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1913. NE W ZEAL A N I)

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

Presented to both //onsen of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

INDEX.

1—A. 2.

No. of Date. Series. Subject. IPage. I 1912. 1 Feb. 14 2 „ 15 3 .. 16 4 „ 27 5 „ 28 6 i „ 29 7 | Mar. 8 8 , „ 8 9 ! „ 8 10 „ 8 11 „ 8 12 „ 20 13 „ 21 14 „ 21 15 .. 22 16 „ 23 17 „ 25 18 „ 26 19 ., 27 20 „ 27 21 .. 29 22 „ 29 23 „ 30 24 : April 4 25 ; „ 6 26 „ 11 27 „ 11 28 12 29 „ 12 j Celebration of His Majesty's birthday .. - .. Carrying of guidons and colours by New Zealand regiments Anti-opium traffic petition International agreement for suppression of obscene publications .. . . • .. Alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with British regiments Dominion Section of Imperial General Staff: Australian representative Arms of New Zealand Imperial Institute accounts .. . . . . .. . . . . Designation of 2nd (Wellington West Coast) Mounted Rifles His Majesty the King as Colonel-in-Chief of certain New Zealand regiments Agricultural shows Reciprocity as to pharmacists New Zealand Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act, 1911 ' Wireless telegraphy : Empire scheme I Cost of maintenance of Naval Force on Australian Station Export of cattle from United Kingdom Alteration of form of declaration of ownership Investigation of noxious insects of the British Empire Imperial Conference resolution : Emigration from United Kingdom Imperial Conference resolution : Enforcement of judgments Resignation of Ministry Title of " Honourable " for Sir J. G. Findlay Landing of foreign hay and straw in Great Britain Alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with British regiments International agreement for suppression of obscene publications Report on use of lead glaze in china and earthenware Congress of International Association for Protection of Industrial Property Workmen's compensation law : Uniformity Request by British and Foreign Sailors' Society to call their new institute at Lyttelton " King George's Sailors' Institute " New Ministry Engagement and discharge of seamen : Fees charged Foreign hay and straw order 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 / 7 8 9 9 12 13 13 15 Hi Hi 17 17 17 18 lit 111 20 £0 21 30 „ 12 31 „ 16 32 ,. 18 -2} 21 ii

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INDEX— continued.

No. of Series. Date. Subject. Page. 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 1912. April 19 „ 19 „ 19 „ 26 „ 30 May 8 „ 10 „ 10 » io „ 16 „ 17 „ 21 „ 21 „ 24 „ 31 „ 31 Wreck of the " Titanic " .. Imperial Education Committee .. .. Opening of Parliament .. .. .. • • • • • • Wreok of the " Titanic " .. Examinations of masters, mates, &c, in British mercantile marine Board of Agriculture order re horses Royal Commission on Empire Trade : Appointment of Commission Wreck of the " Titanic " .. Royal Commission on Empire Trade His Majesty's birthday celebrations .. Duplicate records Order in Council: Light dues . .* Workmen's compensation legislation Death of His Majesty the King of Denmark Annals of Tropical Sanitation Appointment of Sir E. Bickham Sweet Escott, K.C.M.G., as Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for Western Pacific Retention of title of "Honourable " by members of Ministry Retirement of Sir William Hall-Jones from High Commissionership " Flags, Badges, and Arms of British Dominions " Enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts His Majesty's birthday Wreck of " Titanic " Investigation of noxious insects of the Empire Celebration of His Majesty's birthday Pharmacists reciprocity Prince of Wales's birthday Wreck of " Titanic " British Emigration Wearing of orders, miniature decorations, and medals with evening dress Dominions Royal Commission Panama Pacific International Exposition Resignation of Mackenzie Ministry Government of India Act, 1912 Emigration from United Kingdom New Ministry I.S.O. for Mr. D. Robertson and Mr. J. Strauchon Yorkshire colliery disaster Emigration to dominions of Special Reservists New public Seal for New Zealand Wreck of the " Titanic " Mutual enforcement of judgments, orders of Courts, &c. King George's Sailors' Institute, Lyttelton Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration Order of wearing decorations Appointments to Legislative Council Indo-Chinese opium traffic Retention of title of " Honourable " by Mr. Thomas Mackenzie Opening of Parliament Death of Emperor of Japan Misuse of term " cattle plague " Panama Pacific International Exhibition Suez Canal dues reduced Application of Lyttelton Harbour Board to fly the Blue En sign Eligibility of New Zealand cadets at Australian Naval College for entry into the Royal Navy Opium Convention Dentistry in the Army Order by Board of Agriculture re horses International Congress on School Hygiene Opium Convention Health insurance in oversea dominions San Francisco Exhibition White Slave Traffic Agreement Privy Council appeals Commercial Expert and Inquiry Agent for New Zealand Customs Department in London . . Regulations re manufacture of celluloid articles Royal Commission on Empire Trade. Assumption of government of New Zealand by Lord Liverpool Imperial Education Conference, 1911 .. Badges, crests, and colours for clubs, schools, &c. 23 23 24 24 25 26 33 33 34 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 1.00 101 June 1 7 „ 13 13 „ 14 „ 21 „ 21 „ 27 „ 27 „ 28 „ -28 July 3 „ ' 3 „ 5 „ 12 12 „ 12 18 „ 19 » 22 „ 26 „ 30 „ 29 Aug. 1 2 9 „ 23 „ 23 „ 29 „ 30 „ 30 „ 30 Sept. 13 „ 19 » 20 „ 25 Oct. 2 18 ., 23 „ 25 » 30 Nov. 7 8 15 15 15 „ 21 ,. 22 „ 28 Deo. 6 ,, 24 „ 24 „ 27 1913. .Tan. 2 3 8 „ 31 „ 31 Veh. 7 12 14 14 „ 20 .. 21 „ 21 37 37 38 38 39 39 39 40 41 42 42 42 43 44 50 50 51 52 52 53 53 53 54 54 55 55 56 56 57 57 57 58 58 58 59 60 60 (il 61 62 62 63 63 63 64 64 64 66 66 66 67 67 70 102 103 104 105 100 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 Attempt on life of Lord Hardinge Reduction in cable rates .. .. . . • ■ Carrying of colours by New Zealand regiments Uniformity in accident-compensation law Naval Commander-in-Chief, China Station Warrant conferring dignity of C.M.G. on L. Stowe Examination of masters, mates, &c, in mercantile marine Antarctic disaster Lantern lectures on Australasia Imperial Bureau of Entomology Mutual enforcement of judgments, orders of Courts, &c. Restrictions on importation of live-stock from Great Britain 70 71 71 72 75 76 76 78 78 7S 71) 81

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

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

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

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Paragraph 3 of your despatch, No. 237, dated the 17th July, 1911, to the Governor of New Zealand, sets forth that Rifle regiments, or those dressed as such, do not carry colours. In the British Regular Army, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), the King's Royal Rifle Corps, the Royal Irish Rifles, and the Rifle Brigade do not carry colours, nor do Rifle regiments in the Territorial Force. The Army Council therefore hope that the Governor and Prime Minister of New Zealand will follow the custom existing in the British Army as to Rifle regiments not carrying colours. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. W. D. Ward.

No.|3.f New Zealand, No. 58. My Lord, — : * Downing Street, 16th February, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 2, of the 3rd January, forwarding a letter from the New Zealand Anti-Opium Association, Wellington, with a petition on the subject of the opium traffic with China from the women in New Zealand of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union and their friends. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 65. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th February, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 410, of the 23rd December last, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Governments of Canada, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland have adhered to the international agreement for the suppression of obscene publications, 1910. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 5. New Zealand, No. 66. My Lord,— Downing Street, 28th February, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 9, of the 12th January, on the subject of the alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with regiments of the British Army. 2. I observe from the last paragraph of your Prime Minister's memorandum of the 3rd January that particulars of changes in organization or designation of the New Zealand Forces will be published from time to time in the New Zealand Army List; but, as stated in my despatch, No. 22, of the 18th January, it would be a convenience to the Army Council if any changes in designation could be reported to them through this Office as soon as they are made, and I shall be much obliged if your Ministers will be so good as to give the necessary instructions that this shall be done. 3. I presume that a copy of each issue of the New Zealand Army List will be forwarded to this Office for record as well as to the War Office. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 6. New Zealand, No. 67. My Lord,— . Downing Street, 29th February, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 388, of the 21st November last, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Legge has been appointed as the representative of the General Staff of Australia in the Dominion Section, Imperial General Staff, now being formed at the War Office. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 7. New Zealand, No. 71. My Lord,— Downing Street, Bth March, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you copies of the additional plate noted in the margin for insertion in the copies of the book entitled " Flags, Badges, and Arms of the British Dominions beyond the Seas," which accompanied my predecessor's circular despatch of the 25th June, 1910. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 8. New Zealand, No. 74. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth March, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 117, of the 24th March, 1911, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of an account of the receipts and expenditure of the Imperial Institute for the year ended 31st March, 1911. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Imperial Institute.—Account of Receipts and Expenditure from the 1st April, 1910, to 31st March, 1911.

Receipts. Cash. 2J-per-Cent. Consols. Balance on 1st April, 1910 £ s. d. 4,157 9 11 £ s. d. 2,159 15 10 Consols purchased.. Endowment Fund, &c. Annuity re north gallery Parliamentary grant in aid Parliamentary grant (cotton grant) .. Contributions Rent of rooms 3ale of bulletins Miscellaneous 3,426 3 0 864 0 0 1,500 0 0 500 0 0 6,616 3 4 222 1 6 163 4 5 106 15 8 62 17 7 —- Total receipts . . \ 13,398 7 11 62 17 7 Total 17,555 17 10 17,555 17 10 2,222 13 5

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Expenditure. Cash. 2|-per-oent. r Consols. £ s. d. £ s. d. Salaries and wages .. .. .. .. .. 10,843 11 3 Stationery and printing .. .. .. .. ■.. - 162 4 2 Bulletin .. .. .. .. .. .. 334 10 3 Postages, telegrams, and incidental expenses . . .. .. 174 16 8 Repairs and alterations .. . . . . .. . . 182 3 4 Insurance (fire and staff) .. .. .. .. .. 22 17 2 Electric light, water, and gas .. .. .. .. 233 17 5 Fellows' room, library, and lavatories .. .. .. 83 16 2 General expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 115 11 4 Audit of accounts .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Collections .. .. .. .. .. .. 156 4 9 Apparatus, materials, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 306 11 6 Sinking fund .. .. .. .. .. .. 400 0 0 Salaries and incidental expenses (cotton grant) . . .. 500 14 10 Total expenditure .. .. .. .. 13,566 18 10 Balance on 31st March, 1911 .. .. .. .. 3,988 19 0 2,222 13 5 Statement of Cash Balance on 31st March, 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ a. d. Paymaster-General .. 947 3 4 Less outstanding orders 859 4 9 87 18 7 Debits and credits subsequent to 31st March, 1911— Assets .. .. 5,153 4 3 Liabilities .. 1,297 17 2 3,855 7 1 Stores on hand .. .. 228 12 0 4,171 17 8 Less sundry creditors as per Colonial Office Account for March, 1911 .. .. 182 18 8 Total .. .. .. ..3,988 19 0 17,555 17 10 2,222 13 5

In addition to the investments shown opposite, the sum of £2,222 13s. 5d., 2§-per-cent. Consols, stood to the credit of the fund at 31st March, 1911, as an investment of surplus income. Colonial Office, 27th November, 1911. G. V. Ftddes, Accounting Officer. Imperial Institute Fund. — Statement of Investments at 31st March, 1911. Endowment Fund. £ a. d. £ s. d. 43,399 15 0 2J-per-cent. Consols .. .. .. at cost 44,073 8 4 35,000 0 0 India 3|-per-cent. stock .. .. „ 35,800 0 0 36,611 6 1 India 3-pei-cent. stock .. .. „ 33,792 10 6 509 10 10 New South Wales 3|-per-cent. stock .. „ 528 15 11 North gallery, annuity of £864 for thirty-nine years 26,401 17 0 £140,596 11 9 3,942 5 8 India 3-per-cent. stock, in respect of the sinking fund to redeem the above-mentioned annuity at 31st December, 1941 .. ..at cost £3,58111 0 Gbo. S. Fey, Accountant-General. Finance Department, Board of Trade, 12th April, 1911. Exchequer and Audit Department, Victoria Embankment, London E.C. I hereby certify that the statement of the account of the Imperial Institute as rendered by Sir G. V. Fiddes, K.C.M.G., C.8., Accounting Officer to the Colonial Office, from the Ist April, 1910, to the 31st March, 1911, has been signed and passed by me under the 36th section of the Act 29 & 30 Victoria, cap. 39 ; and that the charge and discharge on the said account are as follows : Charge, £17,555 17s. 10d. ; discharge, £13,566 18s. 10d. : and that on the said account the Accounting Officer is indebted in the sum of £3,988 19s. Given under my hand, this 7th day of February, 1912. H. J. Gibson, Comptroller and Auditor-General.

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No. 9. New Zealand, No. 75. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth March, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 159, of the 27th December, and to request you to inform your Ministers that His Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of the 2nd (Wellington West Coast) Mounted Rifles being designated as " Queen Alexandra's 2nd Mounted Rifles." I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 10. New Zealand, No. 76. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth March, 1912. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that His Majesty has been graciously pleased to become Colonel-in-Chief of the 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Rifles and of the Ist (Canterbury) Regiment of Infantry. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 11. New Zealand, No. 77. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth March, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, with a copy of one from the British Representative on the Permanent Committee of the International Agricultural Institute, asking that the institute may be supplied with particulars of the principal agricultural shows, &c, held in New Zealand and certain other parts of the Empire. I shall be glad if the desired information can be sent direct to the institute. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sir,— 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 23rd February, 1912. 1 am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to send to you, for the information of the Secretary of State, the enclosed copy of a letter received from the British Representative on the Permanent Committee of the International Agricultural Institute, requesting that particulars may be supplied to the institute regarding the principal agricultural shows, &c, held in certain colonies. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. T. H. Elliott, Secretary.

Sre,— British Embassy, Rome, 6th February, 1912. I have the honour to report that the President of the International Institute of Agriculture has addressed to me a request that I will convey to His Majesty's Government, and also to the Governments of India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and Mauritius, the desire of the institute to the following effect: — It would be glad to be furnished every month with the dates and localities of the principal agricultural shows, congresses, or exhibitions which are to take place in the countries concerned, and also to receive any programmes, reports, or other documents connected therewith. The institute would thus be enabled to publish in its " Bulletin of Agricultural Intelligence and Plant Diseases " information relating to exhibitions which have universal importance, and likewise to'reply to the various inquiries which the institute is beginning to receive on the subject. The President adds that the work of exhibitions and explanation of the methods of appreciation adopted in such shows, &c, would be a valuable source of information afforded by the experts of agronomic science in different countries.

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I have the honour to request that you will be so good as to cause the desire of the International Agricultural Institute in this respect to be brought to the knowledge of the various Administrations concerned. I have, &c, Herbert Gγ. Dering. The Secretary, Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4 Whitehall Place, S.W.

No. 12. New Zealand, No. 81. My Lord,— Downing Street, 20th March, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 383, of the 16th November last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order of the Lords of the Council, under the Pharmacy Act, confirming the new by-law made by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain under section 4 (b) of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908, providing under certain specified conditions for the registration as pharmaceutical chemists, or chemists and druggists, without examination, of persons holding colonial diplomas. I have, &c, L. HAKCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 6th day of March, 1912. By the Lords of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. Present: Lord President, Lord Emmott, Mr. Secretary Harcourt. Whereas by section 2 of the Pharmacy Act, 1852, as amended by section 25 of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain are authorized and empowered to alter and amend the by-laws of the said society made and established under or in pursuance of the charter of incorporation of the said society, and to make and establish such new or additional by-laws as they shall deem proper and necessary for the purposes contemplated by the said charter or by the said Act: Provided always that all such original by-laws, and all altered, amended, or additional by-laws shall be confirmed and approved by a special general meeting of the members of the said society and by the Privy Council: And whereas the Lords of the Privy Council did, by their Order dated the 20th day of November, 1907, confirm and approve certain by-laws duly made and submitted to them by the said council of the said society : And whereas by section 4 of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908, it is (amongst other things) enacted that the power of making by-laws conferred by section 2 of the Pharmacy Act, 1852, on the council of the said pharmaceutical society shall be deemed to include the power of making by-laws providing for the registration, upon payment of the prescribed fee, as pharmaceutical chemists, or chemists and druggists, under the Pharmacy Acts, 1852 and 1868, without examination, of any persons holding colonial diplomas : And whereas the said council of the said society has made a new by-law, additional to Section VII of the said by-laws so confirmed and approved as aforesaid by the Lords of the Privy Council on the 20th day of November, 1907, which said new by-law was confirmed and approved by a special general meeting of the members of the said society on the 10th day of January, 1912 : And whereas the said society have submitted the said new by-law for the confirmation and approval of the Lords of the Privy Council: Now, therefore, their Lordships, having taken the said new by-law (a copy of which is hereunto annexed) into consideration, are pleased to confirm and approve the same. Almeric Pitzroy. By-law referred to in the Foregoing Order. Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Section VII. —24. The council may, by resolution at any ordinary meeting, enter into reciprocal agreements with colonial pharmaceutical authorities empowered under statute to grant certificates of competent skill and knowledge to practise pharmacy in any British colony; and may make, amend, or determine thereunder regulations for the admission to the Register of Chemists and Druggists of Great Britain, without examination, of persons who after approved courses of study and examination have become registered in any British colony as entitled to carry on the business of a chemist and druggist in that colony ; provided that no person shall be registered under this by-law who fails to produce satisfactory evidence of having undergone an approved course of study, and of having passed the qualifying examination of the colony in which he is registered. 25. Persons holding colonial certificates of qualification, and being desirous of becoming registered, without examination, as chemists and druggists in accordance with the last preceding by-law, shall submit to the Registrar such evidence as may be required by the regulations made from time to time by the Council in that behalf, and shall pay to the Registrar a fee of twelve guineas, whereupon, if the council shall so see fit, they shall be registered.

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No. 13. New Zealand, No. 82. My Lord,— Downing Street, 21st March, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 4, of the 3rd January, transmitting a memorandum from your Prime Minister on the subject of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act' of the Parliament of New Zealand. 2. With reference to the second paragraph of your despatch, I have to point out that the Patent Office at Wellington is at present supplied with copies of the reports of patent cases issued in this country which contain reports of rulings and decisions given by the Comptroller-General, and on appeal by the Law Officers, in cases where any general principle arises, in addition to reports of cases before the Courts. 3. His Majesty's Government will, however, be glad to communicate to your Government any additional information as to the practice of the Patent Office, or as to the rulings of the Comptroller-General on any particular point or section of the Patent Acts, if your Ministers will be so good as to specify the points upon which information is desired. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 14. New Zealand, No. 83. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st March, 1912. With reference to the discussion on wireless telegraphy through the Empire which took place at the Imperial Conference (see pages 307-15 of Cd. 5745), I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copies of correspondence between the Postmaster-General and the Marconi Company on the subject of the establishment of a series of long-distance stations capable of communicating over a range of at least 2,000 geographical miles. 2. Although the company have not accepted the Postmaster-General's views on all points, the terms appear to be favourable to His Majesty's Government; there seems to be little doubt that there is at present no practicable alternative to the Marconi system for long-distance signalling ; and His Majesty's Government have therefore decided to accept the modified tender in respect of stations in England, Cyprus or Egypt, Aden, and Singapore, and the Indian Government have also accepted the agreement in regard to a station in India. 3. You are aware that the whole scheme has since the Imperial Conference been discussed with the High Commissioners of Australia, New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa, and I understand that Sir W. Hall-Jones has been in telegraphic communication with your Government on the subject. 4. It is proposed that the whole cost of the erection of the stations in England, Cyprus or Egypt, Aden, and Singapore should be borne by His Majesty's Government, and that the Indian and South African Governments respectively should bear the cost of the stations in their territories. The revenue would be divided, after the deduction of the royalty payable to the company, on the same basis as the receipts for ordinary telegrams, the rates charged to the public being made up of a terminal rate for the countries of origin and delivery and transit rates for the intermediate stations. 5. I shall be glad to learn in due course whether your Ministers desire that your Government should become a party to the agreement, in which case it could be extended so as to include a station in New Zealand for communication with a station in Australia. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. 2—A. 2.

