 35 36 37 87

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INDEX—con tinued.

So. of ierios. Date. Subject. Page. Page. 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 7J 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 9.1 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 J 1.5 1910. ! Sept. 1 I 2 8 9 „ 10 „ 16 „ 20 „ 21 „ 21 „ 23 „ 21 „ 28 Oct. 4 7 „ 19 „ 20 „ 20 „ 21 „ 21 „ 26 „ 28 „ 28 „ 31 „ 31 Nov. 3 9 „ U „ 11 7 „ 17 „ 18 „ 25 » 25 „ 25 ., 25 „ 25 „ 25 „ 25 „ 30 „ 30 „ 30 Dec. 9 1 7 „ W „ 16 „ 23 „ 23 „ 30 „ 30 1911. Jan. 5 „ 13 ,. 13 „ 21 „ 24 „ 26 „ 26 „ 27 „ 27 Feb. 3 8 „ 10 ,. 10 „ 15 » 13 „ 14 „ 21 „ 20 „ 24 „ 24 Mar. 8 „ 10 „ 10 „ 10 „ 10 „ 10 „ 15 ., 16 ,. 17 ., 17 '.. 17 ,. 24 ., 30 Regency Act, 1910 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..38 Appointment of Colonel Davies as a temporary Brigadier-General . . . . . . 38 Moat-supply in Canada and United States .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 Validity of Consular marriages .. . . .. .. .. .. .. j 40 Prohibition of nightwork for women in industrial employment .. . . . . .. j 42 Conference of Surveyors-General .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 42 Reduction in transit dues, Suez Canal Company .. .. .. ... 43 Messages of condolence, death of King Edward .. .. .. .. .. 44 Exchange of money-orders between Erance and New Zealand . . . . . . 44 Postponement of Radiotelegraphic Conference .. . . .. . . . . ; 44 Conference on the protection of industrial property .. . . .. . . . . j 46 Letters of request before foreign tribunals . . . . .. .. . . .. 45 New public seals .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 North Atlantic Coast fisheries .. .. . . .. .. .. 46 Nobel Peace Prize of 1911 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..46 Radiotelegraphic Convention .. . . . . .. .. .. 47 Pensions of non-commissioned officers . . .. .. .. . . . . j 47 Message of condolence, death of King Edward.. .. .. .. .. . . ' 47 International Competition of Practical Telegraphy .. .. .. .. 48 Parliamentary Acts interchange .. .. .. .. .. .. 48 Cable across the Atlantic between Great Britain and Canada .. .. .. .. 48 Title of " The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital " for- Chrldrens' Hospital in Wellington . . 50 Distressed colonial and Indian subjects .. .. .. .. .. ..50 Messages of condolence, death of King Edward .. .. .. .. .. 50 Recognition, of load-line certificates issued to Swedish ships ... .. .. ..50 Resurvey of Rangitoto Channel .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 Steamship service between Auckland and San Francisco . . . . . . .. j 51 Construction, of an Atlantic cable to complete through line to the Pacific.. .. . . 52 High prices of foodstuffs in United States .. .. .. .. .. ..' 52 Message of condolence, death of King Edward.. .. .. .. .. ..53 Seals of Colonial Department . . .. .. .. .. .. 54 North American fisheries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 54 Deportation of undesirable aliens from self-governing dominions.. .. .. ... 54 Naturalization . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 55 Publication of names of officers who have passed examinations for promotion .. .. SoProposed extension Pacific cable .. .. .. .. .. . . .. ; 50 Administration of estates of Ottoman subjects .. ,. .. .. . . 57 North Atlantic Coast fisheries arbitration .. .. .. .. . . ... 58 Appointment of members of combined Court in New Hebrides . . .. .. .. 58 Military forces to Ire represented at Coronation .. . . .. . . .. i 59 .Appeals from Supreme Courts of Tasmania and New .Brunswick to His Majesty in Council . . j (iO Treaty of commerce and navigation with Honduras .. .. .. .. . . | 00 Appointment of Admiral King Hall as Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's ships. . .. ! 00 Reduction of postal rates between New Zealand and French Oceania .. .. .. 60 Representation of New Zealand at Coronation. . .. . . .. .. 61 Regulations for preventing collisions at sea .. .. .. .. . . .. 61 Alterations in forms of certificates of registry, &o., of British ships .. .. .. 61 New designs for gold and bronze coins . . .. . . .. . . .. 62 Money-order Convention between New Zealand and Erance . . .. .. 63 Appointment of Sir Francis Henry May as Governor of Fiji .. .. 63 Money-order Convention between Fiance and New Zealand . . . . . . 64 Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act .. . . .. . . .. 64 116 117 118 119 120 121. 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 .130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand .. .. . . 06 The Crimes Amendment Act . . .. .. .. .. .. 67 Seamen and Shipping Amendment Act . . . . .. .. .. 67 Armorial bearings for Now Zealand .. . . .. . . .. . . 68 Resolutions re manufacture of opium for export to China .. .. . . 68 H.M.S. "Torch" .. .. " .. .. .. .. .. .. ..68 International Maritime Conventions .. .. .. .. . . . . 69 Report re removal naval base to New Zealand .. .. .. . . 69 New designs for silver coins. . .. . . .. . ■ .. . . 70 Message of condolence, death of King Edward. . .. .. .. .. .. 71 Petitions re, Indo-Chinese opium traffic . . . . . . . . . . 71 Deportation of undesirable aliens .. .. . . . . .. . . 71 Appeals .. .. .. .. .. • • • • ■ • • • 72 Conference of Surveyors-General .. . . .. . . . . .. 72 Nomination and examination of New Zealand candidates for naval cadetships .. .. 72 Permission to New Zealand Ministers to wear uniform of second class .. .. .. 73 King's birthday .. .. .. .. • • . • • • ■ ■ 73 Bills of exchange .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ■ ■ 74 State portraits of late King Edward and Queen Alexandra .. . . . . 74 Resolutions re Indo-Chinese opium traffic .. .. .. .. .. 74 Qualified English teachers employed in New Zealand .. .. .. 74 Uniform design for postage-stamps .. .. .. . . .. .. 76 Examination of engineers in mercantile marine .. .. .. . . 76 Sterilization irr India of animal manures . . .. .. . . .. 77 Reduction of postage-rate between New Zealand arrd French Oceania . . .. . . 78 Conference of Surveyors-General .. .. .. .. .. .. 79 Visit of New Zealand troops to England for Coronation .. .. . . 80 Fifth International Fishery Congress .. .. .. .. .. . . 80 Public Trustee and colonial estates .. . . .. .. . . . . 81 Tobacco-cultivation .. .. .. .. .. • ■ ■ • 81 Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act .. .. .. .. .. 82 Headquarters of High Commissioner for Western Pacific .. .. .. 82 Resolution re Indo-Chinese opium traffic .. .. .. . . .. 83 Importation of meat into Sweden .. .. .. .. .. ■ . 83

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No. 1. New Zealand, No. 53. My Lord,— Downing Street, 10th March, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the recognition in New Zealand of official passenger-steamer certificates issued in France. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Sir, Paris, Ist March, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 8 (Commercial), of the Bth January last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of Monsieur Pichon's reply to the communication which I addressed to him on that day notifying the decision of the New Zealand Government to recognize in New Zealand official passenger-steamer certificates issued in France. His Excellency states that the French Government view with satisfaction the decision come to in the matter. I have, &c, Francis Bertie. The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.1 , ., &c, ill. Pichon to Sir F. Bertie. M. l'Ambassadeur, — Paris, le 28 Fevrier, 19.10. Sous la date dv 8 Janvier dernier, votre Excellence a bien voulu m'aviser qu'en vertu dcs dispositions inscrites a la section 185 de la loi neo-zelandaise de 1908, relative a la navigation et aux equipages maritim.es, il a etc decide de reconnaitre comme valables en Nouvelle-Zelande les certificate, delivres, en France, aux navires a passagers. Je remercie votre Excellence de cette communication obligeante, dont le Gouvernement de la Republique a pris acte avec satisfaction. Agreez, &c, S. Pichon.

No. 2. New Zealand, No. 56. My Loed, — Downing Street, 18th March, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 7, of the 28th of January, on the subject of the purchase of Ayrshire cattle by the Japanese Government. 2. I have requested the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to intimate to the Japanese Government that such cattle can be obtained in New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 59. My Lord, — ' Downing Street, 24th March, 1910. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that, in view a.—i, ion of the differences obtaining in systems of secondary education at Home and in the No, 18 - -self-governing dominions, the Army Council have had under consideration the

Date. Description. 1st March, 1910 . . From the British Ambassador at Paris.

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general question of accepting certain local examinations in the dominions as a test of a " fair general education " in lieu of a leaving certificate for army purposes or an army qualifying certificate, which is required from an officer of the colonial military forces who is a candidate for a commission in the regular army, on the nomination of a Governor-General or Governor. 2. The Army Council would be glad therefore to receive any recommendations which your Government may wish to offer as to any local examinations which are considered suitable for recognition by the Army Council as a test of a fair general education required from, candidates for the regular army. The Army Council suggest that the local sections of the Imperial General Staff would be able to advise as to the qualifications which, in their opinion, are a local substitute for a leaving or qualifying certificate. 3. As a guide it may be taken that the standard of a " fair general education " accepted by the Army Council from candidates for the regular army is approximately the equivalent of the following examinations at a chartered university in the United Kingdom : The Matriculation Examination (with the proviso that certain subjects necessary for subsequent instruction in the army must be taken up); or the Intermediate Examination for a degree at the end of the first year of residence (if the required army subjects are not taken up). 4. The Army Council desire to point out that the passing of a local examination which has been recognized by them as a local test of a fair general education will exempt from, any further literary test only those candidates for the regular army who are officers of the military forces of the dominion in which such examination takes place. 5. A candidate for the regular army from any of the overseas dominions who may desire to enter the Royal Military Academy or Royal Military College by open competition, or who may desire to compete as an officer of the Special Reserve, Militia, or Territorial Force, will be required to pass one of the literary tests laid down in the regulations for admission through the above channels. 6. As your Ministers are aware, candidates for the regular army from the chartered universities in the dominions are specially provided for under the regulations for university candidates, copies of which were enclosed in my despatch, No. 229, of the 31st December last. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord. Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c,

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 63. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th March, Ji)10. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter of proceedings dated the 7th January last, which has been received through the Commander-in-Chief, Australia, from the officer commanding His Majesty's ship " Pioneer," on the subject of the rescue of the passengers arid crew of the steamship " Waikare," wrecked near the Bluff, in New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. Enclosure. Rescue of Passengers and Crew of S.s. " VV'aikatie." Sir,— H.M.S. " Pioneer/ at Bluff, 7th January, 1910. 1 Lave the honour to report that at 10.30 p.m. on the night of the 4th instant I received a telephone message from the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Premier of New Zealand, to the effect that the Union Steamship Company's s.s. " Waikare," then on an excursion trip to the Sounds, had struck a rock at the entrance to Dusky Sound, and had gone down in ten minutes ; that the passengers and. crew were landed on an island, no lives having been lost. The message added that only the bow of

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the " Waikare " was above water. In view of these circumstances, he, as representing the Government, would be glad if I could arrange to proceed at once to the relief of those in distress. It should be noted that this message was subsequently amended, to show that the passengers and crew had saved their effects and provisions, but this correction did not come through until alter the " Pioneer " had left Bluff. 2. At this time I had only remaining on board 50 tons of coal, which, in view of the fact that I had been awaiting the arrival of my collier for four days, was trimmed as far back in the reserve bunkers as possible. The only coal available at Bluff was a small amount in the bottom of a hulk, belonging to Mr. John Mill, of Dunedin, and this I arranged by telephone to take at the expense of the Union Steamship Company. Owing to bad weather, and the absence of a tug, it was impossible to get the hulk nearer than a point on the wharf about 200 yards from the ship, but by 11.30 p.m., with the assistance of my searchlights to illuminate the scene, I had all hands transferring the coal from her in railway-trucks, which I commandeered to the ship. In all, by 4 a.m. I had scraped up 50 tons, mostly dust, and trimmed sufficient of my own coal to justify me in leaving. 3. By 5 a.m. I was under weigh, and proceeding as fast as possible, considering the nature of the coal, for Dusky Sound, where I arrived at 1.45 p.m., having averaged rather over 15 knots for the distance. 4. I found the s.s. " Waikare " beached on Stop Island, with her bow on a ledge of rocks, her stern in deep water, and with a heavy list to port. She appeared to be hung just under the chart-house, and was working to a slight extent in the swell. During the time that we were near her she settled nearly 2 ft. aft, and I am of opinion that she will in all probability either slip off backwards or roll over into deep water very shortly. The passengers and crew were encamped on Stop Island under the most uncomfortable circumstances, and I proceeded to embark them, in the " Waikare's " boats with as little delay as possible. By 5 p.m. the last boatload had come on board, the only people standing by the ship being the captain and eighteen of his officers and crew, who remained to salve what they could. 5. I did not consider it desirable to arrive at Bluff in the middle of the night, as. owing to the crowded state of the decks and the strong wind blowing, it would have been difficult to berth th.3 ship safely, and I therefore proceeded at ten knots only, and arrived here at 5.45 a.m., where I disembarked all hands and turned them over to the care of the secretary of the Union Steamship Company, who was here to receive them. 6. In view of the fact that my men had been employed for two days and nights without any rest, I declined to coal at once from my collier, which had arrived during my absence, and commenced coaling this morning. 7. I would respectfully bring to your notice the very satisfactory way in which the men of this ship worked during the whole period, it being necessary not only to coal the ship from Mr. Hill's hulk under very arduous circumstances, but, in addition, from the time we left to the time we returned to Bluff the whole of the deck complement was employed trimming our own coal from the after reserve bunkers to the fore stokehold. The whole ship's company also cheerfully gave their beds and bedding for the use of the passengers, in addition to entertaining the crew of the " Waikare " on the mess deck. 8. I would also bring to your notice the great courtesy which I received from the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, who had the telegraph and telephone lines cleared for my messages, and who enabled me to make full, and ample provision for the comfort of the shipwrecked people in a very much shorter time than I could possibly have done it myself. In case he could'be of any assistance at the scene of the wreck, Sir Joseph also accompanied me to Dusky Sound. I have, &c, The Senior Naval Officer, New Zealand. W. F. Blunt, Commander.

No. 5. New Zealand, No. 65. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st March, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 12, of the 10th February, and of your telegrams of the 21st March, on the subject of the termination of your tenure of the office of Governor of New Zealand. 2. I have already informed you in my telegram of the 22nd March that I approve of your proposal to leave New Zealand on the 6th June. 3. I am commanded by His Majesty to express to you, on the termination of your appointment, the great satisfaction with which he has observed the assiduous performance of your duties as Governor, and your constant efforts to render close and cordial the relations between the Dominion and the Mother-country. 4. I desire also to take this opportunity of expressing to you my own sense of the admirable manner in which you have discharged the duties of your post. I have, &c, CKEWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 6. New Zealand, No. 68. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist April, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the prohibition of the importation of bone flour into New Zealand from the United Kingdom. I have, &c, ORE WE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures 8335/1910. Dear Sir,— 72 Great Clyde Street, Glasgow, 30th March. L9lO. We are in receipt of your esteemed favour of yesterday's date. Since our last letter to Lord Crewe we have received a further communication from our correspondents in New Zealand, giving us copies of later letters exchanged between them and the authorities in New Zealand. The letter from Mr. Pope, Secretary of the Agricultural Department in New Zealand, is. in a way-, much more satisfactory than the previous ones, giving, as it does, a reason why the importation of bone flour from India and Australia is permitted in New Zealand, while the product from Great Britain is excluded. We think it better that you should also be in possession of this correspondence, and we therefore beg to enclose copies of the letters referred to. Now that we know the reason, we shall endeavour to suggest to the authorities in New Zealand such means that will satisfy them, as to the character of the British product without the need of appointing an Inspector. We beg to thank Lord Crewe very kindly for what His Lordship has done and the interest he has taken in this matter. We are sure it will go to help us in our endeavour to get the business back for this country. We are, &c., John Poynter, Son, and Macdonalds. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Copy op Letter from Secretary of Agricultural Department, Wellington, to Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated 4th February, 1910. Sirs, — With reference to your letter of the 31st ultimo, in regard to the admission into New Zealand of bone flour from the United Kingdom, I have the honour to inform you that when the present regulations on the subject were framed it was desired to insure that all animal manure imported should be thoroughly sterilized, and it was thought, to obtain this end, it would be necessary to appoint an Inspector in the country of origin, who could personally inspect the sterilizing of the manures. As the bulk of the bones imported come from Australia and India, Inspectors were appointed at these places only. The expense in connection with the keeping of these Inspectors is considerable, and the amount of animal manure that would come forward from the United Kingdom would be too small to warrant an appointment in that place. If it, could be shown that there is a likelihood of much larger quantities coming from the United Kingdom, the matter might be considered. I have, &c, F. S. Pope, Secretary. ■ Copy of Letter from Messrs. Todhuntbe Bros, to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, dated 7th February', 1910. Dear Sir, — We thank you for your letter of the 4th instant, explaining the reasons why manure is only allowed in at present from Australia and India. We are sending your letter to our principals in Glasgow, and we think it quite possible that you will hear from them, giving full details of the course of treatment their manures go through, and possibly after you have had these particulars you may be inclined to allow admission. Yours faithfully, Toijhunter Bros.

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Date. Description. Oth March, 1910 From Messrs. John Poynter, Son, and Macdonalds.

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Copy of Letter addressed to the Secretary of the Department op Agriculture, Wellington, New Zealand, by Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated Bth January, 1910. Sir,— We want to know whether we can obtain authority to import some sterilized bone flour from Glasgow. This conies from the gelatine-works in that city, and is subjected, in the process of the cxl taction of gelatine, to a very great heat. We had some of it in a few years ago, and it gave such excellent results that our clients are asking us to bring some more out. We should be very glad if you would let us have a reply. We have, &c, Todhunter Bros.

Copy of Letter addressed to Messrs. Todhunter Bros., Christohuroh, New Zealand, by the Secretary of Agriculture, Wellington, dated 11th January, 1910. Sirs, — With reference to your letter of the Bth instant, in which you ask whether you can obtain authority to import some sterilized bone flour from Glasgow, I have the honour to inform you that, under the regulations governing the importation of animal manures into New Zealand, the introduction of this commodity is prohibited from all countries except India and Australia. I have, &c, P. S. Pope, Secretary. Copy of Letter addressed to the Secretary of the Department , of Agriculture, Welling ton, by Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated 13th January, 1910. Sir,— We thank you for your letter, 10/87, of the 11th instant, wherein you state that under the regulations the importation of animal manures into New Zealand from all countries except India and Australia is prohibited. We have to advise you that we imported and obtained permission to land some 100 tons of sterilized bone flour from Glasgow, for which we are now seeking admission, some, two years ago. This manure has all been highly sterilized ; and we wish respectfully to point out that we hardly think that the interpretation of the regulations can be meant to imply that animal manures may be taken from a country like India, in which there is a great deal of disease, and at the same time manures of a highly sterilized character be prohibited from the Old Country. We ask if you will be kind enough to reconsider this matter, and advise us finally whether it is quite impossible for us to be allowed to laud the manure for which we seek admission. We may say that the bone flour we are writing about has gone through extreme heat in the process of preparation. A small sample of the manure is being mailed you. Yours, &c, Todhunter Bros. Copy of Letter from Secretary of Department of Agriculture to Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated 29th January. 1910. Sir — Further to my letter of the 15th instant, in regard to your request for authority to import sterilized bone flour from Glasgow, I have the honour to inform you that the Department cannot relax the regulations prohibiting the introduction of such manure. In regard to your remarks that authority for the introduction of a similar class of manure was granted two years ago, I would point out that it was in 1906 that permission was granted, and then owing to special circumstances. You were informed at the time that the Department could give no assurance that similar concessions could be granted in future. I have, &c, F. S. Pope, Secretary. Copy or Letter from Messrs. Todhunter Bros, to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Wellington, dated 31st January, 1910. Dear Sir, — We have your letter, No. 10/87, of the 29th instant, and note that you cannot relax the regulations, and allow the importation of the sterilized bone Hour from Glasgow. We shall be glad to know whether the regulations will allow an importation of the bone flour provided it is inspected before shipment, and, if so, whether there is any machinery provided whereby the manure can be inspected in the United Kingdom. It seems to us a rather striking anomaly if a manure can only be imported from India, one of the worst-infected countries, and Australia, and the importation to be entirely prohibited from the United Kingdom. If there is any machinery for inspection provided in the United Kingdom, we shall only be too happy to have our goods inspected before shipment. Yours, &c, Todhunter Bros.

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New Zealand, No. 70. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd April, 1910. With reference to your despatch, No. 109, of the 10th December last, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Department of Agriculture for Ireland would be glad if they could be supplied with copies of any enactments which may be passed in New Zealand to regulate the examination and registration of horses, and also with copies of the regulations governing the issue of certificates of soundness, which it is understood are granted on certain conditions by the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. V

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No. 8. New Zealand, No. 74. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth April, 1910. In continuation of my despatch, No. 31, of the 9th February, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Stockholm regarding the importation of meat into Sweden. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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Enclosures. Sis, — British Consulate, Stockholm, 2nd March, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 19 (Commercial), of the 22nd February, 1910, and previous correspondence, concerning the importation of meat into Sweden, 1 have the honour to enclose herewith a translation of an article which appeared in Stockholm's Dayblad of the 2nd March, 1910, giving an account of the steps taken by means of consular certificates to regulate the importation of meat from Denmark into Sweden, from which it appears that a Danish veterinary's certificate concerning horse-meat has been considered unreliable. Such meat is not Danish. The action taken is important as evidence that consular certificates are recognized as a method of controlling meat sent to Sweden via Denmark, and therefore might be suggested as the method of controlling British colonial meat for the Swedish market. I notice, that in the Swedish Chamber of Commerce (London) Journal a Stockholm, merchant advertises that he wishes to become importing agent for Australian meat. For the first time for many years some Swedish meat has been sent to England, it was slaughtered and inspected at the public slaughterhouse in Gothenburg. Two consignments of about l<2 tons each have been made. 1 have, &c., M. Viluees, His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, &c. His Majesty's Consul. [Translation from Stockholm's Dagblad, 2nd March, 1910.] A Consignment of Meat and its Consequences.—Thk Danish Authorities have taken up the Matter. As it was mentioned some time ago, a large consignment of smoked horse-meat imported into Sweden from Copenhagen was confiscated by the sanitary police here, as the meat in question was found to be in an exceedingly tainted condition. In spite of this, however, the consignment was accompanied by a certificate from a legitimate veterinary, to the effect that the meat was perfectly fresh. At the request of the Board of Health, the report of confiscation was handed over by the Directors of the Medical Department to the Foreign Office, who, by means of the Swedish Minister in Copenhagen, forwarded it to the, Veterinary College in that town, who in their turn finally submitted the matter for examination to the Agricultural Department. Minister G-unther informed the Foreign Office that according to information received all the meat that is exported from Denmark to Sweden is imported into Denmark from abroad. As regards the veterinary who drew up the certificate that accompanied the horse-meat, Minister Gunther declared that he had the same right to draw up such certificates as other Danish veterinaries. In order, however, to avoid having to legalize similar certificates drawn up by the veterinary in question, Minister Gunther requested the Swedish Consulate in Copenhagen, for the protection of Swedish interests, to write on his certificates a few lines referring to the evidence against him. Under such conditions it is unlikely that certificates from that veterinary will be presenter 1 at the Consulate for legalization.

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Sir,,— Stockholm, 26th February, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 4, of the 24th ultimo, on the subject of the importation into Sweden of Australian frozen meat, I have the honour to report that I see in the Press that there has been in the last few days a certain quantity of fresh meat exported from Gothenburg to England. This meat has been examined in the abattoir recently opened at that town, which, excited the admiration of a Scotch deputation which inspected it, and is among the best in the world. At the same time it is a fact, which should be noted, that the English authorities appear to accept the certificate of the Swedish authorities, while it is proposed in Sweden to refuse such acceptance of the Australian certificate. I have, &c, Cecil A. Spring Rioe. The Right Hon. Sir E. Grey, Bart., &c.

No. 9. New Zealand, No. 78. My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th April, 1910. With reference to my telegram of the sth April, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the President of the United States issued a Proclamation on the 30th of March, admitting imports from the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, the Transvaal, and the Orange River- Colony, and all the other colonial possessions and protectorates of Great Britain in South Africa, to the benefit of the minimum tariff of the United States. 2. I have to add that similar Proclamations have been issued in regard to imports from all other parts of the British Empire. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. No. 10. New Zealand, No. 80. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th April, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Date. Description. 11th April, 1910 . . . . From the Foreign Office to H.M. Ambassador at Paris.

Enclosure. Sir,— Foreign Office, 11th April, 1910. I transmit to Your Excellency herewith the King's ratification of the Convention for the exchange of Money-orders between New Zealand and France, which was signed at Paris on the Ist December last; and I request that you will exchange His Majesty's ratification against a similar instrument on the part of the President of the French Republic, in accordance with the provisions of Article 11 of the Convention, recording such exchange by means of a signed certificate in the usual form. I am, &c, F. A. Campbell. His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., K.C.M.G., Sec.

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No. 11. New Zealand, No. 81. My Lord,— Downing Street, 15th April, 1910. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance with regard to the Act, 9 Ed. VII, No. 9, of the Parliament of New Zealand, entitled " An Act to make Provision for the Gift of a Ship of War to His Majesty the King," transcripts of which accompanied your despatch, No. 6, of the 27th January. 2. At the same time, I have to request that you will convey to your Ministers an expression of the sincere appreciation with which His Majesty's Government regard the generous action of the Government and people of New Zealand in spontaneously making such an addition to the strength of His Majesty's Naval Forces. I have, &c, CRBWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 12. New Zealand, No. 84. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd April, 1910. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the Board of Trade have intimated it is unnecessary for officers in British possessions abroad to furnish this Department with annual summaries of shipping casualties, in addition to the casualty return which is forwarded in each case, and no forms are issued for such a purpose. Paragraph 207 of the colonial regulations will accordingly be read in future as though the words, " and a summary of such casualties should, if possible, be forwarded to the same Department at the end of every year," were omitted. The necessary amendment will be effected at the next revision of the regulations. I have, &c, CREWB. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 13. New Zealand, No. 85. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd April, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Admiralty, enclosing copy of a correspondence with the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Station relative to the conditions of entry of Australians and New-Zealanders into the Imperial Navy. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. Enclosures. Sir,— Admiralty, 14th April, 1910. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to forward herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State, copy of correspondence between the Admiralty and the Com-mander-in-Chief of the Australian Station on the subject of the conditions of entry of Australians and New-Zealanders in the Imperial Navy. I have, &c, C. I. Thomas. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Sir,— " Powerful," at Sydney, 17th February, 1910. With reference to the entry in H.M. service of Australians and New-Zealanders under the Australasian Naval Agreement of 1903, 1 have the honour to point out, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that these men are still being recruited under engagements for five years.