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Enclosures. Tender for Long-Distance Wireless-Telegraph Stations. I. We, the Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company, hereinafter called " the company," hereby offer to erect wireless-telegraph stations capable of communicating over a range of at least two thousand geographical miles in—(1) England, (2) Cyprus, (3) Aden, (4) South Africa, (5) India ; and all such other places as may subsequently be required and agreed upon. We understand that it is desired that the station at Aden should be able to communicate with a station in the Union of South Africa ; but should this prove impracticable or undesirable, we offer to erect a station at Nairobi, either in place of or in addition to the station at Aden, as may be desired. 11. The stations shall be erected in accordance with specifications to be prepared by us and to be approved by the Postmaster-General of the United Kingdom, hereinafter called " the PostmasterGeneral," on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom and of the Governments of all the dominions and colonies concerned, and in accordance with the , annexed conditions. 111. A formal agreement, hereinafter called " the said agreement," shall be prepared in draft to embody the above undertakings and the annexed conditions, which agreement shall provide that all and any other long-distance stations which the Government of the United Kingdom and the Governments of all the dominions and colonies represented herein by the Postmaster-General may require shall be constructed by the company upon the same terms as those herein specified, together with any further conditions which may be found necessary or desirable, and after the approval of this draft by the Postmaster-General and the company the said agreement shall be prepared in accordance with it, and shall be executed by the Postmaster-General and the company. Conditions. 1. The company shall provide complete wireless apparatus for duplex working and fast-speed automatic working, masts, earth connections, and duplicate power plant at each station for the sum of £60,000 per station. 2. The company shall also, if required, construct buildings, make foundations for masts and machinery, and carry out other necessary works at cost-price. 3. The company shall demonstrate that the stations are capable of continuous communication for commercial purposes both by day and by night over the required distance at a speed of twenty words a minute duplex with ordinary working, or fifty simplex with automatic working, after allowing for repetitions in either case. 4. The company shall work the stations for a period of six months at cost-price to the Post-master-General, and shall remedy without charge any defects which may manifest themselves during that period. 5. If successful working has been established at the end of the period of six months, the company shall hand the stations over to be worked by the Governments concerned. 6. The said agreement shall extend for a period of twenty-eight years from the date of the completion of the first five stations, determinable at the end of eighteen years from the date of such completion by six months' notice by the Postmaster-General, and during its continuance the Postmaster-General shall pay to the company by way of royalty 10 per cent, of the gross receipts of the stations above mentioned, and of any other stations hereafter erected under the provisions of the said agreement. 7. The company and Mr. Marconi will during the continuance of the said agreement give to the Postmaster-General all their assistance and advice for the successful working of the stations. 8. The company and Mr. Marconi will during the continuance of the said agreement give to the Postmaster-General the right to use at the station erected under the provisions of the said agreement all inventions, improvements, and patents to which they or he are or may become entitled, and of which they or he are or may become possessed, and over which they or he have control and power to use, and which may be used by them or him, and all improvements in such inventions and patents, without any payment beyond those specified in the said agreement. 9. The Postmaster-General shall have the right to introduce into the stations at his absolute discretion any patents or inventions in wireless telegraphy in addition to or in substitution for those of the company. The Postmaster-General shall, however, seek the advice of the company before actually introducing such patents and inventions. 10. If at any time during the term of the said agreement the Postmaster-General shall find it advantageous to use a system entirely independent of the Marconi system, and should no longer use any of the apparatus of the company in regard to which a patent is in force for the purpose Of working the stations, the payment of royalty to the company shall cease. 11. If notice is not given to determine the said agreement before the end of twenty-eight years the Postmaster-General shall have the continued use in all stations then working under the said agreement of all or any of the inventions and patents referred to in condition 8 which may actually be in use at the stations at the termination of the said agreement, or may have been in use at them, and this without further payment by way of royalty. 12. The company shall release the Admiralty and the Postmaster-General from the obligation under their agreements with the company of 24th July, 1903, and 29th September, 1909, respectively not to impart any information about Marconi apparatus or the mode of working it to other Departments of the Imperial, dominion, or colonial Governments, and the Governments and Departments concerned shall not make use of information so obtained in order to enable them to manufacture or cause to be manufactured, or use without payment, any of the apparatus in regard to which information has been furnished. Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company (Limited), Godfrey C. Isaacs, Managing Director. 13th February, 1912.

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Sir,— . General Post Office, London, sth March, 1912. 1 am directed to inform you that the Postmaster-General has now received the authority of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to accept the tender enclosed with your letter (I) of the 13th ultimo, for the erection of the wireless-telegraph stations of the Imperial chain, subject to the modifications indicated below :— Clause I. —lt is to be understood that a station may be erected in Egypt instead of Cyprus, at the discretion of the Postmaster-General. The inclusion of the Indian and South African stations is dependent on approval of the respective Governments, and the inclusion of the South African station is also dependent on a guarantee by the company that satisfactory communication will be established between that station and Aden. Clause 111. —The Postmaster-General cannot agree to bind His Majesty's Government not to employ any other tractor than the Marconi Company for the erection of any stations which may be required in the future in connection with the Imperial chain of stations. He is willing, however, at once and specifically to include the Singapore Station in the agreement, and, if the Australian Government agrees, the station in Australia also. Condition 3. —It is to be understood that the choice of duplex working or simplex automatic working will rest with the Postmaster-General, and that the conditions as to duplex working and automatic working are concurrent and not alternative. It is proposed to make this clear in the relative clause in the agreement. Condition 6. —The Postmaster-General thinks that the period of twenty-eight years should run from the signature of the agreement, and not from the date of completion of the first five stations, and he will be glad to learn that you agree to the modification of the tender in this respect. Condition 10. —The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury consider that provision should be made for a reduction of the royalty if at any time the Marconi patents are used only to a small extent at the stations. The Postmaster-General suggests, for your concurrence, the following addition to the clause : " and if at any time he should find it advantageous to use the apparatus of the company in part only, he shall be entitled to refer to arbitration the question whether, and to what extent, the payment of royalty to the company shall be reduced." He will be glad to learn that you agree to this alteration. It will be necessary to make provision that the Postmaster-General's rights under the agreement, and in particular under conditions 7 and 8, shall not be affected if the company should be absorbed by or amalgamated with some other company. As. you are already aware, it will also be a necessary condition that the agreement will not become binding until it has been approved by resolution of the House of Commons. On learning that these modifications are agreed to, the Postmaster-General will at once proceed with the preparation of the formal agreement contemplated by the tender. 1 have, &c, A. F. King. Godfrey C. Isaacs, Esq., of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company (Limited).

Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company (Limited), Sir, — Watergate House, York Buildings, Adelphi, London W.C., 7th March, 1912. 1 am in receipt of your communication of the sth instant, informing me that the PostmasterGeneral has received the authority of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to accept the tender enclosed in my letter (I) of the 30th ultimo for the erection of the wireless-telegraph stations of the Imperial chain, subject to certain modifications. I regret not to have been able to accept these modifications in their entirety, and now confirm the alterations in these modifications which have resulted from our several subsequent interviews, as follows :— Clause I. —It is understood that a station may be erected in Egypt instead of Cyprus, at the discretion of the Postmaster-General, and that the inclusion of the Indian and South African stations is dependent upon the formal approval of the respective Governments. The company, however, does not guarantee that the stations of Aden and in the Union of South Africa shall provide an efficient service without the erection of a third and intermediate station. The company is of opinion that it will be able to erect stations capable of conducting such an efficient direct service, but it may be necessary to increase the power employed at each of the two stations, in which case it is agreed that the extra cost thereof shall be added to the price of £60,000. Clause 111 of the tender to read as follows : " A formal agreement, hereinafter called ' the said agreement,' shall be prepared in draft to embody the above undertakings and the annexed conditions, wliich agreement shall provide that all and any other long-distance station which the Government of the United Kingdom and the Governments of all the dominions and colonies represented herein by the Postmaster-General may require within five years from the date of the agreement shall be constructed by the company upon the same terms as those herein specified, together with any further conditions which may be found necessary or desirable ; and after the approval of this draft by the Postmaster-General and the company the said agreement shall be prepared in accordance with it, and shall be executed by the Postmaster-General and the company. Note.—Condition 3 : It is understood that the automatic working must be subject, to weatherconditions. Condition 6 shall read : " The said agreement shall extend for a period of twenty-eight years from the date of the commencement of the service of the first three stations," &c.

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Condition 10 to stand as set out in the tender, and the liiodification as suggested in your letter of che sth instant is agreed to be cancelled. The following to be substituted for condition 12 of the tender : " All the Government Departments, the colonial Governments, and the Governments of the dominions which take part in this agreement shall undertake not to give any information concerning the company's patents, processes, machinery, or any knowledge which they may derive from the stations erected under this tender, or which may be obtained from the Marconi Company to any Government Department which may not have caused stations to be erected under this tender. It is further agreed that if at the expiration of the five years dating from the date of the agreement any of the Government Departments, the colonial Governments, or the Governments of the dominions which will have erected stations under this tender should decide to erect or cause to be erected a station or stations of a different system, the company shall have the right of inspection of any such station or stations." By this clause, to the extent of what is set out therein, the company releases the Admiralty and the Postmaster-General from the obligation under their agreements with the company of the 24th July, 1903, and the 29th September, 1909, respectively, but no Governments or Departments concerned shall make use of information so obtained in order to enable them to manufacture, or cause to be manufactured, or use without payment any of the apparatus in regard to which information has been furnished. I have, &c, Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company (Limited), Godfrey C. Isaacs, Managing Director. Note. —It is open to the Government of any dominion to become a party to this agreement.—G.C.l.

No. 15. New Zealand, No. 85. My Lord,— Downing Street, 22nd March, 1912. With, reference to my despatch, No. 92, of the 10th March, 1911, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a statement which has been received from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty showing the cost during the period from Ist April, 1910, to the 31st March, 1911, of the maintenance of the ships forming the Naval Force on the Australian Station. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Statement of Cost during the Period 1st April, 1910, to 31st March, 1911, of the Maintenance of Ships forming the Naval Force on the Australian Station.

Name of Ship. Class. § a Si s . s> o ft 3 s 3 o O Ol (A g i W2 I 3 a ft a 0Q o 5 I c m p O s o a d 8* bo 1 ft OB . si a 111 Hi Mi Is bo a 1 S 3 QQ eS o Powerful Cambrian Challenger Encounter Pegasus Pioneer Prometheus Psyche Pyramus Cruiser, 1st class . . ,, 2nd class .. ,, 3rd class .. £ 42,475 14,751 20,527 21,815 8,036 i 8,735 7,877 9,128 8,052 £ 68,160 17,100 36,636 28,022 12,892 14,257 12,975 17,415 15,729 £ 18,230 5,300 7,140 7,400 3,940 2,600 3,940 2,610 2,610 £ £ 8,442 7,430 1,187 1,392 4,716 2,859 2,261 3,112 8,660 : 1,802 2,203 1.636 6,349 2.313 3,703 1,925 8,734 1,809 £ 20,314 6,068 11,673 12,328 6,585 3,533 3,649 3,800 2,956 £ £ 7,024 2,078 3,497 2,385 2,259 £ 984 162 171 78 49 110 70 100 73 £ 5,696 216 492 146 228 1,476 376 534 840 £ !2,834 6,734 5,935 8,853 5,106 3,220 5,072 2,998 3,064 £ 201,589 54,988 93,646 86,400 49,557 37,770 45,626 44,645 44,063 4,400 3,005 2,432 196 4,400 141,396 223,186 46,255 24,278 Note.—The "Chalk the 5th to the 21st April, at Sydney, which was ap 53,770 70,906 4,400 22,876 1,797 10,004 63,816 662,684 Miger " was outside the limits oi , 1910. The figures in the state .proximately £60,200. the st; :ment < ition fri o not >m the nclude 3rd to 1 the coi ihe 31si it of tl Marcl ie upki t, 1911 ;ep, &c , and i >., of tl ;he"Ei ncounte ,1 estab] >r'' from lishment ie nava

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No. 16. New Zealand, No. 89. My Lord,— Downing Street, 23rd March, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture on the subject of the provision of a quarantine and testing station at which animals intended for exportation from Great Britain might be tested before shipment for tuberculosis and other diseases by the veterinary officers of the Board. 2. I shall be glad to learn the views of your Ministers on the question raised in the third paragraph of the letter from the Board. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sib,— 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 16th March, 1912. I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to state, for the information of the Secretary of State, that the Board contemplate the provision of a quarantine and testing station at which animals intended for exportation from Great Britain might be tested for tuberculosis and other diseases by the veterinary officers of the Board before shipment. The Board propose that the station shall be conducted on lines which would secure that animals intended for export would be completely isolated in the station from all other animals for a minimum period of, say, thirty days, during which period "they would be tended by stockmen in the employ of the Board, and be kept under the immediate supervision of officers of the Board. After the expiration of the isolation period the animals would be tested with tuberculin at the station by a veterinary officer of the Board, and if the test showed that the animal was free from tuberculosis a certificate would be issued by the Board to that effect. At the outset, at any rate, the Board would propose to use the quarantine-station only for cattle, and with a view particularly to the carrying-out of the tuberculin test prior to export. They could, however, make arrangements whereby the officers of the Board would also carry out the immunization of animals intended for export against red-water, abortion, and other diseases. The Board are very anxious to promote by every means in their power the exportation of livestock from Great Britain to the colonies, and with this object in view they are desirous of ascertaining to what extent the establishment of such a station as that above described would be of practical benefit to those concerned in the trade. The Board would therefore be obliged if Mr. Harcourt would be so good as to cause the above proposals to be communicated to the Dominion Governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and to the Governments of Newfoundland and other colonial possessions importing cattle from this country, such as West Africa and British East Africa, and to ascertain whether those Governments would regard arrangements of the character above outlined as satisfactory from their point of view, and whether they would be prepared to grant special facilities for the importation, free from any restrictions, quarantine, or testing on arrival, of cattle brought from Great Britain accompanied by certificates issued under the conditions above described prior to shipment. The Board understand that under the existing regulations of the Governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, cattle imported from Great Britain are required in every case to undergo quarantine on their arrival, and in many cases to be also tested with tuberculin before their release; and the risk of loss to the importer due to failure of any such cattle to pass the quarantine or testing required by those regulations with satisfactory results would probably be obviated by an arrangement of the nature proposed, whilst at the same time the importer would be assured of securing animals which are free from tubercular disease, and animals which by immunization have been rendered better able to survive when brought into contact with the infection of diseases indigenous to tropical and subtropical countries. The Board believe that both importers and exporters would be ready to avail themselves of such an arrangement designed for their mutual advantage, and the Board would be glad to do what they could to meet the wishes of the colonial Governments as regards the measures to be adopted in this country for the purpose indicated. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. H. Elliott, Secretary

No. 17. New Zealand, No. 90. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th March, 1912. 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 the alteration of the form of declaration of ownership required by section 9 of

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the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to be made on application for registry of a vessel owned by a body corporate. 2. I should be glad if your Ministers would consider whether it would not be desirable to bring the new forms into use in New Zealand. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir, — Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London 8.W., 14th March, 1912. 1 am directed by tne Board of Trade to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that the form of declaration of ownership required by section 9 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to be made on application for registry of a vessel owned by a body corporate (Form, Registry 8) has been recently revised by His Majesty's Commissioners of Customs and Excise with the consent of the Board of Trade, under section 65 of that Act, and two hundred copies of the new form are being forwarded to your Department. It will be seen that the principal alteration consists in the insertion of a paragraph to the effect that the company on whose behalf the declaration is made " has its principal place of business at , where all the important business of the company is, in fact, controlled and managed at meetings of directors or managers of the company." Recent experience has shown that foreign shipowners who are desirous of obtaining the advantage of the British flag for their vessels without relinquishing their control of them sometimes attempt to effect their object by registering a company under the British Companies Act, and having merely a registered office in the United Kingdom without in fact transacting their business there ; and the object of the alteration in the form is to check as far as possible the registration of vessels owned by such companies. In the interests of uniformity it is very desirable that the same forms 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 form into use as soon as possible. If further copies of the form are required at any port they can be obtained by the Registrar of Shipping there from the Board of Trade. Storekeeper, Poplar, E., in the usual manner. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Walter J. Howell.

Form No. 8. No. 72 (Sale).

(Prescribed by H.M. Customs and Excise, with the consent of the Board of Trade).

Declaration of Ownership on behalf of a Body Corporate.

and as described in more detail in the certificate of the Surveyor and the register-book.

| Official Number. Number of Ship. ' Number, Date, a Number, Date, and Port of Registry. and Port of Registry. Whether a Sailing or Steam Ship. Horse-power of Engine Ho; se-power of Engines, if any. les, if any. Feet. | Tenths. Feet. Length from fore part of stem, under the bowsprit, to the aft side of the head of the stern-post Main breadth to outside of plank Depth from top of deck at side amidships to bottom of keel Number of Tons. Gross .. .. • ■ i Registered

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I, the undersigned ,of , in the County of , *of the Company (Limited), declare as follows :-— The said company was incorporated by virtue off on the day of 19 , and is subject to the laws of J The said company has its principal place of business at , where all the important business of the company is, in fact, controlled and managed at meetings of directors or managers of the company. The above general description of the ship is correct. , whose certificate of competency or service is No. ,is master of the said ship. The said company is entitled to be registered as owner of shares in the said ship. To the best of my knowledge and belief, no person or body of persons other than such persons or bodies of persons as are by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, qualified to be owners of British ships is entitled, as owner, to any interest whatever, either legal or beneficial, in the said ship. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true. Made and subscribed the day of , 19 , by the above-named in the presence of .§ * Insert office of person making declaration, secretary or otherwise. t Here insert such of the descriptions as are applicable : " Ari Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom (cite the year of the reign in which the Act was passed., its chapter and title)", or " a charter granted by H Majesty, and dated the day of .18 "; or "an Act or Ordinance of the Legislature of (cite the year in which the 'Act or Ordinance was passed, its chapter and title)" ; or "the Companies Consolidation Act, 1910. (If incorporated before the commencement of the Act, the Act mentioned in the certificate of incorporation should be stated.)" { The United Kingdom (or as the case may be). In the case of a company incorporated by virtue of the Companies Acts, insert also " and its registered office is at ." § Declarations must be made before a Registrar of British ships, a Justice of the Peace, a Commissioner for Oaths within the meaning of the Commissioners for Oaths Act, 1889, or a British Consular Officer. The qualification of the person taking the declaration is to be added to his signature.

No. 18. New Zealand, No. 91. My Lord, - Downing Street, 26th March, 1912. With reference to my Miscellaneous despatch of the 6th September, 1911, relating to a scheme for the more extended investigation of the noxious insects which occur in different parts of the Empire, I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that, in view of the fact that the greater number of the Governments which were invited to co-operate in this matter have expressed their willingness to do so, I have thought it desirable to address a further communication to you at this stage. 2. As you are aware, the scheme outlined in my despatch of the 6th September was only tentative ; but if that scheme, or some modification of it, is adopted, it is nevertheless of great importance that it should be worked out in detail in a way satisfactory to all the Governments concerned. In a matter of this kind, the advantage of personal discussion between experts having some practical knowledge of entomology as applied to agriculture or public health over correspondence by despatch cannot be exaggerated, and it has been suggested by the Entomological Research Committee that a suitable opportunity for arranging a conference between representatives of the Governments interested and of the Committee may arise in August next, when the second International Congress of Entomology will be held at Oxford. Doubtless, the self-governing dominions of the Empire will be represented |at the congress, and, if so, arrangements could be made for a conference in London after the congress has concluded. 3. This suggestion appears to me to offer an excellent means of arriving at a practical scheme for the proposed investigation of noxious insects, and I trust that it will commend itself to your Ministers. 4. It would be convenient if you could inform me by telegram whether your Ministers concur in this proposal, and, if so, by whom your Government will be represented. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 19. New Zealand, No. 94. My Lord,— Downing Street, 27th March, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 265, of the 2nd August last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, printed copies of despatches from the Governors of Victoria and Western Australia on the subject of the resolution of the Imperial Conference in favour of continuing the policy of encouraging British emigrants to proceed to British dominions rather than foreign countries. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 46. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir, — State .Government House, Melbourne, 25th September, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 76, of the 2nd ultimo, transmitting a copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in favour of continuing the policy of encouraging British emigrants to proceed to British dominions rather than foreign countries. 2. My Ministers are taking all possible steps to encourage desirable British emigration to the State of Victoria. I have, &c, John Fuller. No. 57. The Governor to the Secretary op State. Sir, — Government House, Perth, Western Australia, 14th September, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 71, of the 2nd August, 1911, transmitting a copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in favour of continuing the policy of encouragingBritish emigrants to proceed to British dominions rather than foreign countries, I have the honour to acquaint you that my Ministers have intimated that this resolution passed by the Imperial Conference has been read by them with interest, and they have expressed the view that the policy respecting emigration to British dominions indicated therein is one with which Ministers are fully in accord. I have, &c, G. Strickland, Governor.

No. 20. New Zealand No. 95. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th March, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a resolution which was passed by the Imperial Conference in 1911, in favour of the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, including judgments and orders as to commercial arbitration awards. The discussion of the question will be fo\md reported at pages 160-62, 326-32, 424, and 425 of the Minutes of Proceedings of the Imperial Conference (Cd. 5745). 2. His Majesty's Government have given careful consideration to the resolution passed by the Conference, and they have come to the conclusion that, with a view to carrying this resolution into effect, they would be prepared to introduce into the Imperial Parliament legislation to provide for the enforcement of judgments of the superior Courts of the self-governing dominions, states, and provinces in the Courts of the United Kingdom, on the same principles as are now applied to the enforcements of judgments of the superior Courts of England, Scotland, and Ireland in other parts of the United Kingdom. They would propose also to include in the measure for this purpose the case of awards given in arbitration respecting disputes arising out of commercial contracts which have been delivered by Courts in the dominions, states, or provinces, or which, under the legislation of the dominions, states, or provinces, have the force of orders of Court. The Bill would, it is proposed, contain general provisions, and a clause providing for its application with or without modifications to any self-governing dominion, state, or province by Order in Council, on the Secretary of State being satisfied that adequate provision existed under the law of that dominion, state, or province, for the enforcement of judgments given by the superior Courts of the United Kingdom.

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3. I have, therefore, to request that your Ministers will be so good as to take the matter into their consideration, and to inform me whether they are prepared to accept the principle recommended by the Imperial Conference, and, if so, to favour me with any suggestions which they may have to make as to the exact terms of the Bill which it will be necessary to introduce into the Imperial Parliament. The conditions on which judgments are now enforced as between England, Scotland, and Ireland are laid down in the Imperial Act 31 & 32 Vict., c. 54, a copy of which is enclosed for convenience of reference. I have, &c, L. HAKCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. XXV. —Mutual Enforcement of Judgments and Orders of Courts of Justice, including Judgments and Orders as to Commercial Arbitration Awards. "' That the Imperial Government should consider, in concert with the dominion Governments, whether, and to what extent, and under what conditions, it is practicable and desirable to make mutual arrangements with a view to the enforcement in one part of the Empire of judgments and orders of the Court of justice in another part, including judgments or orders for the enforcement of commercial arbitration awards."

No. 21. New Zealand, No. 96. . My Loed,— Downing Street, 29th March, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegrams of the 28th instant reporting the resignation of the Premier, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, and of his colleagues, and the formation of a new Ministry under the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 22. New Zealand, Miscellaneous. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th March, 1912. With reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 23, of the 16th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Sir John George Findlay, K.C.M.G., who has served for more than three years as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand. A notification to this effect will be published in the London Gazette. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 23. New Zealand, No. 101. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th March, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of an order of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, dated the 21st instant, published in the London Gazette of the 22nd instant, with reference to the landing of hay or straw in Great Britain. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. 3-A. 2.

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Enclosure. Order of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, dated the 21st March, 1912.—Foreign Hay and Straw Order of 1912. The Boartl of Agriculture and Fisheries, by virtue and in exercise of the powers vested in them under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1911, and of every other power'enabling them in this behalf, do order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows :— Prohibition of Landing of Hay and Straw. 1. The landing in Great Britain of hay or straw brought from any country out of the United Kingdom which is not mentioned in the schedule to this order is hereby prohibited, except as hereinafter expressly provided. Exceptions. 2. (1.) This order shall not apply to — (a.) Hay or straw which at the time of importation is being used for packing merchandise ; or (b.) Manufactured straw not intended for use as fodder or litter for animals ; or (c.) Hay or straw which is landed at a foreign-animals wharf for the purpose of being there destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with any instructions given by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries ; or (d.) Hay or straw which is authorized to be landed for use otherwise than as fodder or litter for animals by a license granted by an Inspector or other officer of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, which license shall contain such conditions as in the opinion of the Board are necessary to prevent the introduction of disease by the hay or straw. (2.) The expression " animals " means horses, asses, and mules ; cattle, sheep, goats, and all other ruminating animals ; and swine. Offences. 3. (1.) If any hay or straw shall be landed in contravention of this order, the owner thereof, and the owner and the lessee and the occupier of the place of landing, and the person causing, directing, or permitting the landing, and the owner and the charterer and the master of the vessel from which the same is landed, shall, each according to and in respect of his own acts or defaults, be deemed guilty of an offence against the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894. (2.) If any person does any act in contravention of a condition imposed by a license under this order he shall be deemed guilty of an offence under the said Act. Revocation of Orders. 4. The Foreign Hay and Straw Order of 1908, and any order amending that order, are hereby revoked, and any license under any order hereby revoked shall have effect as a license under this order. Commencement. 5. This order shall come into operation on the Ist day of April, 1912. Short Title. 6. This order may be cited as the " Foreign Hay and Straw Order of 1912." In witness whereof the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have hereunto set their official seal this 21st day of March, 1912. T. H. Elliott, Secretary.

SCHEDULE. Countries from which Importation is not prohibited. United States of America. Dominion of Canada. Union of South Africa. Norway. Channel Islands. Isle of Man.

No. 24. New Zealand, No. 103. My Lobd, — Downing Street, 4th April, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 66, of the 28th February and previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter, with enclosures, from the War Office relative to the proposed alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with regiments of the British Army, and to ask that your Ministers will be good enough to supply the further information desired by the Army Council. 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,— War Office, London S.W., 2.Bth March, 1912. I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 4946, dated the Ist Me,rch, 1912, on the proposed alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with regiments of the British Army. In reply, I am to invite your attention to the accompanying extfacts (from — (a) The memorandum approved by His late Majesty King Edward VII, (6) Colonial Defence Committee's memorandum No. 408 M, setting forth the general principles governing the establishment of these alliances), and to ask for further information as to the particular manner in which these New Zealand regiments comply with the conditions therein laid down. I am also to inquire which British regiment, if any, has been associated with each New Zealand regiment in war or peace. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W. B. H. Brade.

[Extract.] (a.) Memorandum showing the General Principles which should govern the Establishment of Alliances, submitted to and approved by His late Majesty. * * * * . . . and then under certain conditions which may be summarized as follows : Applications for alliances made through the dominion Governments should only be encouraged between units of the same arm, having some common associations. * * * * War Office, 21st January, 1910.

[Extract.] (6.) Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum, No. 408 M, dated 21st July, 1909. * * * * (6.) Alliances should be permitted only between units of the same arm. (c.) Alliances should be specially encouraged between corps which have some connection or common associations, either racial, or geographical, or titular, or which have served together in peace or war. * * * *

No. 25. New Zealand, No. 105. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 28, of the 23rd February, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Government of Australia has decided to adhere to the international agreement for the suppression of obscene publications, and that the authority charged with the duties referred to in article 1 of the agreement will be the Department of External Affairs at Melbourne. 2. I have to add that the authorities in the other dominions are as follows :— Canada. —Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. Sherwood, C.M.G., M.V.0., Commissioner of Dominion Police, Ottawa. Newfoundland. —John Sullivan, Esq., J.P., Inspector-General of Constabulary. Union of South Africa. —The Chief Commissioner of South African Police, Pretoria. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 106. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th April, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the report of a departmental committee appointed in September, 1908, to inquire into the dangers attendant on the use of lead in the manufacture of earthenware and china, and in the processes incidental thereto.

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2. I also enclose, for your Ministers' information, a copy of a circular despatch which I have addressed to the Governors of the Crown colonies on the subject of the report, as it may be of interest to your Government to know the action which I have taken upon it in the case of the colonies not possessing Responsible Government. I have, &c, 1,. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Circular. Sir, — Downing Street, 22nd March, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of the report of the departmental committee which was appointed in September, 1908, to inquire into the dangers attendant on the use of lead in the manufacture of earthenware and china, and in the processes incidental thereto. 2. You will observe that it is established by this report that the use of lead glaze in the manufacture of pottery constitutes a very real danger to the health of the operatives employed upon such work, and that its use in the manufacture of many classes of pottery is unnecessary. 3. I have therefore felt it my duty to instruct the Grown Agents for the Colonies, when complying with indents for earthenware, china, &c, to require that the articles supplied should be prepared with leadless glaze wherever the use of lead in their manfucture can be safely dispensed with. 4. In some instances it may be necessary to permit the use of low solubility (5 per cent.) glazes, and in the case of a few special articles, such as electrical insulators and electrical conduits, a full lead glaze may prove essential. The Crown Agents will exercise their discretion as to the cases in which the use of any form of lead glaze may be allowed, but it is my intention that the use of lead glaze in goods supplied for the use of the Crown colonies and protectorates should be restricted so far as is reasonably possible. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. L. Harcourt.

No. 27. New Zealand, No. 107. My Lord,— Downing Street, 11th April, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, to Dβ laid before your Ministers, the accompanying crpiei of papers on the subject of the sixteenth annuil congress of the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Piopeity, which is to be held in London on the 3rd to the 7th June next. 2. These papers are forwarded to your Government at the request of the International Association, who have expressed the hope that your Government will see their way to be represented on this occasion. 3. I have to add that similar invitations are being communicated through His Majesty's Ambassadors abroad to those foreign Governments which have actually adhered to the International Convention, or which take an interest in the subject, and that the Board of Trade propose to send an official representative to be present at the meetings of the congress. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 28. New Zealand, No. 109. My Lord,— Downing Street, 12th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 27, of the 23rd February, on the subject of the eleventh resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, in favour of uniformity in the laws affecting workmen's compensation. A copy of your despatch, together with a copy of the New Zealand Act referred to, is being communicated to the Governments of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, Newfoundland, and the Australian States. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c

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No. 29. New Zealand, No. 110. My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 30, of the 23rd February, forwarding an application for-the grant of His Majesty's permission for the adoption of the title " King George's Sailors' Institute " in connection with the sailors' institute which is being erected at Port Lyttelton in commemoration of His Majesty's Coronation. 2. In reply, I have to request that you will be so good as to inform me whether I am to understand that this application is supported by your Government and by yourself. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 30. New Zealand, No. 111. My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 6th instant, reporting that, with the alterations and additions mentioned, the new Ministry is now complete. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 31. New Zealand, No. 113. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th April, 1912. 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 on the subject of fees charged in snipping offices in British possessions abroad in respect of services rendered in connection with the engagement and discharge of seamen and the noting of desertions. 2. I shall be much obliged if your Ministers will be so good as to supply the information in' question in so far as it concerns New Zealand. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. Sir,— Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London S.W., 4th April, 1912. I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit herewith, for Mr. Harcourt's information, a copy of a letter from His Majesty's Consul-General at Hamburg, on the subject of fees charged in shipping offices in British possessions abroad in respect of services rendered in connection with the engagement and discharge of seamen and the noting of desertions. The Board observe that the statutes in force in most of the self-governing dominions and in the Straits Settlements make provision for the charge of fees not exceeding a certain maximum for such services; but it would be of assistance to them in dealing, under section 28 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, with the accounts of seamen left abroad, to know the exact amount of the fees charged, and the proportion which is allowed by law or practice to be deducted from the wages of the seamen. I am accordingly to suggest, for Mr. Harcourt's consideration, that this information should be obtained from the various dominions and Crown colonies. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Walter J. Howbll.

Sir, — H.M. Consulate-General, Hamburg, 6th March, 1912. In reply to your letter of Ist instant, regarding L.a.l.a. accounts for the s.s. " Northlands," I beg to state that the engagement fees and Clark's desertion fee were allowed and entered, as I was under the impression that similar fees were charged for similar services in all Government shipping offices in the British Empire. As this appears not to be the case, I should be glad to have details, for my information, of the fees charged in the shipping offices of the United Kingdom and in the colonies and British possessions. The fine of ss. against Mohamed Ibrahim was not paid into this office.

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Without having the master's papers for reference, it is impossible to state why the reward was allowed in the case of the man Clark. lam inclined to believe that there must have been sufficient reason for sanctioning so unusual a charge. I have, &c, Walter R. Hearn. The Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, Tower Hill, London.

No. 32. New Zealand, No. 114. My Lord,— Downing Street, 18th April, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 101, of the 30th March, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an order made by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894-1911, prohibiting the landing in Ireland of hay and straw from certain countries. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Order op the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, dated 29th March, 1912.—Foreign Hay and Straw (Ireland) Order op 1912. The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, by virtue and in exercise of the powers vested in them under the Agricultural and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899, the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1911, and of every other power enabling them in this behalf, do order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows :— Prohibition of Landing of Hay and Straw. 1. The landing in Ireland of hay or straw brought from any country out of the United Kingdom which is not mentioned in the schedule to this order is hereby prohibited, except as hereinafter expressly provided. Exceptions. 2. (1.) This order shall not apply to — (a.) Hay or straw which at the time of importation is being used for packing merchandise ; or (6.) Manufactured straw not intended for use as fodder or litter for animals ; or (c.) Hay or straw which is authorized to be landed for use otherwise than as fodder or litter for animals by a license granted by an Inspector or other officer of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, which license i,hall contain such conditions as in the opinion of the Department are necessary to prevent the introduction of disease by the hay or straw. (2.) The expression " animals " means horses, asses, and mules ; cattle, sheep, goats, and all other ruminating animals ; and swine. Offences. 3. (1.) If any hay or straw shall be landed in contravention of this order, the owner thereof, and the owner and the lessee and the occupier of the place of landing, and the person causing, directing, or permitting the landing, and the owner and the charterer and the master of the vessel from which the same is landed, shall, each according to and in respect of his own acts or defaults, be deemed guilty of an offence against the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894. (2.) If any person does any act in contravention of a condition imposed by a license under this order he shall be deemed guilty of an offence under the said Act. Revocation of Orders. 4. The Foreign Hay and Straw (Ireland) Order of 1908, and any order amending that order, are hereby revoked, and any license under any order hereby revoked shall have effect as a license under this order. Commencement. 5. This order shall come into operation on the Ist day of April, 1912. Short Title. 6. This order may be cited as the " Foreign Hay and Straw (Ireland) Order of 1912." In witness whereof the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland have hereunto set their official seal this 29th day of March, 1912. T. P. Gill, Secretary.

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SCHEDULE. Countries from which Importation is not prohibited. United States of America. Dominion of Canada. Union of South Africa. Norway. Channel Islands. Isle of Man.

No. 33. New Zealand, No. 118. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 17th instant, expressing the grief of your Government and the people of New Zealand at the terrible loss of life caused by the wreck of the " Titanic." Your telegram has been communicated to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to the directors of the White Star Line, and to the Press. I have, &c, L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 34. New Zealand, No. 122. My Lord,— Downing Street, 19th April, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 183, of the 23rd May, 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 Education on the subject of the proposed establishment of a standing committee in accordance with the resolution unanimously adopted by the Imperial Education Conference of 1911 (pages 13 and 14 of Cd. 5666). 2. I shall be glad to learn in due course what official your Government proposes to nominate to serve on this committee. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sic,— Board of Education, Whitehall, London S.W., 3rd April, 1912. I am directed by the Board of Education to address the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of the Imperial Education Conference. 2. A reference to the report of the Imperial Education Conference of 1911 will show that the Conference recommended the appointment of a committee in connection with the Imperial Education Conference, consisting of the accredited agents in London of the several Governments concerned, together with representatives of the Colonial Office, the India Office, the Board of Education, the Scotch Education Department, and the Irish Office. The Conference further resolved that in its opinion the functions of this committee should be, — (a.) To keep itself acquainted with the progress made by the Office of Special Inquiries and Reports in carrying out the work which the Conference may desire that office to undertake: (b.) To communicate with the several Governments concerned, when necessary, with a view to facilitating the progress of that work : (c.) To consider the suggestions submitted in due course by the several Governments of the Empire as to subjects of discussion to be included among the agenda of future meetings of the Conference: (d.) To facilitate the construction of the agenda paper by communicating, when necessary, through its individual members, with the several Governments concerned. 3. The Conference also made various suggestions for facilitating the exchange of information between the various Education Departments of the Empire. 4. It will be within the memory of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that a Conference on Education, at which representatives of Education Departments and educational institutions from nearly all parts of His Majesty's dominions took part, was invited by the League of the Empire to meet in London in May, 1907, and that the delegates present at this Conference resolved that a

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quadrennial Conference was desirable, and that the first of such Conferences should be convened by the Imperial Government. On this, the Board of Education announced that, in view of the united expression of opinion by educational representatives from so many parts of His Majesty's dominions, His Majesty's Government considered it desirable to arrange for an official Education Conference to be held in London in the year 1911. It was in accordance with the undertaking then made that the Imperial Education Conference of last year was convened by the Board of Education. 5. The Board of Education wish to point out that ever since the Conference of 1907, and even before that, they have been attempting, through their Office of Special Inquiries and Reports, to render certain services which would be of value to His Majesty's overseas dominions; and in this connection reference is invited to Appendices 3, 4, and 5 to the first part of the report of the Imperial Education Conference, 1911. The Board of Education are most desirous of meeting, to the best of their ability, the wishes of the recent Conference with reference to the development of these services, and in this matter, as also in questions concerned with the future meetings of the Imperial Education Conference, the Board would welcome the co-operation and advice of the committee the establishment of which has been suggested. 6. On the one hand, the Board of Education feel that it is important that the Office of Special Inquiries and Reports should be kept more regularly informed of the particular needs of the various overseas Governments which that office might meet; on the other hand, they feel that it is essential that the Governments of the self-governing dominions should have full opportunity of expressing their views on such matters as the future of the Imperial Education Conference or any such schemes as those for the interchange of educational information throughout the Empire which are, or may be, contemplated, after considering what participation in these projects involves on their side. The proposed committee should render closer co-operation possible, for its members being officials will be in close touch with their respective Governments, and at the same time serve to place any arrangements for future Conferences that it may be decided to summon upon an official basis representative of the Empire as a whole. 7. In the circumstances above set forth I am to suggest that, if Mr. Secretary Harcourt agrees, the Governments of the self-governing dominions may now be addressed with reference to the resolutions of the recent Imperial Education Conference, and asked whether they will nominate to serve on the committee their High Commissioner or Agent-General, or such other official as they deem suitable. 8. The Board of Education regret tliat owing to the pressure of work which fell last year on their Office of Special Inquiries and Reports, as also to the necessity for reorganizing and strengthening the staff of that office before any additional responsibility could be undertaken by it, they were not able to put this matter forward earlier. They would be glad if the Governments of the self-governing dominions could now be approached with as little further delay as possible, as they are anxious that the wishes of the Conference should now be taken in hand with all possible despatch. 9. The India and Irish Offices and the Scotch Education Department are being asked to nominate representatives to serve on the committee. I am, &c, L. A. Selby-Bigge, Secretary. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, Downing Street, S.W.

No. 35. New Zealand, No. 124. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 35, of the Ist March, forwarding copies of your Speech at the opening on the 16th February of the Eighteenth Parliament of New Zealand, and of the Addresses in Reply from the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 36. New Zealand, No. 128. My Lord,— Downing Street, 26th April, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the message of sympathy from your Government in connection with the disaster to the s.s. " Titanic." I have, &c. L. HARCOURT, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Enclosure. Sir,— Liverpool, 22nd April, 1912. We are in receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, covering copies of telegrams from the Governor-General of Australia, Governments of New Zealand, New South Wales, and Victoria, expressing their sympathy with the relatives of those lost in the terrible disaster to s.s. " Titanic," and hasten to record our gratitude for the more than kind terms of the messages, which are a great consolation to us in our trouble, and we are certain they will be very highly appreciated by the bereaved relatives, to whom we are communicating the contents. , Might we trouble you to convey to the senders our heartfelt thanks. We are, &c, For Ismay, Imrie, and Co., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W. A. E. D.

No. 37. New Zealand, No. 130. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th April, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 382, of the 15th November last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, two copies of a circular issued by the Board of Trade relating to the examination of masters and mates and skippers and second hands in the British mercantile marine. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G-., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Examination of Masters and Mates, Skippers, and Second Hands.—lnstruction to Examiners and Notice to Candidates. Board of Trade (Marine Department), April, 1912. The attention of examiners and candidates is called to the judgments in the case of the steam-trawler " Europe " and the steamship " Grovehurst," in which the duty of a steam-trawler engaged in trawling when approaching another vessel was brought under consideration. The " Europe," a steam-trawler showing the triplex light prescribed in article 9 of the Collision Regulations, was fishing in the North Sea off Flamborough Head, when the steamship "Grovehurst" ran into and sank her. The vessels were crossing, the " Grovehurst " being on the starboard bow of the trawler ; the latter continued on her course, and the " Grovehurst " ran into her starboard side. The case was heard in the Admiralty Division of the High Court on the 17th, 18th, and 21st March, 1910, before Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane, with two Elder Brethren of the Trinity House. The Court pronounced the " Grovehurst " alone to blame. The following is an extract from the judgment: "In my opinion, the whole object of putting into law the necessity for carrying that triplex light is to show vessels approaching not that the trawler will act under the ordinary sea rules, but that she is incapable of following the ordinary sea rules, and that vessels approaching her must keep out of the way." (Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane.) This decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal, to which the case was carried, the appeal beingdismissed. The following are extracts from the judgment:— " I can see no reason for the rule that trawlers should carry the triplex light when the trawl is down but to show vessels approaching that the trawlers with their trawls down must be treated as incapable of obeying the ordinary sea rules, and that therefore other vessels approaching must get out of the trawler's way." (Lord Justice Vaughan-Williams.) " Good seamanship, apart from the regulations, requires that the vessel which is under command shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is not under command. In construing rule 9it is essential to bear that in mind." (Lord Justice Buckley.) " It would seem to be entirely in the interest not only of the fishing community, but also of all those who navigate waters where fishing business is carried on, that there should be no uncertainty as to the course to be pursued, arising from a want of knowledge of the manoeuvring-facilities of a trawler,

4—A. 2.

Date. Description. f !2nd April, 1912 From Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Co.