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2. It is understood that the present Naval Agreement will cease when the existing Australian Squadron is relieved by the new Australian Fleet Unit. 3. I would therefore submit I may receive their Lordships' directions as to whether men are to continue to be recruited for five years ; if so, under what conditions of transfer to the new Australian Fleet Unit ? i. I am of opinion that, if the question of transfer from the Imperial service to the Australian service is considered, men should be given the option of either being transferred or of talcing their discharge, as it is believed that many of the men are at present disinclined to transfer. 5. The same question applies to New Zealand entries, with the difference that the New Zealand detachment of the China Fleet Unit will be, and will continue to be, under the control of the Admiralty. 6. I would also request I may be informed whether men of the Australian Naval Forces who volunteer to proceed to England for higher training are to continue to be sent, observing that these men sign a further engagement for five years from date of leaving for England, and that the next draft can be sent Home with the paid-ofi crew of " Challenger " in October next. I have, &c, R. Poobe, Vice-Admiral, The Secretary to the Admiralty. Commander-in -Chief. Sir,— Admiralty, 11th April, 1910. My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have had under consideration your submission of the 17th February last, No. 57/ R. 22, inquiring whether the recruiting of Australians and NewZealanders is to proceed under the Australian Naval Agreement of 1903, and, if so, what will be their position on the termination of the agreement in 1913. In reply, I am to inform you that men should continue to be entered under the present regulations, and those who volunteer for higher training should be sent to England as before. The disposal of Australian ratings after the termination of the present agreement must depend upon arrangements to be made between the Australian Government and the Admiralty, and, until these have been determined, no definite information can be given on the subject. Recruits should be informed that on the termination of the present agreement they will be liable to be transferred to the new Australian Naval Force on the same conditions generally as those now governing their service in the Royal Navy. As far as New-Zealanders are concerned, it is anticipated that they will remain in the Imperial service under the same general conditions as at present, but until matters are in a more advanced stage it is not possible to make any definite statement. I am, &c, C. I. Thomas. The Commander-in-Chief, H.M. Ships and Vessels, Australia.

No. 14, New Zealand, No. 87. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd April, 1910. In continuation of my telegram of the 13th April, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that the Board of Trade have called attention to certain further points in the New. : Zealand Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1909. 2. The Board observe that clause 8 of the Act provides that a seaman engaged to be entered on board any British ship in New Zealand shall have a sufficient knowledge of the English language to understand orders. This provision is similar to that contained in section 12 of the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, but it differs from the latter in that it contains no exemption in favour of British subjects or inhabitants of a British protectorate, or lascars. 3. Clause 37 of the New Zealand Act is passed on the analogy of section 3 of the Imperial Act of 1906, and applies the provisions of the principal New Zealand Act in regard to grain-cargoes to foreign ships. The Board of Trade point out, however, that the provisions of the principal Act relating to grain-cargoes are not the same as those contained in the Imperial Act. 4. Without knowing what regulations (if any) have been issued under section 419 (4) of the principal Act, relating to the loading of cargo in bulk, it is not possible for the Board to form an opinion as to whether the treatment of foreign grain-ships in New Zealand will be such as to conflict with their treatment in ports of the United Kingdom. 5. The Board also call attention to the substitution, by a misprint, of the word " and " for "or " in section 36, line 2, page 12, of the Act. 6. His Majesty's Government will be glad to receive in due course the observations of your Ministers on the points raised by the Board of Trade. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 15. New Zealand, No. 88. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd April, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith copy of the undermentioned paper. Foreign Office, 18th April, 1910. Sik,— Paris, 14th April, 1910. With reference to your despatch, No. 28 (Treaty, 9271), of the 11th instant, I have the honour to inform you that the Convention for the exchange of Money-orders between New Zealand and France, which was signed here on the Ist December last, has not yet been approved by the French Parliament. I have, however, informed the French Government officially that I have been instructed to exchange His Majesty's ratification against that of the President in due course. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie.

No. 16. New Zealand, No. 89. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd April, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 46, of the 11th March, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying translation of a note from the Spanish Foreign Minister to the British representative at Madrid, giving the names and qualifications of the gentlemen nominated by the King of Spain to fill the posts of President of the Joint Court and Public Prosecutor in the New Hebrides. 2. I am in communication by telegraph with the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, with a view to their early departure to take up their appointments in the group. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Madrid, 7th April, 1910. With reference to Your Excellency's note of the 17th December last, f have the honour to inform you that His Majesty the King, my August Sovereign, in fulfilment of the charge which he undertook of nominating certain officials for the Joint Court of the New Hebrides, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement signed between Great Britain and France on the 20th October, 1906, has been pleased to appoint Senor Don Tomas Alonso y Zabala, Conde de Buena Esperanza, Doctor of Civil Law (Licenciado en Derecho), ex-Civil Governor of various Provinces, ex-Secretary to the Governor-General of Puerto Rico, and formerly Legal Advise) , (Letrado) to the Administrative Council of the Island of Cuba, for the post of President of the Joint Court; and Senor Don Alfonso Aguirre y Carier, Conde de Audino, Doctor of Civil Law, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Letters, and First Class Clerk (Official Primero) in the Treasury, for the post of Public Prosecutor of the Joint Court. In communicating the above to Your Excellency, for the information of His Britannic Majesty's Government, in the hope that these nominations will be agreeable to them. i avail, &c, Manuel Carcia Prieto. His Excellency Sir Maurice de Buuseii, G.C.M.G., &c.

Date. Description. 8th April, 1910 Prom the Foreign Office.

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No. 17. New Zealand, No. 92. My Lord,— Downing Street, 28th April, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a translation of the new French Customs tariff recently issued by the Board of Trade as a parliamentary paper. 2. I shall be glad if you will kindly draw the attention of your Ministers to Article VIII of the tariff. I have, &c, CEBWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

A..-1, 1911 No. 16.

No. 18. New Zealand, No. 99. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th May, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the * accompanying copy of a despatch addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign ] Affairs by His Majesty's Consul-General at New York, regarding the high prices and importation of foodstuffs in the United States. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir,— British Consulate-General, New York, 18th April, 1910. I have the honour to enclose an extract from the New York Times of the 17th instant, in which are contained some interesting remarks made by Mr. William C. Brown, President of the New York Central Railroad Company, upon the increase of prices in the United States. Mr. Brown has given considerable attention to this subject, and some of his remarks are of great interest, especially those connected with the fact that consumption is rapidly overtaking production. In connection with this subject, it is interesting to note that a consignment of 891 carcases of frozen mutton arrived a few days since in New York from New Zealand via London. It is stated in the Press that this is to be only the first of many shipments, and that the importers find that they can sell this New Zealand mutton at a profit in New York, even taking into consideration the fact that they have paid thereon a Customs duty of l\ cents per pound. I have made further inquiries into the nature of this shipment, and am informed by an Englishman who is greatly interested in the meat trade that there is reason to believe that this meat was originally intended for the London market, and was diverted here at short notice ; that this was probably done in view of the fact that so much has been said lately about high prices prevailing in the United States, and that it was thought feasible to try just what the market would take. My informant could not trace the fact that any mutton had been brought here before from New Zealand, but the general impression is that this shipment would be followed by further ones. It is, of course, a fact that considerable Canadian mutton is used all along the border as well as in the large eastern towns, more especially in clubs, hotels, and private houses. The price of Canadian mutton is anywhere from 8 cents to 12 cents (4d. to 6d.) and has been as much as 15 cents (7£d.) a pound lower than native mutton of the United States, the native mutton of the same quality selling here at from 30 cents to 35 cents per pound. Consequently, if there is a large supply of mutton in Canada, it would appear that with the margin in question, even after deducting the import duty, there would be a good profit made in shipping larger quantities to this side of the border; and the fact that this meat does not come to the United States is not owing to the tariff rate, but arises possibly from some understanding with the big meat concerns in the United States or with the control of the refrigerator cars, distribution of the meats through the natural agencies, or some other reason besides the constantly heard of cry of protection. It is stated that Australian meat has been imported here, and has arrived in excellent condition, being transhipped in England, and that in spite of the duty this has been sold at a good profit at 2 cents less per pound than native meat. The meat before being forwarded here was very carefully trimmed and dressed, so that every element of waste was cut down to the minimum. It is also said that there are a number of agents handling Australian meats in the market here, but my correspondent was not able to obtain the names of any except that of the Sayles-Zahn Company, who are believed to receive Australian-dressed mutton occasionally. 1 have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. C. W. Bennett, Consul-General.

A.-l, 1911 No. 25.

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No. 19. New Zealand, No. 100. MyJLord, — Downing Street, 6th May, 1910. In continuation of my despatch, No. 78, of the 12th April, I have the honour the transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of the Proclamation issued by the President of the United States of America admitting the Dominion of New Zealand to the benefits of the minimum tariff of that country. I have, &c, CRBWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. Enclosure. Minimum Tariff —New Zealand. By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation. Whereas it is provided in the Act of Congress, approved August 5, 1909, entitled " An Act to provide E,evenue ; equalize Duties, and encourage the Industries of the United States, and for other purposes " — That from and after the thirty-first day of March, nineteen hundred and ten, except as otherwise specially provided for in this section, there shall be levied, collected, and paid on all articles when imported from any foreign country into the United States, or into any of its possessions (except the Philippine Islands and the islands of Guam and Tutuila), the rates of duty prescribed by the schedules and paragraphs of the dutiable list of section one of this Act, and in addition thereto twenty-five per centum ad valorem ; which rates shall constitute the maximum tariff of the United States : Provided, That whenever, after the thirty-first day of March, nineteen hundred and ten, and so long thereafter as the President shall be satisfied, in view of the character of the concessions granted by the minimum tariff of the United States, that the Government of any foreign country imposes no terms or restrictions, either in the way of tariff rates or provisions, trade or other regulations, charges, exactions, or in any other manner, directly or indirectly, upon the importation into or the sale in such foreign country of any agricultural, manufactured, or other product of the United States, which unduly discriminate against the United States or the products thereof, and that such foreign country pays no export bounty or imposes no export duty or prohibition upon the exportation of any article to the United States which unduly discriminates against the United States or the products thereof, and that such foreign country accords to the agricultural, manufactured, or other products of the United States treatment which is reciprocal and equivalent, thereupon and thereafter, upon proclamation to this effect by the President of the United States, all articles when imported into the United States, or any of its possessions (except the Philippine Islands and the islands of Guam and Tutuila), from such foreign country shall, except as otherwise herein provided, be admitted under the terms of the minimum tariff of the United States as prescribed by section one of this Act. And whereas satisfactory evidence has been presented to me that the Government of New Zealand imposes no terms or restrictions, either in the way of tariff rates or provisions, trade, or other regulations, charges, exactions, or in any other manner, directly or indirectly, upon the importation into or the sale in New Zealand of any agricultural, manufactured, or other product of the United States, which unduly discriminate against the United States or the products thereof, and that the Government of New Zealand pays no export bounty or imposes no export duty or prohibition upon the exportation of any article to the United States which unduly discriminates against the United States or the products thereof, and that the Government of New Zealand accords to the agricultural, manufactured., or other products of the United States treatment which is reciprocal and equivalent : Now, therefore, I, William Howard Taft, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the power in me vested by the aforesaid Act of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that from and after March 31, 1910, and so long thereafter as the aforesaid Act of Congress is in existence and the Government of New Zealand imposes no terms or restrictions upon the importation or sale in New Zealand of the products of the United States which unduly discriminate against the United States, all articles when imported into the United States, or any of its possessions (except the Philippine Islands and the islands of Guam and Tutuila), from New Zealand shall be admitted under the terms of the minimum tariff of the United States as prescribed by section 1 of the Tariff Act of the United States approved August 5, 1909 : Provided, however, that this Proclamation shall not take effect from and after March 31, 1910, but shall be null and void in the event that, at any time prior to the aforesaid date, satisfactory evidence shall be presented to the President that the Government of New Zealand has made such change or changes in its present laws or regulations affecting American commerce in New Zealand as to discriminate unduly in any way against such commerce, and in the further event that a Proclamation by the President of such fact, revoking the present Proclamation, shall have been issued.

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In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to.be, affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirty-fourth. By the President—P. C. Knox, Secretary of State. Wμ. H. Taft.

No. 20. New Zealand, No. 102. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th May, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a Bill, introduced into the Canadian Parliament, shortly entitled " The Combines Investigation Act," together with copy of the speech in which the Minister of Labour moved the second reading of the Bill. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 21. New Zealand, No. 103. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th May, 1910. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that it has been brought to the notice of the Army Council that there are in circulation forgeries on paper of Army Forms B 128 and B 2077, the parchment certificates of character on discharge from the army and army reserve respectively. 2. As these certificates are one of the chief credentials of the ex-soldier in applying for employment, it is essential that their trustworthiness should be beyond doubt, and the Council think it desirable to bring to the notice of your Government the existence of forged forms, with a view to the fact becoming widely known. 3. The authorized forms are invariably printed on parchment, and bear the printer's press mark " H.W.V.," with the date and numbers printed. This mark is absent on those forgeries w T hich have come under notice. 4. I enclose copies on paper of the forms of certificate referred to, together with copies of Army Form D 426, the discharge |parchment certificate now issued in lieu of forms B 128 and B 2077. I have &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 22. New Zealand, No. 104. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th May, 1910. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 94, of the 9th October, 1907, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a note addressed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the French Ambassador with regard to the sale of liquor and ammunition by French citizens to the Natives of the New Hebrides. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. Enclosure. Your Excellency,— Foreign Office, 19th April, 1910. I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the attention of His Majesty's Government has been called by the British, authorities in the New Hebrides to the continued and increasing sale of liquor and ammunition by French citizens to the Natives of the group.

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The British Resident Commissioner lately made urgent representations on the subject to his French, colleague, pointing out that the French citizens concerned are by their action contravening the Convention of 1906, and defying the established authority in the islands. He added that he believed many of the offenders had been heavily fined, but had not paid the fines imposed. Monsieur Colonna admitted that this was the case, and that lie had imposed in several cases as heavy fines as the Convention allowed, but that the fines had not been paid or recovered, as the Executive had failed to levy distress for their recovery. He allowed that the representations of the British Resident Commissioner were justified, and promised to communicate with the French Government on the subject. The British Resident Commissioner further expresses the opinion that unless exceptional measures are taken by the French Government the evil will increase. On the 12th November, 1907, I had the honour to express to Your Excellency the hope that the Commission which had then recently been appointed by the Governor of New Caledonia to consider the best means of prohibiting the export of " trade gin " to the New Hebrides Islands for sale to the Natives would include in the scope of its work the question of the exportation of arms and ammunition to the islands. In view of the present urgency of dealing effectively with the question of liquor and ammunition, I should be much obliged if Your Excellency could inform me of the result of the Commission of 1907, and whether any action has been taken by the French Government in the direction desired by His Majesty's Government. I have, &c, For Sir E. Grey. His Excellency Monsieur Cambon, &c.

No. 23. New Zealand, No. 106. My Lord,— Downing Street, 19th May, 1910. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that I have had under my consideration, in consultation with the Board of Trade, the Bill introduced into the last session of the Parliament of New Zealand by Mr. McLaren to amend the law with respect to accidents at sea. 2. In case the Bill may be reintroduced during the ensuing session of the Dominion Parliament, the Board of Trade" desire to say that they are of opinion that, in so far as it applies to ships on the high seas, the legislation proposed goes beyond resolution No. 9, passed unanimously by the Colonial Merchant Shipping Conference of 1907. Your Ministers will remember that the effect of that resolution is that the vessels to which the conditions imposed by the law of New Zealand are applicable shoixld be— (a) Vessels registered in the Dominion, or trading therein ; and (b) vessels, wherever registered, while trading on the coasts of the Dominion. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1911 No. 28.

No. 24. New Zealand, No. 110. My Lord,— Downing Street, 27th May, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 160, of the 16th August, 1909, I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that the Governments of Canada, of the Commonwealth and of the the States of Australia, of New Zealand, and of the South African Colonies have agreed in principle that a Conference of Surveyors-General should be held to discuss the question of reciprocity in the authorization and examination of surveyors throughout the Empire. 2. In view of the establishment of the Union of South Africa, it has been decided that the meeting of the Conference should be delayed until the Government of the Union of South Africa has come into existence, and has had time to consider the question ; and the Surveyors' Institution accordingly suggest that the Conference should be held at the institution during the week beginning Monday, the 24th October next. I trust that this time will prove convenient to your Government, and that representatives will be sent. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 25. New Zealand, No. 113. My Lord,— Downing Street, 31st May, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 19th instant, and to request you to inform your Ministers that the message of sympathy from the Westport district of New Zealand has been forwarded to His Majesty's Inspector of Mines, with the request that it may be communicated to the relatives of the men who lost their lives in the recent mining disaster at Whitehaven. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 116. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd June, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the resurvey of Rangitoto Channel, Auckland. I have, &c, CRBWB. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sμ:. Admiralty, 26th May, 1910. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that they have received, through the Commander-in-Chief, Australia, a copy of a despatch dated the Ist March last from the Governor of New Zealand asking that the Rangitoto Channel, Auckland, may be resurveyed by Admiralty officers. My Lords have informed the Commander-in-Chief, Australia, that they approve of one or more, of the surveying officers on the Australia Station being detached temporarily for this service at the end of this year or early in 1911, on condition that the New Zealand Government will provide the necessary vessel and men, and assist generally by erecting marks, &c, as required. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. C. T. Thomas.

No. 27. New Zealand, No. 117. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd June, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a report on the Dominions Department for the year 1909-10, which has been prepared at my direction by Sir Charles Lucas, the head of that Department. 2. In communicating the report to your Ministers, I shall be very grateful if you will ask them to be so good as to favour me with any criticisms, corrections, or suggestions as to the contents of the report. Their views will be carefully borne in mind for next year, as I am particularly anxious to make this report as useful as possible year by year to the Governments of the dominions. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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Date. Description. :6th March., 1910 . . From the Admiralty.

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No. 28. New Zealand, No. 119. My TJOKD, — Downing Street, 3rd June, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you. for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a special army order which has been issued relative to a pardon to deserters, which His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to grant on the occasion of his accession to the throne. 2. As it is desirable that the grant of His Majesty's pardon should be given the greatest publicity possible, the Army Council will be grateful if your Ministers will take such steps as may seem best suited to secure that the terms of the army order shall become known in New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. Enclosure. Army Order. —Special. pardon to deserters, etc. War Office, 23rd May, 1910. 1. His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased, as an act of clemency, on the occasion of his accession to the throne, to approve of the following remission of punishment to soldiers undergoing sentence in military prisons and detention barracks, and of pardons being granted, to soldiers in a state of desertion, or who, since deserting, have enlisted in other corps : — Soldiers undergoing Detention by Sentence of Court-martial, or by award of Commanding Officers at Ihr Date of this Order. Sentences up to fifty-six days —to be released. Sentences exceeding fifty-six days—to be granted a remission of one-half of the unexpired portion of detention. Men undergoing Imprisonment in Military Prisons or Detention Barracks at the Dale of this Order. All men —a remission of one-half of the unexpired portion of imprisonment. The remissions will take effect from the date of this order. 2. The following instructions are issued as regards the pardon to deserters. &c. : — •1. The pardon to deserters is extended to men who hay (a.) Deserted ; (b.) Fraudently enlisted, as defined in section 13, Army Act; (c.) Absented themselves without leave from the Regular, Auxiliary, or Reserve Forces ; (d.) Improperly enlisted into the Regular Forces, Special Reserve, or Territorial Force, while serving in the Army Reserve. Provided that they committed the offence before the date of this army order, and surrender , themselves withm two months after that date if at Home, or within four months if abroad. 4. Deserters and absentees are required to report themselves in writing, giving full particulars, to one of the undermentioned officers, from whom they will receive instructions. If they are suffering from any physical disability which renders them unable to rejoin the service, they should state m in their letter. If they belonged to — They should write to — Household Cavalry. . . . . . Officer Commanding Regiment. Dragoon Guards, Dragoons, and Lancers Officer i/c Cavalry Records, Canterbury. of the Line Hussars of the Line . . .. Officer i/c Cavalry Records, York. Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery Officer i/c Records, Woolwich. Royal Garrison Artillery . . . . Officer i/c Records, Dover. Royal Engineers . . .. . . Officer i/c Records, Chatham. Foot Guards .. .. .. Officer Commanding Regiment, Buckingham Gate, London S.W. Infantry of the Line .. .. Officer i/c Records concerned. Royal Malta Artillery . . . . Officer Commanding Corps. West India Regiment . . . . Officer i/c Records, Jamaica. Army Service Corps . . .. Officer i/c A.S.C. Records, Woolwich. Army Ordnance Corps .. .. Officer Commanding Corps, Woolwich. Royal Army Medical Corps . . .. Officer i/c R.A.M.C. Records, Aldershot. Army Pay Corps .. .. .. Officer i/c A.P.C. Records, War Office. Army Veterinary Corps .. . . Officer i/c A.V.C. Records, War Office. Corps of Military Police .. . . Officer Commanding Corps, Aldershot. Military Provost Staff Corps. . .. Officer i/c M.P.S.C. Records, War Office. Army Reserve or Special Reserve . . Officer i/c Records concerned.

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They are not to report themselves in person. 5. Men who enlisted before the 24th May, 1900, or who have been in a state of desertion or absence for a period of five years, or who are physically unfit for service, will not be called upon to rejoin for service, but will be given protecting certificates on their reporting themselves in writing, as directed in paragraph 4. 6. The officer mentioned in paragraph 4, on receiving a report from a deserter or absentee, will verify the statements made therein by reference to his documents. If the man is exempt from further service under paragraph 5, he will at once send him a protecting certificate on Army Form B 129. 7. If the man. is not exempt from further service, and belonged to the Regular Forces, the officer will send him instructions to present himself at the nearest military station (in London at St. George's Barracks) for medical examination. He will at the same time notify his action to the officer commanding at the military station, specifying the station to which the man is to be sent for service if he is found to be medically fit. 8. The officer commanding at the military station will cause the man to be very strictly medically examined, and, if he is reported unfit for the service, will dismiss him with a protecting certificate. If he is found fit for service he will furnish him with railway and passage warrants, and send him to join his corps at the station mentioned in the notification received in accordance with paragraph 7 ; a report of the disposal in each case being sent to the officer from whom the notification was received. 9. Absentees from the Auxiliary or Reserve Forces will not be ordered for medical examination, but will be at once taken on the strength on receipt of their applications if they are not otherwise exempt from further service under paragraph 5. If found to be serving in the Regular Forces they will be retained on army service on their last attestation, notification being sent to the corps to which they formerly belonged. 10. Soldiers who, while serving, confess to desertion or fraudulent enlistment will be held to serve on their last attestations. Their coufessions should be made to their present commanding officers. 11. Applications received from persons residing beyond the limits of the. United Kingdom, and who are not exempt from farther service, will, after verification in accordance with paragraph 6, be forwarded to the War Office, from which instructions will be issued in each. case. 12. Deserters and men who have fraudently enlisted will forfeit all previous service, but will not be subject to stoppages on account of free kits issued on fraudulent enlistment, or of articles lost or made away with at the time of desertion. 13. The fact of a soldier having claimed the benefit of the pardon will be entered on his record of service as follows :— " Claimed the benefit of the King's Pardon, having confessed to having By command of the Army Council. E. W. D. Ward.

No. 29. New Zealand, No. 120. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd June, 1910. I kave the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of an Address which has been adopted by the House of Commons requesting a return with regard to the expenditure on religious services in the Crown colonies. 2. T understand that a similar Address will be moved, when Parliament reassembles, with regard to such expenditure in the self-governing dominions, and I shall be glad if your Government will be so good as to favour me with the desired information as regards New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. House of Commons. —Monday, 18th April, 1910. Crown Colonies (Chaplains). Resolved, " That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a return of the names and emoluments of official chaplains in His Majesty's Crown colonies, and of all moneys paid for the maintenance of the religious services in His Majesty's Crown colonies, specifying the religious denominations which receive such money ; also specifying all money grants made during the last ten years for the building or repair of places of worship ; the whole showing the sources from which such moneys have been obtained." Ordered, " That the said Address be presented to His Majesty by such members of this House as are of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, or of His Majesty's Household." C. P. Ilbbrt, Clerk of the House of Commons.