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and that where fishing-lights are carried by a trawler, crossing steamers not encumbered should know that the encumbered vessel is there and is encumbered, and that they should direct their operations accordingly." (Sir Samuel Evans.) Examiners and candidates should carefully bear in mind the interpretation of the. Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea given in these judgments. H. Llewellyn Smith, Secretary. Walter J. Howell, Assistant Secretary.

No. 38. New Zealand, No. 134. My Lord,— Downing Street, Bth May, 1912. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 19th September, 1907, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copies of an order which has been made by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, entitled the " Horses (Importation and Transit) Order of 1912," together with a copy of a letter from the Board explaining its provisions. I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.F

Enclosures. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sir,— 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 25th April, 1912. I am directed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to advert to Sir C. P. Lucas's letter of the 11th September, 1907 (No. 30845/1907), as to the restrictions imposed by article 2 of the Glanders or Farcy Order of 1907, on the importation of horses, asses, and mules into Great Britain from abroad ; and I am to send to you, for the information of the Secretary of State, the enclosed copies of a new order which has been made by the Board, entitled the " Horses (Importation and Transit) Order of 1912." Chapter lof this order deals solely with the importation of horses, asses, and mules into Great Britain from any other country except Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, and supersedes as from the Ist January next the requirements of article 2 of the Glanders or Farcy Order of 1907. The operation of this part of the order has been deferred until the Ist January next, in order to allow sufficient time for the new regulations to become widely known to all concerned in the trade, and for the necessary arrangements to be made at the various ports in Great Britain at which horses, asses, and mules are landed. Briefly, Chapter I of the new order provides for the detention and testing by mallein of all horses, asses, and mules landed from abroad, except such as may be exempted for special reasons under licenses issued by the Board. It also contains provisions designed to prevent the introduction into Great Britain of the following equine diseases as well as glanders (including farcy) —namely, epizootic and ulcerative lymphangitis, dourine horse-pox, sarcoptic and psoroptic mange, influenza, ringworm, and strangles. Chapter II of the order deals with the carriage of horses, asses, and mules by water, and lays down certain requirements as to the fittings, &c, of vessels on which such i nimals are carried to or from any port in Great Britain ; and Chapter IV relates, inter alia, to the cleansing and disinfection of such vessels. The provisions of the Exportation of Horses Order of 1898 are superseded by these requirements, but the statutory requirements of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, and the provisions of the Exportation of Horses Order of 1910 (No. 2) made by the Board thereunder, as to the veterinary examination, with certain exceptions, at the port of embarkation of horses, asses, or mules intended to be exported to the Continent of Europe, are in no way affected. The whole order except Chapter I (importation) will come into operation on the Ist July this year. With a view to secure that the provisions of Chapters I and II of the order and the relative requirements of Chapter IV may be widely published amongst all concerned, the Board would be obliged if the Secretary of State would be so good as to cause copies of the order to be distributed to the various colonial Governments. The Board will cause the requisite number of copies of the order to be sent to you for the above purpose on hearing what number will be required. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. H. Elliott, Secretary.

Order of the Board op Agriculture and Fisheries, dated 22nd April, 1912. —Horses (Importation and Transit) Order of 1912. The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, by virtue and in exercise of the powers vested in them under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1911, and of every other power enabling them in this behalf, do order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows : —

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CHAPTER I. —IMPORTATION. Commencement of Chapter I. 1. This chapter shall come into operation on the Ist day of January, 1913. Regulation of Importation of Horses, Asses, and Mules. 2. (1.) A horse, ass, or mule brought to Great Britain from any other country, except Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, shall not be landed in Great Britain otherwise than — (a.) Under the authority of a license granted by the Board, and subject to any conditions imposed by the license ; or (b.) Under and in accordance with the conditions imposed by article 4 of this order. (2.) A license shall not be available as an authority for the landing of a horse, ass, or mule unless the animal is accompanied by a certificate of a veterinary surgeon to the effect that he examined the animal immediately before it was embarked, or while it was on board the vessel, as the case may be, and that he found that the animal did not show symptoms of disease. Licenses for Landing. 3. Where the Board grant a license authorizing the landing of a horse, ass, or mule, the Board may impose and insert in the license such conditions as they may think necessary — (a.) For prescribing and regulating the detention and isolation of the animal; (b.) For prescribing and regulating the veterinary examination of the animal (including the application of the mallein test) and the person by whom the examination shall be made ; (c.) For regulating the movement of the animal from the place of landing to the prescribed place of detention ; and (d.) Generally for the better execution of this chapter or preventing the spreading of disease by the animal. Conditions where Landing is not licensed. 4. Where the landing of a horse, ass, or mule is not authorized by a license granted by the Board, its landing shall be subject to the following conditions, namely : — (a.) The landing must be authorized in writing by an officer of Customs and Excise, and be at a port which has been authorized by order of the Board as a port for landing of imported horses, asses, and mules. (b.) The animal shall on landing at any such port be moved by the owner or person in charge thereof direct to a place of detention provided by the local authority for horses, asses, and mules imported at such port, or to a place of detention otherwise provided and approved for such purpose by the local authority. (c.) The animal shall be detained at the place of detention by the owner or person in charge thereof until it is released by a permit granted by an Inspector of the local authority. (d.) The permit shall not be granted until the animal has been examined by a Veterinary Inspector of the local authority and found by him to be free from symptoms of disease. (c.) In every case, except where the animal shows clinical symptoms which are definite evidence of glanders, the animal shall be tested by a Veterinary Inspector of the local authority with mallein, which may be applied at such time not later than ten days after the arrival of the animal at the place of detention as the Veterinary Inspector may think fit. (/.) Where in the opinion of the Veterinary Inspector the original application of the test results in indication of glanders not amounting to definite evidence of glanders, the test shall be applied a second time not later than twelve days after the previous application; and. if the second application does not result in definite evidence of glanders, the animal shall for the purposes of this order be treated as free from symptoms of glanders. Cleansing and Disinfection. 5. The local authority or the person by whom a place of detention is provided shall cause the part of the place of detention used by a horse, ass, or mule to be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected in such manner as the local authority think fit before it is again used for the reception of a horse, ass, or mule. Charges for Use of Place of Detention. 6. The local authority may under section 32 of the Act of 1894 charge for the use of a place of detention provided by the local authority such sums as may be imposed by by-laws. Provision as to Diseased or Suspected Horses, &c. 7. Any horse, ass, or mule in a place of detention which is affected with, or suspected of, disease, and which is not required to be slaughtered under the order (if any) dealing with the particular disease, may be moved with the written permission of an Inspector of the local authority to a vessel in the port for exportation.

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General Power of Detention. 8. If it appears to the Principal Officer of Customs and Excise, with respect to any foreign horse, ass, or mule, or with respect to any carcase of a foreign horse, ass, or mule, that disease may be thereby introduced, he may seize and detain the same ; and he shall forthwith report the facts to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, who may give such directions as they think fit, either for the slaughter or destruction or the further detention thereof or for the delivery thereof to the owner on such conditions, if any (including payment by the owner of expenses incurred by them in respect of detention thereof), as they think fit. Meaning of " Disease " and " Local Authority." 9. In this chapter the expression " disease " means glanders (including farcy), epizootic lymphangitis, ulcerative lymphangitis, dourine, horse-pox, sarcoptic mange, psoroptic mange, influenza, ringworm, or strangles, and the expression "local authority" means the local authority of the port of landing for the purpose of the provisions of the Act of 1894 relating to foreign animals. Effect of Chapter on Existing Orders. 10. Any order of the Board which deals with any of the above-mentioned diseases shall, in relation to a horse, ass, or mule detained under this chapter, be modified by the terms of this chapter. CHAPTER 11. CARRIAGE BY WATER. Carriage by Water of Unfit Horses, &c. ■ 11. No horse, ass, or mule shall be permitted by the owner thereof, or his agent, or any person in charge thereof, to be embarked in a vessel for carriage thereon from any port in Great Britain if, owing to infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue, or any other cause, it cannot be carried without unnecessary suffering during the intended passage. Notification by Inspectors of Unfitness of Horses, dec, for Conveyance. 12. Where an Inspector of the Board or of a local authority is of opinion that a horse, ass, or mule intended to be carried on a vessel from any port in Great Britain cannot, owing to infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue, or any other cause, be so carried without unnecessary suffering, he may serve a notice to that effect on the person in charge of the animal, and also, when practicable, on the master of the vessel; and until such notice is withdrawn by an Inspector it shall be unlawful to carry the animal on a vessel, and if the animal is carried in contravention of this article the person in charge thereof, and the master of the vessel, where the notice has been served on the master, shall be deemed guilty of an offence against the Act of 1894. Provisions as to Vessels carrying Horses, &c. 13. The provisions of this article shall apply to all vessels on which horses, asses, or mules are carried to or from any port in Great Britain. Fittings of Vessels. (i.) Each horse, ass, or mule shall be carried in a separate box or stall, except that broodmares, ponies, asses, mules, and unbroken horses, and horses in charge of special attendants, may be carried in pens. Boxes, stalls, and pens shall be of sufficient size, and shall be so constructed as to be of a substantial character, and of sufficient strength to withstand the action of the weather and to resist the weight of any animal that may be thrown against them. A movable box shall be so secured as to prevent its displacement by the motion of the vessel. (ii.) The floor of each box, stall, or pen shall, in order to prevent slipping, be fitted with suitable battens, and be strewn with a proper quantity of sand or other suitable substance. (iii.) The vessel shall be provided with sufficient and suitable means for slinging the animals carried. (iv.) The fittings or other parts of a vessel, box, stall, or pen likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering to horses, asses, or mules shall be properly and securely fenced off or padded, as the case may require. (v.) Horses, asses, and mules while on a vessel shall be protected against injury or unnecessary suffering from undue exposure to the weather. Ventilation. (vi.) All parts of the vessel in or on which horses, asses, or mules are carried shall be sufficiently and suitably ventilated. All such parts, if below deck, shall, in addition to any ventilation obtained by means of the hatchways, be provided with sufficient and suitable ventilators for the removal of foul air and for the admission of a proper supply of fresh air to all the animals carried. Light. (vii.) All parts of the vessel over which the horses, asses, or mules pass, or in which they are carried, shall be properly lighted, and arrangements shall be made for the provision at all times of adequate light for the proper tending of the animals.

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Passage-ways. (viii.) Every part of the vessel where horses, asses, or mules are carried shall be provided with one or more passage-ways leading from the hatchway or entrance to such part of the vessel, and giving frontal access to each box or stall containing a horse, ass, or mule. Each passage-way shall be of a minimum width of 1 ft. 6 in., and be kept free of obstruction. Food and Water. (ix.) Horses, asses, and mules carried on a vessel for a voyage which on an average takes more than six hours shall be provided while on board with a sufficient amount of suitable food and water, and proper accommodation shall be provided on board for the stowage of the food so that the same shall not be unduly exposed to the weather at sea. Securing of Horses, &c. (x.) All horses, asses, or mules while being carried in a box or stall shall as far as practicable be securely tied by the head. Attendance. (xi.) A vessel on which horses, asses, or mules are carried shall carry a sufficient number of qualified attendants to tend the animals properly. Returns as to Casualties. (xii.) The owner or charterer of a vessel on which horses, asses, or mules are carried shall keep a record of all such animals which have died or have been killed or seriously injured while on such vessel, and shall at the end of every month make a return to the Board showing whether any, and, if so, how many, animals have so died or been killed or injured on the vessel. Saving for Ferry-boats, &c. (xiii.) The foregoing provisions of this article shall not extend to the carriage of horses, asses, or mules on a vessel across an arm of the sea or over any ferry, or on a river, canal, or other inland water, but the fittings of the vessel shall be such as to protect as far as practicable the animals so carried from injury and unnecessary suffering, and as far as practicable provision shall be made in order to prevent slipping by strewing the deck with sand or other suitable substance. Approaches, Gangways, and other Apparatus. (xiv.) Approaches, gangways, passage-ways, cages, and other apparatus used for the loading or unloading or movement of horses, asses, or mules on or from a vessel shall be so constructed that injury or unnecessary suffering shall not be caused to the animals. Overcrowding. (xv.) A vessel shall not be overcrowded in any part or pen so as to cause injury or unnecessary suffering to the horses, asses, or mules thereon. Injured Horses, tfee. (xvi.) If any horse, ass, or mule on a vessel has a limb broken, or is otherwise seriously injured so as to be incapable of being disembarked without cruelty, the master of the vessel may, and shall if so required by the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, forthwith cause that animal to be slaughtered. The person in charge of the animal shall forthwith report the injury to the master of the vessel. Approved Killing Instruments. (xvii.) Every vessel on which a horse, ass, or mule is carried shall carry a proper killing instrument, to be approved by the Board for that purpose, and it shall be the duty of the owner and master of every such vessel to see that the vessel is provided with such an instrument, and the master, if so required by an Inspector of the Board or of the local authority, shall produce the instrument for his inspection. Water at Shipping and Unshipping Places. 14. At every place where horses, asses, or mules are put on board of or landed from vessels provision shall be made, to the satisfaction of the Board, for a supply of water for the animals ; and water shall be supplied there gratuitously to any animal on request of any person having charge of the animal. Provision to be made at Unshipping Places. 15. At every place where horses, asses, or mules are landed from vessels provision shall be made, to the satisfaction of the Board, for the speedy and convenient landing of the animals, and for a supply of food for them ; and food shall be supplied there by the occupier of the landing-place to any horse, ass, or mule on request of any person having charge of the animal, at such price as the Board approve. CHAPTER 111. CARRIAGE BY RAILWAY. Carriage by Railway of Unfit Horses, &c. 16. No horse, ass, or mule shall be permitted by the owner thereof, or his agent, or any person in charge thereof, to be carried by railway if, owing to infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue, or any other cause, it cannot be carried without unnecessary suffering during the intended transit by railway.

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Notification by Inspectors of Unfitness of Horses, &c, for Conveyance. 17. Where an Inspector of the Board or of a local authority is of opinion that a horse, ass, or mule intended to be carried by railway cannot, owing to infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue, or any other cause, be so carried without unnecessary suffering, he may serve a notice to that effect on the person in charge of the animal, and also, when practicable, or an officer of the railway company ; and until such notice is withdrawn by an Inspector it shall be unlawful to carry the animal by railway, and if the animal, is carried in contravention of this article the person in charge thereof, and the railway company, where the notice has been served on an officer of the company, shall be deemed guilty of an offence against the Act of 1894, Construction of Trucks, &c, used for Carriage of Horses, &'\ 18. (1.) No horse, ass, or mule shall be carried by railway in a truck or other vehicle which is not in accordance with the provisions of this article. (2.) Every truck or other vehicle shall be provided at each end with spring buffers, and the floor thereof, in order to prevent slipping, shall be fitted with battens or other proper footholds, or be strewn with a proper quantity of litter or sand or other proper substance. (3.) The battens in a truck or other vehicle (other than a horse-box) shall be placed across the vehicle, except between the doorways, where they shall be placed lengthways. (4.) Every truck or other vehicle (other than a horse-box) shall be so constructed as to admit of ventilation and inspection at the floor-level. (5.) Every truck or other vehicle shall be so constructed that the interior thereof shall be free from any boltheads, angles, or other projections likely to cause suffering to animals carried therein. (6.) Every falling loading-door, and every gangway, passage-way, loading or unloading board, shall be fitted with longitudinal battens or other proper footholds. (7.) Every truck for carrying horses, asses, or mules, built after the Ist day of March, 1904, shall be fitted with a roof, and with falling loading-doors of a pattern approved by the Board, and all internal projections shall be rounded. (8.) Every truck or other vehicle shall be so constructed as to permit of its being cleansed and disinfected in manner prescribed by this order. Overcrowdiny. 19. A railway company shall not allow any railway-track or other railway-vehicle used for carrying horses, asses, or mules on the railway, or any compartment thereof, to be overcrowded so as to cause injury or unnecessary suffering to the animals therein. CHAPTER IV.—CLEANSING AND DISINFECTION. Vessels. 20. (1.) A vessel used for carrying horses, asses, or mules by sea, or on a canal, river, or inland navigation, shall, after the landing of such animals therefrom at any port in Great Britain, and before the taking on board of any other such animal or other cargo, be cleansed and disinfected as follows : — (i.) All parts of the vessel with which any such animal or its droppings have come in contact shall be scraped and swept, and then be thoroughly washed or scrubbed or scoured with water, and then have applied to them a coating of lime-wash, or be otherwise disinfected in the manner hereinafter prescribed ; provided that the application of lime-wash shall not be compulsory as regards such parts of a vessel as are used for passengers or the crew. (ii.) All fittings, pens, hurdles, or utensils used for or about the animals shall, if not permanently removed from the vessel, be scraped, and then be thoroughly washed or scrubbed or scoured with water, and then have applied to them a coating of lime-wash, or be otherwise disinfected in the manner hereinafter prescribed. (2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the vesssl shall not be landed unless and until they have been well mixed with quicklime. (3.) In the case of a ferry-boat or other vessel which makes short and frequent passages across a river or an arm of the sea or other water it shall be sufficient if the ferry-boat or vessel be cleansed and disinfected once in every period of twelve hours within which it is so used. Fodder and Litter. 21. All partly consumed or broken fodder that has been supplied to, and all litter that has been used for or about, horses, asses, or mules carried by sea, or on a canal, river, or inland navigation, shall, if and when landed from the vessel, be forthwith well mixed with quicklime and be effectually removed from contact with horses, asses, or mules. Movable Gangways and other Apparatus. 22. (1.) A movable gangway, passage-way, cage, or other apparatus used for the loading or unloading of horses, asses, or mules on or from a vessel, or otherwise used in connection with the transit of such animals by sea, or on a canal, river, or inland navigation, or used for the loading or unloading of such animals on or from a railway-truck or other railway-vehicle, or otherwise used in connection with the transit of such animals on a railway, shall as soon as practicable after being so used be cleansed as follows : The apparatus shall be scraped and swept so as effectually to remove therefrom all dung, litter, and other matter, and then be thoroughly washed or scrubbed or scoured with water.

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(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the apparatus, and all dung, litter, and other matter removed therefrom shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be effectually removed from contact with horses, asses, or mules. Trucks, &c. 23. (1.) A railway-truck, if used for horses, asses, or mules on a railway, shall, on every occasion after a horse, ass, or mule is taken out of it, and before any other horse, ass, or mule, or any fodder or litter, or anything intended to be used for or about horses, asses, or mules is placed in it, be cleansed and disinfected as follows :— (i.) The floor of the truck, and all other parts thereof with which any such animal or its droppings have come in contact shall be scraped and swept, and the scrapings and sweepings, and all dung, sawdust, litter, and other matter shall be effectually removed therefrom ; then (ii.) The same parts of the truck shall be thoroughly washed or scrubbed or scoured with water ; and then have applied to them a coating of lime-wash, or be otherwise disinfected in the manner hereinafter prescribed. (2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the truck, and all dung, sawdust, litter, and other matter removed therefrom shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be effectually removed from contact with horses, asses, or mules. Horse-boxes, Guards' Vans, &c. 24. (1.) A horse-box or other railway-vehicle (not being a railway-truck), if used for horses, asses, or mules on a railway, shall, on every occasion after the animal is taken out of it, and before any other horse, ass, or mule is placed in it, be cleansed and disinfected as follows: — (i.) The floor of the vehicle, and all other parts thereof with which the droppings of the animal have come in contact, shall be scraped and swept, and the scrapings and sweepings, and all dung, sawdust, fodder, litter, and other matter shall be effectually removed therefrom ; and (ii.) The sides of the vehicle, and all other parts thereof with which the head or any discharge from the mouth or nostrils of the animal has come in contact, and any halter or headstall used for the animal, shall be thoroughly washed with water by means of a sponge, brush, or other instrument, and then as far as practicable be disinfected in the manner hereinafter prescribed. (2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the vehicle, and all dung, sawdust, fodder, litter, and other matter removed therefrom shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be effectually removed from contact with horses, asses, or mules. Disinfection prescribed in Specified Cases. 25. The prescribed manner of disinfection to be adopted in the case of any place or thing or part of a place or thing required to be disinfected under this order is as follows : — The place or thing, or the part thereof, required to be disinfected shall be thoroughly coated or washed with — (a.) A 1-per-cent. (minimum) solution of chloride of lime containing not lesss than 30 per cent. of available chlorine ; or (b.) A 4-per-cent. (minimum) solution of carbolic acid (containing not less than 95 per cent. of actual carbolic acid), followed by a thorough sprinkling with lime-wash ; or (c.) A disinfectant equal in disinfective efficiency to the above-mentioned solution ot carbolic acid, followed by a thorough sprinkling with lime-wash. CHAPTER V.^-GENERAL. Digging-up of Carcases. 26. It shall not be lawful for any person, except with the license of the Board or permission in writing of an Inspector of the Board, to dig up, or cause to be dug up, the carcase of any horse, ass, or mule that has been buried. Expenses of Burial of Carcases of Horses, dec, washed ashore. 27. Section 46 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, which relates to expenses of burial of certain carcases washed ashore, shall apply to any carcase of a horse, ass, or mule washed ashore. Local Authority to enforce Order. 28. The provisions of this order, except where it is otherwise provided, shall be executed and enforced by the local authority of each district in Great Britain. Extension of certain Sections of Diseases of Animals Act, 1894. 29. Horses, asses, and mules shall be animals for the purposes of the following sections of the Act of 1894, namely : Section 32 (Provision of wharves, stations, lairs, &c.) ; section 43 (police) ; section 44 (general administrative provisions) ; section 56 (proceedings under Customs Acts for unlawful landing or shipping) ; and also for the purposes of all other sections of the said Act containing provisions relative to or consequent on the provisions of those sections and this order, including such sections as relate to offences and legal proceedings. Crown not bound by the Order. 30. This order does not bind the Crown.