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No. 30. New Zealand, No. 124. Sir, — Downing Street, 10th June, 1910. I have the honour to state that the directors of the British South Africa Company have requested that your Ministers may be informed that on the expiration of fche South African Customs Union Convention, on the 30th June, the Administrations of Southern and North-western Rhodesia do not propose to make any tariff alterations, and will be glad to continue to grant reciprocal privileges to products and manufactures of New Zealand on the lines of the present agreements. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 31. New Zealand, No. 126. Sir, — Downing Street, 17th June, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order in Council of the 22nd April, 1910, made under section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, providing that Danish ships in ports of the United Kingdom shall be exempt from the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, relating to life-saving appliances, on proof that they have complied with the Danish regulations on the subject. I have, &c, CRBWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Enclosure. Statutory Rules and Orders, 1910, No. 475. Merchant Shipping.—Pkevention of Accidents ; Life-saving Appliances. Order in Council exempting Danish Ships complying with Danish Provisions, from the Provisions of Sections 427-431 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (57-8 V., c. 60) as to Life-samng Appliances. At the Court at St. James's, the 22ud day of April, 1910. Present: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Lord President, Lord Steward, Sir Fleetwood Edwards, Colonel Seely. Whereas His Majesty was pleased, by his Commission dated the sth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and ten, to nominate and appoint His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in His Majesty's absence from his realm in foreign parts, to hold on His Majesty's behalf, his Privy Council, and to signify thereat his approval of any matter or thing whereuuto His Royal Highness should be authorized by writing under His Majesty's Sign Manual, and to do further on His Majesty's behalf any matter or thing for the purposes of the said Commission, whereunto His Royal Highness should be authorized in manner aforesaid : And whereas by section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, it is provided that sections 427 to 431 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (hereinafter called "the principal Act"), relating to life-saving appliances shall, after the appointed day, apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships : Provided that His Majesty may by Order in Council direct that those provisions shall not apply to any ship of a foreign country in which the provisions in force relating to life-saving appliances appear to His Majesty to be as effective as the provision? of Part V of the principal Act, on proof that those provisions are complied with in the case of that ship : And whereas by section 5 of the said Act it is provided that the said appointed day shall be the first day of January, 1909, or such other day, not being more than twelve months later, as the Board of Trade may appoint: And whereas the Board of Trade appointed the first day of October, 1909, to be the day after which the provisions of the principal Act relating to life-saving appliances should apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships : And whereas it appears to His Majesty that the provisions in force in Denmark relating to lifesaving appliances are as effective as the provisions of Part V of the priucipal Act: Now, therefore, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, being authorized thereto by writing under His Majesty's Sign Manual, doth, by and with the advice of His Majesty's Privy Council, on behalf of His Majesty direct that the provisions of sections 427 to 431 of the principal Act shall not apply to any Danish ship while within any port of the United Kingdom, if it is proved that the aforesaid Danish provisions relating to life-saving appliances are complied with in the case of that ship. Almbeic Fitzßoy.

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No. 32. New Zealand, No. 127. Sir, — Downing Street, 17th June, 1910. I have the honour to acquaint you, lor the information of your Ministers, that His Majesty's Government have had under consideration with the United States Government the question of taking measures for the suspension, for a period of fifteen years, of pelagic sealing in the Pacific Ocean and the Behring Sea. 2. The exact details of the arrangement, which has not yet been finally concluded, are mainly of interest to the Government of Canada, but the Convention includes a provision, a copy of which is enclosed herewith, and to which I desire to invite the attention of your Ministers, as it provides for the prohibition of the use of any British or United States port by any persons for any purposes whatsoever connected with the operation of pelagic sealing, and prohibits the importation or bringing of any fur-seal skins taken in such pelagic sealing into any British or United States port, and the contracting States engage by the necessary legislation and enforcement of appropriate penalties thereunder to make such prohibition effective. 3. I am not aware to what extent the skins of fur-seals captured in the Pacific Ocean or the Behring Sea are imported into the Dominion, but I should be glad to learn whether your Government are prepared to take the necessary steps by legislation or otherwise to make good the undertaking into which it is proposed to enter. 4. Your Government are no doubt aware that the question of the taking of fur-seals has long occupied the attention of His Majesty's Government in conjunction with the Government of Canada, and the new arrangement which it is proposed to adopt will in all probability be of considerable advantage to the Canadian Government, and I trust, therefore, that your Ministers will be in a position to give the assurance required. 5. I shall be glad to receive a reply by telegraph to this despatch. I have, &c, CRBWB. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. . Enclosure. Article I. The high contracting parties mutually and reciprocally agree that their subjects and citizens respectively, and all persons subject to their laws and treaties, and their vessels, shall be prohibited from engaging in pelagic sealing in any part of the waters of the Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea. and that every such person or vessel offending against this prohibition, may be seized and detained by the naval or other duly commissioned officers of either of this high contracting parties, but they shall be delivered as soon as practicable to the authorities of the nation to which they respectively belong, who alone shall have jurisdiction to try the offence and impose the penalties for the same, the witnesses and proof necessary to establish the offence being also sent with them, or otherwise furnished to the proper j urisdictional authority with all reasonable promptitude ; and they agree, further, respectively, to prohibit the use of any British or United States port by any persons for any purposes whatsoever connected with the operation of pelagic sealing in said waters, and to prohibit the importation or bringing of any fur-seal skins taken in such pelagic sealing into any British or United States port, and by the necessary legislation and enforcement of appropriate penalties thereunder to make such prohibitions effective. Such prohibitions, however, shall not apply to Indians dwelling on the coasts of the territory of the United States or of Great Britain and carrying on pelagic sealing in canoes not transported by or used in connection with other vessels, and propelled wholly by paddles, oars, or sails, and manned by not more than five persons each, in the way hitherto-practised by the Indians, without the use of firearms, provided such Indians are not in the employment of other persons, nor under contract for the delivery of the skins to any person.

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No. 33. New Zealand, No. 128. Sir, — Downing Street, 17th June, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 188, of the 9th November, 1908, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information and consideration of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of the replies received up to the present from the self-governing dominions with reference to the report of the Inter-departmental Committee on Naturalization.

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I also enclose a copy of a further despatch which I have addressed to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on the subject. I should be obliged if your Ministers could furnish me as early as possible with an expression of their views on the report of the Inter-departmental Committee, and on the correspondence with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia arising out of it. ■ I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 34. New Zealand, No. 132. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th June. 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Plunket's despatches, Nos. 42 and 43, of the 19th May, forwarding messages of condolence on the death of His late Majesty. 2. In reply, I have to request that you inform your Ministers that I have laid these messages before His Majesty the King, who was pleased to receive them very graciously. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0.. &c.

No. 35. New Zealand, No. 133. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th June, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, requesting information as to assistance given by the Governments of the dominions as regards the exportation of animals for breeding purposes. 2. 11 shall be much obliged if your Government will be so good as to supply me with a report on the subject, for the information of the Board of Agriculture. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sir,— 8 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 21st June, 1910. 1 am directed by Sir Edward Strachey to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State, the enclosed memorandum relating to a departmental Committee which has been appointed to consider and report on the export trade in live-stock from this country. The members desire to obtain particulars of any assistance which may be given by certain colonial Governments as regards the exportation of animals for breeding purposes ; and the Chairman would be very grateful to receive any information on the subject which may be available at the Colonial Office. The Committee has adjourned to the 4th proximo, but there would probably be a sufficient interval before the report is drafted to obtain details by post, if necessary. 1 am to add that information is desired particularly as regards live-stock exported from Canada; Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. A. E. Balleinje. Memorandum. The President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has appointed a departmental Committee to inquire and report as to the character and extent of the British export trade in live-stock (including horses and poultry) with the colonies and other countries, and to consider whether any steps can with advantage be taken by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries or otherwise with a view to its development. The Committee is constituted as follows : Sir Edward Strachey, Bart.. M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries ; Sir Richard P. Cooper, Bart. ; Mr. Charles Adeane ; Mr. Richardson Carr ; Mr. Vaughan Davies, M.P. ; Mr. John M. Fraser ; Mr. Alex. T. Gordon, jun. ; Colonel H. Le Roy Lewis, D.S.O. ; Mr. T. H. Middleton, M.A., M.Sc, one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries ; Mr. Sanders Spencer,; Mr. F. H. Stericker. Sir Edward Strachey, Bart., M.P., is the Chairman, and Mr. Balleine, of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, is the Secretary.

A.-1, 1911 No. 38.

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The Committee propose to consider two main subjects —viz., (1) means for directly encouraging trade, and (2) means for removing hindrances to trade. There appears to be room for the judicious advertising of British live-stock in foreign countries, and for the organization of our trade in such a way as to bring a larger number of foreigners into this country as purchasers at our live-stock sales. With regard to the second point, various representations have been made officially during the past few years as to various causes which adversely affect the export of live-stock — e.g., uncertainty respecting the methods of registration of pedigree animals, transit charges by sea, conditions of entry in the colonies and foreign countries, the tuberculin test, &c. It is the duty of the Committee to obtain information on these subjects from reliable sources.

No. 36. New Zealand, No. 134. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th June, 1910. With reference to your predecessor's despatch, No. 43, of the 9th July, 1906, T have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Government is desirous of obtaining a further report on the subject of the taxation of land-values in New Zealand. 2. The information which is desired is a report from the Government officers concerned, and also, if possible, from important municipalities, on land valuation and taxation for State and municipal purposes : showing, firstly, the form and practice of valuation cf lands apart from improvements ; secondly, abstracts of the legislation now in force on this matter, and of any proposed amending legislation ; thirdly, abstracts of the totals of such valuations when completed ; and, fourthly, the effect of the taxation on breaking up large estates, on speculation, on the building trade, on rent, and with regard to the convenience of raising local revenue. 3. I shall be grateful to your Ministers if they could supply me with a report of the nature indicated. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 37. New Zealand, No. 136. Sir,— Downing Street, 30th June, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Plunket's despatch, a.-i, ion No. 30, of the sth May, and bo request that you will inform your Ministers that INol No - 2/ - have forwarded to the addressees the letters from the honorary secretary of the New Zealand Anti-Opium Association which accompanied that despatch. 2. I shall be glad if you will cause the honorary secretary of the association to be informed that T have duly received the letter addressed to myself. J have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

* No. 38. New Zealand, No. 138. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th July, 1910. T have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a A.-1, 1911. copy of a note addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the Danish No ' 68 ' Minister, asking for certain information and documents respecting agricultural instruction in New Zealand. I shall be glad if yoxir Ministers will be good enough to furnish me with the required information as far as possible. I have, &c, CREWE, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Me. Secretary or State. - Danish. Legation, London. 23rd June, 1910. At the request of the Royal Danish Society for Agricultural Husbandry, I have been directed to obtain information concerning certain points of the agricultural instruction in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The points on which information is specially desired are the following : — 1. Which theoretical and practical measures are undertaken in order to promote agricultural instruction (schools, experiment-farms, agricultural experts, &c.) by — (a) the Government; (b) private persons, with a subsidy from the Government or from public means ; (c) private persons, without any State or public subsidy ? 2. Which is the amount of the annual subsidy referred to under 1 (a) and (6) ? 3. Is the subsidized instruction subject to certain conditions and to a supervision, and which arc these conditions ? 4. (a.) Which is in a general way the organization of the theoretical instruction (conditions of admission, terms of payment, duration and subjects of the various courses, &c.) ? (6.) How is the practical instruction organized ? 5. To what extent does the rural population take advantage of and participate in—(as) the theo retioal instruction ; (6) the practical instruction ? In these circumstances I venture to ask that you will be good enough to submit these questions to the competent authorities in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and that, together with the reply of these officials, I may be provided with copies of any printed public documents which may have been issued on these various subjects, and contain information corresponding to the questions* of my Government. I have, &c, C. Brun. Sir Edward Grey, Bart,, M.P., &c.

No. 39. New Zealand, No. 139. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th July, 1910. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that I have had under my consideration, in conjunction with the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, Act No. 10 of 1909 of the Parliament of New Zealand, copy of which was forwarded in Lord Plunket's despatch, No. 6, of the 27th January. 2. The Board of Inland Revenue have reported to the Treasury, in a letter of which a copy is enclosed, that the Act of 1909 does not substantially comply with the conditions laid down in section 20 of the Finance Act of 1894, which was applied to New Zealand by an Order in Council of the 2nd February, 1895, in accordance with the request made by the Government of New Zealand in Lord Glasgow's despatch of the 4th December, 1894. 3. I should be glad if your Ministers would take this report into their consideration, and, if they concur with the view of the law r expressed in it, will decide whether they will introduce into the Parliament of the Dominion legislation to modify the Act of 1909, so as to make it comply with the conditions laid down in section 20 of the Finance Act of 1894, or whether they would prefer that steps should be taken to revoke the Order in Council of 1895, on the ground that the law of the Dominion has, since the date of the Order, been materially changed, and no longer complies with the conditions laid down in the Act of 1894. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Inland Revenue, Somerset House. 19th May, 1910. May it please your Lordships,— We beg to return herewith your Lordships' reference of the 24th March last, No. 5949/1910, relative to an inquiry from the Secretary of State for the Colonies as to whether —having regard to the provisions of sections 8 and 32 of an Act, No. 10 of 1909, of the Parliament of New Zealand entitled the Death Duties Act, 1909 —(1) the sections in question substantially comply with the conditions laid down in section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894 ; and (2) the practice in force in the United Kingdom is to the like effect as that in New Zealand.

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We have the honour to report that by the law of this country bearer bonds and securities which pass by mere delivery, without any act requiring to be done outside the country in which they are locally situate, are treated as situate in that country for the purposes of duty. It is also, as we are advised, established by the case of Attorney-Genera.! v. G-lendining that the mere fact that such bonds contain a charge on property outside that country does not prevent the principle from attaching. The New Zealand Act in question, in our opinion, fails to comply with section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894, in the following particulars : — (1.) The provisions of section 8 (c) and (d) produce the result that a bearer bond situate in this country but issued by a company domiciled in New Zealand is not regarded as situate in this country but in New Zealand, and therefore as not coming within section 32 (1) (see subsection (3)). It is true that the provisions of section 8 (g) contain an exception to the previous subsections in favour of a debt, represented by an instrument which is " negotiable " in New Zealand, but we have a difficulty in construing this expression, and we are unable to say it would apply to all bearer bonds. (2.) Section 8 (h) introduces a limitation which is directly contrary to what we understand to have been decided in Attorney-General v. Glendining, because the bonds in that case contained a charge upon New Zealand property. (3.) Section 5 (j) produces the same result, for that subsection is not limited to property situate in New Zealand. (4.) Section 28 (1) creates a charge, inter alia, upon property situate in this country, and therefore is in conflict with section 20 (2) of l the Finance Act, 1894, which, as we are advised, should be construed to be one of " the foregoing provisions " referred to in subsection (3) of that section. (5.) The same objections arise in reference to the duties imposed by sections 14 and 15. In the circumstances, we beg to inform your Lordships that the Act in question would appear to be of a nature which, would disentitle New Zealand to the benefit of section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894. We have, &c, E. E. Nott Bower. The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury. J. P. Cbowly.

No. 40. New Zealand, No. 140. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th July, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from, the Admiralty, regarding the question of the manner in which time served by officers of the Royal Navy who may be lent to the Naval Forces of the Dominion should count for naval purposes. I have, &c, CRBWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir,— Admiralty, 30th June, 1910. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State, that they have had under their consideration the question as to how time served by officers of the Royal Navy who may be lent to colonial Naval Forces should count for naval purposes, and they have approved of the adoption of the, following rule : — The service of officers in a ship-of-war maintained by the Government of any of His Majesty's dominions beyond the seas, and commissioned for sea service, may, at the discretion of the Admiralty, count as the equivalent of naval " service in a ship-of-war at sea " for purposes of promotion and increase of full, half, or retired pay, under conditions similar to these laid down by the Treasury under section 6 of the Superannuation Act, 1887. The High Commissioner for Canada has been informed that their Lordships have approved of the time served by naval officers with the Canadian Naval Forces counting as provided for in this rule. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office,|S.W. C. I. Thomas.

A.-l, 1911 No. 33.

No. 41. New Zealand, No. 144. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th July, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the rates of postage between New Zealand and French Oceania. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand,

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Enclosures. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 29th June, 1910. With reference to your letter of the 19th of last month, No. 13773/1910, forwarding a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, and of correspondence exchanged in 1903-4 between His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris and the French Government, concerning the proposed reduction of the rate of postage on letters sent between New Zealand and the French settlements of Oceania, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Postmaster-General sees no objection to the renewal of the negotiations with the French Government on this subject. According to a recent announcement by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, the rates of postage charged on letters exchanged between France and the French colonies, including the French settlements of Oceania, has now been reduced to 10 centimes for letters weighing not more than 20 grammes, 15 centimes for letters exceeding 20 grammes but not exceeding 50 grammes in weight, and 5 centimes for every 50 grammes or fraction thereof for letters exceeding 50 grammes in weight. In these circumstances the French Government may perhaps now be willing to reduce the rates of postage on letters from the settlements in Oceania to New Zealand. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Matthew Nathan. Sir,— Downing Street, 7th July, 1910. With reference to your letter of the 30th June, 1904, 1 am directed by the Earl of Crewe to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir Edward Grey, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand relative to the rates of postage between New Zealand and French Oceania, together with copy of a letter from the General Post Office on the subject. 2. Lord Crewe would be glad, provided Sir E. Grey sees no objection, if steps could be taken to ascertain the views of the French Government on the proposal submitted by the New Zealand Government. 1 am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. C. P. Lucas.

No. 42. New Zealand, No. 145. My Lord,— Downing Street, 12th July, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 173, of the 15th September last, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a new rule for life-saving appliances on ships, made by the Board of Trade under the provisions of section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Statutory Rules and Orders, 1910, No. 548. Merchant Shipping.—-Prevention of Accidents ; Lieu-saving Appliances. Rule, dated April 19. 1910, made by the Board of Trade, under the Merchant Shipping Act. 1894 (57 and 58 Vict., c. 60), as to Life-saving Appliances. Under the provisions of section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the Board of Trade hereby make the following rule for life-saving appliances,

A.-1, J 911 No. 35.

Date. Description. !9th June, 1910 ith July, 1910 From the General Post Office. To the Foreign Office.

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This rule shall bo construed as one with the rules relating to life-saving appliances dated the 10th February, 1902, and the 24th May, 1909, and shall come into effect on the first day of June, 1910. Dated this 19th day of April, 1910. H. Llewellyn Smith, Secretary to the Board of Trade. Walter J. Howell, Assistant Secretary, Marine Department. Stowage of Boats. Notwithstanding anything contained in the rules relating to life-saving appliances dated the 10th February, 1902, and the 24th May, 1909, it shall be permissible in the case of such passenger or emigrant steamships as are required by the rules dated the 10th February, 1902, to carry eight or more boats placed under davits, for boats, not exceeding in all one-fourth of the number required by the rules to be placed under davits, to be carried inboard ; provided that each boat carried inboard is stowed alongside a boat which is placed directly under davits, and is so arranged that it can be launched promptly. A boat which is carried inboard under this rule need not be always attached to the davit-tackles.

No. 43. New Zealand, No. 146. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th July, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 159, of the 14th August, 1909, I have a the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying * copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, relative to the grant of Customs facilities to Consuls-General and Consuls de carriere in the Argentine Republic, and the proposed grant of reciprocal facilities to Argentine consular officers in the United Kingdom and India. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-1, 1911 No. 29.

Enclosures Sib,-- Foreign Office, 4th July, 1910. With reference to my Setter of the 28th ultimo, and previous correspondence, relative to the grant of certain Customs facilities to foreign consular officers in His Majesty's dominions, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit herewith, for the information of the Earl of Crewe, a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Buenos Aires, enclosing an extract from the Argentine Regulations governing Diplomatic Ceremonial, according, on a basis of reciprocity, certain Customs exemptions to Consuls-General and Consuls de carriere in the Argentine Republic. In view of the facilities therein granted, Sir E. Grey is communicating a copy of this extract to the Treasury and the India Office, with the suggestion that steps should be taken to accord reciprocal facilities to Argentine consular officers in the United Kingdom and India, as was done in the case' of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Should Lord Crewe see no objection, he would therefore further suggest that similar steps should be taken, so far as may be necessary, with regard to His Majesty's colonies. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. F. A. Campbell. \ Sic, — Buenos Aires, 25th May, 1910. With reference to your despatch of this series, No. 5 (12854/10), of the 22nd April, I have the honour to enclose herewith translation of an extract from the Argentine Regulations governing Diplomatic Ceremonial, setting forth the Customs exemptions conceded to diplomatic representatives and their staffs, as well as to Consuls-General and Consuls de carriere, on their first arrival in this country. You will perceive that these exceptions are based on reciprocity. Articles for the current use of the consulate offices may be imported free on the same basis. The decree dated the 29th December, 1909, referred to in the despatch from the Government of India to the India Office (No. 45, of the 17th March last), is merely one of the usual Ministerial resolutions conceding the free entry of certain private articles which I imported about that date, and which are issued after every request for the free entry of goods,through the Argentine Customs. 1 have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., &c. Walter Townley. Extract from: Argentine Regulations governing Diplomatic Ceremonial. Decree of the 21st February, 1908. Article 61. The heads of missions, secretaries and other members of the legation staff, together with their families, shall enjoy such Customs exemptions as the laws and the decrees of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance shall allow, on the basis of reciprocity. Article 62. Consuls-General and Consuls de carriere shall enjoy similar exemptions on the same basis for those articles which they may import on their first arrival.

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Article 63. Articles for the use of the public service of the foreign consulates may be imported free of duty, provided they arrive addressed to the respective legations, and that their free clearance through the Customs is requested by the heads of missions. This exemption will also be conceded on the basis of reciprocity. Article 64. The heads of missions must be careful that the articles coming within the foregoing Customs exemptions come in the names of the heads of missions, or of the respective members of the staff. Requests for free clearances of goods coming in the name of merchants, and included in commercial invoices, or in the names of persons who may be neither heads of missions nor of members of the staffs who have the right to import such objects, will not be entertained.

No. 44. New Zealand, No. 147. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th July, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a memorandum showing the special campaigns selected for the examinations in military subjects for candidates from universities and local Military Forces in the dominions for commissions in His Majesty's Regular Army. 2. I shall be glad if these regulations can be brought to the notice of the University authorities. I have, &c, CREWE. (iovernor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Form M.T./363.] Commissions in the Regular Army.—Examination o.l<' Candidates in Military Subject .— Military History.

Special Campaigns, &c., selected for Examinations.

A.-1, 1911 No. 31.

Examinations. Date-. Special Campaigns, &c. Remarks. Candidates for commissions in the Regular Arm)', other than university and colonial candidates October, 1910, and March, 1911 i The campaign in Bohemia, 1866, to the battle J of Koniggratz inclusive, with special reforI ence to that battle. (The Shenandoah Valley campaign, from i April, 1861, to June, 1862, inclusive. (The Russo-Turkish. War, 1877-78, omitting I the operations in Asia Minor. ! I The Franco-German War, 1870, from 15th jl July to 1st September, inclusive. October. 191 J. and March, 1912 October, 1912, and March, 1913 October, 1913, and March, 1914 University and colonial candidates for commissions in the Regular Army. (See Appendix IV of the Regulations under which Commissions in the Regular Army may be obtained by University Candidates ; and Appendix III of the Regulations under which Commissions in the British Army may be obtained by Officers of Colonial Military Forces.) Alternative papers are set in October each year, so that university and colonial candidates may take up either of the special periods f j October, 1910 . . March, 1911 October, 1911 .. March, 1912 jThe Waterloo campaign ; or the campaign in Bohemia. 1866, to the Battle of Konigj gratz inclusive, with special reference to ! I that battle. I The campaign in Bohemia, 1866, to the Battle ■] of Koniggratz inclusive, with special refer 1 ence to that battle. I The campaign in Bohemia, 1866, to the Battle of Koniggratz inclusive, with special reference to that battle ; or the Shenandoah j Valley campaign, from April. 1861, to June, . 1862, inclusive. I The Shenandoah Valley campaign, from ( April, 1861, to June, 1862, inclusive. J The Shenandoah Valley campaign, from April, 1861, to June, 1862, inclusive; or the 1 Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. omitting the ( operations in Asia Minor. (The Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78, omitting i the operations in Asia Minor. (The Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78, omitting the operations in Asia Minor; or the Franco-German War, 1870, from 15th July ! I to 1st September, inclusive. I The Franco-German War, 1870, from 15th I July to 1st September, inclusive. October, 19J2 .. March, 1913 October, 1913 .. March, 1914 War Office, 8.W., Lily, 1910.

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No. 45. New Zealand, No. 148. My Lord,— Downing Street, 14th July, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of Orders in Council of the 11th June, 1910, made under section 445 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, respectively, exempting on certain conditions Dutch ships in ports of the United Kingdom from the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to load-line and life-saving appliances on proof that they have complied with the Dutch regulations on these subjects. I am informed by the Board of Trade that the provisions of Netherlands law permit of the issue of special freeboard certificates for timber-laden vessels, but that the Netherlands Government have been informed that under no circumstances at present can these certificates be recognized in this country. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Statutory Rules and Orders, 1910, No. 670. Merchant Shipping.—Prevention op Accidents ; Life-saving Appliances. Order in Council exempting Netherlands Ships, complying with Netherlands Provisions, from the Provision* of Sections 427-31 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (57-58 Vict, c. 60.), as to Life-saving Appliances, At the Court at St. James's, the 11th day of June, 1910. Present : The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by section i of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, it is provided that sections 427 to 431 ol the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (hereinafter called "the principal Act,") relating to life-saving appliances, shall, after the appointed day, apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships- : Provided that His Majesty may by Order in Council direct that those provisions shall not apply to any ship of a foreign country in which the provisions in force relating to life-saving appliances appear to His Majesty to be as effective as the provisions of Part V of the principal Act, on proof that those provisions are complied with in the case of that ship : ; And whereas by section 5 of the said Act it is provided that the said appointed day shall be the first day of January, 1909, or such other day not being more than, twelve months later, as the Board of Trade may appoint : And whereas the Board of Trade have appointed the first day of October, 1909, to be the day after which the provisions of the principal Act relating to life-saving appliances should apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships : And whereas it appears to His Majesty that the provisions in force in the Netherlands relating to life-saving appliances are as effective as the provisions of Part V of the principal Act : Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, is pleased to direct that the provisions of sections 427 to 431 of the principal Act shall not apply to any ship of the Netherlands while within any port of the United Kingdom, if it is proved that the aforesaid provisions in force in the Netherlands relating to life-saving appliances are complied with in the case of that ship. Almeric Fitzßoy.

A.-1, 191) No. 30

No. 46. New Zealand, No. 152. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th July, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Plunket's despatch. No. 48, of the 2nd June, forwarding further messages in connection with the death of King Edward VII, and the accession of King George V. 2. I have to request that your Lordship will be so good as to return in suitable terms to the senders the thanks of His Majesty for their messages, if this haf, not already been done. I have, &c, ORE WE Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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No. 47. New Zealand, No. 155.Mγ Lord, — Downing Street, 19th July, 1910. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance with respect to Act No. 28 of 1909 of the Parliament of New T Zealand, entitled " The Defence Act, 1909," copies of which accompanied Lord Plunket's despatch. No. 6, of the 27th January last. 2. At the same time, the Army Council desire to point out, with reference to sections 27 and 31 of the Act, which contemplate the utilization of the services of retired officers in the Militia, that officers on retired pay are liable to be recalled to service in the Regular or Auxiliary Forces at a time of emergency, until the age of fifty, or in some cases until, the age of fifty-five. The Army Council are advised that this obligation, which would place these officers under the Army Act, would override any obligation created under the New Zealand Defence Act, and they desire that this matter should be brought to the notice of your Ministers in order to prevent any question arising in the event of a retired officer being called up for service both by the Army Council and by the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-l, 1911 No. 37.