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Offences. 31. (1.) If any horse, ass, or mule is landed in contravention of this order, or after landing is moved to any premises contrary to the provisions of this order or the conditions of the license (if any) authorizing the landing of the animal, or is not isolated in accordance with the conditions of the license (if any), the owner and the person in charge of the animal, and the person causing or permitting the landing or movement, and the owner and the charterer and the master of the vessel from which the animal is unlawfully landed shall, each according to and in respect of his own acts and defaults, be deemed guilty of an offence against the Act of 1894. (2.) If any horse, ass, or mule is carried on a vessel which does not conform to the provisions of this order as to vessels carrying horses, asses, or mules, or if any such provision, or any provision as to cleansing and disinfection of vessels or any apparatus used in connection with the transit of such animals by sea, is not complied with on a vessel on which horses, asses, or mules are carried, the owner and the charterer and the master of the vessel shall, each according to and in respect of his own acts and defaults, be deemed guilty of an offence against the Act of 1894. (3.) If any horse, ass, or mule is carried by railway in a vehicle which is not constructed in accordance with the provisions of this order, or if any provision as to cleansing and disinfection of railwayvehicles used for horses, asses, or mules, or any apparatus used in connection with the transit of such animals on a railway, is not complied with, the railway company carrying the animal or owning or using the vehicle or apparatus shall be deemed guilty of an offence against the Act of 1894. Interpretation. 32. In this order, unless the context otherwise requires,— " The Board " means the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries : " Port " includes place : " Foreign " means brought to the United Kingdom from any country out of the United Kingdom : " Person " includes a body corporate : " Fodder " means hay or other substance commonly used for food for horses, asses, or mules : " Litter " means straw or other substance commonly used for bedding or otherwise for or about horses, asses, or mules : " The Act of 1894 " means the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894 : " Master " includes a person having the charge or command of a vessel : Other terms have the same meaning as in the Act of 1894. Commencement. 33. The foregoing provision of this order, except Chapter I, shall come into operation on the 1st day of July, 1912. Revocation. 34. The orders described in the schedule hereto are hereby revoked to the extent and on the dates therein specified. Short Title. 35. This order may be cited as the " Horses (Importation and Transit) Order of 1912." In witness whereof the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have hereunto set their official seal this 22nd day of April, 1912. T. H. Elliott, Secretary.

SCHEDULE. Orders revoked.

No. Date. Subject or Short Title. Extent of Revocation. Bate of Revocation. .886 1898. 25 November Exportation of Horses Order of 1898 The whole order 1912. 1 July.' 322 1907. 23 August .. The Glanders or Farcy Order of 1907 Article 2 only (Regulation of Importation of Horses, Asses, and Mules) 1913. 1 January. 1908. 24 June Landing at Newcastle-upon Tyne of horses, asses, or mules brought from Iceland or the Faroe Islands The whole order 1913. 1 January. 511 1909. 12 May Landing at Leith of horses, asses, or mules brought from Iceland or the Faroe Islands The whole order 1913. 1 January. i696 1909. 7 October .. Conveyance of Horses Order of 1909 The whole order 1912. 1 July. 785

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No. 39. New Zealand, No. 137. My Lord,— Downing Street, 10th May, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a notification dated the Ist instant, published in the London Gazette of the 3rd instant, of the appointment by His Majesty the King of the members of the Koyal Commission of inquiry into the natural resources, trade, and legislation of certain portions of His Majesty's dominions. I have, &c, L. HAECOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &o.

Enclosure. [The London Gazette, 3rd May, 1912.] Downing Street, Ist May, 1912. The King has been pleased to appoint the Right Honourable Lord Inchcape, G.C.M.G., X.C.5.1., K.C.1.E., Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles John Owens, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Tom G-arnett, Esq., and William Lorimer, Esq. (representing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) ; the Honourable George Eulas Foster, LL.D., Minister of Trade and Commerce of the Dominion of Canada (representing the said dominion) ; Donald Campbell, Esq., LL.B., formerly member of the House of Assembly of the State of South Australia (representing the Commonwealth of Australia) ; the Right Honourable Sir Joseph George Ward, Bart., K.C.M.G., recently Prime Minister of the Dominion of New Zealand (representing the said dominion) ; the Honourable Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, Bart., Minister of Post and Telegraphs of the Union of South Africa (representing the said union) ; and the Honourable Edgar Rennie Bowring, member of the Legislative Council of the Colony of Newfoundland (representing the said colony) to be Commissioners to inquire into the natural resources, trade, and legislation of certain portions of His Majesty's dominions. His Majesty has also been pleased to appoint William Arthur Robinson, Esq., 8.A., to be Secretary of the aforesaid Commission.

No. 40. New Zealand, No. 138. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th May, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the message of sympathy from the citizens of Grisborne in connection with the wreck of the " Titanic." I have, &c, L. HARCOURT.

The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sib,— Liverpool, 3rd May, 1912. We beg to acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter of the 2nd May, passing on to ua telegram from the Governor of New Zealand, containing expressions of sympathy from the citizens of Gisborne with those suffering loss as result of the " Titanic " disaster, which we can assure you is very much appreciated. We also have to thank you very much for sending same on to us. We are, &c, For Ismay, Imrie, and Co. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W.

5—A. 2.

Date. Description. ird May, 1912 From Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Co.

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No. 41. New Zealand, No. 139. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th May, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 28th March, respecting the appointment of the Right Hori. Sir Joseph Ward as the representative of New Zealand on the Royal Commission of inquiry into the natural resources and trade of certain portions of His Majesty's Dominions. 2. I have to refer to my telegram of the 3rd April, notifying the names of all the members of the Commission. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 42. New Zealand, No. 144. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th May, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 53, of the 14th February, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of South Australia on the subject of the celebration of His Majesty's birthday in that State. 2. I have to add that I am informed by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth that it is the practice of the Commonwealth Government to adopt in each State the day observed in the public offices of that State as a holiday in the public offices of the Commonwealth Government. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. South Australia, No. 20. Sir, — Government House, Adelaide, 3rd April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 70, of the 3rd August, 1911, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers desire me to point out that the law of South Australia provides that should the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty the King fall upon any other day than a Monday, it shall be celebrated as a public holiday on the Monday succeeding the day upon which it falls. I have, &c, Day H. Bosanquet, Governor. The Right Hon. L. V. Harcourt, M.P., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 43. New Zealand, No. 148. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th May, 1912. With reference to Sir James Prendergast's despatch, No. 59, of the 3rd July, 1909,1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter which has been addressed to the High Commissioner for the Dominion with regard to the presentation to the Government of the Dominion of certain duplicate papers. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Downing Street, 17th May, 1912. With reference to letter from this Office of the 19th August, 1909, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to request you to inform the High Commissioner that certain duplicate documents specified in the margin are available among the records of the Public Record Office for presentation to your Government. 2. Mr. Harcourt would be glad if arrangements could be made as soon as possible with the Record Office for the transmission to New Zealand of these papers if Sir William Hall-Jones considers that they would be of interest to your Government. I am, &c, Henry Lambert, For the Under-Secretary of State. The Secretary, Office of the High Commissioner for New Zealand.

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No. 44. New Zealand, No. 149. My Lord,— Downing Street, 21st May, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, three copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council issued on the 14th instant, on the subject of light dues. I have, &c, L. HAECOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 14th day of May, 1912. Present: The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by section 5, subsection (2), of the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898, it is enacted that the scale and rules set out in the Second Schedule to that Act shall have effect for the purpose of the levying of light dues in pursuance of that Act, but His Majesty may, by Order in Council, alter, either generally or with respect to particular classes of cases, the scale or rules and the exemptions therefrom : And whereas by Order in Council dated the 10th day of August, 1903, His late Majesty was pleased to alter the said scale as from the Ist day of April, 1903, by reducing each of the dues authorized to be levied by 12J per centum of the amounts specified by the said scale : And whereas by Order in Council dated the Ist day of December, 1906, His late Majesty was pleased further to alter the said scale as from the Ist day of April, 1907, by reducing each of the dues authorized to be levied by the said scale for a period of three years from the last-mentioned date by 1\ per centum beyond the reduction of Yl\ per centum provided for by the said Order in Council of the 10th day of August, 1903 : And whereas by Order in Council dated the 21st day of December, 1908, His late Majesty was pleased to alter the scale and rules set out in the said Second Schedule to the said Act in manner following, that is to say,— " 1. Bach of the dues authorized to be levied by the said scale shall, for a period of three years from the date of coming into operation of this Order, be subject to a reduction of 17 \ per centum beyond the reduction of Vl\ per centum provided for by the said Order in Council of the 10th day of August, 1903, and the said dues as so reduced by the said Order in Council of the 10th day of August, 1903, and by this Order shall be levied and the said rules construed accordingly. " 2. This Order in Council shall come into operation as and from the Ist day of April, 1909, and as and from the corning into operation of this Order the recited Order in Council dated the Ist day of December, 1906, shall be repealed." And whereas it has been made to appear to His Majesty that the provision of the said Order in Council dated the 21st day of December, 1908, should be continued for a period of three years from the expiration thereof : Now, therefore, His Majesty, in exercise of the powers so vested in him by the above-recited provisions, and by and with the advice of his Privy Council, doth by this Order in Council order, and it is hereby ordered, that the dues authorized to be levied by the said scale in the said Order in Council dated the 21st day of December, 1908, mentioned shall, subject to the reductions therein mentioned, be levied for a period of three years from the date of coming into operation of this Order, and the said rules construed accordingly. This Order in Council shall come into operation as from the Ist day of April, 1912. Almeric Fitzroy.

No. 45. New Zealand, No. 152. My Loed,— Downing Street, 21st May, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 109, of the 12th April, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a print of a despatch from the Governor of South Australia, with a statement by the Solicitor to Industry of that State, on the subject of the legislation of South Australia relating to workmen's compensation. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. No. 18. The Secretary of State to the Governor. Sir, — Government House, Adelaide, 3rd April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 77, of 25th August, 1911, and further despatches, No. 1, of 4th January, 1912, and No. 10, of 18th January, 1912, my Ministers ask me to transmit to you a copy of the remarks of the Solicitor to Industry on the subject of workmen's compensation. 2. For ease of reference I also attach three copies of a recent Workmen's Compensation Act that was passed in this State. I have, &c, Day H. Bosanquet, Governor.

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Returned to tie Hon. the Minister of Industry. The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1900, and the Workmen's Compensation Act Amendment Act, 1904, are repealed by the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1911. Under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1911, if in any employment personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment is caused to a workman, the employer is liable to pay compensation in accordance with the scale and conditions laid down by the Act. A workman means a person working in connection with his employer's trade or business under a contract of service, or apprenticeship, whether expressed or implied, oral or in writing, at manual work, with certain exceptions. 1. Seamen. —A seaman, where the injury occurs outside the territorial jurisdiction of South Australia, is not a workman within the meaning of the Act, and consequently cannot recover compensation for an injury. But the Act does apply in respect of an accident happening to a workman employed on a South Australian ship if the accident happens out of and in the course of his employment, provided it happens within the State or within the jurisdiction of the State. 2. Reciprocity. —The South Australian law applies to workmen without distinction of race or nationality, and there is nothing in the Act to indicate that dependants residing outside the State are not entitled to receive compensation. 3. Statistics. —No provision has been made for the collection of statistics. H. A. Shieblaw, sth March, 1912. Solicitor to^lndustry.

No. 46. New Zealand, No. 156. My Lord,— Downing Street, 24th May, 1912. I have the honour to inform you that your telegram of the 16th instant has been laid before His Majesty the King, and that I have been commanded to convey the grateful thanks of His Majesty and Her Majesty Queen Alexandra to you and the Government and people of New Zealand for your kind message of sympathy on the death of His Majesty the King of Denmark. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 47. New Zealand, No. 163. My Lord,— Downing Street, 31st May, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a notice relating to a new quarterly publication to be issued by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine entitled Annals of Tropical Sanitation. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Notice.—Annals op Teopical Sanitation. It is proposed to issue shortly, in connection with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, a newquarterly publication called the Annals of Tropical Sanitation. The Annals will be edited by Professor Major Sir Ronald] Ross, K.C.8.,|D.P.H., M.D., D.Sc, LL.D, F.R.S., with the assistance of Colonel W. G. King, C.1.E., D.P.H, M.8., CM., Professor W. J. Simpson, C.M.G., D.P.H., M.D., F.R.C.P., and possibly of other collaborators working in different parts of the world. The Annals will be issued in at least four parts every year. The annual volume will contain at least five hundred pages, and the size of the page will be the same as that of the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology issued by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. The annual subscription will be one guinea, payable in advance, for which the Annals will be sent post-free. The price of separate numbers will be 7s. 6d. The Annals of Tropical Sanitation will deal with the whole subject, including not only the practical application of sanitary measures in the tropics, but also the scientific study of tropical endemiology ; with discoveries bearing upon the subject; with the application of statistical methods ; with sanitary engineering ; with sanitary legislation ; and with the best means of perfecting sanitary organization, investigation, and practice. It will contain original articles on all branches of the subject; reviews and abstracts of similar articles published elsewhere; analyses of official health reports from all over

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the tropics ; descriptions or advertisements of sanitary appliances of all kinds, and of sanitary works required for the tropics ; and, it is hoped, comparative health statistics of many countries, properly analysed by experts, and notes on such medical, parasitological, and entomological researches as have a bearing on hygiene. It will not contain purely biological articles on pathology, parasitology, and entomology, and will therefore not clash with journals which are devoted to their study ; but it will confine itself to their application in the fields of endemiology and the prevention of disease. Original articles will be accepted, if they are found suitable, from all workers, and efforts will be made to record points oi local interest and importance. It is therefore felt that the Annals will serve a long-felt want, and will be of use to all sanitary officers in the tropics—to municipalities, to principal medical officers, to administrators, to medical officers of the army and navy, to sanitary engineers, to missionaries, to the heads of factories and plantations, and to many private persons. At present there appears to be no journal published, at least in English, which meets this want; and it is therefore hoped that the Annals of Tropical Sanitation will receive strong support from all those who are interested in the subject. Much preparation is required before such a venture can be put on the market; and intending subscribers are therefore begged to send their name and address at once to the editor at the University of Liverpool (without enclosing any remittance). Such notice will not be held binding upon them in any way, but is required merely to enable the editor to estimate the extent of the demand which will have to be met. It is hoped that Governments, municipalities, and companies working in the tropics will assist by ordering copies. Applications for space for advertisements should also be sent to the editor as soon as possible.

No. 48. New Zealand, No. 165. My Loed,— Downing Street, 31st May, 1912. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to appoint Sir E. Bickham Sweet Escott, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Leeward Islands, to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, in place of Sir Francis Henry May, K.C.M.G., who has been appointed to be Governor of Hong Kong. 2. Sir E. B. Sweet Escott is due to arrive in the colony on or about 20th July. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 49. New Zealand, Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist June, 1912. With reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 55, of the 24th April last, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Prime Minister that His Majesty the King has been pleesed to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable" by Sir James Carroll, K.C.M.G., Mi. John Andrew Millar, Mr. Roderick McKenzie, Mr. David Buddo, and Mr. Apirana Turupa Ngata, who have each served for more than three years as members of the Executive Council of the Dominion of New Zealand. A notification to this effect will be published in the London Gazette. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 50. New Zealand, No. 170. My Loed, — Downing Street, 7th June, 1912. With reference to your telegram of the 4th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter which I have caused to be addressed to Sir W. Hall-Jones on his retirement from the appointment of High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Sir,— Downing Street, 7th June, 1912. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to convey to you, on your retirement from the appointment of High Commissioner for New Zealand, his grateful appreciation of the cordiality which has marked the relations between you and the Colonial Office throughout your period of office. I am, &c, The Hon. Sir W. Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G. H. W. Just.

No. 51. New Zealand, No. 173. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th June, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you copies of the additional pl?tes noted in the margin for insertion in the copies of the book entitled " Flags, Badges, and Arms of the British Dominions beyond the Seas," which accompanied my predecessor's circular despatch of the 25th June, 1910. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 52. New Zealand, No. 175. My Lord, — Downing Sreet, 13th June, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 95, of the 27th March, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, prints of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada on the subject of the mutual enforcement throughout His Majesty's dominions of judgments, orders of Courts of justice, and arbitration awards on disputes arising out of commercial contracts. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 294. The Goveenoe-Geneeal to the Seceetaey op State. Sic, — Government House, Ottawa, 15th May, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 218, of the 27th March, on the subject of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in 1911 in favour of the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, including judgments and orders as to commercial arbitration awards, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your information, copies of an approved minute of the Privy Council for Canada, setting forth the views of my Responsible Advisers. I have, &c, Arthur.

Certified Copy op a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Royal Highness the Governor-General on the 13th May, 1912. (P. C. 1272.) The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 30th April, 1912, from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for External Affairs, to whom was referred a despatch, dated 27th March, 1912, from the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice in the United Kingdom and the various possessions. The Minister states that, in the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, the proposals of His Majesty's Government are quite satisfactory in so far as Dominion Courts of law are concerned —that is to say, the passing of Imperial legislation to provide for the enforcement of judgments of the superior Courts of the self-governing dominions, states, and provinces in the Courts of the United Kingdom on the same principles as are now applied to the enforcement of judgments of the superior Courts of England, Scotland, and Ireland by the Imperial Act of 1868, chapter 54, the Act to include the case of awards given in arbitration disputes arising out of commercial contracts which have been given by Courts in the dominions, states, or provinces, or which, under the legislation of the dominions, states, or provinces, have the force of orders of Court. The Act also to contain a clause providing for its application with or without modifications to any self-governing dominion, state, or province by Order in Council on the Secretary of State being satisfied that adequate provision exists under the law of that dominion, state, or province for the enforcement of judgments given by the superior Courts of the United Kingdom.

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The Minister observes that it will be necessary for the Dominion to legislate in respect of the Yukon and North-west Territories. Legislation will also be necessary by the several provinces, to whom Mr. Harcourt's despatch has been referred for consideration. The Minister further observes that this present minute of Council relates only to the enforcement of judgments in Courts under the jurisdiction of the Dominion of Canada. The Committee advise that Your Royal Highness may be pleased to forward a copy hereof to the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. All which is respectfully submitted for approval. P. K. Bennetts, Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council.

No. 53. New Zealand, No. 177. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th June, 1912. I have the honour to inform.you that I have laid your telegram of the 3rd instant before His Majesty the King, who commands me to express to you and to the Government and people of New Zealand his grateful thanks for the loyal congratulations on the occasion of his birthday, conveyed in your telegram. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 54. New Zealand, No. 182. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st June, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject fo the message of sympathy from the Roskill Adult School, Auckland, in connection with the " Titanic " disaster. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT.

The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. Description. 14th June, 1912 .. .. From Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Co.

Enclosure. Sir, — Liverpool, 14th June, 1912. We are in receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, covering copy of letter from the Secretary of the Roskill Adult School, Auckland, received through the Governor of New Zealand, expressing sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the distressing disaster to s.s. " Titanic," and are very much indebted to you for your kindness in passing this on to us, and shall be obliged if we may be allowed to express through you to the school our grateful and heartfelt thanks for their kindness in our time of trouble. We are, &c, For Ismay, Imrie, and Co., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W. A. E. D.

No. 55. New Zealand, No. 183. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st June, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 6th instant, from which I am glad to learn that your Government have now decided to co-operate in the scheme for a more extended investigation of noxious insects in the Empire, and that they are prepared to contribute up to £100 per annum towards the expenses of the undertaking. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 56. New Zealand, No. 184. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th June, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 144, of the 16th May, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the correspondence noted in the margin regarding the date of celebration of the birthday of His Majesty the King. I have, &c, L. HAECOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 15. The Governor to the Secretary op State. Sir, — State Government House, Melbourne, 12th April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 25, of the 14th February, and to previous correspondence respecting the observance of the birthday of His Majesty the King, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a memorandum on the subject which I have received from the Premier (Mr. Murray). 2. I shall be glad to receive an answer to the question contained in the last paragraph of Mr. Murray's memorandum. I have, &c, John Fuller. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Premier's Office, Melbourne, 4th April, 1912. The Premier presents his duty to Your Excellency, and in returning herewith Colonial Office despatches of the 14th February, 1911, the 3rd August, 1911, and the 14th February, 1912, on the subject of the observance of His Majesty the King's birthday on the actual date, begs to inform Your Excellency that under the provisions of the Public and Bank Holidays Act, 1900, No. 1661, of this State (copy enclosed), it is required, inter alia, that whenever the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty the King falls upon any day other than a Monday, the following Monday shall be observed instead. . . . Mr. Murray will be glad if Your Excellency will be pleased to ascertain whether the observance on the Monday succeeding the actual date will represent compliance with Imperial wishes, or whether the law should be amended so as to provide for the celebration taking place on the actual date of the anniversary of His Majesty's birthday. J. Murray, Premier. Act No. 1661, Victoria. An Act relating to the Observance of certain Public and Bank Holidays. [29th August, 1900.] Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows (that is to say) : — 1. This Act may be cited as the Public and Bank Holidays Act, 1900. 2. Whenever pursuant to any Act any holiday to which this Act applies would fall on any day other than a Monday, then the following Monday shall be observed as a public holiday and bank holiday instead of such day, and the provisions of any Acts relating to public holidays or bank holidays shall be deemed and taken to apply to such Monday. 3. This Act shall apply to the following holidays in each and every year, namely : — The anniversary of the birthday of Her Majesty or her successor for the time being ; and The anniversary of the birthday of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the time being. 4. The Governor in Council may by Order published in the Government Gazette proclaim that there shall be added to the holidays to which this Act applies the twenty-sixth day of January and the twenty-first day of April, or either of them, and thereafter, subject to this Act, the said day or days shall in each and every year be observed as a public holiday and bank holiday.

No. 13. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir,— Government House, Hobart, Tasmania, 19th April, 1912. With reference to your despatches, Nos. 50, dated 3rd August, 1911, and 20, dated 14th February, 1912, I have the honour to transmit a communication received from the Premier, referring to the celebration of the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty King George V in this State, asking me to inquire whether His Majesty will be graciously pleased to accede to the request contained therein. I have, &c, Harry Barron, Governor.

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Your Excellency,— Premier's Office, Hobart, 12th April, 1912. Referring to the accompanying despatches, No. 50, of the 30th August, 1911, and No. 20, of the 14th February last, received from the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of the date of the celebration of His Majesty's birthday in Tasmania, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that in this State it is provided, by statute that when His Majesty's birthday falls upon any other day than a Monday, it is then celebrated ~on the Monday following. 2. This has been found to be a great convenience to the public, and I would suggest that Your Excellency inquire whether His Majesty will be graciously pleased to allow this practice to continue, and to accord to this State the same privilege as has been already accorded to the State of New South Wales (vide Mr. Harcourt's despatch to Lord Chelmsford dated 14th February last). 3. Seeing that this year His Majesty's birthday falls upon a Monday, there is ample time, before the date when the celebration shall take place next year and in succeeding years has to be determined, to give further consideration to the question, and to review our legislation, if necessary. I have, &c, N. E. Lewis, Premier.

No. 54. The Secretary of State to the Governor. Sir, — Downing Street, sth June, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 13, of the 19th April, on the subject of the date of the celebration of the anniversary of His Majesty's birthday in Tasmania. 2. In reply, I have to request that you will inform your Ministers that His Majesty has no objection to the practice by which, when His Majesty's birthday falls upon any day other than a Monday, it is celebrated on the following Monday. I have, &c, L. Harcourt. No. 16. The Governor to the Secretary op State. Sir, — Government House, Perth, Western Australia, 26th April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 24, of the 14th February, 1912, I have the honour to report that my Ministers have found it impossible to arrive at uniformity on the question of celebrating His Majesty's birthday on the actual date, and have decided to act upon the lines adopted by the Government of New South Wales —viz., to celebrate the birthday of the Sovereign on the Monday following the date upon which it falls. I have, &c, J. Strickland, Governor.

No. 69. The Secretary of State to the Governor. Sir,— Downing Street, 30th May, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 15, of the 12th April, forwarding a copy of a memorandum from the Premier of Victoria, on the subject of the observance of the birthday of His Majesty the King. I request that you will inform the Premier that His Majesty has no objection to the following Monday being adopted for the observance of the anniversary of his birthday whenever it falls upon any other day than a Monday. I have, &c, L. Harcourt.

No. 57. New Zealand, No. 185. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th June, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 59, of the 2nd May, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, relative to the proposed interchange of certificates of pharmaceutical qualification between that society and the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, Sir, — 17 Bloomsbury Square, London, 19th June, 1912. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 17th instant, forwarding copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand relative to the proposals for an interchange of certificates of pharmaceutical qualification between Great Britain and the colonies. My council observes that the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand practically accepts the proposed basis for a reciprocal agreement, and confines its objection mainly to the amount of the fees payable by applicants for registration in this country. lam to say in this connection that the fee of twelve

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guineas laid down in our by-laws is the fee prescribed for every person resident in Great Britain who desires to secure a qualification here by examinations. It is also laid down in section sof the Pharmacy Act, 1868, that persons registered in accordance with the Act, without examination, shall pay the same fees as persons admitted to the register after examination under the Act. My council is therefore advised that it would not be competent to fix any other fees than those mentioned in the proposals which have been forwarded through the Colonial Office to the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand. Having regard to these facts, I am to express the hope that the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand will see their way to agree generally to the conditions proposed, so that my council may pass a resolution establishing reciprocity, in the same way as has been done in the case of Victoria and Queensland. I am, &c, EICHAED BbEMRIDGE, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Secretary and Registrar.

No. 58. New Zealand,|No. 190. My Loed, — Downing Street, 28th June, 1912. I have the honour to inform you that I have laid your telegram of the 22nd instant before His Majesty the King, and that I am commanded to express to you and to your Government and the people of New Zealand the thanks of His Majesty and of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the congratulations on the occasion of the birthday of the Prince of Wales conveyed in your telegram. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 59. New Zealand, No. 191. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th June, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 60, of the 9th May, and to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Co., expressing their thanks for the resolutions of condolence passed by certain public bodies in the Dominion in connection with the disaster to the steamship " Titanic." I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir,— Liverpool, 25th June, 1912. We are in receipt of your communication of 24th instant, covering despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, with copies of resolutions passed by the Harbour Board (Auckland), the Miramar Borough Council, the New Plymouth Borough Council, the Cook County Council, the Stratford Borough Council, the Westport Chamber of Commerce, and the Mayor and citizens of Palmerston North, tendering their sympathy and condolences to those bereaved by the deplorable disaster to s.s. " Titanic," and desire to offer to you our sincere appreciation of your kindness in forwarding us these resolutions, and should be grateful if you could find means to express to all those concerned the deep gratitude of the sufferers for their expressions of such kindly sympathy, which, coming as they do from practically the other side of the world, are as unexpected as they are acceptable. We are, &c, For Ismay, Imrie, and Co., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W. A. E. D.

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No. 60. New Zealand, No. 192. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd July, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 94, of the 27th March last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of despatches from the Governors of New South Wales and Tasmania on the subject of the resolution of the Imperial Conference in favour of continuing the policy of encouraging British emigrants to proceed to British dominions rather than foreign countries. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosures. No. 17. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir, — Government House, Hobart, Tasmania, Bth May, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 31, dated 27th March, 1912, transmitting copies of despatches from the Governors of Victoria and Western Australia on the subject of the resolution of the Imperial Conference in favour of continuing the policy of encouraging British emigrants to proceed to British dominions rather than foreign countries, for information of my Ministers, I have the honour to forward enclosed communication received from the Premier. I have, &c, Harry Barron, Governor. Your Excellency,— Premier's Office, Hobart, 6th May, 1912. Referring to the accompanying despatch, No. 31, dated the 27th March last, from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, I have the honour to inform you that Ministers will be pleased to encourage the emigration of desirable British subjects to this State. I have, &c, His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania. N. E. Lewis, Premier.

No. 46. The Governor to the Secretary op State. Sir,— State Government House, Sydney, 14th May, 1912. Adverting to your despatch of the 2nd August, 1911, No. 106, transmitting a copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in favour of continuing the policy of encouraging British immigrants to proceed to British dominions rather than foreign countries, I have the honour to inform you that Ministers have intimated to me that they are heartily in accord with the spirit of the Conference resolution, and that a vigorous policy, including a system of State aid, is being pursued with the object of encouraging suitable immigrants from Great Britain to make their homes in New South Wales. I have, &c, Chelmspord, Governor.

No. 61. Circular. Sir, — Downing Street, 3rd July, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information, regulations issued from the Lord Chamberlain's Office denning the occasions when orders, miniature decorations, and medals are to be worn with evening dress. 2. I have received a ruling from the same source to the effect that it is incorrect for a civilian to wear in miniature the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross, Knight Grand Commander, Knight Commander, or Commander of the Orders of the Bath, Star of India, Saint Michael and Saint George, Indian Empire, and Royal Victorian Order. The regulations which exist with regard to the wearing in miniature of insignia of the higher classes of orders are only applicable to naval and military officers. 3. The new regulations do not specially provide for the procedure in the various Government Houses of the oversea possessions of the Crown, which are, of course, supposed to reflect exactly the practice of His Majesty's Court; but it will be well that you should guide yourself by the practice laid down for observing due courtesy in the case of Ambassadors and Ministers accredited to the Court of St. James. I have, &c, L. HAKCOURT. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. By His Majesty's commands, the following regulations will supersede those issued in May, 1911, defining the occasions when orders, miniature decorations, and medals are to be worn with evening dress :— 1. At all parties and dinners when any member of the Royal Family is present, riband, stars, and miniature decorations and medals will be worn. 2. At all parties and dinners given in the houses of Ambassadors and Ministers accredited to this Court, riband, stars, and miniature decorations and medals will be worn. The decoration of the country concerned should be worn in preference to the English one, and if both are worn, the former should take precedence of the latter.

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For informal or private dinners at an Embassy or Legation, when an Ambassador or Minister does not wish decorations to be worn, the Ambassador or Minister will be asked to make a notification to that effect on the invitation card. 3. On official occasions at the house of the Lord Lieutenant of a county within his county, and at all parties and dinners given by the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House and Guildhall, riband, stars, and miniature decorations and medals will be worn. 4. At all parties and dinners of an official nature given in the houses of Cabinet Ministers, ex-Cabinet Ministers, Knights of the Garter, Knights of the Thistle, Knights of St. Patrick, or Great Officers of the Household, stars, not riband,* will be worn. 5. At all official dinners and receptions, including those of the city livery companies and city corporations, regimental dinners, official naval dinners, and all public dinners given in aid of charitable institutions, stars, not riband,* will be worn. 6. At unofficial dinner parties or evening receptions in private houses, Knights of the Garter, Knights of the Thistle, or Knights of St. Patrick should wear a star only. 7. These are the only occasions on which decorations and medals will be worn with evening dress. Lord Chamberlain's Office, St. James's Palace, S.W., 13th June, 1912. * The expression " stars, not riband," means—For Knights Grand Cross, stars, no riband; for members of the Order of Merit, badge and riband round the neck; for Knights Commanders, stars, no badge round the neck; for C.V.O.s, badge and riband round the neck; for all classes, miniature medals and decorations.

No. 62. New Zealand, No. 197. My Lord, — Downing Street, sth July, 1912. With reference to previous correspondence as to the Dominions Royal Commission, appointed in pursuance of the 20th resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, I have the honour, at the request of the Commission, to state, for the information of your Ministers, that three meetings of the Commission have been held to consider the question of procedure. There were present the representatives of the United Kingdom, the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and Newfoundland, named in the Warrant, of which copies are enclosed. Owing to continued illness, Sir David G-raaff, the representative of the Union of South Africa, resigned, and Sir Richard Solomon, High Commissioner for the Union in London, was nominated in his place, and attended the meetings. Sir Joseph Ward, the representative of New Zealand, also resigned, and the nomination in his place of Mr. J. R. Sinclair, member of the Legislative Council, was made too late to admit of his attendance at the meetings. 2. The question of the arrangements to be made to enable the Commission to perform its duties effectively is not free from difficulty. A Commission with headquarters in London, but requiring to do a great part of its work in the selfgoverning dominions, is a new departure, and this consideration is one of many which cause special interest and importance to attach to its proceedings. In inviting a generous degree of co-operation from your Ministers, the Commission trust that it will, as anticipated by its oversea members, meet with a ready response. 3. Enclosed in this despatch are printed copies of the minutes of the meetings, which indicate sufficiently the general conclusions reached by the Commission as to the procedure for carrying out its work, which may be defined shortly as an inquiry of the widest possible character into natural resources and facilities for the production, manufacture, and distribution of articles of commerce in the dominions, and into the food and raw-material requirements and trade of the dominions and the United Kingdom, with the object of offering suggestions for the development of those resources and the extension of that trade. 4. In the execution of this task the Commission proposes—(l) To compile statistical information, so far as it is available, as to existing and potential development of natural resources, production, &c, of articles of commerce, food and raw-material requirements, and trade ; and (2) to make a general inquiry into existing conditions of trade, and a special inquiry into the question of migration from the United Kingdom and settlement in the dominions. The question of migration obviously has a very close relation to the development of natural resources, and such development may be expected to follow as a consequence of well-grounded suggestions for improvement of trade-conditions.

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5. Under head (1) your Ministers will perceive from the minutes that, while adopting certain general principles— e.g., that the year 1901 should be taken as a general starting-point for statistics, and that details should be restricted to the main products of a dominion and the principal articles of trade—the Commission decided to refer the question of the preparation of statistics to a sub-committee which will be convened during July. It was thought that the dominion Governments were in a better position than the Commission could possibly be in to furnish statistics as to natural resources and production, distribution, and manufacture of articles of commerce. It was felt, however, that these statistics should be as far as possible on a uniform basis, and the basis will be considered by the Committee. When the Committee has completed its deliberations the Commission hope to be able to state the extent of the assistance to be invited from your Ministers in the matter of statistics. 6. As regards head (2), your Ministers will find appended to the minutes of the second and third meetings memoranda of questions for circulation in connection with the general inquiry as to trade and the special inquiry as to migration. Copies of these memoranda as finally approved are enclosed. Of the migration memoranda, (A) is designed for circulation to Government Departments, and (B) for circulation to private organizations and persons interested in the subject. (A) is being sent, among others, to the High Commissioners and Agents-General, as being in a position to state what arrangements now exist in the United Kingdom for migration to their respective dominions, provinces, or states, and as possibly having suggestions to make which may assist the Commission. 7. The memoranda are all designed for circulation both in the United Kingdom and in the dominions. The intention of the Commission being to reassemble early in October to hear oral evidence in the United Kingdom, circulation here will take place at once; and the trade memorandum is being sent to Chambers of Commerce and other organizations connected with Imperial trade, and to the Press, so as to secure the widest publicity for the work of the Commission. In the dominions the view of the Commission is that, as a general rule, circulation should be deferred until such a date as will enable replies to be received at the offices of the Commission in London, and circulated to members for preliminary consideration before they leave for the dominion concerned. The date of the tours to Canada and Newfoundland and to South Africa, and the date of circulation in those dominions, will be decided later. As the Commission has determined to proceed to Australia and New Zealand, so as to arrive about the end of February or beginning of March next, despatch of the memoranda to those dominions will be made as soon as possible under cover of a separate communication, and answers will be made returnable by the 30th November next. 8. As regards the actual distribution of the various memoranda in the dominions, the Commission desires to invite the co-operation of your Ministers, and to leave the distribution to their discretion, the object being to secure that all Departments of Government, and organizations and persons of standing interested, shall have an opportunity of assisting the Commission. 9. A further question arises as to the itinerary of the Commission in the dominions, and connected with it is the question of the arrangements as to oral evidence to be heard. One of the conditions on which the United Kingdom members were appointed was that there should be three tours in different years, six months approximately for the Australia and New Zealand tour, three months for the Canada and Newfoundland tour, and three months for the South Africa tour, the period in each case to include the time required for the journey to and from the dominions or dominion in question. The period stated is, of course, a maximum limit, and the length of the tours will naturally be restricted to what is required for the hearing of evidence in the centres of population, with possibly some allowance for a visit or visits to selected districts of a dominion. The Commission would be glad if your Government would consider an itinerary for their tour. In the cases where two dominions are to be visited in the course of a single tour, the Governments of those dominions would naturally communicate with each other as to the arrangements. It is proposed as a matter of convenience on the first tour next year to take New Zealand first, and after completion of the work there to

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proceed to Australia. The final settlement of the itinerary would, of course, depend on the extent to which it is found that it is desired to tender oral evidence to the Commission at the various centres after circulation of the memoranda of questions. The Commission would propose to leave it to your Government to decide what witnesses should be heard at each centre visited. 10. In connection with the distribution of memoranda, the settlement of the lists of witnesses to be heard, and of the itinerary of the Commission, the dominion representatives would, of course, advise and assist their Governments as far as possible. They will, however, all be absent from home for lengthy periods when the Commission is on tour, and the representative of the Union of South Africa is in this country. It is accordingly possible that your Government may see fit to intrust the local work of the Commission to a selected officer of the Public Service, or other person, who could, if necessary, place himself in direct communication with the Secretary to the Commission at Scotland House, Embankment, London, England, and arrange the points of detail which may be expected to arise as the work of the Commission develops. If such an officer is appointed, answers to the memoranda of inquiry could be made returnable to him in duplicate, so that one copy could be forwarded on receipt to the Secretary to the Commission, with a view to its being printed here and circulated to members. Having regard to the number and character of the replies,' the officer selected would be able to advise your Government as to the itinerary to be drawn up and the persons to be heard in evidence, and in this way the Commission might be expected to be acquainted with the main lines of the programme proposed for it in each dominion before starting for that dominion. The particulars could be sent to me through you, or, if a special officer is appointed, direct to the offices of the Commission in London, as may be preferred. 11. I shall be glad to have the views of your Ministers on the above suggestions by cable at their early convenience. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. Commission passed undee the Royal Sign-manual and Signet, appointing the Right Hon. Lord Inchcape, G.C.M.G., X.C.5.1., K.C.1.E., and Others to be Commissioners to inquire into the Natural Resources, Trade, and Legislation of certain Portions of His Majesty's Dominions, and appointing William Arthur Robinson, Esq., 8.A., to be Secretary. George R.I. Dated 15th April, 1912. George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India : To our right trusty and well-beloved James Lyle, Baron Inchcape, Knight Grand Cross of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of our Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Knight Commander of our Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire ; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Edgar Vincent, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George ; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Charles John Owens, Knight, LieutenantColonel, late Engineer and Railway Staff Corps ; our trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Knight; our trusty and well-beloved Tom Garnett, Esquire; our trusted and well-beloved William Lorimer, Esquire (representing our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable George Eulas Foster, Doctor of Laws, Minister of Trade and Commerce of our Dominion of Canada (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and wellbeloved Donald Campbell, Esquire, Bachelor of Laws, formerly member of the House of Assembly of our State of South Australia (representing our Commonwealth of Australia) ; our right trusty and well-beloved Counsellor Sir Joseph George Ward, Baronet, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, recently Prime Minister of our Dominion of New Zealand (representing our said Dominion) ; our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, Baronet, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs of our Union of South Africa (representing our said Union) ; and our trusty and well-beloved the Honourable Edgar Rennie Bowring, member of the Legislative Council of our Colony of Newfoundland (representing our said Colony) : Greeting.

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Whereas We have deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith issue to inquire into and report upon the natural resources of our Dominion of Canada, our Commonwealth of Australia, our Dominion of New Zealand, our Union of South Africa, and our Colony of Newfoundland ; and, further, to report upon the development of such resources, whether attained or attainable ; upon the facilities which exist or may be created for tbo production, manufacture, and distribution of all articles of commerce in those parts of our Empire ; upon the requirements of each such part and of our United Kingdom in the matter of food ani raw materials and the available sources of such ; upon the trade of each such part of our Empire with the other parts, with our United Kingdom, and with the rest of the world ; upon the extent, if any, » whbh ths mutual trade of the several parts of our Empire has been or is being affected beneficially or otherwise by the laws now in force, other than fiscal laws ; and, generally, to suggest any methods, consistent always with the existing fiscal policy of each part of our Empire, by which the trade of each part with the others and with our United Kingdom may be improved and extended : Now know ye that We, reposing our great trust and confidence in your knowledge and ability, have authorized and appointed, and do by these presents authorize and appoint you, the said James Lyle, Baron Inchcape, Sir Edgar Vincent, Sir Charles John Owens, Sir Henry Eider Haggard, Tom Garnett, William Lorimer, George Eulas Foster, Donald Campbell, Sir Joseph George Ward, Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, and Edgar Rennie Bowring, to be our Commissioners for the purposes of the said inquiry : And for the better effecting the purposes of this our Commission, We do by these presents give and grant unto you, or any five or more of you, full power to call before you such persons as you shall judge likely to afford you any information upon the, subject of this our Commission ; and also to call for, have access to, and examine all such books, documents, registers, and records as may afford you the fullest information on the subject, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever : And We do by these presents authorize and empower you, or any five or more of you, to visit and personally inspect such places as you may deem it expedient so to inspect for the more effectual carrying-out of the purposes aforesaid : And We do by these presents will and ordain that this our Commission shall in full force and virtue, and that you, our said Commissioners, or any five or more of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment : And We do further ordain that you, or any five or more of you, have liberty to report your proceedings under this our Commission from time to time if you shall judge it expedient so to do : And our further will and pleasure is that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us, under your hands and seals, or under the hands and seals of any five or more of you, your opinion upon the matters herein submitted for your consideration : And for the purpose of aiding you in your inquiries We hereby appoint our trusty and well-beloved William Arthur Robinson, Esquire, Bachelor of Arts, of the Colonial Office, to be Secretary to this our Commission. Given at our Court at Saint James's, this fifteenth day of April, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, in the second year of our reign. By His Majesty's command, L. Harcourt. Migration. Memorandum (B). The Dominions Royal Commission appointed in pursuance of the 20th resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, and representing the United Kingdom and the self-governing dominions —viz., the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland —proposes, inter alia, to inquire into the existing arrangements for the migration of population between the United Kingdom and the self-governing dominions, with a view to considering whether it can make any practical suggestions in connection therewith for the consideration of the respective Governments. To assist it in this inquiry, the Commission will be glad to receive answers to the following questions : — 1. What are the objects of your organization with reference to migration from this country ? 2. What methods do you adopt for the promotion of migration to and settlement in the dominions ? 3. Can you give figures of migration to the dominions under the auspices of your organization back to the year 1901, a statement of the cost of such migration per head, and figures to show what proportion of those who migrated have, in your opinion, proved successful ? Can you state what classes of the population were most concerned in such migration ? 4. From what sources is the income of your organization derived, and what is the amount from each source ? 5. To what extent do the persons who migrate themselves contribute to the cost of their migration and settlement ? H 6. Do you consider that the methods now existing, whether public or private, of organizing, encouraging, directing, assisting, and controlling migration and settlement should be expanded, and if so, can you suggest any definite directions in which this could be done ?