No. 48. New Zealand, No. 158. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st July, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 38, of the 18th February, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying translation, of such part as refers to British vessels, of an Ordinance issued by the Swedish Government with regard to the privileges accorded to ships of foreign nations in Swedish harbours. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Ordinance by the Government and Board of Commerce concerning Privileges granted to Ships of Foreign Countries in Swedish Harbours. Given at the Castle of Stockholm, 3rd June, 19.10. The Government and Board of Commerce hereby make known that the ships of foreign countries may enjoy the undermentioned privileges in Swedish harbours. (N.B. —Questions of ships' measurements are dealt with separately.) Page 8. Great Britain and Ireland : — According to the commercial treaty of 18th March, 1826, and the Royal decree of 26th October, 1849, British ships arriving in Swedish harbours are entitled, both on entering and clearing, to the same treatment as ships of the country as regards the shipping and port dues and other expenses for Crown, municipal, or separate institutions of whatever nature soever. By the Royal decree of 15th August, 1854, so long as coasting trade may be carried on freely aud unhindered between British ports by Swedish ships, similar permission will be accorded to British, ships to trade between Swedish ports. By the Royal decree of 2nd October, 1874, so long as Swedish ships may carry on coasting trade freely and unhindered between ports of the British Dominions of Canada, Canadian vessels may carry on a similar trade between Swedish ports. The nationality of ships and cargoes arriving under the British (lag in Swedish harbours shall by the Royal letter of 23rd May, 1828, be considered as sufficiently determined by a certificate issued by the British Consul or Vice-Consul at the port of starting. Page 17. Great Britain and Ireland : — British sailing-vessels provided with a national measurement certificate made out subsequently to 30th April, 1855, are exempt from measurement in Swedish harbours ; and British steamships which, according to the terms of the notice issued by the Royal Customs administration on 11th September, 1882, containing an agreement for mutual recognition of the measurement certificates of Swedish and British vessels made out respectively in their own countries, have undergone partial remeasurement for ascertaining the deduction to be allowed for engine-space shall, in so far as the vessel is provided with the same measurement certificate unaltered as she possessed at the time of such measurement.. continue to be exempt from remeasurement.

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Whereas other British steamships, provided with measurement certificates made out after 30th April, 1855, shall be subjected in Swedish harbours to a partial remeasurement for ascertaining according to Swedish custom both the gross tonnage of the space above the measurement deck and also the space to be exempted for engine-space and other spaces situate above as well as below the measurement deck, for which exemption from dues is granted in Sweden.

No. 49. New Zealand, No. 159. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd July, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Plunket's despatch, No. 26, of the 14th April last, forwarding copies of a scheme for the reorganization of the prison system of New Zealand. I have read Dr. Findlay's scheme with interest, and I shall be glad to be informed of any further developments in giving effect to it, whether by law or rules. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-l, 1911, No. 48.

No. 50. New Zealand, No. 161. My Lord,— Downing Street, 27th July, 1910. With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of copyright, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a memorandum showing the results of the proceedings of the Imperial Copyright Conference. 2. I also enclose copies of the Bill which was examined by the Conference, and which, after amendment, in accordance with the resolutions of the Conference, has been introduced into the Imperial Parliament. The terms of the Bill are intended to give legal effect to the resolutions arrived at by the Conference. 3. In view of the meeting of the Conference, His Majesty's Government decided that it would not be possible to ratify the revised Convention of Berne, and I enclose a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin, and forwarding a copy of the note which he communicated to the German Foreign Minister explaining the position adopted by His Majesty's Government, together with copy of Baron yon Schoen's reply. 4. His Majesty's Government desire to place on record their very great appreciation of the care with which this important subject has been discussed by the representatives of the self-governing dominions. It is their confident hope that in removing the restrictions on the powers of dominion Legislatures which have hitherto existed with regard to copyright they will in no way have affected the unity of Imperial and international copyright, but will have secured that it shall owe its continuance to the concerted action of the dominion Parliaments. I have, &c, CRBWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 51. New Zealand, No. 162. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th July, 1910. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that Lord Dunmore moved in the House of Lords on the 13th instant for a return giving particulars of the financial relations in the principal foreign countries, and in British dominions between the central and the local Governments. 2. I have ascertained that what Lord Dunmore is anxious to ascertain is the sources of revenue of the central and local governing bodies, and the ratio between the amounts raised by the Central Government and the local authorities in each case.

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3. It was stated on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the House of Lords that the Governments of the dominions would be asked whether they were in a position to furnish the information desired, and, in view of this and other considerations affecting the United Kingdom, the motion was withdrawn. 4. 1 shall be much obliged if your Ministers will be so good as to inform me whether it is possible for them to furnish me with a report on the points above specified, so far as they affect New Zealand. I have, &c CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 52. New Zealand, No. 163. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th July, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 129, of the 22nd June, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia have accepted the proposals of His Majesty's Government as to the forwarding to this office of copies of the Acts of the Parliaments of those States. 2. The Governor of Victoria reports that there is already an interchange of copies of Acts between the parliamentary library of Victoria and the parliamentary libraries of the other States and the dominions of the Empire, except the newly formed South Africa Union, with regard to which reciprocal arrangements will doubtless shortly be made. The Governor of New South Wales reports that the question of entering into an arrangement with the sister dominions for an interchange of copies of Acts as they become law will receive the consideration of his Government. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 53. New Zealand, No. 164. My Lord,-— Downing Street, 29th July, 1910. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have had under their consideration the question of the use by His Majesty's ships of the dock at Wellington. 2. In order to allow of the passage of a vessel drawing 30 ft. it will be necessary, in the opinion of the Admiralty, for a channel about 750 ft. long to be dredged from the entrance of the dock to the 5-fathom line, and their Lordships will be glad to learn whether your Government would propose to carry out this dredging in the near future ; they further request that they may be furnished with particulars of any work proposed. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-1, ion No. 41.

No. 54. New Zealand, No. 166. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th July, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a question and answer in the House of Commons on the subject of the emigration of ex-soldiers from this country to the self-governing dominions, together with a copy of a letter from the War Office stating the views of the Army Council on the matter. 2. I have also to enclose, for the information of your Government, a copy of the War Office letter of the 31st December, 1908. to which reference is made in the third paragraph of their letter of the 14th July. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosures. Question. Sir Clement Kinloch Cooke (to ask the Secretary of State for War), Whether the Government have considered the recommendations of the Committee on the civ;! employment of ex-soldiers in regard to emigration, and more especially the suggestion that it should be possible to make arrangements with the Governments of the great self-governing colonies to advance the moneys necessary to meet the expenses of transportation by insuring repayment from reserve pay or pension ; and what steps if any, have been taken to carry out this proposal, and to ascertain the views of the colonies on the subject. (Thursday, 10th March, 1910.) Answer. Mr. Secretary Haldane.—As regards reservists, emigration can only be permitted to a limited extent. As regards soldiers who have completed their engagements, the Army Council would be glad if employment with the Defence Forces of the oversea dominions could be guaranteed for a limited period —say, two years. This would enable the non-commissioned officers and trained soldiers to take up work for which they were fully qualified, and which would be of benefit to the dominions while they were settling down in their new environment. No advances of reserve pay can be made. Facilities for commuting pensions to a certain extent at present exist, but are only granted in cases where employment is assured. No definite steps have been taken to ascertain the views of the dominions and colonies. Sir — . War Office, London S.W., 14th July, 1910. I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 7078/1910, of the 31st March, 1910, on the subject of the emigration of ex-soldiers, and to inform you that the Council would be glad if communications on the subject could be made, as suggested, to the Governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. They accordingly take this opportunity of giving an outline of their views on the subject. 2. As regards men who have completed their period of colour service, but who are still serving in the Army Reserve, the Council regret that they are unable, for obvious reasons, to assist or encourage their emigration by offering any inducements (such as advances of reserve pay, &c), or by countenancing proposals which would tend to hold out similar inducements. 3. A certain small proportion of these reservists have been permitted to reside abroad, under the conditions already put before you in War Office letter numbered 058/3529, dated the 31st December, 1908 ; but these arrangements can only be regarded as of a temporary nature, and as liable to revision in accordance with the state of the Army Reserve and the requirements of the army at the, time. 4. As regards those .men who are either by their conditions of service under no obligation to serve in the Army Reserve or who have already fulfilled that obligation, the Council have no desire to discourage their emigration, although in the case of ex-soldiers in receipt of army pensions the Council are unable to give facilities for the commutation of their pensions other than those prescribed in existing regulations. 5. Lord Crewe will doubtless agree with the Council in thinking that it can hardly be to the advantage of the men referred to in the preceding paragraph, or of the dominions in which they intend to settle, that they should be encouraged to emigrate unless there can be held out to them some prospect of employment for which their training in the army has fitted them, at any rate for the period during which they are adapting themselves to their new conditions of life and environment. 6. It must be borne in mind that during their army service they have been withdrawn for- varying periods from civil life ; and, though their general training may in some cases have fitted them to adapt themselves to changed conditions of life in new countries, such adaptation must necessarily take time. 7. The Council would therefore suggest that this difficulty might be overcome if the Governments of the dominions could see their way to guaranteeing the paid employment of these men in their Permanent Forces for a limited period —say, for the first two years of a man's settlement in the country. Apart from the pecuniary assistance which such employment would afford at the commencement of their life under altered conditions, such a scheme would tend to identify them from the outset with the country of their adoption. 8. Moreover, the Council are of opinion that this proposal would be beneficial to the dominions concerned from a military point of view, as these men would form a valuable nucleus of trained soldiers, on which to found the more extensive systems of defence which appear to be foreshadowed by recent Imperial Conferences and local legislation. Such a nucleus would, it is thought, tend to improve the training and discipline, and to promote the cohesion and military solidarity of the local Forces. 9. The Council would be glad to learn the views of the Governments concerned on these proposals ; and should such a scheme be welcomed, they would be prepared to assist by furnishing the military records and characters of any men selected for such employment, and by engaging to recommend only the best men for enrolment in the local Forces. 1 am, &c, E. W. D. Ward. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W. Sir,— War Office, London S.W., 31st December, 1908. In reply to your letter, No. 45686/1908, dated the 21st instant, on the subject of enlistment into the Canadian Forces of army reservists residing in the Canadian Dominion, in addition to those reservists who belong to the Royal Engineers, I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that the} 7

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note that the Canadian Militia Department wish to extend such enlistments to the several branches of the service, to an extent not exceeding 10 per cent, of the recruiting strength of each unit, instead of restricting such enlistments to reservists belonging to the Royal Engineers. As the Army Council have already assented to this course they can offer no objection, on the understanding that such enlistment does not involve discharge from the reserve, and that this fact is carefully explained to the men : also, that their liability as reservists remains unimpaired. I am, &c.j E. W. D. Ward. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W.

No. 55. New Zealand, No. 169. My Lord, — Downing Street, sth August, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir Robert Stout's despatch, No. 59, of the 17th June, forwarding further messages in connection with the death of King Edward VII and the accession of King George V. 2. I have to request that Your Lordship will be so good as to return in suitable terms to the senders, as in the previous cases, the' thanks of His Majesty for their messages, if this has not already been done. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 56. New Zealand, No. 179. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th August, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing a translation of a note from the Italian Ambassador conveying an invitation on behalf of his Government for the postal administration of New Zealand to participate in an international competition of practical telegraphy which is to take place from the 22nd to the 27th August, 1911, in the enclosure of the Turin Exhibition. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosures. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and is directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit the accompanying translation of a note from the Italian Ambassador respecting an international competition of practical telegraphy. The Secretary of State would be glad to be advised what answer should be returned to the Italian Ambassador. Foreign Office, 9th August, 1910. Sir,— London, 30th July, 1910. I have the honour to inform you the Italian Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs has invited all the telegraph administrations in the world to participate in an international competition of practical telegraphy which is to take place from August 22nd to 27th, 1911, in the enclosure of the Turin Exhibition. Telegraphists belonging to the Military Engineers and those subordinate to the Ministries of Marine and State Railways will also take part in the competition. With a view to its greater success, I have been directed to ask you to move the postal administrations of England, Australia, the Cape, Ceylon, British India, Natal, New Zealand, and the Transvaal also to participate in the competition, rendering it thus of much greater international importance. In the expectation of a favourable reply. I have, &c, Sir E. Grey, Bart., &c. Impbriali.

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No. 57. New Zealand, No. 181. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th August, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches, No. 66, of the Ist July, and. No, 83, of the 15th July, forwarding copies of further messages in connection with the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII and the accession of His Majesty King George V. I have to request that an expression of His Majesty's thanks may be conveyed to the senders, as in previous cases, if this has not already been done, in connection with the acknowledgment mentioned in the Prime Minister's memorandum of the 14th July. I have, &c, CEBWE. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 58. New Zealand, No. 182. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th August, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 77, of the Bth July, transmitting a copy of a resolution passed by the Wellington Diocesan Synod on the sth July in regard to the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII. 2. The resolution has been laid before the King, and I am to request that you will convey to the Lord Bishop of Wellington the thanks of His Majesty for the expressions of the Synod's sympathy, and for their prayers for the prosperity of his reign. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 59. New Zealand, No. 183. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th August, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 70, of the Ist July, transmitting Addresses passed by the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives of the Dominion of New Zealand in regard to the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII and the accession of His Majesty King George V. 2. I have laid these Addresses before the King, and have received His Majesty's commands to request that you will convey to the Council and to the House of Representatives his sincere thanks for their expression of sympathy and loyalty, and for their good wishes for his reign. I have. &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 60. New Zealand, No. 184. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th August, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 107, of the 16th June, 1908. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing a copy of a note from the Swiss Charge d'Affaires relative to the International Convention prohibiting nightwork for women in industrial employment, from which it appears that the Convention will take effect on the 14th January, 1912, as regards Great Britain and New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. ;im r Foreign Office, 13th August, 1910. With, reference to my letter of 11th February last, respecting the International Convention of 26th September, 1906, prohibiting nightwork for women in industrial employment, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit herewith, to be laid before the Earl of Crewe, a copy of a note from the Swiss Charge d'Affaires, communicating the final arrangements, which, as the result of correspondence between the States concerned, have now been made as to the putting into force of the Convention. 1 am to explain that owing to the fact that several of the signatory States —viz., Denmark, Spain, Italy, and Sweden —were not in a position to deposit ratifications by 31st December, 1908, as specified in Article 8, it was found impossible to carry out the stipulations of that article with regard to the entry into force of the Convention. Italy and Sweden have since acceded, and the date of accession of the latter—l4th January, 1910 —has now been agreed upon as a basis upon which to calculate the time-limit of two years allowed, for the purpose. The Convention will accordingly take effect on 14th January, 1912, as regards the States mentioned in Monsieur Probst's note, including Great Britain, while the same date is fixed for the British colonies mentioned at the end of his note, whose accession has been notified by your Department. I am to add that the Convention will now be published in the Treaty Series. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Louis Mallet.

No. 61. New Zealand, No. 187. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st August, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Home Office, in which a request is made for certain information in connection with the investigation and prevention of anthrax. •2. A copy of the last report of the Anthrax Investigation Board of Bradford is also enclosed herewith. 3. I shall be grateful if your Ministers can furnish the desired information as regards the Dominion \mder your Government. 4. I have, at the same time, to invite special attention to the last two paragraphs of the Home Office letter dealing with the mode in which anthrax is spread. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir,-— Whitehall, 29th July, 1910. Early in 1909, at the request of the Home Office, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs addressed to His Majesty's Consuls in centres from which material infected with anthrax is exported, a circular letter asking for information as to the incidence of the disease in the localities under their observation. In response to that letter many reports have been received through the Foreign Office, and the information so obtained has been of much service to the Home Office and to the Anthrax Investigation Board of Bradford—a body specially formed to investigate the subject. Recently, Dr. F. W. Enrich, bacteriologist to the Board, has detected anthrax spores in Cape wool, and suspicion has also fallen on wool from Australia and New Zealand in connection with one or two cases of anthrax in Bradford. In the skin trade, Cape goat-skins have been the most likely source of infection in some cases. Although the risk of anthrax is much less than in the case of certain foreign countries, the Secretary of State desires, therefore, to extend the inquiry to the colonies named above, and would be glad if, with regard to each, information could be obtained on the following points : — (1.) Extent of prevalence of anthrax. (2.) The extent of exports to Great Britain of wool, hair, and hides, (3.) The methods of collection and packing of those materials for export. (4.) Precautions (if any) taken against shipment of—(1) material from infected animals ; (2) blood-stained material. (5.) Disinfection (if any) of material shipped ; mode of disinfection. (6.) Extent of " false packing " —that is, concealment of inferior or infected material in bulk of other kinds. (7.) Distinctive marking (if any) of consignments shipped from given ports or localities. The Anthrax Investigation Board, of whose last report six copies are enclosed, have arrived at certain important conclusions as to the mode in which anthrax is spread. Two of these are of especial moment —first, that the danger of anthrax is associated mainly with blood-clots (from infected animals) attached to the wool, and not simply with dust per se ; and, secondly, that it would greatly facilitate the necessary precautions in this country— (a) if manufacturers could be kept currently informed as to any serious prevalence of anthrax in the place of origin of the materials, and (b) if the consignments of wool, hair, or hides could be distinctively marked so as to indicate the place of origin.

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The Board make, the further suggestion that the colonial authorities should impress upon the persons concerned with the collection, packing, &c, of wool, hair, and hides the desirability in their own interests, as well as those of the British buyer, of excluding any pieces of skin and any materials with blood-stains. I am, &c. W. P. Byrne. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

No. 62. New Zealand, No. 188. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st August, 1910. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for Home Affairs has expressed a desire to be furnished with a statement of the procedure in His Majesty's dominions beyond the seas in regard to the use of the Royal Arms by tradesmen. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be good enough to furnish me with information on the subject, as far as New Zealand is concerned. I enclose for your information a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa on the subject. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. My Lord, — Governor-General's Office, Pretoria, 23rd June, 1910. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I have been unable to obtain from the records of the late Governors of the Cape Colony, the Transvaal, Natal, and the Orange River Colony, any clear guidance as to the rules which should guide me in the grant of appointments to firms and persons as purveyors, &c, to my household, and as to the authorization of the exhibition of the armorial achievement of Great Britain and Ireland by such firms or persons, and I should be grateful if I could be informed upon what terms and conditions such appointments and authorization may be given. '2. I enclose a sample of the card of appointment which has been used of recent years in the Transvaal, which, is similar, mutatis mutandis, to that in use in Cape Colony. These cards have usually only been issued to one firm or person in any town doing business in any particular line, and the issue of such a card has been regarded as sufficient authority for such person to exhibit the Royal Arms at his place of business and upon his business documents. In the Orange River Colony and Natal the practice has been very similar. 3. In your reply, I trust that your Lordship will indicate whether this privilege can be extended to professional men, such as veterinary surgeons, &c, what effect the departure of the officer who granted the appointment should have upon the authorization of the use of the Royal Arms, and what steps should, in your opinion, be taken to insure that none but persons or firms duly authorized use it for business purposes. There does not appear to be any local colonial enactment under which action could be taken should the Royal Arms be improperly used unless such improper use is calculated to defraud, when doubtless a criminal action could be instituted. i. I should also be glad to know whether similar appointments, entailing a similar privilege, may suitably be granted by Her Excellency Lady Gladstone. I have, &c, Gladstone, Governor-General. The Right Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., Colonial Offioe, London.

No. 63. New Zealand, No. 189. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st August, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. Description. 15th August, 1910 . . To H.M. Ambassador at Paris, from Foreign Office.

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Enclosure. Sir, — Foreign Office, 15th August, 1910. With reference to Your Excellency's despatch, No. 15 (Treaty), of 15th February last, respecting the detailed regulations under the Convention of Ist December last for the exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand, I transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the Colonial Office, with its enclosure, suggesting the Ist January, 1911, as the date on which these regulations should take effect. The original regulations enclosed in Your Excellency's despatch referred to were at the time forwarded to the New Zealand Government for completion of signature, and it is not clear whether the French copy has been returned by them direct to the French Minister of Posts. The date of effect of the instrument is, moreover, necessarily dependent on the exchange of ratifications of the main Convention, which, as explained in your despatch, No. 30 (Treaty), of 14th April, awaits the approval of the French Parliament. It would be well, however, to communicate to the French Government the suggestion of the New Zealand Government, in the event of the possible exchange of ratifications before the time mentioned. I am, &c, His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., &c. L. Mallett.

No. 64. New Zealand, No. 191. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist September, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the Regency Act, 1910 (10 Edward VII and 1 George V, eh. 26), which has been passed to provide for the administration of the Royal power and government in case the Crown should descend to any issue of His Majesty while such issue shall be under the age of eighteen years, and of the Accession Declaration Act, 1910 (10 Edward VII and 1 George V, eh. 29), altering the form of the declaration required to be made by the Sovereign on accession to the throne. "2. I enclose also a copy of the Civil List Act, 1910 (10 Edward VII and 1 George V, eh. 28). I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 65. New Zealand, No. 193. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist September, 19JO. With reference to your telegram of the 4th August, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that His Majesty has approved the appointment of Colonel R. H. Davies, C.8., New Zealand Militia, as a temporary Brigadier-General to command the 6th Infantry Brigade at Aldershot, with effect from the 16th October, 1910, and that a notification to this effect will be published in the London Gazette in due course. The tenure of the appointment will be for four years. 2. I take this opportunity of expressing the satisfaction oi His Majesty's Government that they have been able to offer to an officer of the Dominion Forces this important position, and their appreciation of the willingness of your Government that Colonel Davies should accept the post. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 66. New Zealand, No. 198. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd September, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the meat-supply in Canada and the United States. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Date. Description. 10th August, 1910 . . . . From the Officer administering the Government of Canada. Enclosures. My Lord, — Ottawa, Canada, 10th August, 1910. With reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 324, of the 4th May last, covering copy of a despatch addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by His Majesty's Consul-General at New York, regarding the high prices and importation of foodstuffs in the United States, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, copy of an approved minute of His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada, in which is embodied a report from the Minister of Agriculture on the subject. I have, &c, i < D. Girouard, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., &c. Deputy Governor-General. P.C. 1484. Certified Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Deputy Governor-General, on the Ist August, 1910. The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated the 4th July, 1910, from the Secretary of State for External Affairs, to whom was referred a despatch, dated the 4th May, 1910, from the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, transmitting copy of a communication to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by Mr. C. W. Bennett, His Majesty's Consul-General at New York, regarding the high prices and importation of foodstuffs in the United States, with particular reference to the importation of Canadian sheep and mutton. The Minister states that the Department of Agriculture, after inquiry into the matter, finds that the recent shipment of New Zealand mutton to New York was brought about by the fact that the British market was, during 1909, flooded with mutton, the result being a " slump " in the prices of from 2j cents to 3 cents per pound. Prices at the same time were high in the United States, and accordingly this shipment from New Zealand was diverted from Great Britain to New York. Since that time prices in the United States have dropped, and it is now the impression of the leading meat wholesale dealers of New York that there is no likelihood of the continuation of regular imports from New Zealand. The Minister observes —with reference to the statement of His Majesty's Consul-General to the effect that Canadian mutton sells regularly at from 8 cents to 12 cents per pound, and sometimes even at 15 cents per pound, lower than mutton of the same quality produced in the United States —that it will be seen from figures given below that Toronto prices for the past twelve months have been equal to and in some cases higher than the Buffalo prices, especially when the import duty is taken into consideration :— Mutton (Lambs) Prices at Toronto and Buffalo. Toronto. Buffalo. 1909. Per Cwt. Per Owt. $. 8. June . . , . . . . . . . 6-00 7-50 July . . . . . . .. .. 6-00 7-50 August .. . . . . .. . . 6-00 7-50 September . . . . . . . . ' 5-65 to 6-00 7-25 to 7-65 October . . . . . . . . . . 5-75 5-75 (native quoted) November . . . . .. .. 5-50 to 6-00 5-25 to 7-65 December . . . . . . . . 6-60 „ 7-00 5-25 ~ 8-65 1910. January.. .. .. .. .. 6-50 „ 7-55 5-25 ~ 9-10 February.. .. .. .. .. 7-00 ~ 7-50 5-25 ~ 9-50 March .. . . . . . . . . 7-55 „ 9-25 (i-25 .. 1.0-75 April . . . . . . . . . . 6-10 „ 8-50 8-60 .. ltf-15 May . . . . . . . . . . 4-00 „ 8-00 6-00 „ 8-90 That the retail price, for mutton in Chicago during the same period ranged from 8 cents to 25 cents per pound, and for lamb 10 cents to 30 cents per pound, the higher prices being for the loins and chops, which are only a very small portion of the carcase. That Canada annually exports to the United States between 150,000 and 200,000 sheep and lambs, which are sold on the United States market at prices equal to and not unfrequontly higher than those obtained for United States stock of the same quality.

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That on the other hand Canada imports annually from the United States from 35,000 to 50,000 sheep to fill the demand in British Columbia and occasionally in Alberta, in which provinces the local supply is insufficient. That Canada has also of late years imported a good deal of Australian and New Zealand mutton, which has hitherto been landed at Pacific ports only, although it is rumoured that in the near future shipments will also be received at Montreal. That Canada also ships annually from 40,000 to 50,000 head of sheep to Great Britain, although this trade has fallen off to some extent, owing to the increased home demand. That it will thus appear that the actual state of affairs is somewhat different from that described by Mr. Bennett. The Committee, on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for External Affairs, advise that Your Excellency may be pleased to transmit a. copy hereof to the Eight Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the information of His Majesty's Government. All which is respectively submitted for approval. RODOLPHE BOUDBEAU, Clerk of the Privy Council.