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7. Generally, will you give any views which you may have on the subject of migration from the United Kingdom to the dominions, and settlement therein, not covered by the foregoing questions ? It is requested that answers to the above questions may be sent, in writing, if possible before the 30th November next, to the Secretary, Dominions Royal Commission, Scotland House, Victoria Embankment, S.W. Due notice will be given when the Commission will be ready to hear oral evidence, and witnesses will be invited to attend.

Dominions Royal Commission. —Minutes op First Meeting (13th June, 1912). The first meeting was held on the 13th June, at 3 p.m., at Scotland House, Lord Inchcape in the chair. There were present the representatives of the United Kingdom, the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland, together with the secretarial staff. The Secretary read the Royal Commission and a memorandum explaining as to the informal meeting of the United Kingdom Commissioners on the 16th April. The following papers were before the Commission : Notes as to the points to be considered at the meeting ; memorandum on the food and raw-material requirements of the United Kingdom ; letter from the Royal Colonial Institute. The Committee proceeded to consider the notes above mentioned. Note (A) — Tours of Commission —was fully discussed. Doubt was expressed whether the report of the Commission could be ready in time for the Imperial Conference, 1915 ; but it was agreed that every effort should be made to secure the result, as the Conference only meets every four years. It was agreed to undertake first the work in the United Kingdom, the general scheme being to circulate memoranda of questions as widely as possible, and to assemble about the beginning of October to hear evidence. It was agreed, on the question of the tours in the dominions, to take the tour to Australia and New Zealand first, the Commission to arrive there not before the end of February, 1913. It was agreed to defer consideration of the other tours. The possibility of dividing the Commission, (a) for whole tcfurs, and (b) for a single tour after arrival in the dominion concerned, was also considered. It was thought that while the Commission might well be divided after arrival in a dominion, so as to do the work in that dominion more thoroughly, it might be well that it should go as a whole to all the dominions. The matter was, however, left open. Note (B) — Expenses and Staffing of Commission —was generally approved, it being understood that communications with the dominions as to the assistance which their representatives thought they could properly give to the Commission in the preparation of statistics, circulation of questions, preparation of an itinerary, &c, should be by despatch through the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Note (C) — Definition of Fiscal Law and Fiscal Policy —was fully discussed. The questions were raised whether differential railway rates could not properly be considered by the Commission, whether the Commission should not include in its report a statement without comment of fiscal arrangements actually prevailing, whether under the terms of reference it was not open to the Commission to deal with and, if thought proper, suggest an extension of the preferential arrangements now in force between certain of the dominions. The statement of existing fiscal arrangements was admitted to be of use and interest. It was finally decided that the Commission should adopt the following formula to express its attitude in regard to fiscal law and fiscal policy : " The Commission is precluded by its terms of reference from inquiring into or receiving evidence as to the effects of Customs or tariff laws." Note (D) — Position of India and the Crown Colonies —was considered and generally approved, but the representative of Canada desired to consider the matter further and raise it again at a later stage. Note (E) — General Work of the Commission —was partly considered. It was agreed,— (a.) That the year 1901 was suitable for adoption as a general starting-point for statistical materials, though it was thought doubtful whether — e.g., in the case of the Union of South Africa—figures would be available, and, if available, would be of use owing to the interruption of trade during the period of the war : (6.) That the dominion Governments should be asked to co-operate by furnishing statistics as to natural resources and production, manufacture, and distribution of articles of commerce, on bases approved by the Commission, the view being that they are in a better position to produce adequate figures than the Commission could possibly be : (c.) That it should be a general instruction to restrict details as far as possible to the main products of a dominion, and the principal articles of commerce : {d.) That in the course of the statistical work of the Commission the question of the prevailing differences in the method of preparing statistics should be investigated, with a view, if possible, to the establishment of a common basis : (c.) That the procedure for the general inquiry, as distinguished from the statistical inquiry, should be to circulate a memorandum of questions as widely as possible in the United Kingdom, and to request the dominion Governments to circulate the same memorandum at their discretion. It was agreed that the form of the memorandum should be referred to a sub-committee consisting of the Chairman, Sir Rider Haggard, and Mr! Foster : (/.) That a separate memorandum as to emigration should be considered by the same subcommittee.

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Note (&) — Alien Immigration Legislation —was fully considered. The general view was that this subject was not covered by the terms of reference. There was a difference of opinion as to whether it should or should not be considered by the Commission in view of the resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, remitting it to the Commission. It was finally agreed that the Chairman should discuss the matter with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Commission adjourned at 5.15 till Monday, the 17th June. , 17th June, 1912. Inchoape, Chairman. Dominions Royal Commission. —Minutes of Second Meeting (16th June, 1912). The Commission met at 3 p.m. on the 16th June, Lord Inchcape in the chair. There were present the representatives of the United Kingdom (with the exception of Mr. Garnett, who was unavoidably absent on public business), the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland, together with the secretarial staff. The minutes of the first meeting were read and approved. The Chairman reported the result of his interview with the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the question of alien-immigration legislation. His Lordship stated that a telegram had been sent to the oversea dominions indicating that the members of the Commission considered it undesirable for the Commission to deal with the matter, and inviting their views. The Chairman stated that the sub-committee appointed at the first meeting to draft memoranda of questions for circulation had framed a memorandum of questions as to trade, but desired more time to consider a memorandum of questions as to migration. The memoranda as to trade was approved, after discussion by the Commission, in the form appended to these minutes (A). The letter from the Royal Colonial Institute forwarding a memorial and resolutions from their Empire Trade and Industry Committee for the consideration of the Commission was considered, and the Secretary was instructed to inform the Institute that an opportunity would be given for oral evidence as to it when the Commission assembles in October, and that memoranda of questions framed by the Commission would be forwarded in due course. The Commission further considered the question of the statistical information to be collected for the purposes of its inquiry, and decided that it should be remitted to a sub-committee consisting of the Chairman, Sir Edgar Vincent, Sir Rider Haggard, Mr. Campbell, and Sir Richard Solomon, the secretarial staff to prepare materials for this committee to consider at its meetings in July. The Commission adjourned at 4.15 p.m. till Friday, the 21st June, at 3 p.m. Inchoape.

(A) Memorandum. Part of the task intrusted to the Dominions Royal Commission is to make the widest possible inquiry into the natural resources of the self-governing dominions, their present and possible development, and into the facilities for the production, manufacture, and distribution of all articles of commerce therein ; into the food and raw-material requirements of those dominions and the United Kingdom, and the available sources of supply thereof; into the trade of the self-governing dominions and the United Kingdom, each part with the others and with the rest of the world : with the object of showing the natural resources and trade of the Empire, and of offering suggestions for the development of those resources and the extension of that trade. The self-governing dominions are the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland. The Commission is precluded by its terms of reference from inquiring into or receiving evidence as to the effects of Customs or tariff laws. Subject to this limitation, the Commission desires to receive— (1.) Suggestions as to any methods by which the trade above mentioned could be improved and extended ; and, as contributory thereto, (2.) Particulars of any legislation and of any administrative arrangement —-(a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in any self-governing dominion —which is considered detrimental to the trade above mentioned, with a statement of the reasons therefor and suggestions for amendment, if any; (3.) Particulars as to any concrete instances in which the trade above mentioned has suffered in recent years, the reasons and suggested remedies. It is requested that written information may be sent, if possible, before the 31st August to the Secretary, Dominions' Royal Commission, ScotlandjHouse, Victoria Embankment, London'S.W. Due notice will be given when the Commission will be ready to receive oral evidence, and witnesses will be invited to attend.

Dominions Royal Commission. —Minutes of Third Meeting (20th June, 1912). The Commission met at 3 p.m. on the 20th June, Lord Inchcape in the chair. There were present the representatives of the United Kingdom, the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland, together with the secretarial staff.

7—A. 2.

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The minutes of the second meeting were read and approved. The Commission proceeded to consider draft forms of questions to be circulated in connection with the subject of migration from the United Kingdom to the self-governing dominions, and, after discussion, approved them in the form appended, Form A for circulation to Government Departments and Form B for circulation to private organizations interested in the question, a list of which was before the Commission. The Secretary was instructed to exercise discretion so as to secure adequate circulation. The Chairman pointed out that County Councils in England, Wales, and Scotland had certain statutory powers to assist migration by means of loaned moneys, which powers have not been exercised. It was thought advisable that inquiry should be made as to the precise reasons why the powers had not been exercised, and the Secretary was instructed to do so. It was decided that the Commission might with advantage endeavour to obtain from Australia and New Zealand answers to the questions as to migration from Government Departments and private organizations in those dominions by the 30th November. The form of questions as to trade approved at the second meeting was amended by inserting after " Dominions Royal Commission," in the first line, the words " appointed in pursuance of the 20th resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, and representing the United Kingdom and the self-governing dominions " ; and after " information may be sent," in the first line of the last paragraph, the words " together with a precis of points on which it is desired to tender oral evidence, and a copy of materials proposed to be laid before the Commission, if any." It was decided that, in addition to being circulated in the United Kingdom, this form should be sent as soon as practicable to Australia and New Zealand, answers to be made returnable by the 30th November, so that the Commission might have the opportunity of perusing them before starting for Australia and New Zealand and on the voyage out. It was decided that despatch of the form to the other dominions should be postponed for the time and adjusted later, so as to produce the same result. It was pointed out that the decisions taken by the Commission necessitate the writing of despatches to the dominions explaining the work proposed to be undertaken, and inviting the co-operation of their Governments. It was agreed that the draft of these despatches should be approved by the oversea members of the Commission, and that a meeting of the Chairman and those members should be held on the 28th June for the purpose. The representative of Canada raised the question whether information as to the natural resources of the United Kingdom should not be included in the statistical materials to be prepared. Though the preparation of such information is not contemplated by the terms of reference, he pointed out that a summary statement of the natural resources in question would be of value as completing the materials to be collected under this head for purposes of information and comparison, and could probably be put together without excessive difficulty from published materials. After discussion the matter was remitted for consideration by the Statistics Sub-committee appointed at the second meeting of the Commission. The Commission adjourned at 4.45 p.m., having completed the consideration of the interpretation of its terms of reference and of the general procedure to be adopted to carry out the work intrusted to it.

No. 63. New Zealand, No. 205. My Lord,— Downing Street, 12th July, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 155, of the 24th May, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Government will be represented at the International Exhibition to be held at San Francisco in 1915 to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. I have, &c, L. HARCOUKT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 64. New Zealand, No. 207. My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th July, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 6th instant, reporting that the Ministry under the Hon. T. Mackenzie have been defeated, and have resigned, and that Mr. Massey, the Leader of the Opposition, has accepted the responsibility of forming a new Ministry. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 65. New Zealand, No. 208. My Lord,— Downing Street, 12th July, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of an Act of the Imperial Parliament, 2 & 3 George V, chapter 6, entitled " An Act to make such Amendments in the Law relating to the Government of India as are Consequential on the Appointment of a Separate Governor of Fort William in Bengal, and Other Administrative Changes in the Local Government of India." I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Chapter 6. An Act to make such. Amendments in the Law relating to the Government of India as are Consequential on the Appointment of a Separate Governor of Fort William in Bengal, and Other Administrative Changes in the Local Government of India. [25th June, 19 J 2 J Whekeas His Majesty has been pleased to appoint a Governor of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal as delimited by a Proclamation made by the Governor-General in Council, and dated the twentysecond day of March, nineteen hundred and twelve : And whereas the Governor-General in Council by two further Proclamations of the same date has constituted a new province under a Lieutenant-Governor, styled the Province of Bihar and-Orissa, and has taken the Province of Assam under the immediate authority and management of the GovernorGeneral in Council: And whereas it is expedient to declare what powers are exercisable by the Governor and Governor in Council of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal, and to make other provisions with respect to the administrative changes effected as aforesaid : Be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. (1.) It is hereby declared that the Governor and Governor in Council of the Presidency of Fort William, in Bengal shall, within, that presidency as so delimited as aforesaid, have all the rights, duties, functions, and immunities which the Governors and Governors in Council of the Presidencies of Fort St. George and Bombay respectively possess ; and all enactments relating to the Governors of those presidencies and the Councils (whether for executive or legislative purposes) thereof and the members of those Councils shall apply accordingly to the Governor of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal, and his Council and the members of that Council : Provided that — (a.) If the Governor-General in Council reserves to himself any powers now exercisable by him in relation to the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal, those powers shall continue to be exercisable by the Governor-General in Council in the like manner and to the like extent as heretofore ; and (/;.) It shall not be obligatory to nominate the Advocate-General of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal, or any officer acting in that capacity, to be a member of the Legislative Council of the Governor of that presidency. (2.) The power of the Governor-General in Council under section one of the Indian Presidency Towns Act, 1815, to extend the limits of the Town of Calcutta shall be transferred to the Governor in Council of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal. 2. The provisions of subsection one of section three of the Indian Councils Act, 1909 (which relate to the constitution of Provincial Executive Councils), shall apply to the Province of Bihar and Orissa in like manner as they applied to the Province of the Bengal Division of the Presidency of Fort William. 3. It shall be lawful for the Governor-General in Council by Proclamation to extend, subject to such modifications and adaptations as he may consider necessary, the provisions of the Indian Councils Acts, 1861 to 1909, touching the making of laws and regulations for the peace and good government of provinces under Lieutenant-Governors (including the provisions as to the constitution of Legislative Councils for such provinces and the business to be transacted therein) to any territories for the time being under a Chief Commissioner, and where such provisions have been applied to any such territories the proviso to section three of the Government of India Act, 1854 (which relates to the alteration of laws and regulations in such territories), shall not those territories. 4. (1.) The enactments mentioned in Part I of the Schedule to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments therein specified, and section fifty-seven of the East India Company Act, 1793, and section seventy-one of the Government of India Act, 1833 (which relate to the filling-up of vacancies in the Indian Civil Service), and the other enactments mentioned in Part II of that Schedule are hereby repealed. (2.) Nothing in this Act or in the said recited Proclamations shall affect the power of the GovernorGeneral in Council of making new distributions and arrangements of territories into and among the

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various presidencies and Lieutenant-Governorships, and it is hereby declared that the said power extends to territories under the immediate authority and management of the Governor-General in Council as well as to territories subject to the several presidencies and Lieutenant-Governorships. 5. This Act may be cited as the Government of India Act, 1912, and shall come into operation on such day as the Governor-General in Council, with the approval of,the Secretary of State in Council, may appoint. SCHEDULE. Part I. — Amendments. In section fifty of the Indian Councils Act, 1861 (24 & 25 Vict., c. 67), after the words " then in every such case," there shall be inserted the words " the Governor of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal." In the First Schedule to the Indian Councils Act, 1909 (9 Edw. VII, c. 4), there shall be inserted — " Legislative Council of the Governor of Fort William in Bengal .. 50 " Legislative Council of the Lieu tenant-Governor of Bihar and Orissa .. 50 " Part II. — Repeals. Sections fifty-three and fifty-seven of the East India Company Act, 1793 (33 Geo. 111, c. 52). In section sixty-two of the Government of India Act, 1833 (3 & 4 Will. IV, c. 85), the words " and Governor of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal," and section seventy-one of the same Act. In section fifty of the Indian Councils Act, 1861 (24 & 25 Vict., c. 67), the words " and Governor of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal." In the First Schedule to the Indian Councils Act, 1909 (9 Ewd. VII, c. 4), the following words : — " Legislative Council of the Lieutenant-Governor of the Bengal Division of the Presidency of Fort William .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 " Legislative Council of the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Eastern Bengal and Assam .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 "

No. 66. New Zealand, No. 209. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th July, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 192, of the 3rd July, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your|Ministers, the accompanying copy .of a despatch from the Governor of South Australia on the subject of the resolution of the Imperial Conference in favour of continuing the policy of encouraging British emigrants to proceed to British dominions rather than to foreign countries. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. No. 29. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir, — Government House, Adelaide, 28th May, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 34, of 27th March last, I have the honour to report that my Ministers acquaint me that the emigration policy indicated by the resolution of the Imperial Conference is in accord with that of the present Government of the State of South Australia. I have, &c, Day H. Bosanquet, Governor.

No. 67. New Zealand, No. 211. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th July, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 11th instant, reporting the formation of a new Ministry in New Zealand, under the Hon. W. F. Massey. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hoti. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 68. New Zealand.—Honours. My Lord,— , Downing Street, 22nd July, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the 13th June, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship, for presentation to Mr. Donald Robertson and Mr. John Strauchon, their badges as Companions of the Imperial Service Order, together with letters addressed to them containing their warrants of appointment, and copies of the statutes of the order. Mr. Eobertson and Mr. Strauchon should be requested to send an acknowledgment of the receipt of their insignia direct to the Secretary of the Imperial Service Order. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 69. New Zealand, No. 221. My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th July, 1912. I have the honour to inform you that I communicated to the Secretary of State for Home Affairs your telegram of the 12th instant, forwarding a message of sympathy in connection with the disaster at Cadeby Colliery, Yorkshire. Mr. McKenna has sent a copy of the message to the Inspector in charge of the district for communication to the relatives of the deceased and to the management of the mine, and he desires that an expression of thanks may be conveyed to you and to your Government and the people of New Zealand on behalf of himself and those concerned. I have. &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 70. New Zealand, No. 222. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th July, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 64, of the 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 Army Council on the subject of the granting of permission to members of the Army Special Reserve to emigrate to the oversea dominions. 2. I shall be glad to learn whether your Government sees any objection to the application in the case of these men of the arrangements which have already been made by your Government in the case of calling-out of Army Reservists. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir,— War Office, London S.W., 18th July, 1912. 1 am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that their attention has been drawn to the fact that the existing regulation which prohibits permanent residence in the dominions or colonies in the case of men serving in the Special Reserve is not altogether satisfactory. It has been pointed out that such men, more particularly those engaged as country labourers, frequently experience considerable difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory livelihood at Home, and that the reduction in their small capital involved by the necessity of purchasing their discharge from the Special Reserve may seriously handicap them in their new career should they wish to emigrate. The Council are unwilling to place obstacles in the way of men who are actuated by a laudable desire to better their condition, and who may reasonably be expected to prove successful in their new surroundings. They therefore propose to amend the existing regulations to the extent of permitting the responsible officers to grant leave to would-be emigrants for the remainder of their Special Reserve engagements on the understanding that until duly discharged they will be liable to recall on mobilization, their travelling-expenses if they are conveyed to the United Kingdom being defrayed from Imperial funds. Before effect can be given to this proposal, however, it is clear that some machinery will be required to admit of touch being kept with men who have been granted leave under these conditions.

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As the men would not be entitled to draw pay, all that would be required in normal times is that, as in the case of Army Reservists, a record should be kept in the dominion or colony of the names and addresses and date of expiration of service' of Special Reservists permitted to reside there, the men being instructed on arrival to keep the local authorities acquainted with any subsequent changes in address, in order that there should be no difficulty in securing the safe transmission of their dischargecertificates when received from the responsible officers in this country. In the event of a Special Reservist not keeping the local authorities informed of his movements, the discharge-certificate should be returned to the officer from whom it was received. On a general mobilization being ordered it would be necessary for all the Special Reservists in a colony to be so advised by the Colonial or State Treasurer. They would then be dealt with on the same lines as Army Reservists who have been granted leave to reside in the oversea dominions. Under arrangements concerted between the two Departments in 1906, machinery already exists in the various dominions, colonies, and protectorates for paying and discharging men of the Army Reserve permitted to reside there ; the Council do not, therefore, anticipate that the present proposal regarding the Special Reserve will add appreciably to the work already performed by the dominion and colonial authorities on behalf of this Office, and, in view of the important consideration involved in this proposal, they would be glad if the Secretary of State for the Colonies would agree to ascertain whether the various self-governing dominions and colonies would be prepared to agree to the requisite instructions being issued to their officers. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. R. H. Brads:.