No. 67. New Zealand, No. 203. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1910. I have the honour to request your Lordship to inform your Ministers that, having regard to the frequent inquiries made by the representatives of foreign Governments as to the legality and validity of consular marriages in the British Empire, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has requested that the information which has been supplied to him from time to time respecting the state of the law of the various parts of the Empire on this matter may be verified, and, where necessary, supplemented, so as to make it complete. 2. I enclose a table, which has been prepared by the Foreign Office, embodying the required information, and shall be glad if your Ministers will be good enough to advise as to its correctness with regard to New Zealand, and state whether the information now furnished requires any qualifications. For example, lam advised that there may in certain cases be insufficient grounds for determining whether consular marriages are or are not recognized by the local law, and in those cases the reasons for any doubts which may exist should be explained. I have, &c, CREW PI Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.S ().. &c. Enclosure. Table giving Information respecting Consular Marriages in the British Empire. Note. —1. The statements contained in this table are founded either on enactments in force in the different British possessions, &c, or, where this source of information fails, on the best legal opinion obtainable. In the latter case, they must not be taken as necessarily representing the view which would be held by a local Court of law having to consider the validity of a particiilar marriage or the liability to penalty of the person who solemnized it. 2. The expression " consular marriage " is used to connote a marriage solemnized, in the form prescribed by the foreign law, by a foreign consular officer who is duly authorized thereto by his Government, but who is not, in addition, a minister in holy orders or a person expressly empowered by the law of the country in which he resides to solemnize marriages. It is assumed that at some part of the ceremony the parties declare, by words in the present tense, that they take one another as husband and wife, and that the ceremony does not take place in the presence of a person, other than the consular officer, whose presence is sufficient by the local law to give validity to the ceremony. 3. The information here given does not refer to marriages between persons belonging to the native races of the British colonies or other dependencies, or between members of the Mahommedan or other non-Christian faiths. 4. Column 2 only refers to the form of the marriage. 5. As regards column 3, it is to be observed that in no part of the British dominions are marriages by foreign consular officers expressly authorized by the local law.

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-, , Whether recognized as Valid by the Whether prohibited by the '* Local Law. Local Law. Jnited Kingdom— England and Wales . . No .. . . . . . . Yes. Scotland . . .. . . Yes ; provided that at least one of the No. parties had at the date of the marriage, his or her usual place of residence in Scotland, or had lived there for the twenty-one days immediately preceding Ireland . . . . No .. . . .. .. I Yes. British Tndia . . . . Yes ; provided that both parties are | Yes ; unless both parties subjects or citizens of the country are subjects or citizens represented by the solemnizing Con- of the country represul sented by the solemnizing Consul. British Colonies, Protectorates, &c. - Australia — New South Wales .. No .. . . .. .. i Yes. Papua, British New O-uinea Queensland South Australia .. .. I ,. .. .. .. . . Yes. Tasmania .. .. „ . . .. . . .. ,, Victoria. . .. .. ,, .. .. .. .. ,, Western Australia, . . ,, .. . . . . .. ,, Bahamas .. . . .... Barbados . . . . .. j .. Basutoland .... Bechuanaland Protectorate Bermuda .. .. .. No. British Guiana . . .. j ,, British Honduras . . .. ,, .. .. .. . . Yes. Canada (all provinces except ,, British Columbia) British Columbia.. .. Yes; provided that at least one of the j No; subject to the proviso parties is a subject or citizen of the in column 2. country represented by the solemnizing Consul, and that both parties are, in contemplation of the local law, domiciled in that country. In all other cases the validity is doubtful Cape of Good Hope . . | No .. . . .. . . J Yes. Ceylon .. .. .. ■ ,, .. ■. .. .. ,, Cyprus .. .. .. Where one party is a British subject, no : ,, East Africa Protectorate .. No .. .. . . .. I „ Falkland Islands .. .. „ Gambia .. . . ■ • ,, • • • • • • • • | Yes. Gibraltar .. .. .. ,, (.old Coast . . ... „ Hong Kong . . ■ ■ : „ ■ • • •. • • . • • I Yes. Jamaica . . .. . • ,, Leeward Islands ....,, V Ma lav States .. . . Yes ; provided that both parties are Yes ; unless both parties subjects or citizens of the country are subjects or citizens represented by the Consul of the country represented by the Consul. Malta .. .. . . No .. .. .. . . No. Mauritius .. .. . . , ,, ' Natal .. .. • • I „ • • • • • • ■ • Yes. Newfoundland .. .. j ,, • • • • • ■ • • \ „ New Zealand .. .. I ,, • • • • • • ■ • I ,, North-eastern Rhodesia . . „ . . . . . . . . ,, North-western Rhodesia „ . . . . .. .. | „ Northern Nigeria . . .. ,, .. . . .. .. „ Nyassaland Protectorate . > ,, . . . . .. .. : „ Orange River Colony „ . . . • ■ ■ .. „ Pacific Islands (Fiji,' &c.) .... .. .. .. .. | ,", St. Helena . . ..' j „ Seychelles . . , . I ,, 6—A. 2.

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No. 68. New Zealand, No. 204. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 184, of the 25th of August, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of parliamentary paper Cd. 5221, containing the International Convention of September, 1906, respecting the prohibition of nightwork for women in industrial employment, a list of Governments which have acceded to the Convention, and information as to when the Convention will take effect. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. No. 69. New Zealand, No. 206. My Lord, — Downing Street, 9th September, 1910. With reference to your telegram of the 29th of July last, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copies of replies which have been received from the various self-governing dominions with respect to the proposed Conference of Surveyors-General, from which it will be observed that it has not been possible to secure a fully representative attendance in October. 2. Your Ministers will doubtless recognize that the attendance of representatives of all the self-governmg dominions is highly desirable if the Conference is to lead to useful results, and I have accordingly been in communication with the Council of the Surveyors' Institution with a view to the postponement of the Conference until next year. 3. It is now suggested that the Conference should meet in May, 1911, and I trust that this date will prove convenient to your Government. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosures. The Governor of New South Wales to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Telegram.) Your telegram of 7th March. My Ministers advise that they now find that the joint representation of New Zealand and Australian Colonies at proposed Conference of Surveyors-General this year cannot be arranged, but if proposed Conference be held May or June next year two delegates representing Australian States will attend. Chelmsford.

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Country. Whether recognized as Valid by the Local Law. Whether prohibited by the Local Law. I British Colonies, Protectorates, &c.— continued. Sierra Leone .. Somaliland Protectorate .. | No Southern Rhodesia .. j .. Southen] Nigeria . . . . ,, Straits Settlements .. ,, Transvaal . . .. ,, Trinidad .. . . .. „ Uganda, Protectorate ,. | ,, Windward Islands .. . Yen. I . Yes.

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My Lord,— Government House, St. John's, 12th July, 1910. Referring to your despatch, No. 79, of the 27th May, in relation to a Conference of SurveyorsGeneral, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that my Ministers do not desire to be represented at the Conference. I have, <fee, The Right Hon. Earl of Crewe, K.G., &c. Ralph Williams. My Lord, — Government House, Ottawa, Canada, 27th July, 1910. With reference to your Lordship's despatches, Nos. 147 and 360, of the 28th February and the 27th May respectively, on the subject of the proposed Conference of Surveyors-General in October, 1910, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of an approved minute of His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada appointing Mr. E. G. D. Deville, LL.D., D.T.S., Surveyor-General of Canada, to represent the Dominion at the Conference. Your Lordship will observe that none of the Provincial Governments propose to send representatives to this Conference. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., &c. Grey. P.C. 1486. ( 'ertified Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council approved by His Excellency the Administrator on the 21st July, 1910. The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated sth July, 1910, from the Secretary of State for External Affairs, to whom was referred despatches, dated respectively 28th February and 27th May, 1910, from the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the proposed Conference of Surveyors-General in October, 1910. The Minister states that the Government of Canada will be glad to take part in the Conference in question, and he recommends that Mr. E. G. D. Deville, LL.D., D.T.S., Surveyor-General of Canada, be authorized to represent the Dominion at the Conference. The Minister further states that this invitation was duly communicated to the Provincial Governments, from whom replies have been received to the effect that none of these Governments purpose to send representatives to this Conference. The Committee, concurring in the foregoing, advise that Your Excellency may be pleased to inform the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies in the sense of this minute. All which is respectfully submitted for approval. RODOLPHE BoUDBEAU, Clerk of the Privy Council. The Govkunor-Genkeal of the Union of South Africa to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Telegram.) 30th July, No. 2. Referring to your despatch of the 2nd of June, No. 4 (Conference of Surveyors-General), Ministers regret that circumstances connected with the establishment of Union have rendered impracticable the representation of Union of South Africa at the Conference. Despatch follows by mail. Gladstone. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Secretary of State foe the Colonies. (Telegram.) Your telegram of 28th July. Conference Surveyors-General: Commonwealth Government has no objection to date named, but, in view of request of State Governments and New Zealand Ministers, would be glad if arrangements could be made to meet their wishes as far as to allow postponement until next year. It is considered that date to be fixed should be such as will permit of the report of this subsidiary Conference being completed in time to submit to forthcoming Imperial Conference. Arrangements being made for High Commissioner for Australia to represent Commonwealth at the Conference. Dudley.

No. 70. New Zealand, No. 210. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th September, 1910. With reference to Lord Plunket's despatch, No. 103, of the 25th of November last, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that at a meeting of the council of the Suez Canal Company, held on the Ist of August, it was decided to reduce the transit dues from 7 - 75 frs. to 7-25 frs. per ton, the reduction to take effect from the Ist of January, 1911. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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No. 71. New Zealand, No. 214. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th September, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch. No. 89, of the 28th July last, enclosing a memorandum from your Prime Minister covering a communication from the executive of the friendly society of the Order of Papawharanui the First, Ngapuna, relating to the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII and the accession of His Majesty King George V. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 72. New Zealand, No. 217. My Lord, — Downing Street, 20th September, 1910. In continuation of my despatch, No. 189, of the 31st Augiist, 1 have the honour to transmit to the accompanying copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, on the subject of the regulations under the convention of the Ist December, 1909, for the exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand. 2. Your Ministers will observe that the French copy of the regulations had not been received up to the 31st of August by the French Ministry of Public Works, Posts, and Telegraphs. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosures. Slß,— Paris, 9th September, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of Monsieur Pichon's reply to the communication which 1 addressed to him in accordance with the instructions contained in your despatch, No. 80 (Treaty—2B9l7), of the 15th ultimo, respecting the detailed regulations under the convention of the Ist December, 1909, for the exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand. His Excellency states that the French copy of those regulations had not been received on the 31st ultimo by the Ministry of Public Works, Posts, and Telegraphs. Monsieur Pichon adds that the French Government agree to the Ist of January next as the date for the coming into force of the regulations, provided that the Convention shall have been previously ratified by the French Parliament. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie. Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, — Paris, le 8 septembre, 1910. Par un office en date dv 17 aout dernier Votre Excellence a bien voulu me demander si l'exemplaire francais dv Eeglcment d'execution de la Convention dcs mandats poste entre la France et la Nouvelle Zelande avait etc retourne a I'Administration francaise. Je m'empresse de Lvi faire savoir que le Ministere dcs Travaux Publics m'avait pas encore recti cc document a la date dv 31 aoiit dernier. Votre Excellence me faisait savoir, d'autre part, que le Gouvernement neo-zelandais proposait la date dv ler Janvier 1911 pour la mise en vige.ur de reglement precite. J'ai l'honneur le Lvi faire connaitre que le Gouvernement de la Republique ne peut que dormer son asseiitiment a cette suggestion, dont la realization ne depend, en cc gui concerne la France, que de l'approbation de la Convention par le Parlement francais avant la date indiquee. Agreez, &c, Gavarry.

No. 73. New Zealand, No. 218. My Lord,— Downing Street, 21st September, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a circular despatch which has been addressed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to His Majesty's representatives abroad, suggesting that the International Radiotelegraphic Conference which \¥as to have, been held at the beginning of June, 1911, should be postponed for a year.

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2. His Majesty's Government trusts that the postponement will commend itself to the judgment of your Ministers. I have, &c, CRBWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir,— Foreign Office, Ist September, 1910. I request that you will inform the Government to which you are accredited that, in consequence of the coronation of His Majesty King George having been appointed to take place in June, 1911, it would be difficult for His Majesty's Government to receive the International Radiotelegraphic Conference, which was to have been held at the beginning of that month, w-ith the hospitality and consideration which they would desire to extend to so important an international gathering. You should therefore inquire of the Government to which you are accredited whether they would set' any objection to the Conference being postponed until the beginning of June, 1912. I am, &c, P. A. Campbell, His Majesty's Representative at New Zealand. For the Secretary of State.

No. 74. New Zealand, No. 219. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st September, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of the propositions to be laid before the Conference on the Protection of Industrial Property, which is being held at Washington in May, 1911. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be so good as to favour His Majesty's Government with any observations which they may wish to offer on the propositions in question, as it is thought that it will be very desirable that the official British representatives at the Conference should be in possession of the views of the selfgoverning dominions upon the points to be discussed. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 75. New Zealand, No. 220. My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd September, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a circular despatch addressed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to His Majesty's representatives at foreign Courts on the subject of the procedure in the case of letters of request for evidence in civil and commercial cases pending before foreign tribunals. It does not refer to criminal cases. 2. Your Ministers will observe from this despatch that it is now possible for His Majesty's Government to forward letters of request direct to the judicial authorities in this country without direct application to the Courts being required from the agents in this country of the parties concerned. lam not aware whether application by the agents of the parties is required by the law in force in New Zealand, but if it is, I would suggest for the consideration of your Ministers that it might be well to amend the rules of Court or other authority under which the practice is required, so as to correspond with that now adopted in this country. 3. It will also be seen that in cases of letters of request to be executed in this country it is necessary that each commission or letter of request should be accompanied by the list of questions to be put to the witnesses respectively, together with a translation thereof into English. In view of this requirement being made in

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the case of letters of request emanating from foreign Governments, I have to suggest that it will be desirable that any letters of request which it is desired should be executed abroad should be accompanied by interrogatories and translations of them into the language of the country in which the examination is to take place. Otherwise it is possible that foreign countries may decline to execute such letters of request until interrogatories and translations have been provided, a course which would involve serious loss of time. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 76. Dominions—Circular. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st September, 1-910. With reference to ray circular despatch of the 27th of May last, I have the honour to state, for the information of your Government, that His Majesty's Engraver of Seals now proposes to proceed with the preparation of the new public, seals rendered necessary by the demise of the Crown. 2. Before the work of engraving the new public seal for New Zealand is begun, I should be glad to be informed at your early convenience whether it is desired that any change should be made in the design beyond that rendered necessary by the accession of His Majesty. . I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 191 J, No. 70.

No. 77. New Zealand, No. 224. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th September, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of the award of the tribunal established by an agreement between the United States of America and Great Britain on the 27th of January, 1909, to arbitrate with regard to certain questions relating to the North Atlantic, coast fisheries. I have, &c, CREWB. Governor the Right Hon. Lord. Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 78. New Zealand, No. 227. My Lord, Downing Street, 4th October, 1910. With reference to my circular despatch of the 23rd of September, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a notice issued by the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament with regard to the nominations for the Nobel "Peace Prize of 1911. 2. I have to request that your Ministers will be so good as to cause the conditions of the prize to be made known to those bodies and persons who are qualified to nominate candidates. 3. It will be observed that the names of candidates should be received by the Nobel Committee before the Ist of February, 1911. I have, &c, CRBWE, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-l, 1911, No. 50.

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Enclosure. . Nobel Peace Prize. All proposals of candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is to be distributed 10th December, 1911. must, in order to be taken into consideration, be laid before the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament by a duly qualified person before the first of February of the same year. Any one of the following persons is held to be duly qualified : (a) Members and late members of the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament, as well as the advisers appointed at the Norwegian Nobel Institute ; (b) members of Parliament and members of Government of the different States, as well as members of the Interparliamentary Union ; (c) members of the International Arbitration Court at the Hague ; (d) members of the Commission of the Permanent International Peace Bureau; (c) members and associates of the Institute of International Law ; (/) University professors of political science and of law, of history, and of philosophy ; and (g) persons who have received the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize may also be accorded to institutions or associations. According to the Code of Statutes, section 8, the grounds upon which any proposal is made must be stated, and handed in along with such papers and other documents as may therein be referred to. According to section 3, every written work, to qualify for a prize, must have appeared in print. For particulars, qualified persons are requested to apply to the office of the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament, Drammensvei 19, Kristiania.

No. 79. New Zealand, No. 230. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th October, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 118, of the 3rd July, 1908, in which your predecessor was informed that the Orange River Colony had not adhered to the Radiotelegraphic Convention, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Government of the Union of South Africa have now decided to adhere as a whole to that convention. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 80. New Zealand, No. 241. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th October, 1910. With reference to Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatches of the 9th November, 1903, and the 3rd December, 1994, copies of which are enclosed for convenience of reference, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Army Council have had occasion to reconsider the rates of contribution payable by the Dominion Governments towards the pensions of. non-commissioned officers who may be employed by them, and find that in one particular these rates should be modified. 2. When the rates were calculated it was assumed that all the non-commis-sioned officers lent to dominion Governments would be men of some service who had re-engaged, or who had at least extended their service to complete twelve years. But as a matter of fact some of these men are on short-service engagements, and have not yet extended their service for so much as twelve years. The Army Council recognize that the pension liability for such men is appreciably less than for a man who is on a twelve-years engagement, and they have decided therefore to reduce, with effect from the Ist April, 1910, the contribution in respect of such men from £12 to £6 a year. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 81. New Zealand, No. 242. My Lord,— Downing Street, 20th October, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 119. of the 9th September, forwarding addresses from the Arikis of the Federal Council, Cook Islands, passed on the occasion of the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII and the accession of Hts Majesty King George V.

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2. I have laid these messages before the King and Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, and I have to request that the thanks of Their Majesties rmty be conveyed to the Arikis for their expressions of sympathy and their assurances of loyalty. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 82. New Zealand, No. 243. My Lord,— Downing Street, 20th October, 1910. In continuation of my despatch, No. 179, of the 19th August, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of the " Reglement dv Concours professionnel international de Telegraphic pratique," which has been drawn up by the Italian Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs in connection with the International Competition of Practical Telegraphy which is to take place at Turin in 1911. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 83. New Zealand, No. 246. My Lord,— Downing Street, 21st October, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 163, of the 29th July last, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the Governments of South Australia and Tasmania have adopted the proposal of His Majesty's Government as to the forwarding of the Acts of the Parliaments of these States. 2. In the case of South Australia, the Parliamentary Library of the State has already made arrangements for reciprocal interchange of Acts with every Dominion, State, and colony of the Empire. 3. In the case of Tasmania, it is stated that the Acts of most of the British colonies are now received by the Parliamentary Librarian. 4. The Governor-General of the Union of South Africa reports that his Ministers will make every endeavour, on the appointment of the officers of the Parliament, to comply with the wishes of the Secretary of State. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 84. New Zealand, No. 247. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st October, 1910. With reference to your telegram of the 11th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of correspondence with the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia as noted in the margin, relative to a proposal that action should be taken to obtain the ownership and control of a cable across the Atlantic between Great Britain and Canada, and that the telegraph-line between the landing-place of such cable and the point of junction with the Pacific cable should be owned and operated by the Canadian Government. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.g.0., &c.

GovernorGeneral, No. 170, 25th July. Ditto, No. 394, 14th October.

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Enclosures. Commonwealth of Australia : My Lord,— Governor-General's Office, Melbourne, 25th July, 1910. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I am advised by His Majesty's Prime Minister of the Commonwealth that the Government are of opinion that, in order to secure a lower rate for telegrams with Europe via the Pacific cable, and also more accurate transmission, action should be taken to obtain the ownership and control of a cable across the Atlantic Ocean between Great Britain and Canada. Further, it is considered by the Commonwealth Government that the telegraph-line between the landing-place of such proposed Atlantic cable and the point of junction with the Pacific cable should be owned and operated by the Canadian Government. 2. The High Commissioner of the Commonwealth has been requested to urge upon the Pacific Cable Board the desirableness of obtaining such a cable, either by purchasing one of the existing lines or by laying an independent cable. 3. The present apportionments on a Press message between Australia and the United Kingdom " via Pacific " are as follows : Atlantic cable, sd. per word ; Canada, Id. per word ; Pacific Cable Board, 2d. per word ; Australia, Id. per word. 4. In dealing with this matter, the Commonwealth Postmaster-General points out the comparatively large amount allotted to the Atlantic section, and draws attention to the circumstance that the charge on public messages to places in Europe, other than the United Kingdom, exceeds 3s. per word, owing to the fact that the Atlantic cable companies will not agree to accept the same apportionment on these messages as they do on messages to the United Kingdom. This gives the Eastern Extension Company a practical monopoly of European business to places outside the United Kingdom. 5. The Prime Minister informs me that the Commonwealth Government will be glad if the Imperial authorities can see their way to co-operate with them on this question, with a view to securing the objects sought. I may add that similar representations are being addressed to the Government of Canada by the Commonwealth Government. I have, &c, Dudley, The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Governor-General. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th October, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's despatch, No. 170, of the 25th July, reporting that your Government suggest that action should be taken to obtain the ownership and control of a' cable across the Atlantic between Great Britain and Canada, and that the telegraph-line between the landing-place of such cable and the point of junction with the Pacific cable should be owned and operated by the Canadian Government. 2. As regards the latter point, your Ministers are aware that arrangements have now been made for the operation by the Pacific Cable Board of a telegraph-line through Canada, and I presume that this arrangement will fully meet the wishes of your Government in this respect. 3. The question of the provision of a State-owned cable across the Atlantic received the fullest consideration of His Majesty's Government at the end of 1908 when similar proposals were made by Mr. Lemieux, the Postmaster-General of Canada. His Majesty's Government then decided that it was not possible to accept the proposal, one of the considerations which weighed with them being the inexpediency of incurring heavy outlay on trans-Atlantic cables at a time when great efforts are being made to provide effective long-distance services by means of wireless telegraphy. 4. Moreover, the existing trans-Atlantic service works with admirable efficiency, the terminal points of the cables are situated on British territory, and the landing licenses in this country guarantee complete control to the Government in case of emergency. There is, however, legitimate ground for dissatisfaction in that the rates press with undue severity on certain classes of the community. These grievances would be met, so far as the general public is concerned, if it should be found practicable to carry out a scheme based upon proposals made by the Postmaster-General of the Commonwealth, under which half-rates would be charged in respect of telegrams in plain language accepted on the condition that they may be liable to be deferred until traffic paid for at full rates has been disposed of. The Postmaster-General is at present in communication with the principal cable companies and Government telegraph administrations with a view to the adoption at an early date of a reduced tariff on this basis, and Mr. Samuel is not without hope that his efforts may prove successful. 5. His Majesty's Government sympathize strongly with the desire of the Australian Government for a further reduction of the rates for Press telegrams, and for the adaptation of these rates so as to admit of the Pacific Cable Board charging the same through rate on telegrams exchanged with countries on the Continent of Europe as on those exchanged with the United Kingdom. In view, however, of the important negotiations referred to in the preceding paragraph of this despatch the Post-master-General deems it inexpedient for the present to press these particular points on the attention of the cable companies. The matter, however, will not be lost sight of when a suitable occasion for dealing with it presents itself. I have, &c, Crewe. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Dudley, G.C.M.G.,' G.C.V.0., &c.

7—A. 2.

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No. 85. New Zealand, No. 248. My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th October, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 116, of the 9th September, and to request you to inform your Ministers that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the title " The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital " for the children's hospital to be erected at Wellington as a memorial to His late Majesty King Edward VII. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 86. New Zealand, No. 249. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th October, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of the report of a Committee appointed in June, 1909, to consider questions affecting distressed colonial and Indian subjects, together with a copy of the evidence taken. Copies of this report and evidence were sent to you in my Library despatch of the 19th May last. 2. I shall be glad if you will invite the attention of your Ministers to the part of the report dealing with colonial seamen (pp. 11-14) and to the recommendations (α-c) of the Committee on page 24 regarding seamen from the self-governing dominions. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-1, 1911, No. 60.

No. 87. ■ New Zealand, No. 250. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th October, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 122, of the 16th September, forwarding copy of a memorandum from your Prime Minister conveying, on behalf of the Presbytery of Mataura, Gore, a resolution of sympathy on the occasion of the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII and of loyalty to His Majesty King George V, and to request that the thanks of His Majesty may be returned to the presbytery in suitable terms. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 88. New Zealand, No. 255. My Lord,— Downing Street, 31st October, 1910. I nave the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the" accompanying copies of an Order in Council of the 13th instant, providing for thefrecognition i n this country of the load-line certificates issued to Swedish ships Swedish authorities under the Swedish Royal Ordinance of the 21st May last. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Ordee in Council of the 13th October, 1910, relating to the Eecognition op Swedish Load-line Certificates. At the Court at Saint James's, the 13th day of October, 1910. Present: The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by section four hundred and forty-five of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, it is enacted that where the Board of Trade certify that the laws and regulations for the time being in force in any foreign country and relating to overloading and improper loading are equally effective with the provisions of that Act relating thereto, His Majesty in Council may direct that on proof of a ship of that country having complied with those laws and regulations, she shall not, when in a port of the United Kingdom, be liable to detention for non-compliance with the said provisions of that Act, nor shall there arise any liability to any fine or penalty which would otherwise arise for non-compliance with those provisions : And whereas by section one of the Merchant Shipping Act,' 1906, provision, as is more particularly therein mentioned, is made for applying to foreign ships while they are within any port in the United Kingdom certain sections of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, which relate to load-line, without prejudice to any direction of His Majesty in Council given under the said section four hundred and forty-five of the last-mentioned Act. And whereas the Board of Trade have certified that certain statutory regulations which have been approved by the Swedish Government relating to overloading, so far as regards the assignment of load-lines to Swedish ships, are equally effective with the corresponding regulations in force in this country respecting the assignment of load-lines to British merchant ships : Now, therefore, His Majesty in Council doth direct that on proof that Swedish ships have complied with the aforesaid Swedish regulations, such ships shall not, when in ports of the United Kingdom, be liable to detention for non-compliance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to overloading, nor shall there arise any liability to any fine or penalty which would otherwise arise for non-compliance with those provisions. Almeric Pitzßoy.

No. 89. New Zealand, No. 256. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st October, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the resurvey of Rangitoto Channel, Auckland. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 1911, ' No. 61.

Enclosure. Sir,— Admiralty, S.W., 25th October, 1910. With reference to your letter of the 14th instant, No. 31052, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, relative to the resurvey of Rangitoto Channel, Auckland, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that, as the assistance rendered by the Royal Navy in the resurvey of this channel will be limited to supplying the officer and surveying staff required (i.e., two recorders and the necessary leadsmen, together with instruments, &c), it will be necessary for the Auckland Harbour Board to supply any further labour and stores required by the surveying officers for the erection of marks, &c, as stipulated in Admiralty letter M. 4399, of the 26th May last. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. Graham Greene.

No. 90. New Zealand, No. 257. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd November, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of a new steamship service between Auckland and San Francisco. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. Description. !5th October, 1910 From the Admiralty.

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Enclosure. Sik, — British Consulate, Papeete, 20th September, 1910. I have the honour to report that the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand are about to inaugurate a twenty-eight days' steam service between Auckland, New Zealand, and San Francisco, United Stated of America, via Papeete, Tahiti. The service will commence on the 22nd of October, 1910. For this service the Union Steamship Company will receive from the New Zealand Government a subsidy of £20,000 for one year ; but should the line be successful, then it will be continued for another two years, the only difference being that the point of departure from New Zealand will be from Wellington, provided the present New Zealand and Vancouver service should call at Auckland instead of Wellington. By this new line Tahiti will be brought into closer touch with the civilized world, more especially since the Oceanic Steamship Company (an American line) have just renewed their thirty-six days' mail-service with the French Government for another three years. This new line will be of great commercial advantage to these islands, as the Oceanic Steamship Company, having had up to now no competitor, was able to ask exorbitant charges for freights and passages, which will now have to be very greatly reduced. I enclose three copies of the " Journal Official " containing the official information of the proposed inauguration of the new line. I also enclose an extra copy of this despatch for transmission to the Commercial Intelligence Department of the Board of Trade should it be deemed of sufficient commercial interest. I have, &c, Sir E. Grey, Bart., M.P., &c, Foreign Office, London. Arthur L. Rowleys.

No. 91. New Zealand, No. 261. My Lord, — Downing Street, 9th November, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 2nd instant, in which you report that your Ministers are desirous that His Majesty's Government should co-operate with the Pacific Cable Board in the construction of an Atlantic cable to complete a through line to the Pacific. In reply, I have to request you to refer your Ministers to my predecessor's despatch, No. 247, of the 21st October, which explains the present attitude of His Majesty's Government on the subject. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 92. New Zealand, No. 264. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th November, 1910. With reference to your despatch, No. 105, of the 26th August last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, enclosing copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at New York, forwarding copy of a communication on the subject of the high prices of foodstuffs in the United States, and the importation of Canadian and Australian meat into that country. I have, &c, ■ L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Date. ' I Description. 20th September, 1910 J From ELM. closure). Consul, Tahiti (without en-

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Enclosures. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith copy of the undermentioned paper. Foreign Office, 3rd November, 1910.

Sir, — British Consulate-General, New York, 24th October, 1910. With reference to the Under-Secretary of State's presents compliments of Bth September (No. 13, Commercial), regarding the high price and importation of foodstuffs into the United States, with particular reference to the importation of Canadian sheep and mutton, I have the honour to report that before making the report contained in my No. 34 (Commercial) of the 18th April last I was very careful to obtain corroborative evidence so far as I could for the statements therein made. Since receiving your despatch now under reply I have made further inquiries upon the subject, and have the honour to enclose a copy of a letter on the subject which I have received from an Englishman who is very largely interested indeed in the question of the importation of meats into the United States, and to whose judgment very great importance is attached by everybody connected with the meat trade. The gentleman in question, however, does not wish his name to be divulged, and I have therefore suppressed it. I have, &c, C. M. Bennett, Consul-General. The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Deak Me. Bennett,— New York City, 24th October, 1910. Pray excuse my long delay in answering your letter of the 10th, in reference to the importation of Canadian and Australian mutton into the United States. I now return you the file of papers, all of which I have read with interest. It is impossible for me to answer the statistics prepared by the Canadian Government, which, of course, we assume are correct. I may say, however, that it was very clearly stated by several parties here whom I saw that Canadian mutton sold in Canada much below the price that the United States mutton sold on this side of the border. This statement, as a, matter of fact, was confirmed at the time by a number of articles which were printed in the newspapers of this and other cities dealing with the question of importation of Australian beef into the United States, the position of affairs in connection with Canadian mutton being used as an argument in relation thereto. In the New York Press of 16th April, which is considered to be a well-informed commercial sheet, this is brought out clearly, and I quote from the leading article as follows : " They will cite the different prices for meats in this country and just across the line in Canada, for example. According to the degree of enthusiasm, these differences amount to anything from 8 to 12 or even 15 cents a pound. But the tariff rates on beef, mutton, and other fresh meats are only 1| cents a pound." The great trouble that Canadian mutton has in pushing its way in the American market is the fact that the refrigerator cars are controlled by the big American packers, and if they do not want Canadian mutton sold they can easily prevent it. As a matter of fact, I think the quality of Canadian mutton is rapidly deteriorating, and to-day I would prefer to eat United States mutton to Canadian mutton. This apparently is the view also held in Great Britain, as the total number of sheep shipped from Canada to Great Britain in 1909 was only 1,616, as against 10,000 in 1908 and 76,000 in 1897. I have, &c.

No. 93. New Zealand, No. 265. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th November, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 128, of the 29th September last, enclosing copy of a memorandum from your Prime Minister, forwarding a memorial from the inhabitants of the Chatham Islands expressing sympathy.with the Queen Mother on the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII, and a memorial expressing sympathy with and loyalty to His Majesty the King. I have to request that the thanks of His Majesty the King and of Her Majesty the Queen Mother may be conveyed to the senders in suitable terms. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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No. 94. Circular. —Dominions. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th November, 1910. I kave the honour to inform you that His Majesty has been pleased this day to entrust to my care, as one of the Principal Secretaries of State, the seals of the Colonial Department. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 95. New Zealand, No. 268. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th November, 1910. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 224, of the 28th September, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying three sets of the documents signified in the margin with regard to the arbitration recently held at the Hague between the Government of the United States and His Majesty's Government on the subject of the North American fisheries. 2. The award in the case will be printed for Parliament, when copies will be sent to you. 3. The two extra copies, if not required for the use of your Government, might be presented to the university libraries in the Dominion. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. . Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 96. New Zealand, No. 269. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th November, 1910. 1 have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for Home Affairs desires to bring before the Imperial Conference the question of the deportation of undesirable aliens from the self-governing dominions. 2. I enclose, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a memorandum on the subject which has been prepared in the Home Office, and I shall be glad if you will invite the earnest consideration of your Ministers to the question raised in this memorandum. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-1, 1911 No. 59.

Enclosure. Memorandum re the deportation of Undesirable Aliens from the Self-governing Dominions. It is suggested by the Home Secretary that the question of the deportation of undesirable aliens from the self-governing dominions should be discussed by the Imperial Conference. The question is one of general interest, since powers in regard to the deportation of undesirables are possessed by the Governments of Canada and South Africa, though in practice at present it mainly concerns the Dominion of Canada and the Union of South Africa. Under the Canadian Immigration Act of 1910 the Canadian authorities have power to deport certain specified classes .of aliens at any time within three years of their arrival, and any alien so deported must be carried by the same transportation company which brought him to Canada " to the place in the country whence he was brought or to the country of his birth or citizenship " (section 45). Under the first alternative an alien who had sailed to Canada from a British port —and this applies to the majority of aliens who land in Canada —and was subsequently deported from Canada, would be sent back (as has been the case hitherto) to the British port whence he sailed ; and under the second alternative—which constitutes an addition to previous legislation on the matter —it seems certain, though the means by which a deported alien is to be conveyed to the country of his birth or citizenship is not defined in any way, that in the majority of cases the alien would, in the first instance, be sent to a British port.

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The Union of South Africa, under certain of the laws of the South African colonies still in force, has power to deport undesirables at any time, and, as the shipping lines from England are the principal means of communication with Europe and America, the great majority of persons deported from South Africa are-brought to British ports. With regard to aliens so deported, an arrangement was made semi-officially with the late Government of Cape Colony (through the ports of which pass almost all persons deported from the Union) by which notice of all deportations is sent as long beforehand as possible to the Inspector under the Aliens Act at the Home Office. This arrangement is still in force, and the Cape authorities have further given an indemnity to the Union Castle line, who carry the deported aliens, to cover all expenses which that company may incur in securing or trying to secure, their departure from the United Kingdom for their proper destinations. The latter part of the scheme is purely voluntary, and depends entirely for its success upon the zeal and good-will of the shipping company. The late Governments of the Transvaal and Natal also undertook to give similar notice of deportations from their territories, though most of the persons concerned would in due course pass through Cape ports. On the arrival of these deported aliens in the United Kingdom the matter comes in some degree within the operation of the Imperial Aliens Act, 1905, under which, in certain circumstances, certain classes of undesirable aliens may be refused leave to land in the United Kingdom. The passenger-carrying lines from Canada and South Africa have been granted exemptions from inspection under the Aliens Act on entering into bonds with the Secretary of State, one of the conditions of which is that no undesirable aliens shall be landed in the United Kingdom except for the purpose of transit. Deported aliens come within the terms of this provision, and it consequently rests with the shipping companies concerned to see that they leave the United Kingdom. This is often a task of considerable difficulty, and the pressure which is sometimes necessary to secure that the companies fulfil their obligations is not always successful, as is shown by the-appended figures of deportations from Canada and South Africa during the years 1907-9. At the best, present conditions involve the keeping of a very careful watch on this traffic— for which purpose the above-mentioned arrangement with the late Government of Cape Colony, the Transvaal, and Natal is useful so far as it goes —and there is always the risk that the Mother-country may be burdened with aliens sent to her by the dominions who will be a detriment to the public either from their character or from disease. It would be open to the Home Secretary to cancel the bonds above referred to so far as deported aliens are concerned, and to have such aliens submitted to inspection, with the almost certain result that they would be refused leave to land in the United Kingdom. But this would create a very difficult situation, and the Home Secretary is of opinion that it would be better if the dominions would consider, with regard both to their legislation and to their administration in the matter of deporting aliens whether they cannot make, or co-operate in, such arrangements as will save the Mother-country from the difficulties and risks to which she is now exposed, and will relieve her to some degree from the effort to protect herself from the consequences of the procedure in the dominions. It will be remembered that the Imperial Government does not send undesirables from the United Kingdom to the dominions or colonies. Home Office, 31st October, 1910.

Appendix. Return of Aliens deported from British Colonies to the United Kingdom.

No. 97. New Zealand, No. 272. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1910. With, reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 128, of the 17th June, I a.-i, 1911, have the honour to inquire whether your Ministers are yet in a position to favour No " v '

p I 1 Whence deported. Insai 55 o.S O^3 o'3 gp H ie, &c. Trachoi .ai o.S "d +J en ot ia. Me< Gro; o.S OTl! her Uoal ands. Cause I Publii Charge d 1-a g of Deportation. ; Clime. si o.S I* 'Zl +a ro ■a 8'3 1 s •a H H OB Ot] Cau If |M if r her ises. Accra ing D Al o .5 4sta r impany)eported Totals. liens. "S.S I a> j Is o"3 S ' O I H H Ol J o I s I o O EH 1 o £ E j a O H 1907 1907 1908 1908 1909 1909 British North America British South Africa.. British North Ameri a British South Africa.. British North America British South Africa.. 12 33 '2 16 35 5 2 fi 2 5 .. i " i" 16 j 4 7 10 el 35 5 3i 20 76 1 7 42 1! 24 ■ 2 176 ii 51 i 1 i 1 253 15 26 1 3 187 9 1 11 52 14 2 38 268 76 lj 2 3J 6 110 ..ill 317 8J46 2 2 i 3 1 .. 2 1 3 215: 3 4j 6 24 i 1 ■9 3 4 6 7 55 .. .. 5 .. 9 281 .. 3 16 2 6128 .. .. 39 8 25524 16 7) 4 9 25 306 3 19 11139 9 48 23 I 24 4 35 Totals for 1907-9 .. 68 75 12 88 ] 6 92 I IS 17 68,592

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me with an expression of their views on the subject of the question of naturalization. 2. In view of the fact that the Imperial Conference will meet in May next it would be convenient if I could receive an early reply to this despatch. I have, &c, L. HAKCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 98, New Zealand, No. 273. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1910. I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Dominion of Canada recently requested that the names of officers of the Canadian Permanent Staff and Force who have successfully passed examinations for promotion or for admission to the Staff College might be published in the Press. 2. The Army Council have replied that they will gladly cause the names of such officers to be included in the lists of successful candidates which are sent to the Press for publication at the termination of each half-yearly examination for promotion. The Army Council propose also to arrange for the inclusion of officers of the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand. 3. As regards, however, the examination for entrance into the Staff College, the Army Council observe that the list sent to the Press includes only officers successful in the competition. Officers of the Canadian Permanent Staff and Force do not enter by competition, but it is left to the Dominion Government to nominate for admission an officer who has qualified at the entrance examination. The names of officers nominated and of others who qualify are included in an ;.rmy order issued at a somewhat later date. Copies of the order are sent to the principal newspapers, and the information is also included in the report on the examination, which is published and placed on sale. 4. In future years the Army Council propose that the army order publishing the result of the examination, together with a list of those nominated, should contain the names of officers of the Military Forces of the oversea dominions who .qualify, and also of those nominated for admission to the college, provided this information is available in time for inclusion. I have, &c, L. HABCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 99. New Zealand, No. 274. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1910. With reference to my despatches, No. 247, of the 21st October, and No. 261, of the 9th November, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter which has been addressed by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to the Chairman of the Pacific Cable Board on the subject of the proposed extension of the Pacific cable by the laying of a cable between Australia and New Zealand. 2. I shall be glad to receive an early reply intimating the intentions of your Government with regard to the limitation (if any) of the use of the wireless telegraphic system which it is proposed to establish between the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and the views of your Government as to the possible effect of such a system on the intercolonial traffic of the Pacific cable. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Sir,— Treasury Chambers, 18th November, 1910. The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury have had before them your letter of the 28th September last (10/2002/713), in which you state that the Pacific Cable Board has received from all the contributing Governments communications expressing their approval of the proposal that the Board should extend its system by laying a cable between Australia and New Zealand, and request their Lordships to take steps for obtaining the sanction of Parliament to the proposal, including power to raise by loan the whole or any part of the funds required. Since that letter was received the Secretary of State for the Colonies has drawn their Lordships' attention to the report of a Radiotelegraphic Conference held at Melbourne in December last, containing proposals to erect wireless stations for the purpose of establishing communication between Australia and New Zealand, and Fiji and other places in the Pacific, and has informed them that the Australian Government have already accepted tenders for the erection of high-power stations at Sydney and Fremantle, the former to be capable of communicating with Doubtless Bay in New Zealand, and that the New Zealand Government has called for tenders for the establishment of a high-power station at Doubtless Bay to be capable of communicating with the station at Sydney. It is stated in an appendix (C) to the report of the Conference that if satisfactory wireless communication is established between Australia and New Zealand (and New Zealand and Fiji) it is possible for the system to compete with the existing cables for ordinary telegraph business between these places, but that " it is understood that the installations of Sydney and Doubtless Bay will only be used for communicating with ships and for defence purposes." Their Lordships are not apparently interested in the possible competition of such a wireless system, controlled by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand respectively, with the existing cables between those dominions — i.e., with the cables of the Eastern Extension Company ; but they are very directly interested in its possible competition with the new cable which your Board desires to lay. The Renewal Fund, out of which it is proposed (at any rate, in the first instance) to provide the cost of the new cable, estimated at some £155,000, has practically been built up out of contributions from the Imperial Government and the Governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand ; and the two former Governments are directly concerned, in common with the two latter (who are installing the wireless system), in the possible effect of wireless competition on the future revenues of the Board, which it was hoped would be increased by the new cable's agency. My Lords are therefore endeavouring to ascertain, through the Colonial Office, the intentions of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand as to the limitations, if any, which are to be imposed upon the use of the wireless system, and further particulars as to the possible effect of such a system on the Board's intercolonial traffic. Until this information is received my Lords do not feel able to come to any definite conclusion on the Subject. I have, &c, The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, Queen Anne's Chambers, S.W. G. H. Murray.

No. 100. New Zealand, No. 276. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1910. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Turkish Government is anxious to make an arrangement with His Majesty's Government to enable their consular officers in His Majesty's dominions to take over and administer the estates of Ottoman subjects dying therein. 2. As this privilege is already enjoyed in the Turkish dominions by British consular officers, it is proposed by His Majesty's Government to comply with the request of the 'Turkish Government for reciprocity of treatment, and I enclose a draft Order in Council which has accordingly been prepared under the Domicile Act, 1861, to give effect to the proposal in question. 3. I have to inquire whether your Ministers see any objection to the issue of this Order in Council, which it will be seen applies to the whole of His Majesty's dominions. 4. I shall be glad to receive a reply to this despatch at the early convenience of your Ministers. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. B—A. 2.

A.-l, 1911 No. 72.

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Enclosure. Draft Order in Council. Whereas by section 4 of the Domicile Act, 1861, it is enacted that whenever a, convention shall )><■ made between His Majesty and any foreign State, -whereby His Majesty's Consuls or Vice-Consuls in such foreign State shall receive the same or the like powers and authorities as are hereinafter expressed it shall be lawful for His Majesty, by Order in Council, to direct, and from and after the publication of such Order in the London Gazette it shall be and is hereby enacted, that whenever any subject of such foreign State shall die within the dominions of His Majest}*, and there shall be no person present at the time of such death who shall be rightly entitled to administer the estate of such deceased person, it shall be lawful for the Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent of such foreign State within that part of His Majesty's dominions where such foreign subject shall die, to take possession and have the custody of the personal property of the deceased, and to apply the same in payment of his or her debts and funeral expenses, and to retain the surplus for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto ; but such Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent shall immediately apply for and shall be entitled to obtain from the proper Court letters of administration of the effects of such deceased person, limited in such a manner and for such time as to such Court shall seem fit: And whereas conventions have been made between His Majesty's predecessors and the Sublime Porte whereby His Majesty's consular officers in the Ottoman dominions have in substance the like powers and authorities as are hereinafter expressed to be conferred on Ottoman consular officers in His Majesty's dominions: Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, is pleased to order, and it is hereby ordered, that whenever any subject of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan of Turkey shall die during the currency of the said conventions within any of the dominions of His Majesty, and there shall be no person present at the time of such death who shall be rightfully entitled to administer the estate of such deceased person, it shall be lawful for the Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent of the Ottoman Government within that part of His Majesty's dominions where such Ottoman subject shall die to take possession and have the custody of the personal property of the deceased, and to apply the same in payment of his or her debts and funeral expenses, and to retain the surplus for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto ; but such Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent shall immediately apply for and shall be entitled to obtain from the proper Court letters of administration of the effects of such deceased person, limited in such manner and for such time as to such Court shall seem fit.

No. 101. New Zealand, No. 277. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 268, of the 17th November, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a paper which has been presented to Parliament, giving the text of the award of the Hague tribunal in the North Atlantic Coast fisheries arbitration. 2. Further copies are being sent to you in my despatch (Library) of the 25th instant. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 102. New Zealand, No. 278. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1910. With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the appointment of the President and Public Prosecutor for the combined Court in the New Hebrides, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that on learning that these officers were imperfectly acquainted with English, I communicated by telegram with the Resident Commissioner aaking that arrangements should be made for adequate interpretation of the proceedings of the Court. 2. I have now received a telegram from the Resident Commissioner in which he states that the British Judge informs him that the ruies-s of procedure for the combined Court, which are now being prepared, provide for the interpretation of the proceedings and the appointment of fully competent interpreters. 3. I enclose, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a question asked on the matter in the House of Commons, together with copy of the reply returned. T have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Question. Mr. Frederick Whyte, to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware that the Spanish Judge recently appointed President of the Condominium Court in the New Hebrides, and the Public Prosecutor in the same Court, arc ignorant of the English language, and that both English and Native litigants are thereby placed at a considerable disadvantage; and whether it is in his power to take action under the terms of the convention to rectify the mistake ? (22nd November, 1910.) Answer. Sir E. Grey.—lnformation has been received to the effect that the Judge and Public Prosecutor appointed to the joint Court of the New Hebrides by His Majesty the King of Spain, under the terms of the convention of 1906, know little English. This is an undoubted disadvantage, but the selection was entirely a matter for the King of Spain, and there was great difficulty and consequent delay in filling the post at all. It would be impossible for His Majesty's Government to ask that the selection should be cancelled on this ground ; but a telegram, was sent from the Colonial Office asking that provision should be made for adequate interpretation, and a reply has just been received stating that the rules of the Court now being prepared provide for the appointment of fully competent interpreters.

No. 103. New Zealand.—Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th November, 1910. I have the honour to inform you that it is the wish of His Majesty the King that the naval and military forces of his dominions beyond the seas should be adequately represented in the procession and other functions connected with His Majesty's Coronation, which will take place on the 22nd June, 1911. 2. As regards the military forces, it is thought fitting that strong detachments of troops representing respectively the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa, besides small detachments of Volunteer or Militia Forces from some of the Crown colonies, should be invited to attend on this great occasion. It is proposed that from the moment of their disembarkation in the United Kingdom to the moment of their embarkation on their return, which would probably take place about a fortnight later, all these troops shall be the guests of His Majesty's Government, aiid all arrangements for their camping, maintenance, and comfort generally shall be made by the War Office at the charge of His Majesty's Government. 3. After conference with the Earl Marshal and the Army Council, and bearing in mind the numerous considerations of detail which must be taken into account on such an occasion as this, I would suggest that the troops sent by New Zealand, if your Ministers should approve the general proposal, should approximately number two hundred. 4. It is not certain that arrangements can be made to place all the troops from the dominions in the same camp. Considerations of place and convenience may make it necessary to station the units from various dominions at different points of the London district during the time that they are not engaged on the route or otherwise in connection with the festivities. 5. I shall be glad if you will, as soon as possible, inform me by telegraph whether the arrangements as above outlined are agreeable to your Ministers; what number of troops it is proposed to send, stating the proportion of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates; and how T many of these troops will be mounted, so that provision may be made on this side for their horses; also whether it is proposed to bring a band or any guns. 6. The arrangements for the reception of naval contingents from the overseas dominions are being concerted with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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No. 104. New Zealand, No. 279. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th November, 1910. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 258, of the 4th November, I have the honour to transmit to yon, for the information of your Ministers, copies of two Orders of His Majesty in Council respecting appeals from the Supreme Courts of Tasmania and New Brunswick to His Majesty in Council. . I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 105. New Zealand, No. 280. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th November, 1910. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 200, of the Bth November, 1909, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that notes have been exchanged between the United Kingdom and Honduras extending for six months from the 6th October, 1910, the operation of the treaty of commerce and navigation of the 21st January, 1887. 2. I have to add that a new treaty has been negotiated with the Government of Honduras containing the usual provisions as to the separate adherence and withdrawal of the self-governing dominions. When it has been ratified, copies will be forwarded to you in due course. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 106. New Zealand, No. 282. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th November, 1910. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that ViceAdmiral George Fowler King Hall, C.V.0., has been selected to succeed ViceAdmiral Sir Richard Poore, Bart,, X.C.8., D.5.0., as Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's ships and vessels on the Australian Station, and will take over the command in the course of February next, I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 107. New Zealand, No 287. My Lord, — Downing Street, 9th December, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the proposed reduction of postal rates between New Zealand and French Oceania. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Date. Description. 30th. November, 1910 .. .. From H.M. Ambassador, Paris.

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Enclosure. Sir,— Paris, 30th November. 1910. With reference to my despatch. No. 108 (Treaty), of the 2nd instant, 1 have the honour to inform you that I have received a note from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs to the effect that the French Government are awaiting a reply from the Governor of French Oceania relative to the question of the proposed reduction of postal rates between Now /(.'aland and French Oceania. When the reply is received the French Government will further consider the question. ! have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., &c. Fbanois Bkhtie.

No. 108. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous, 2. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist December, 1910. In my despatch (Miscellaneous, 1) of oven date 1 have informed you of the proposal that the Dominion of New Zealand should be represented at His Majesty's Coronation by the Prime Minister. 2. His Majesty's Government would welcome the attendance at the Imperial Conference of a full complement of Ministers from the self-governing dominions in addition to the Prime Minister, and it is proposed that these gentlemen should be entertained as public guests until the Conference is over. I trust that most if not all of them may be able to prolong their stay in England until after the Coronation. 3. In that case they would, like other distinguished visitors, receive invitations to attend the service in Westminster Abbey, and to witness the other ceremonials connected with the Coronation, although they would not attend in a strictly representative capacity, nor would they be the recipients of public hospitality after the conclusion of the Conference. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c

No. 109. New Zealand, No. 284. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th December, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order in Council containing the regulations for preventing collisions at sea now in force under the Merchant Snipping Act, 1894. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 110. New Zealand, No. 288 My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th December, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Trade on the subject of certain alterations in the forms of certificates of registry and of tonnage measurement in respect of British ships. 2. I shall be glad if, in the interests of uniformity, steps can be taken by your Government to bring the new forms into use as soon as possible. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Marine Department, Sir, — 7 Whitehall Gardens, London S.W., 3rd December, 1910. J am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that the form of certificate of survey (certificate of tonnage measurement, Form Surveys 59) issued under section 6 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, has recently been revised, and the certificate of registry of a British ship and the transcript of register (Forms Registry 9 and 19.) have in consequence been revised also. Two hundred copies of eacli of the new forms are being forwarded to your Department, and it will be seen that the principal alteration consists in the insertion of a note stating the actual tonnage of the engine-room spaces below the upper deck and the tonnage of the total spaces framed in above the upper deck for propelling-machinery and for light and air. 'Hie object of this is to obviate the remeasurement of British vessels in ports of foreign countries (particularly the United States of America) whose tonnage regulations are not identical with those in force in the United Kingdom. The only other change in the forms consists in a slight alteration of the wording of Note 2 (formerly the sole note). In the interests'of uniformity it is very desirable that the same forms and instruments should be used in connection with the registry of ships at all ports of British registry, and the Board would therefore suggest, for the consideration of the Secretary of State, that the forms accompanying this letter might be forwarded to the various colonial authorities, with a view to their taking steps to bring the new forms into use as soon as possible. I am to add that, as the main alteration in the forms affects only steamers, there is no objection to the present stocks of, forms being used up in connection with the registry of sailing-ships, should such a course be desired in order to avoid waste. 1 have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Walter J. Howell.

No. 111. New Zealand, No. 292. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th December, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a Proclamation of His Majesty in Council of the 28th November, 1910, determining new designs for gold and bronze coins. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 28th day of November, 1910. Present : The King's, Most Excellent Majesty in Council. The following draft Proclamation was this day read at the Board and approved. Almerio Fitzßoy. By the King. A Proclamation. Determining new Designs for Gold and Bronze Coins. Whereas under section eleven of the Coinage Act, 1870, We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, from time to time, by Proclamation, to determine the design for any coin : And whereas it appears to Us desirable to determine new designs for the gold and bronze coins mentioned in the First Schedule to the Coinage Act, 1870 : We, therefore, in pursuance of the said enactment and of all other powers enabling Us in that behalf, do hereby, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, proclaim, direct, and ordain as follows :— 1. The designs for the said gold and bronze coins shall be as follows :— Gold (Joins. (1.) Five-pound Piece. —Every live-pound piece shall have for the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription, " GEORGIua v DEI gra : britt : omn : RES fid: def : md: imp: " and for the reverse the image of Saint George armed, sitting on horseback, attacking the dragon with a sword, and a broken spear upon the ground, ami the date of the year, with a graining upon the edge. (2.) Two-pound I'iecr. —Every two-pound piece shall have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the five-pound piece, with a graining upon the edge. (3.) Sovereign. —Every sovereign shall have for the obverse impression the aforesaid effigy with the inscription " georgius v d. g. britt: omn: hex p. i>. md: imp: " and for the reverse the same impression in all respects as the five-pound piece, with a graining upon the edge. (4.) Half-sovereign. —Every half-sovereign shall have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the sovereign, with a graining upon the edge.

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63 A.-'A Bronze <_'oin,t. (I ) Penny.— Every penny shall have for the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription "georgius v DEI gba: beitt: omn: rex fid: def: no: imp:" and for the reverse impression the figure of Britannia seated on a rock surrounded by the sea, her right hand holding a shield which rests against the rock, while in her left hand she grasps a trident, and the inscription " one penny," with the date of the year and a plain edge. (2 ) Half-penny —Every half-penny shall have the same obverse impression and inscription as the penny, and 'for the reverse the figure of Britannia seated as described for the penny, and the inscription " half-penny," with the date of the year and a, plain edge. (3) Farthing.— Every farthing shall have the same obverse impression and inscription as the penny, and for the reverse the figure of Britannia seated as described for the penny, and the inscription " farthing," with the date of the year and a plain edge. 2! This Proclamation shall come into force on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and eleven. . . . Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this twenty-eighth day of November, m the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ton, and 111 the first year of Our Reign. God save the Kino.

No. 112. New Zealand, No. 296. My Lord,— Downing Street, 23rd December, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the money-order convention between New Zealand and France. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Date. Description. 13th December, 1910 . . .. ! From H.M. Representative at Paris.

Enclosure. Sir, — Paris, L3th December, 111 10. With reference to your despatch, No. 145 (Treaty), of yesterday's date, respecting the convention for the exchange of money-orders between New Zealand and France, 1 have the honour to inform you that, in view of the fact that no communication had been received from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs since Bth September, I have addressed a note verbal? to Monsieur Pichon expressing the hope that the consideration of the convention by the French Parliament will not be unduly delayed. I have, Sec, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., Ac. L. D. Carnegie.

No. 113. New Zealand, No. 299. My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd December, 1910. With reference to my telegram of the 21st December. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the appointment of Sir Francis Henry May, K.C.M.G., Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong, to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief for the Colony of Fiji, and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, in place of Sir Everard im Thurn, K.C.M.G., C.8., who has, to my regret, been compelled by ill-health to relinquish those offices. 2. Sir Henry May has been a member of the Civil Service of Hong Kong since 1881, and he has on several occasions administered the Government of that colony, and has shown conspicuous ability in administrative work. 3. I have no doubt that your Government and yourself will afford to Sir Henry May the same assistance and co-operation as were so readily extended to Sir Everard im Thurn. ■ I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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No. 114. New Zealand, No. 302. My Lord,- Downing Street, 30th December, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the informatior, of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the money-order convention between France and New Zealand. I have, &c., L. HAECOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sir,— Paris, 21st December, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 120 (Treaty), of the 13th instant, I have the honour to inform you that I received by the messenger last night the French copy of the detailed regulations with annexures made under the convention for the exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand, which formed the subject of your despatch, No. 145 (Treaty), of the 12th instant (43541). I have forwarded this copy to the. French Minister for Foreign Affairs, in compliance with the request contained in His Excellency's note of the 10th January last, copy of which was enclosed in Sir Francis Bertie's despatch, No. 15 (Treaty), of the 18th February. 1 have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.1 , ., &c. h. D. Carnegie.

No. 115. New Zealand, No. 308. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th December, 1910. His Majesty's Government have not failed to give their most earnest consideration to the memorandum from the Minister of Marine which was enclosed in your despatch, No. 102, of the 26th August, on the subject of the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act of the Parliament of New Zealand. 2. I enclose for the consideration of your Ministers the accompanying copy of a memorandum with regard to section 41 of the Bill, which has been prepared by the Board of Trade, and which embodies the views of His Majesty's Government on the question of that section. 3. I may add that the Board of Trade do not desire to offer any further observations with regard to sections 8, 36, and 37 of the Bill, and that, therefore, the only point of difference between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Dominion is the question of section 41 of the Bill. 4. I shall be very glad if your Ministers find it possible to adopt the principles laid down in the enclosed memorandum as indicating the sphere within which the legislative power of the Dominion Parliament should be exercised. It is clear that if section 41 becomes law the decision on a contract with regard to the transport of goods from this country to New Zealand would depend upon the Court in which it is brought. The English Courts will presumably not accept the law of New Zealand as overriding the terms of a contract made in this cotmtry, and, on the other hand, the New Zealand Courts will no doubt enforce the law laid down in section 41. 5. Your Ministers will also appreciate that if New Zealand purports to regulate all contracts of carriage of goods to and from New Zealand it will be asserting a right against foreign countries which the Courts of those countries cannot be expected to recognize, as there is no more reason that the law of New

Date. Description. 1st December, 1910 . . From H.M. Representative at Foreign Office. Paris to the

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Zealand should govern contracts regarding the carriage of goods to New Zealand than that the law of the foreign country should govern contracts for the carriage of goods from New Zealand, and His Majesty's Government anticipate that retaliatory legislation would probably follow. Such legislation might indeed be of comparatively little consequence to New Zealand, but it might be of serious consequence to British interests generally, and His Majesty's Government feel confident that it is the desire of the New Zealand Government to assist in every way in promoting the prosperity of British interests. I trust, therefore, that your Ministers will consent to an amendment of section 41, so that it will apply only to bills of lading entered into in New Zealand, or bills relating to goods carried from the ports of New Zealand, leaving it to the Courts of the United Kingdom or foreign countries respectively to decide as to the law applicable to bills of lading entered into within their jurisdiction or relating to goods carried from their ports. I have, &c, L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c Enclosure. The New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1909, Section 41. 1. This section defines and extends the application of section 300 of the principal Act, which makes null and void and of no effect the insertion in bilk of lading or shipping documents of certain clauses designed to relieve shipowners from liability for negligence unless the Court before which any question relating thereto is tried adjudges the claim to be just and reasonable. Section 41 of the Amendment Act makes the section applicable to bills of lading and shipping documents relating to the carriage of goods to or from any port or place in New Zealand, whether the ship is a British or foreign ship, and whether the loss or damage has occurred in New Zealand or at sea, or in any port or place out of New Zealand, and whether the contract of carriage is made in New Zealand or elsewhere, or is governed in other respects by the law of New Zealand or by the law of any other country. As the Board are of opinion that on grounds of expediency section 41 is open to many objections, they need only remark in passing that if this section becomes law it is conceivable that its validity would be subjected to the test of legal proceedings. 2. Section 41 of the reserve Bill, dealing as it does with contracts which, it is generally agreed, fall to be governed by the laws of the country in which they are made, or by the law of the flag, or by the express terms of the contracts or the intention of the parties as gathered from the surrounding circumstances, or the nature of the transaction, is not in accord with the general principles of English law governing contracts of affreightment (see Carver, " Carriage by Sea," sth edition, chapter vii, pp. 273-90), and in effect purports to determine by New Zealand law in the case of proceedings instituted in the Courts of the Dominion what the law should be as regards contracts entered into in the United Kingdom and foreign countries. Such an amendment, as pointed out by the Solicitor-General for New Zealand, goes very far beyond the probable effect of the provisions of section 300 of the Act of 1908, and if it comes into force there is every prospect of a contract entered into in this country, which is recognized as binding by the Courts of this country, and would have been so recognized in New Zealand under section 300, being ignored by the Courts of New Zealand. Such a state of affairs will tend to introduce uncertainty into business transactions, and will interfere with trade relations between New Zealand and other countries, including the United Kingdom. Moreover, the injustice to the shipowner seems clear, in view of the fact that the various charges incidental to the carriage of the goods, freight, insurance, &c, would have been regulated / by the terms of the contract entered into in this country, and not by such of those terms as may be subsequently allowed by the Court in New Zealand. The doubt and uncertainty which will thus enter into contracts is increased rather than lessened by the fact that the New Zealand Act, unlike the Harter Act and the Australian Sea Carriage of Goods Act. merely declares certain clauses in bills of lading null and void, unless in the opinion of the Court they are just and reasonable. 3. It might also be urged by foreign countries that the provisions of section 41, so far as they purport to legislate for the subjects of such countries out of the Dominion and beyond its jurisdiction, affect principles of international law; but in any case, if legislation of this character should be passed into law by the Dominion, it appears probable that diplomatic protests would be received from foreign Governments which it would bo difficult for His Majesty's Government to deal with satisfactorily, and which might conceivably be followed by retaliatory legislation by those Governments distinctly disadvantageous to British interests generally. 4. It follows from these considerations that it appears to the Board of Trade that if one of His Majesty's dominions decides to legislate in regard to bills of lading it should at least confine its legislation to such bills of lading as are entered into within its jurisdiction or as relate to goods carried from its ports, leaving the principles of existing laws to govern bills of lading entered into in the United Kingdom or foreign countries and goods carried from their ports. As regards the reference to the Harter Act of the United States of America, the community of interest which it

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is recognized governs the conditions of trade between all parts of His Majesty's dominions affords ground for distinguishing between the legislation of a foreign country and that of a portion of such dominions. The last sentence of the penultimate paragraph of the Solicitor-General's memorandum is as follows : " Nor am I able to see what unjust or mischievous result would be likely to follow from imposing on ail shipowners . . . the obligation imposed by section 300 of not inserting unjust and unreasonable exceptions in their bills of lading." The Solicitor-General here appears to assume that there is a consensus of opinion as to what clauses in bills of lading are unjust and unreasonable. It may be well, therefore, to point out that there is no such general agreement on this question, and that many shipowners both in this and other countries have always contended that such clauses as are referred to in section 300 are not unjust and unreasonable, having regard to the system under which the carriage of goods by sea is regulated. R.E.C., 20/12/10.

No. 116. New Zealand, No. 2. My Lord, — Downing Street, sth January, 1911. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the money-order convention between New Zealand and France. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sir,— Paris, 28th December, 1910. With reference to my despatch, No. 134 (Treaty), of the 21st instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of a note from the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, acknowledging the receipt of the French copy of the detailed regulations with annexures made under the convention for the exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand, signed on the Ist December, 1909. It is stated in this note that the regulations in question cannot come into force on the Ist proximo, for, although the convention has received the assent of the Chamber of Deputies, it has not yet been approved by the Senate. I have, (fee, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie. Monsieur Pichon to Sir F. Bertie. Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, — Paris, 27th December, 1910. J'ai I'honneur d'accuser reception a Votre Excellence de la lettre dv 21 decembre qu' accompagnait le toxte authentique dv Reglement de detail et d'ordre arrete a Paris le 15 decembre 1909, et a Wellington, le 25 mai, 1910, relativement a l'echange de mandats-poste entre la France et la Nouvelle Zelande. Je me suis empresse de xaire parvenir cc document a M. le Ministre dcs Travaux Publics, dcs Postes et dcs Telegraphes. Pour repondre au desir que m'exprime mon Collegue, je viens, d'ailleurs, de faire connaitre au Postmaster-General de Nouvelle Zelande, par l'intermediare dv Consul de France h Auckland, que cc reglement ne pourra pas s'appliquer a partir dv ler Janvier 1911, suivant l'intention que m'annoncait la Note de Votre Excellence dv 13 decembre courant; a la reception de cette Note, l'attention dv Parlement francais avait etc attiree de nouveau sur la Convention international signee le ler decembre 1909, au sujet dv service de mandats-poste entre la France et la Nouvelle Zelande. La Convention a etc recemment approuvee par la Chambre dcs Deputes, mais la sanction dv Srnat nest pas encore intervenue. &c, Pour le Ministre, GaYARRY,

Date. Description. 28th December, 1910* From H.M. Ambassador, Paris.

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No. 117. New Zealand, No. 8. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th January, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 150, of the Ist December last, forwarding copies of an Act, No. 15 of 1910, of the Parliament of New Zealand entitled " The Crimes Amendment Act, 1910." 2. I take this opportunity of asking that a certified copy of each Act of Parliament should be forwarded to me as soon as possible after it has received your assent. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Ron Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 118. New Zealand, No. 9. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th January, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 147, of the 25th November, transmitting copies of the Seamen and Shipping Amendment Act, 1910, which has been reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure. 2. Two questions of great importance are raised by the terms of this Act. The first is the question of the legislative power of the Parliament of New Zealand with regard to merchant shipping, and especially the relations of the legislation of New Zealand on this subject to the legislation of the Commonwealth. It is proposed by the Act to require that seamen employed in ships plying or trading from New Zealand to any port within the Commonwealth of Australia, or from New Zealand to the Cook I land*, shall be paid and may recover the current rate of wages for the time being ruling in New Zealand. As far as this section deals with vessels trading between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, His Majesty's Government do not propose to take exception to its provisions; such trading may be held to be a matter of coasting trade, and to fall within the scope of New Zealand legislation as contemplated in the resolutions of the Merchant Shipping Conference of 1907. 3. Other considerations apply to ships trading between New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia. The legislation proposed goes beyond the limits of the legislative power of New Zealand as laid down with the consent of your Prime Minister at the Conference of 1907, and the power which it is proposed to exercise does not appear to be warranted by any provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894. Moreover, I would point out to your Government that, under section 5 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act of 1900, the laws of the Commonwealth are in force on all British ships, the King's ships of war excepted, whose first port of clearance and whose port of destination are in the Commonwealth. Those provisions as interpreted by the High Court of the Commonwealth (see 5 Commonwealth Law Reports, 737) apply to vessels which trade from one port in the Commonwealth on a round voyage to New Zealand and return to the Commonwealth; the wages payable on such ships fall therefore to be regulated by the legislation of the Commonwealth, and it would appear that legislation in New Zealand if applied to such vessels would run directly counter to the legislation of the Commonwealth, which, being given validity by the express terms of section 5 of the Constitution Act, might be held to override New Zealand legislation. 4. The other objection is based on a matter which is not peculiar to merchant shipping legislation, but which depends on the obligations of the Imperial Crown to the British Indian subjects of the King and the relations of the British Empire with foreign countries. It is proposed by the Bill to increase by 25 per cent, the duties levied on passenger tickets and bills of lading or shipping documents issued in New Zealand in the case of ships trading between New Zealand and the Commonwealth, or between New Zealand

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and the Cook Islands, if these ships are manned wholly or in part by Asiatics, unless in the case of these ships the New Zealand rate of wages is paid to the members of the crew. This is a discrimination against vessels carrying British Indian subjects of His Majesty and subjects of friendly or allied Asiatic Powers The objection which His Majesty's Government have to such discriminations have formed the subject of repeated correspondence and discussion, and it is not necessary that I should again set forth the grounds on which they rest, as I am confident that your Prime Minister fully realizes the weight of these objections. 5. I observe that one subject which is proposed for discussion at the Imperial Conference by your Government is that of the extent of the powers of Dominion Legislatures with regard to merchant shipping. I have no doubt that your Prime Minister will desire to discuss the provisions of this Bill at that Conference, and, pending that discussion, I do not propose to tender any advice to His Majesty with respect to the Bill. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 119. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st January, 1911. With reference to Lord Crewe's despatch (Miscellaneous) of the 15th June, 1909, respecting the proposed armorial bearings for New Zealand, I shall be glad to be informed whether your Government have yet arrived at a decision concerning the sketch submitted by the Heralds College. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 120. New Zealand, No. 21. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th January, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 149, of the Ist December, transmitting resolutions passed by various associations in New Zealand on the subject of the manufacture of opium for export to China. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 121. New Zealand, No. 23. My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th January, 1911. 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 Commonwealth of Australia on the subject of the substitution of His Majesty's ship " Torch " for one of the third-class cruisers which are at present maintained under the naval agreement. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosures. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor-Gbmsral of thb Commonwealth of Australia. (Telegram.) High Commissioner for Western Pacific has represented that administration of islands in Western Pacific would be greatly assisted if possible for him to visit them more frequently in H.M. ships. This service would involve frequent visits to imperfectly surveyed waters, for which H.M.S. "Torch" is more suitable than the third-class cruisers now on station. Admiralty are willing to substitute " Torch " for one of the third-class cruisers now maintained in commission under the agreement with Commonwealth, and as this arrangement would considerably facilitate discharge of High Commissioner's duties without appreciably affecting strength of squadron, I hope Ministers will be able to assent to proposed exchange until termination of present agreement in 1913. As present commission of " Pegasus " expires in March, this would be convenient opportunity for relief by " Torch " if Commonwealth Government assent. Please telegraph reply. Haecourt. The Govebnor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Telegram.) Your telegram 4th January substitution of " Torch " for one of third-class cruisers : Government of Commonwealth of Australia raise no objection to proposed exchange. DUDIiHT.

No. 122. New Zealand, No. 25. My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th January, 1911. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Trade forwarding copies of two international maritime conventions relating to collisions and salvage, and drafts of proposed conventions relating to the limitations of shipowners' liability and maritime mortgages and liens. 2. I shall be glad to learn at the early convenience of your Ministers whether your Government have any observations to make with regard to the two conventions respecting collisions and salvage, and also to receive any observations Avhich they may wish to offer on the draft conventions relating to shipowners' liability and maritime mortgages and liens. I have, &c," L. HAECOURT. Governor the Right Ron. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 123. New Zealand, No. 26. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th January, 1911. 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 Commonwealth of Australia regarding the removal of the Australian naval base to New Zealand. 2. I shall be glad if you will explain to your Prime Minister that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have observed the statement which was made in the House of Representatives on the 12th October last—that it was agreed at the time of the Conference of 1909 that Auckland should be made the base of the ships of the Royal Navy maintained in New Zealand waters. So far as the records of the Conference available in the Admiralty extend, there is no note that any naval base was definitely selected; and the statements concurred in by Sir Joseph Ward, and published in parliamentary paper Cd. 4948, do not, it will be seen, touch upon the question of a fixed base for the ships of the Royal Navy in New Zealand waters. 3. While, however, there is no official record of any reference to Auckland as a naval base, the Lords Commissioners think it quite probable that the matter was discussed informally in the private communications which passed at the

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time, and that Sir Joseph Ward formed the impression that a definite agreement had been arrived at on the point. 4. Their Lordships recognize that it may be a convenience that a particular port in New Zealand should be regarded as the ordinary headquarters of the ships maintained in those waters, and they will be prepared later on, when the new arrangement comes into effect, to consider the wishes of the New Zealand Government in the matter. I have, &c, L. HAECOURT. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Telegram.) Statements have appeared local Press that Imperial naval base in Australasian waters is to be removed to Auckland, 1912. Prime Minister asking is there any truth in statement. Dudley. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. (Telegram.) Your telegrams 21st October 17th November. Statements in Press presumably refer to fact that when Australian fleet unit is completed in 1912 Commonwealth Government will take over dock at Sydney, and be responsible for all work in connection with unit, while some of smaller vessels of China unit will have New Zealand waters as headquarters (see pages 26 to 28 report Conference Xaval Defence, 1909). So far as known, Auckland has not been specially mentioned as base for vessels which will be kept in New Zealand waters. Harcourt.

No. 124. New Zealand, No. 29. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th January, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 292, of the 16th December last, I have the honour to.transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a Proclamation of the King, dated the 23rd January, determining new designs for silver coins. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. At the Court at Windsor Castle, the 23rd day of January, 1911. Present: The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. The following draft Proclamation was this day read at the Board and approved. Almerio Fitzßoy. By the King. A Proclamation. Determining New Designs for Silver Coins. Whereas under section 11 of the Coinage Act, 1870, We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, from time to time by Proclamation to determine the design of any coin : And whereas it appears to Us desirable to determine new designs for the silver coins hereinafter specified, being some of the silver coins mentioned in the First Schedule to the Coinage Act, 1870: We, therefore, in pursuance of the said enactment and of all other powers enabling Us in that behalf, do hereby, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, proclaim, direct, and ordain as follows :— 1. The designs for the said silver coins shall be as follows : — (1.) Half-crown. —Every half-crown shall have for the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription " georgius v dei gra : bbitt : omn : rex" and for the reverse the ensigns armorial of the United Kingdom contained in a shield surmounted by the Royal Crown and surrounded by the Garter bearing the motto " honi soit gui mal y pense," with the inscription " fid : def : IND : Isi}' : " together with the words " half crown," and the date of the year, with a graining upon, the edge.

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(2.) Florin. —Every florin shall have the same obverse impression as the half-crown, with the inscription " gbohgius v D. g. bbitt : omn: rex f. d. md : imp:" and for the reverse four crowned shields arranged in the form of a cross; in the angles four sceptres springing from the Star of the Garter in the centre, together with the words " one florin," and the date of the year, with a graining upon the edge. (3.) Shilling. —Every shilling shall have the same obverse impression and inscription as the half-crown, and for the reverse Our Royal crest with the date of the year placed across the crest, with the inscription " fid : dbf : md : IMP : " together with the words " one shilling " with a graining upon the edge. (4.) Sixpence. —Every sixpence shall have the same obverse impression and inscription as the half-crown, and for the reverse the same impression and inscription as the shilling, together with the words " six punch " and a graining upon the edge. (5.) Silver Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence, and Penny. —Every silver fourpence, threepence, twopence, and penny shall have for the obverse impression Our aforesaid effigy, with the inscription " geobgius v d. g. britt : omn : RES B. d. md : imp : " and for the reverse the respective figures " 4," " 3," " 2," " 1 " (according to the denomination or- value of the piece) in the centre, with the date of the year placed across the figure, and encircled with an oak wreath sinmounted by the Royal Crown, with a plain edge. 2. This Proclamation shall come into force and have effect as from the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and eleven. Given at Our Court at Windsor Castle, this twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eleven, and in the first year of Our reign. God save the King,

No. 125. New Zealand, No. 35. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd February, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 159, of the 22nd December last, forwarding copy of a resolution passed by the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, expressing their sorrow at the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII and their loyal devotion to His Majesty King George V. I have to request that the thanks of His Majesty may be conveyed to the general assembly in suitable terms. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No 126. New Zealand, No. 45. My Lord,— Downing Street, Bth February, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 158, of the 15th December, 1910, transmitting five petitions from the members of the New Zealand Baptist Women's Missionary Union and their friends, praying for the cessation of the Indo-Chinese opium traffic. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 127. New Zealand, No. 46. My Lord,—- Downing Street, Bth February, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 269, of the 18th November last, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada enclosing a copy of a minute from the Canadian Privy Council relative to the question of the deportation of undesirable aliens from the self-governing dominions. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT, Governor the Right Hon, Lord Islington, K.CM.G., D,5,0., &c.

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Enclosures. Sir, — Government House, Ottawa, Canada, 16th January, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 849,. of the 18th November, 1910, enclosing a memorandum on the question of the deportation of undesirable aliens from the self-governing dominions, 1 have the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, copies of an approved minute of His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada, stating' that the question is under consideration by the Minister of the Interior, who suggests a means whereby the difficulties referred to in the Home Secretary's memorandum may be obviated to a considerable degree. I have, &c, Grey. The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, M.P., Secretary of State for the Colonies. Certified Copt of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Administrator on the 11th January, 1911. The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 31st December, 1910, from the Secretary of State for External Affairs, to whom was referred a despatch, dated 18th November, 1910, from the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, acquainting Your Excellency that the Secretary of State for Home Affairs desires to bring before the Imperial Conference the question of the deportation of undesirable aliens from the self-governing dominions. The Minister states that this matter is engaging the attention of the Minister of the Interior, whose Department, is most anxious to adopt such rules or regulations as will save the Mothercountry from the difficulties and risks to which she is now exposed in connection with the deportation of undesirable aliens from Canada by way of ports of the United Kingdom. The Minister observes that, with this object in view, it is suggested that the difficulty complained of might be removed to a considerable extent if special officers of His Majesty's Government at the ports of landing in the United Kingdom were duly notified by officers of the Government of Canada of the departure of undesirable immigrants, giving name of ship, date of sailing, &c, that are being deported, so that necessary steps might be taken by the above-named officers of His Majesty's Government to insure the immediate transfer of such undesirables by the transportation companies responsible for their return to the country of their birth or citizenship. That in this way there would appear to be no doubt that a proper check could be kept on deportations being effected through ports of the United Kingdom; and if there is any way in which the Department of the Interior can co-operate in making an arrangement such as the one proposed they will be very glad to do so. The Committee, on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for External Affairs, advise that Your Excellency may be pleased to forward a copy hereof to the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. , All of which is respectfully submitted for approval. RODOLPHE BoUDREAU, Clerk of the Privy Council.

No. 128. New Zealand, No. 47. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th February, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 279, of the 30th November, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of four Orders of His Majesty in Council respecting appeals to His Majesty in Council from the High Court of the Commonwealth of Australia and from the Supreme Courts of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Victoria. I have, &c. L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 129. New Zealand, No. 50. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th February, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 140, of the 10th November last, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that the Conference of Surveyors-General will be held at the Surveyors' Institute, 12 Great George Street, Westminster, London S.W., on the 30th May next. 2. I have to add that the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa has reported that his Ministers, while fully recognizing the importance of being represented at the Conference, regret that, in view of the reorganization

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of the public service and other important problems consequent on the establishment of Union, they still consider it undesirable to authorize for a considerable time to come the absence from South Africa of responsible permanent officials, and they will therefore not be represented at the Conference. The Government of Newfoundland also is unable to be represented; and the Conference will therefore be confined to representatives of the Dominion of Canada (Dr. E. Deville, Surveyor-General), of New Zealand, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Australian States with the exception of South Australia (Mr. E. A. Counsel, Surveyor-General of Tasmania, and Mr. Allan Spowers, Surveyor-General of Tasmania). I have, &c. L. HAECOUET. Governor the Right-Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 130. New Zealand, No. 53. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th February, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 138, of the 3rd November, 1910, on the subject of the nomination and examination of New Zealand candidates for naval cadetships. 2. In reply, I have to request that you will invite the attention of your Ministers to my predecessor's despatch (General) of the 10th September, 1904, from which you will see that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have agreed not to exclude from nominations qualified candidates who were educated in England, but that such candidates must in the first instance appear before the Admiralty Interview Committee, and will count as New Zealand nominees if they are selected to qualify for the qualifying literary examination. 3. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, however, trust that nominations may, as far as possible, be confined to boys who are being educated in the Dominion I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 131. New Zealand.—Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th February, 1911. I have the honour to request that your Lordship will inform your Ministers that the King has been pleased, on my recommendation, to grant to Ministers of the Dominion of New Zealand the privilege of wearing in future the civil uniform of the second class instead of that of the third class. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 132. Dominions. —Circular. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1911. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that it is the wish of His Majesty the King that his birthday should be officially celebrated in his dominions beyond the seas on the actual date of the anniversary —viz., 3rd June. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. 10—A. 2.

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No. 133. New Zealand, No. 58. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st February, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 301, of the 30th December last, and previous correspondence, relating to bills of exchange, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, stating that the Dutch Government propose to summon an international conference at the Hague in September next (in conjunction with, and as part of the final conference on the laws relating to bills of exchange), for the consideration of the unification of the laws relating to cheques. 2. Copies of a " Questionnaire " issued by the Dutch Government and of an approved reply on the part of His Majesty's Government are also enclosed. 3. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be good enough to furnish me with any observations they may desire to offer on the subject. I have, &c. L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 134. New Zealand.- -Miscellaneous. My Lord, — # Downing Street, 20th February, 1911. With reference to Lord Crewe's despatch (Miscellaneous), of the 20th August, 1909, I have the honour to request that you will be good enough to inform your Government that the copies of the State portraits of His late Majesty and of Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, which are intended for Government House, Wellington, are now ready for despatch. I have accordingly requested the High Commissioner for New Zealand to make arrangements for their shipment to their destination. I have, &c. L. HAECOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 135. New Zealand, No. 67. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th February, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 6, of the 11th January, forwarding resolutions from the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the Congregational Church at Napier, and the Courtenay Place Congregational Church, Wellington, on the subject of the Indo-Chinese opium traffic. I have, &c. L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 136. New Zealand, No. 69. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th February, 1911. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 108, of the 25th May, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Education on the subject of the service of English teachers employed under the Education Department of New Zealand. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be so good as to comply with the request of the Board of Education. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosures. Sir, — Board of Education, Whitehall, London S.W., 6th February, 1911. I am directed by the Board of Education to invite the attention of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the fact that at the Conference, which was held in London in May, 1907, between the Board and representatives of Education Departments in various parts of His Majesty's dominions, it was arranged that when a teacher qualified for employment in public elementary schools in England or Wales applied to the Board stating that an application for recognition had been forwarded to the Education Department of one of the provinces or States of His Majesty's overseas dominions, the Board should send to the Education Department concerned a duly signed statement setting forth the teacher's qualifications and service, and also a report, if one is available, from one of His Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. In accordance with this arrangement, the Board have sent statements to the Education Departments of certain provinces or States of the overseas dominions with reference to a considerable number of English teachers who have informed the Board that they had applied to these Departments for recognition. The numbers of teachers with reference to whom statements have been sent to the various Education Departments since the Ist August, 1908, are as follows : Alberta, 213 ; Manitoba, 19 ; Quebec, 1 ; Transvaal, 2 ; New Zealand, 3 ; British Columbia, 9 ; Ontario, 2 ; Saskatchewan, 68 ; Western Australia, 42. The majority of these teachers have been trained largely with the aid of public funds for the teaching profession, and the Board are therefore responsible for ascertaining how far they continue m the profession for which they were trained. This responsibility arises especially in connection with the students now leaving training colleges who signed on entering the college an undertaking which binds them to serve as a teacher in an approved school for a certain number of years, or, in the event of failure to do so, to refund the whole or a proportionate part of the amount spent from public funds on their training. The Board of Education have decided, with the consent of the Lords of H.M. Treasury, that they are prepared for the present to consider in particular cases applications for service in schools in any part of His Majesty's dominions to be accepted as satisfying the terms of the undertaking, provided that the application is made through the Education Department of the Government under whom the teacher proposes to serve, and that the Board are satisfied that the school in which the teacher is to be engaged is either maintained or aided and inspected by the Government, and that the service is such as to occupy the whole working-time of the teacher. The Board have no wish at present to restrict this freedom, but they consider that its continuance must depend, among other matters, on their being able to satisfy themselves, and, if necessary, Parliament, that teachers who leave this country with the expressed intention of serving as teachers in any of the overseas dominions do, in fact, carry out that intention. The Board would therefore be greatly obliged if Mr. Secretary Harcourt would arrange with the various Governments of His Majesty's overseas dominions, and especially with those above referred to, that information should be given to the Board in the autumn of each year as to the English teachers who have been employed under the Education Department of the Government concerned during the twelve months ending on the preceding 31st July. A list is enclosed for transmission, to each Government showing the teachers for whom reports have been sent by the Board to the Education Department of that Government. The Board would be glad to be informed which of the teachers named in the list have been employed in schools under the Education Department at any time during the twelve months ending the 31st July, 1911. It would be convenient if the statements furnished could be made to show at what school or schools each teacher had been employed during this period', and if, in the case of a teacher who had been engaged at more than one school during the year, the approximate dates on which he left and joined the several institutions could be given. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, Whitehall, S.W. Eobeet L. Moranx.

List of Certificated Teachers for whom the Board have sent Certificates to the Education Department of New Zealand.

[The names of the teachers who have signed the undertaking in 1908 or subsequent years have been marked with an asterisk.] or su isequen' years lave „ j Date of Date on which Name. 1S i e ] Recognition as Certificate was Numb6r - Certificated. sent. Men. Newhook, James Lawrence Imri .. | 01/649 1/8/01 | 26/9/10 Women. McEwen, Hilda May* . . 10/1879 1/8/10 17/10/10 Steven, Helen Matthews 20372 1/1/90 28/4/10 j _j

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No. 137. New Zealand, No. 82. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth March, 1911. With reference to your telegram of the 6th March, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that, in deciding to withdraw the proposed resolution as to a uniform design for postage-stamps, His Majesty's Government have been influenced by the following considerations :— 2. In June last inquiries were addressed to the High Commissioners for Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, and New Zealand with a view to ascertaining whether their Governments would desire to consider a scheme for the adoption of uniform colours or designs, or both, for the stamps of the Empire. The uniform-colour scheme was considered favourably by the Commonwealth and the Union, but the proposal for a uniform design was held to be impracticable, in view of the necessity of having distinctive stamps for each postal administration, while the Dominion of Canada considered this scheme impracticable both as regards design and colour. 3. In view of these replies, it was considered necessary to proceed with the settling of the design for the new stamps for the United Kingdom ; this design has now been fixed, and the arrangements for printing the stamps will be completed in the course of the next few weeks. In these circumstances the Postmaster-General is of opinion that there would not be justification for incurring the heavy expense of new dies and plates merely for the sake of securing uniformity with the other stamps of the Empire, and the only proposal he would therefore be able to submit would be one for the adoption by the dominions of a design the distinguishing features of which would be uniform with that of the new stamps of the United Kingdom. It is, however, doubtful whether, if this new design of the King's head for the centre of the stamp were adopted throughout the Empire, there would be sufficient scope in the remaining part of the design—the frame and lettering —lor stamps of each Administration to be made thoroughly distinctive. 4. It would, indeed, be advantageous to have a uniform-colour scheme for the stamps of the Empire, but the many considerations of detail which enter into that question render it hardly suited for discussion at an Imperial Conference, and the Postmaster-General does not now propose to bring forward either the question of uniform colour or uniform design at the Conference. I have, &c, L. HABCOURT. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 138. New Zealand, No. 83. My Lord,— Downing Street, 10th March, 1911. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 224, of the 23rd December, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, two copies of a circular instruction issued by the Board of Trade with regard to the examination of engineers in the mercantile marine. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

drcular 1501. Enclosure. Examination of Engineers.—lnstruction to Examiners and Notice to Candidates. On and after Ist January, 1915, the qualifications as regards sea service required from candidates for certificates of competency as engineer in the mercantile marine will be as follows :— (1.) A candidate for a second-class engineer's certificate will be required, in addition to the apprenticeship described in paragraph 23 (a) of the regulations relating to the examination of engineers, or the alternative sea service specified in Circular 1469, to have served eighteen months at

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sea as engineer on regular watch on the main engines or boilers of a foreign-going steamer of not less than 66 nominal horse-power ; or twenty-seven months in a home-trade steamer of not less than 66 nominal horse-power. (2.) A candidate for a first-class engineer's certificate, in addition to the qualifications required from a candidate for a second-class engineer's certificate, must— (a.) Have served at sea for eighteen months, with a second-class certificate of competency or service on regular watch on the main engines or boilers of a foreign-going steamship of not less than 99 nominal horse-power as senior engineer in charge of the whole watch ; or (b.) Have served at sea for twenty-seven months with a second-class certificate of competency or service as first engineer of a home-trade steamer of not less than 99 nominal horsepower ; or three years with a second-class certificate of competency or service as second engineer of a home-trade steamer of not less than 99 nominal horse-power ; or (c.) Have served three years nine months with a second-class certificate of competency or service as third engineer of a home-trade steamer of not less than 99 nominal horsepower if during the entire period he has been the senior engineer in charge of the whole of a watch on the main engines and boilers ; or (d.) Possess, or be entitled to, a first-class certificate of service. The service described in paragraphs 38, 39, 40, and 41 of the regulations may, as heretofore, be accepted as qualifying for examination in accordance with the conditions specified in those paragraphs. A candidate for either a second-class or a first-class certificate who within two years from the date of application to be examined has attended an approved course comprising general mathematical and scientific instruction at a technical school recognized by the Board of Trade as suitable for the training of marine engineers, will be allowed to count time so spent as equivalent to sea service in the ratio of three months at the technical school to two months at sea. Time so spent cannot be accepted as equivalent to more than one-sixth of the total sea service required for either certificate, but a candidate who has been allowed to count such time on examination for a second-class certificate will not be debarred from counting similar subsequent time on examination for a first-class certificate. Time spent in an approved marine technical school subsequent to obtaining a first-class certificate, and within two years from the date of application to bo examined, may also be accepted as formingpart of the qualifying service required under paragraph 28 of the regulations, in the case of candidates lor extra first-class certificates, but if such time is substituted for sea service it will only count as equivalent thereto in the ratio of three months at the school to two months at sea. In every case in which an allowance is made for time spent at a marine technical school the candidate will be required to produce the principal's certificate for continuous and regular attendance at all the approved classes and for satisfactory progress. H- Llewellyn Smith, Secretary. Walter J. Howell, Assistant Secretary.

No. 139. New Zealand, No. 90. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th March, 1911. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the sterilization in India of animal manures. I have, &c, L. HARCOUKT. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Sir,— India Office, Whitehall, 2nd March, 1911. With reference to Mr. Fiddes' letter, No. 27424, of the 17th September last, and in continuation of Sir It. Ritchie's letter of the 7th October, regarding the suggestion made by the New Zealand Government for an inquiry into the sterilization of animal manures as carried out in India, I am directed to enclose, for the information of the Secretary of State'for the Colonies, a copy of a letter from the Revenue and Agriculture Department of the Government of India, with enclosure, showing the action taken by the Government of India to comply with the wishes of the New Zealand Government. I have, &c, T. W. HOLDERNESS, Secretary, Revenue and Statistics Department. The Under-Seeretary of State, Colonial Office.

Date. Description. !nd March, 1911 . . From the India Office.

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Government of India : Department of Revenue and Agriculture (C.V.A.), Sir,— Calcutta, 9th February, 1911. With reference to Lord Morley's despatch, No. 87 (Eevenue), dated the 7th October, 1910, and enclosures, regarding the institution of an inquiry into the sterilization of animal manures as carried out in Indian factories, I am directed to forward, for information, a copy of a letter, No. 294/297, dated 3rd February, 1911, addressed to the Governments o Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and the United Provinces —the local governments largely concerned in the matter. A further communication will in due course be made on the subject. I have, &c, H. B. Holme, Under-Secretary. His Majesty's Under-Secretary of State for India. Government of India : Department of Revenue and Agriculture, (C.V.A.), Sir,— Calcutta, 3rd February, 1911. I am directed to forward a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No. 87 (Revenue), dated the 7th October, 1910, with enclosures, from which it will be seen that it has been suggested by the Government of New Zealand that an Indian veterinary officer should be directed to inquire into and report upon the sterilization of animal manures as carried out in Indian factories, and that the Secertary of State has asked whether the Government of India are able to comply with this suggestion. 2. The Government of India lias no information as regards the mills in which the sterilization of animal manures is carried out. A list of bone-mills is, however, enclosed, which has been prepared from such materials as are easily available to the Government of India. 3. The Government of India will be glad if a veterinary officer can be deputed to ascertain in which of these mills sterilization of animal manures is'carried out. The officer so deputed should, afterpersonal inspection of the mills, submit a report as regards the condition and present methods under which the work of sterilization is carried on, together with such suggestions as he thinks fit for their improvement. The report should be forwarded to the Government of India, and on receipt of the reports thus prepared by the various provinces the Government of India would decide what action it is possible for them to undertake in future. 4. It will be seen from the letter of the 4th July, 1910, from the Minister of Agriculture in New Zealand that Mr. R. L. Ward (care of Messrs. Landale and Clark, Calcutta), who is the New Zealand Government's Inspector in India, has been instructed to give every assistance to this Government, and the Government of India have asked Mr. Ward to be good enough to give the necessary help to any veterinary officer conducting the inquiries now ordered, who may apply to him for information. 5. 1 am desired to request that an early reply may be sent to this letter. I have, &c, H. B. Holme, Under-Secretary. The Secretary to the Government of Madras, Revenue Department. The Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay. The Chief Secretary to the Government of Bengal. The Secretary to the Government of the United Provinces, Financial Department.

No. 140. New Zealand, No. 94. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th March, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 287, of the 9th December last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, which has been received from the Foreign Office, respecting the proposed reduction of the minimum postage-rate between New Zealand and French Oceania. I have, &c, L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Paris, 2nd March, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 122 (Treaty), of 30th November last, I have the honour to inform you that I am in receipt of a note from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that the French Government have no objection in principle to the proposed reduction of the minimum postage-rate between French Oceania and New Zealand to 10 centimes and Id., and that they will be glad to consider any draft agreement in this sense which may be submitted to them. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie.

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No. 141. New Zealand, No. 95. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th March, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 50, of the 10th February, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that I have had under my consideration, in conjunction with the Council of the Surveyors' Institute, the question of the matters to be considered at the Conference of Surveyors-General to be held in May next. 2. I assume that in deciding to take part in this conference your Government may be taken to be prepared to consider favourably the question of reciprocity, provided always that suitable arrangements can be made for carrying it out in the different parts of the Empire. 3. The most important of these arrangements must be the adoption of a standard of qualification acceptable by the different parties to the agreement. The following is suggested as a possible basis for discussion. It is divided into'three parts : — Preliminary. —Candidates should be required to pass, or to have passed, the Matriculation Examination of a recognized university, or an examination accepted by such a university as equivalent to the Matriculation Examination. Intermediate. —Candidates should be required to pass as assistants or as articled pupils two years in the office of a member of the Surveyors' Institution or the Institution of Civil Engineers in the United Kingdom, or of a licensed surveyor in the dominion, of which period not less than one year should be in outdoor work. Final. —Candidates should be required to pass an examination in the following subjects, viz : — A. Theory,— (1.) Algebra. (2.) Geometry. (3.) Plane trigonometry. (4.) Mensuration. (5.) Spherical trigonometry. (6.) Practical astronomy. (7.) Co-ordinate geometry. (8.) Theory of surveying and levelling. ■ (9.) Optics, light and heat. (10.) Elements of geology. (11.) Elements of physics. B. Practical Land-surveying,— Part I (written examination) — (1.) The determination and computation of azimuth, latitude, and time. (2.) The projection of maps. (3.) The construction, manipulation, and adjustment of all surveying and levelling instruments. (4.) Methods of base-measurement and the application of corrections. (5.) The observation of angles, horizontal and vertical, the application of corrections, and the reduction of small errors of position. (6.) The computation of a geodetic triangulation (principal and secondary), the computation and reduction of a traverse. and the computation and plotting of co-ordinates. (7.) The computation of areas. (8.) Detailed surveying. (9.) Contouring and representation of land-forms, and measurement of capacity from contours. (10.) Computation of heights and reductions of level observations. (11.) Setting out curves, laying out roads, making cross-sections, and calculation of quantities. Part II (practical examination) — Trial survey (not less than 100 acres).

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4. In the event of a standard being agreed upon, a land surveyor, authorized in one dominion, State, or province, and moving to another, would have to produce his certificate, and satisfy the authority of his new country that he was conversant with the laws and regulations appertaining to the survey, registration, and transfer of lands in that country. Examinations for this purpose should be held twice yearly, and should be open to any one who had passed the test proposed in paragraph 4 as finally amended and agreed upon by the parties. 5. Each dominion, State, or Provincial Government which is now responsible for carrying out official examinations would remain the responsible authority under the scheme of reciprocity. 6. In the United Kingdom, there being no official examining body in landsurveying in existence, it is suggested that the examination should be carried out by a joint committee of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Surveyors' Institution, with, a representative of the Ordnance Survey. 7. To insure that the standard of qualification agreed upon is maintained by each examining body, it is suggested that a central Examination Board should be set up, to whom copies of all official examination-papers should be forwarded immediately after the holding of an examination. Representatives of each party to the agreement should have a seat on the Board, which should be required to publish annually all papers set at official examinations, other than those on local land laws referred to in paragraph 5, and issue on annual report to the Governments concerned. 8. I have to add that I have considered it desirable to extend an invitation to be represented at the conference to the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Director of the Ordnance Survey. I have, &c, L. HARCOUET. - Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 142. New Zealand—Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th March, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 21st ultimo, and to express the pleasure with which I have learnt that Sir Joseph Ward will undertake to arrange for a small special contingent of officers and men from the New Zealand Forces to be present in this country on the occasion of His Majesty's Coronation. I shall no doubt hear from you at an early date the names and the number of those selected. 2. I need hardly say that my colleagues and myself cordially appreciated the proposal of your Prime Minister that a contingent of British regular troops should be sent to New Zealand, at the expense of the Dominion, there to take part in the Coronation festivities. It was with much regret that after giving the matter careful consideration it was held to be impossible, on grounds of practical convenience, including the likelihood of similar applications from elsewhere, to comply with the kind and courteous suggestion. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 143. New Zealand, No. 98. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th March, 1911. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that a note has been received from the Italian Ambassador at this Court, inviting your Government to be represented at the Fifth International Fishery Congress, to be held in Rome, from the 26th to the 31st May next, under the Presidency of His Excellency Prince Pietro Lanza di Scalea. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 144. New Zealand, No. 103. My Lord,— Downing Street, 16th March, 1911. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Public Trustee, in which he suggests that letters of administration should be issued to him in appropriate cases without requiring him to give surety for the administration of the estate. 2. I enclose also the accompanying copy of the Public Trustee Act, 1906, from which will be seen the powers and duties of the Trustee. Under section 7 of the Act the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom is liable to make good all sums required to discharge the liabilities of the Public Trustee. 3. I shall be glad if your Ministers will take the request of the Public Trustee into their consideration, and if you will report to me their decision in due course. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Public Trustee Office, 3 and -t Clements Inn. Sir,— : Strand, W.C., 22nd February, 1911. Adverting to the interview which my Assistant, Mr..Allen, had with Mi , . Bertram Cox on Monday last, I now beg to lay before you officially the following matter : — The Public Trustee is created by his Act of Parliament, 6 Edward VII, eh. 56, and empowered by section 6 to accept probate or letters of administration granted by the Court having jurisdiction in the matter, and in section 11 (4) of the statute it was provided : " Where any bond or security would be required from a private person upon the grant to him of administration or upon his appointment to act in any capacity, the Public Trustee, if administration is granted to him or if he is appointed to act in such capacity as aforesaid, shall not be required to give such bond or security, but shall be subject to the same liabilities and duties as if he had given such bond or security." As my Act does not extend outside the United Kingdom, I have found in applying for letters of administration in the British dominions and colonies that their Courts are not able to recognize the provisions of section 11 (4), and, in strictness, would have to ask for private sureties for the administration of the estate, in probably the usual amount — i.e., double the value of the estate. In the last case at Cape Town the Supreme Court has there waived the point, and issued letters of administration (re Charles Adamson, deceased), but have drawn attention to the matter, and asked that it shall in future be put upon a proper basis, and have suggested that the matter is one which may be brought before the forthcoming Colonial Conference. I have, however, to ask you to be good enough to give the matter your consideration, and to take such steps as you may think fit to remove the difficulty. I should assume, inasmuch as the various Courts of the colonies will have the security of the British Government instead of sureties, even if double the amount of the estate, that the matter will not present itself to them as one of any special difficulty. I am, &c, C. J. Stewart, Public Trustee. The Right Hon. Lewis Harcourt, M.P., Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, Colonial Office, S.W.

No. 145. New Zealand, No. 107. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17 th March, 1911. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the House of Commons has, on the motion of Mr. W. Redmond, adopted an address for a " Return showing the places throughout the Empire where tobacco is cultivated, and the extent of the industry, and whether in any of the oversea dominions there is any excise or export duty on the home-grown tobacco, and, if so, the amount." 2. I shall be glad if your Government will be so good as to favour me as soon as possible with the desired information as regards New Zealand. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. 11—A. 2.

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No. 146. New Zealand, No. 108. My Loed, — Downing Street, 17fch March, 1911. With reference bo my telegram of the 16th March, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 4th March, confirming, under section 735 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and declaring the Eoyal assent to, the Act to amend the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1909, of the Parliament of New Zealand. I have, <fee, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 4th day of March, 1911. Present: The King's Most Excellent Majesty, Lord President, Lord Denman, Lord Sandhurst, Mr. J. A. Pease, Master of Elibank. Whereas it is, among other things, enacted by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, that the Legislature of any British possession may, by any Act or Ordinance confirmed by His Majesty in Council, repeal wholly or in part any provisions of the said Act (other than those of the third part thereof which relate to emigrant ships) relating to ships registered in that possession, but that any such Act or Ordinance shall not take effect until the approval of His Majesty has been proclaimed in the possession, or until such time thereafter as may be fixed by the Act or Ordinance for the purpose : And whereas by an Act passed in the session held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria's reign, entitled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is, amongst other things, declared that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said colony shall signify, either by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before His Majesty in Council, and that His Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same : And whereas by a Proclamation dated the 10th day of September, 1907, His late Majesty King Edward VII was graciously pleased to change the style and designation of " the Colony of New Zealand " to " the Dominion of New Zealand " : And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Dominion entitled " An Act to amend the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1909," was presented to the Governor of the said Dominion for His Majesty's assent: And whereas the said Bill was reserved by the said Governor for the signification of His -Majesty's pleasure thereon: And whereas the said Bill so reserved as aforesaid has been laid before His Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said Bill should be confirmed and assented to by His Majesty : Now, therefore, His Majesty, in pursuance of the said Acts, and in exercise of the powers thereby reserved to His Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present Order, by and with the advice of His Majesty's Privy Council, confirm and declare his assent to the said Bill. Almeric Fitzßoy.

No. 147. New Zealand, No. 110. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th March, 1911. In reply to your Lordship's despatch, No. 14, of the 3rd February, concerning rumours as to a proposal to transfer the headquarters of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific from Suva tc Sydney, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the proposal referred to in Sir J. Ward's memorandum of the 24th January is not under consideration. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 148. New Zealand, No. 116. My Lord,— Downing Street, 24th March, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 18, of the 10th February, forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by a conference of the Church of England Men's Society, in the Diocese of Dunedin, on the subject of the Indo-Chinese opium traffic. I have, &c, L. HAKCOUKT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 149. New Zealand, No. 122. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th March, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 1, of the 6th January, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanyingcopy of a despatch from His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Stockholm, respecting the attitude of the Swedish Board of Trade relative to the proposals for the control of imported meat made by the committee of experts summoned by the Swedish Minister of Agriculture. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir,— • Stockholm, 7th March, 1911. With reference to Sir C. Spring Rice's despatch, No. 4 (Commercial), of 24th January, 1910, I have the honour to report that the Swedish Board of Trade has now made public its opinion on the proposals of the expert committee for the control of imported meat. The Board of Trade considers that the provision that meat imported into Sweden must, without exception, be accompanied by certain organs should not be approved, as this would render impossible the importation of frozen meat from trans-oceanic countries. The Board also sees strong objections to the provision that salt or smoked meat may not be imported in pieces of less than 4 kilos, weight, unless they form a whole quarter of the carcase, or a distinct organ. Such a regulation would, it is argued, unduly raise the price of several articles of importance for the meat trade, and especially for shipping, such as salted shoulder of mutton, &c. A proposal, contained in an amendment by one of the members of the committee, for the provisional prohibition of the importation of live cattle from Finland to the northern ports of Sweden is not supported by the Board, which, however, admits that a strict control over this trade is necessary, and that it would be desirable to make sure that such cattle were destined for immediate slaughter. As regards export, the Board, after hearing the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce of Scania as the most interested party in the question, does not consider that the proposal for a national mark on pork for export to England should be approved. I venture to point out that if the objections raised to the proposals of the committee with regard to carcases imported by sea being accompanied by certain organs are maintained, the way may be opened to the importation of Australian frozen meat. I may add that the newly appointed Swedish Consul at Sydney informed me before his departure that he hoped to be able to do something towards the establishment of such a trade. His idea was that the Swedish steamship line which goes direct to Australia should be induced to install cold-storage apparatus on its vessels, in order to be able to bring back frozen meat as return cargo, material for which is at present lacking. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir E. Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Kilmarnock.

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