No. 71. New Zealand—Miscellaneous. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th July, 1912. With reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 37, of the 17th March, 1911, I have the honour to transmit to you the new Public Seal which has been prepared for the Dominion of New Zealand, together with the Royal Warrant authorizing its use. 2. The High Commissioner for New Zealand has been requested to make arrangements for the shipment of the press belonging to the Seal. 3. I have to request that the Seal now in use may be returned to this Department, with a view to its defacement by His Majesty in Council, and that the old Seal press may be returned to the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. George, R.I. Warrant authorizing the use of a Seal prepared for the Dominion of New Zealand. To our Governor and Commander-in-Chief of our Dominion of New Zealand, or, in his absence, to our Lieutenant-Governor or other officer for the time being Administering the Government of our said Dominion. With this you will receive a Seal prepared by our order ■ for the use of the Government of our Dominion of New Zealand. Our will and pleasure is, and We do hereby authorize and direct, that the said Seal be used in sealing all public instruments which shall be made and passed in our name and for our service in our said Dominion. And We further require and command that you do return the old Seal of New Zealand to Us, through one of our Principal Secretaries of State, in order to its being defaced in like manner with other Seals by Us in our Privy Council. And for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given at our Court of Saint James's, this twenty-ninth day of July, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, in the third year of our reign. By His Majesty's command, L. Harcourt.

No. 72. New Zealand, No. 224. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist August, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 91, of the 13th June, forwarding copies of further resolutions passed by various public bodies in New Zealand expressing sympathy with those who have suffered through the loss of the " Titanic." I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 73. New Zealand, No. 231. My Lori;,— Downing Street, 2nd August, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 175, of the 13th June, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, prints of a despatch from the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa oh the subject of the mutual enforcement throughout His Majesty's dominions of judgments, orders of Courts of justice, and arbitration awards arising out of commercial contracts. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. No. 431. The Governor-General to the Seorutary of State. Sir, — Governor-General's Office, Cape Town, 26th June, L 912. I have the honour to transmit to yon herewith, with reference to your despatch, No. 153, of the 27th March, a copy of a minute from Ministers, on the subject of the resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in 1911 in favour of the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, including judgments and orders as to commercial awards. I have, &c, Gladstone, Go vernor-G eneral.

Ministers to Governor-General. Minute No. 568. Prime Minister's Office, Cape Town, 25th June, 1912. Ministers have the honour to inform His Excellency the Governor-General that they have taken into consideration the terms of the resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in 1911 in favour of the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, including judgments and orders as to commercial awards. 2. Ministers have further the honour to inform His Excellency that they agree in principle with the recommendations contained in the resolution referred to, a principle which has been recognized by section 112 of the South African Act in connection with mutual enforcement of the judgments and orders of the several provinces of the Union. 3. Ministers are advised that section 112 would, if the requisite modifications were made as to the description of the several superior Courts and officers of superior Courts of the United Kingdom and the dominions, and the processes of those Courts, be the most suitable form that the Imperial Act could take. 4. Ministers assume that a clause would be inserted making the Act operative in respect of any part of His Majesty's dominions only if adequate provision existed in that part for enforcing the judgments and orders of other parts of His Majesty's dominions. Louis Botha.

No. 74. New Zealand, No. 239. My Loed, — Downing Street, 9th August, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 3rd August, reporting that the application for ths grant of the title " King George's Sailors' Institute " in connection with the sailors' institute which is being erected at Port Lyttelton is supported by your Government and yourself. 2. I have accordingly submitted the application for His Majesty's consideration, and, as you have been informed by my telegram of the Bth August, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve the use of the proposed title. 3. At the same time, I have to point out that it does not appear clear from your despatch, No. 30, of the 23rd February, whether the future financial position of this institute is secured. I observe that arrangements have been made under which the institute will be opened free of debt, and I presume that before recommending the grant of the title you have satisfied yourself that there is no probability of the institute being involved in financial difficulties. 4. I take this opportunity to invite your attention to the circular despatch of the Bth December, 1899, of which a copy is enclosed for convenience of reference. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 75. New Zealand, No. 247. My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd August, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 90, of the 13th June,"l have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Army Council see no objection to permission being granted for officers of the New Zealand Military Forces who were awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration prior to the 17th March, 1911, to have the letters " V.D." placed after their names in the New Zealand Army List, and for officers awarded the decoration after that date to have the letters " T.D." so placed. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.8.0., &c.

No. 76. New Zealand, No. 246. My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd August, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information, and for communication to your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a list which has been approved by His Majesty the King showing the order in which orders, decorations, and medals should be worn. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. The following list shows the order in which orders, decorations, and medals should be worn, but it in no way affects the precedence conferred by the statutes of certain orders upon the members thereof :— Victoria Cross. Order of the Garter. Order of the Thistle. Order of St. Patrick. Order of the Bath. Order of Merit (immediately after Knights Grand Cross of the Bath), Order of the Star of India. Order of St. Michael and St. George. Order of the Indian Empire. Royal Victorian Order. Distinguished Service Order. Imperial Service Order. Royal Victorian Order (Fifth Class). Order of British India. *Indian Order of Merit (Military). Kaisar-i-hind Medal. Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England. Queen Victoria's Jubilee Medal, 1887. (Gold, silver, and bronze.) Queen Victoria's Police Jubilee Medal, 1887. Queen Victoria's Jubilee Medal, 1897. (Gold, silver, and bronze.) Queen Victoria's Police Jubilee Medal, 1897. Queen Victoria's Commemoration Medal, 1900. (Ireland.) King Edward's Coronation Medal. King.Edward's Police Coronation Medal. King Edward's Durbar Medal. (Gold, silver, and bronze.) King's Medal, 1903. (Ireland.) King George's Coronation Medal. King George's Police Coronation Medal. King's Visit Commemoration Medal, 1911. (lieland.) King George's Durbar Medal. (Gold, silver, and bronze.) Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field (Military). Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Naval). Conspicuous Service Cross (Naval). War Medals (in order of date). Arctic Medal, 1815-55. Arctic Medal, 1876. Antarctic Medal, 1901-3. Constabulary Medal. (Ireland.) Albert Medal. Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life at Sea. *Indian Order of Merit (Civil). * The Indian Order of Merit (Military and Civil) is distinct from the Order of Merit instituted in 1902.

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Edward Medal. Indian Distinguished-service Medal. King's Police Medal. Long-service and Good-conduct Medal. Naval Long-service and Good-conduct Medal. Medal for Meritorious Service. Indian Long-service and Good-conduct Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army). Indian Meritorious-service Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army). Royal Marine Meritorious-service Medal. Indian Long-service and Good-conduct Medal (for Native Army). Indian Meritorious-service Medal (for Native Army). Volunteer Officers' Decoration. Volunteer Long-service Medal. Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the colonies. Volunteer Long-service Medal for India and the colonies. Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. Colonial Auxiliary Forces' Long-Service Medal. Medal for Good Shooting (Naval). Militia Long-service Medal. Imperial Yeomanry Long-service Medal. Territorial Efficiency Medal. Territorial Decoration. Special Reserve Long-service and Good-conduct Medal. Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve. Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Royal Naval Reserve Long-service and Good-conduct Medal. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long-service Medal. Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal. Royal Victorian Medal. (Gold and silver.) Imperial Service Medal. Medal of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England. Badge of the Order of the League of Mercy. Royal Victorian Medal. (Bronze.) Foreign orders (in order of date). Foreign decorations (in order of date). Foreign medals (in order of date). Lord Chamberlain's Office, St. James's Palace, June, 1912.

No. 77. New Zealand, No. 250. My Lord, — Downing Street, 29th August, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 109, of the 12th July, notifying the appointment to the Legislative Council of New Zealand of Major the Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Kt., the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, and T. Parata, Esq. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 78. New Zealand, No. 252. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th August, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the rec?ipt of your despatch, No. 103, of the 11th July, forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by the Christchurch Branch of the New Zealand Anti-Opium Association on the subject 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.

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No. 79. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th August, 1912. With reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 107, of the 11th July, I have the honour to request yoii to inform your Prime Minister that His Majesty the

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King has been pleased to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, who has served for more than three years as a member of the Executive Council of the Dominion of New Zealand, A notification to this effect will be published in the London Gazette. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 80. New Zealand, N0.'253. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th August, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 105, of the 11th July, forwarding copies of your Speech at the opening of the second session of the Eighteenth Parliament of New Zealand, and of the Addresses in Eeply from the Legislative Council and the House of Eepresentatives. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 81. New Zealand, No. 265. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th September, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No, 119, of the Ist August, forwarding Addresses from the Legislative Council and the House of Eepresentatives, expressing deep sympathy with the Empress and Eoyal Family of Japan and with the Japanese nation on the death of His Imperial Majesty the late Emperor. 2. The substance of these addresses was conveyed to me in your telegram of the same date, and was duly communicated by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Japanese Ambassador. A copy of a Note from His Excellency expressing the thanks of the Eoyal Family of Japan and of the Japanese nation was transmitted to you in my despatch, No. 248, of the 23rd August. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 82. New Zealand, No. 269. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th September, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a memorandum which the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have thought it desirable to issue to the Press in this country in order to correct a misapprehension which has arisen owing to the incorrect use of the term " cattle plague " in connection with the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will take steps to bring the memorandum to the notice of the agricultural associations and other persons interested in the Dominion. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4, Whitehall Place, S.W., sth September, 1912. The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries desire to call attention to the fact that the employment from time to time in the newspaper press and elsewhere of the phrase " cattle plague " in connection with the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in this country has given rise to considerable apprehension in Continental countries, and is calculated to be prejudicial to the interests of British stockowners. The Board wish, therefore, specifically to state that no case of cattle plague (pesle bovine, rinderpest) has recently occurred in the United Kingdom, which has been absolutely free from that disease since the year 1877 —that is, for more than thirty-five years past.

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No. 83. New Zealand, No. 275. My Lord,— Downing Street, 20th September, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 123, of the Bth August, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a memorandum which has been prepared by the Board of Trade summarizing the information at present available on the subject of the Panama - Pacific International Exhibition of 1915. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Memorandum of Information respecting the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, 1915. The Panama-Pacific International Exhibition will be held at San Francisco from the 20th February to the 4th December, 1915, to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. Site. The site of the Exhibition is in the portion of the city known as Harbour View, lying between the Government reservations at Fort Mason and the Presidio, connecting by a military highway through the Presidio to Lincoln Park, the high promontory on the west end of the peninsula, and thence by boulevard to Golden Gate Park. Management. The Exhibition has been promoted by the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition Company, with a board of thirty directors composed of prominent business men of San Francisco. The President of the Exhibition is Mr. Charles C. Moore, and the Business Director Mr. F. J. Skiff, who was responsible for the practical organization and management of the St. Louis Exhibition in 1904. Finances. The company was incorporated under the laws of the State of California on the 22nd March, 1910, with a capital of 10,000,000 dollars, of which it is stated that 7,500,000 dollars has already been subscribed. It is understood that the State of California has appropriated 5,000,000 dollars for the Exhibition and that the City of San Francisco will subscribe a similar amount, while it is expected that a further sum of from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 dollars will be realized from a tax to be levied within the State of California for the purpose of organizing exhibits of the resources of the different counties of that State. It is understood that sums amounting in all to over one million sterling have already been appropriated by the various States of the Union for the construction of their pavilions. Classification. Exhibits will be classified under eleven headings, viz : (1) Fine arts ; (2) education ; (3) social economy; (4) liberal arts; (5) manufactures; (6) machinery; (7) transportation; (8) agriculture; (9) live-stock ; (10) horticulture ; and (11) mines and metallurgy. Buildings. Separate buildings will be provided for the exhibits included under each of the above-mentioned headings, foreign and domestic exhibits being shown together in the building allotted to the heading under which they are classed. These buildings will each have an area of 5J acres, and will be separated from each other by a passage of approximately 150 ft. The buildings will be of wood construction, coated with either " staffe "or concrete. Quick-growing vines will be planted to cover all the buildings, and it is thought that these will constitute an additional protection against fire. It is stated that the method of construction of the buildings has been approved in principle by the American insurance companies, by whom the various buildings will be carefully inspected, and who, in view of their past experiences, will doubtless insist upon additional precautions being taken if they consider the existing ones inadequate. The Exhibition authorities have announced their intention of installing overhead sprinklers in all the buildings, as well as an ample number of hydrants from which water can be obtained at a pressure sufficient to cover buildings 160 ft. high, though as a matter of fact no building erected by the Exhibition authorities will exceed 70 ft. in height. In addition to the municipal fire service, the Exhibition authorities state that they will be able to rely on a fleet of powerful fire-steamers, which, owing to the proximity of the Exhibition to the harbour, will be able to approach within short distance of any of the buildings, and deluge them if necessary. • The total area available for exhibits within the Exhibition buildings will be 83 acres, of which 49 per cent, will be reserved for exhibits from foreign countries. In addition, there will be 60 acres available for the installation of exhibits in the grounds. Application for sites in the various buildings must be sent in not later than the Ist June, 1913. No charge will be made for any space allotted to foreign Governments in buildings erected by the Exhibition authorities, nor will any charge be made for space required by foreign Governments for the erection of their own buildings. It is expected that the buildings will be ready for the installation of exhibits by the beginning of 1914.

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Facilities for the Handling of Exhibits. It is understood that special wharves will be built for the discharge of cargoes direct from oceangoing steamers, whence lines will be laid on which trollies conveying goods can be drawn right up to and into the buildings themselves. Inside the buildings the goods will be handled by a manutention service provided by the Exhibition authorities, for which a charge will be made. Should exhibitors wish to provide this service themselves they will be at liberty to do so. Arrangements will be made for the storage of empty packing-cases at the rates charged by local warehousemen. Exhibitors can, however, if they wish, make their own arrangements for this service, but no empty cases will be allowed to remain within the building. Power, Steam, Gas, and Water Supply. An ample supply of electric power, steam, gas, and water will be available for the use of exhibitors at charges based upon the local rates. Customs Regulations. The Exhibition will be treated as a bonded warehouse, and only Customs declaration forms of the most simple character will be required, in order to identify goods re-exported at the close of the Exhibition. Any goods not so re-exported will have, in accordance with present arrangements, to pay the duty imposed by the revenue laws in force at the time of their importation. The Exhibition authorities are, however, endeavouring to procure the passage of a law under which goods sold should only be taxed in accordance with their value on the day of their sale, and not the day of their importation. No decision has, however, as yet been arrived at on this point. No goods may be sold for delivery before the close of the Exhibition. No duty will be levied on show-cases or material required for the decoration of sites allotted to foreign countries, nor on furniture, books, stationery, &c, required for use at the offices of foreign Commissioners. Should goods employed for decorative purposes, such as hangings, linoleum, glue, nails, &c, be unfit for re-exportation at the close of the Exhibition, they may be declared abandoned, and no duty will be payable. There are no octroi or other municipal dues in force at San Francisco. Labour. The board of directors state that every safeguard will be taken to avoid the occurrence of strikes, and in this connection they remark that the majority of the unions are themselves so interested in the success of the Exhibition that it is improbable that any of their employees will strike. In the event of a strike, however, the State laws permit the importation of " blackleg " labour. It is stated that there will be no restriction whatever to the employment of foreign labourers should foreign Commissioners desire to employ workmen from their own countries. Awards. The adjudication of awards will be undertaken by a series of four juries—namely, class, group, department, and superior juries. With regard to the appointment of the jurors, it is stated that this subject will be discussed at a meeting of the Exhibition authorities with the foreign Commissioners, to be held some time before the opening of the Exhibition.

No. 84. New Zealand, No. 276. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th September, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 262, of the 28th July, 1911, I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that the Suez Canal Company have decided to make a reduction in the Suez Canal transit dues by 50 centimes per ton from the Ist January next. The dues will thus be reduced to 6 francs 25 centimes per ton for loaded ships and 3 francs 75 centimes per ton foi ships in ballast. I have, &c, L. HARCOUKT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, X.C.M.d, D.5.0., &c.

No. 85. New Zealand, No. 284. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd October, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 78, of the 6th June, on the subject of the request of the Lyttelton Harbour Board to be allowed to fly on its vessel the Blue Ensign with the Board's badge, with cross anchors and the letters " N.Z." in the centre, and four stars at the end of the flag.

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2. I have submitted the request of the Board for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and they now inform me that, in their opinion, the use of the Blue Ensign should be limited to vessels actually employed by Government Departments. In the opinion of their Lordships, this limitation is now particularly desirable in view of the acceptance by the Governments of Canada and the Commonwealth of Australia at the last Imperial Conference of the proposal that the distinctive dominion flag— i.e., the Blue Ensign with the badge of the dominion —should be used as a " Jack " in His Majesty's Canadian and Australian ships. 3. The Port of London Authority and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board are the only harbour authorities which have received permission to fly the Blue Ensign, and this privilege was only granted to them in consideration of the exceptional conditions of the ports under their jurisdiction. I have, &c, L. HAKCOUKT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 86. New Zealand, No. 300. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th October, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the eligibility of New Zealand cadets at the Australian Naval College for entry into the Royal Navy. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT.

The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sir,— Admiralty, 14th October, 1912. With reference to your letter of the 17th ultimo, No. 29338, enclosing copy of a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that on the information at present available regarding the conditions of training at the Australian Naval College, it would not be possible for their Lordships to come to any definite decision on the question whether New Zealand cadets at the Australian Naval College should be regarded as eligible for entry into the Royal Navy. The question now raised is one which, in my Lords' opinion, might well be considered at some future time, but in the meanwhile the present arrangement under which New Zealand candidates may be specially recommended for naval cadetships would continue in force. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. Graham Greene.

No. 87. New Zealand, No. 303. My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd October, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 168, of the sth June, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a statement showing the Powers and States which have signed the International Opium Convention of the 23rd January, 1912. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Date. Description. 4th October, 1912 From the Admiralty.

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Enclosure. International Opium Convention or 23rd January, 1912. The following Powers and States are the original signatories of the Convention : Great Britain, China, Prance, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Siani, and United States of America. The above also signed the Protocol de Cloture of the same date. The Convention has since been signed by the following States, on the dates mentioned : Costa Rica (25th April, 1912), Mexico (15th May', 1912), Guatemala (17th June, 1912), Belgium (18th June, 1912), Luxemburg (18th June, 1912), Panama (19th June, 1912), Ecuador (2nd July, 1912), Honduras (sth July, 1912), Salvador (30th July, 1912), Hayti (21st August, 1912), Venezuela (10th September, 1912). A. despatch from His Majesty's Charge d'Afl'aires at The Hague, dated the 2nd October, 1912, states that, according to information recently laid before the States-General, Spain, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic have announced their willingness to sign the Convention. Foreign Office, 15th October, 1912.

No. 88. New Zealand, No. 312. My Lord,— Downing Street, 25th October, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of a Note from the German Charge d'Affaires forwarding a request from the Subcommission for Dentistry in the Army of the International Committee for Hygiene of the Federation Dentaire Internationale for information as to the arrangements made for dental attendance on members of the naval and military Forces of the British Empire. 2. I shall be glad to receive, for transmission to the subcommission, any particulars of the practice of your Government which they may be prepared to furnish in response to this request. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. Your Excellency,— German Embassy, 9th October, 1912. By instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit herewith three copies (each in German, English, and French) of a request from the Subcommission for Dentistry in the Army of the International Committee for Hygiene of the Federation Dentaire Internationale, and to beg that a copy may be forwarded to the War Office, Admiralty, and Colonial Office respectively. I have, &c, Kuhlmann. Sir, — The Subcommission for Dentistry in the Army of the International Committee of Hygiene of the Federation Dentaire International (H.C.F.D.1.) begs leave to ask the Colonial Office for information, for the purpose of coming to an international understanding, if and which arrangements have been made in the Army and Navy of Great Britain and her dominions and colonies to give dental attendance to the soldiers in times of peace and war. In case military dentists have already been commissioned, information on rank, salary, and pensions would be appreciated. In consideration of the importance of this matter, the subcommission should be much indebted for an early reply, to be addressed to Mr. Steffen, Dentist, Cuxhaven, Schillerstrasse 32.

No. 89. New Zealand, No. 314. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th October, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 134, of the Bth May, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of an order which has been made by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries postponing from the Ist January until the Ist April next the operation of Chapter I of the Horses (Importation and Transit) Order of 1912. 1 have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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Enclosure. ObDEE Or THE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DATED 19TH OCTOBER, 1912. The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, by virtue and in exercise of the powers vested in them under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1911, and of every other power enabling them in this behalf, do order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows : — The date on which Chapter I (Importation) of the Horses (Importation and Transit) Order of 1912 shall come into operation is hereby altered to the Ist day of April, 1913. In witness whereof the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have hereunto set their official seal this 19th day of October, 1912. A. W. Anstruther, Assistant Secretary.

No. 90. New Zealand, No. 321. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th November, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, a copy of a Note from the United States Charge d'Affaires conveying on behalf of his Government an invitation to your Government to be repiesented at the fouith International Congress on School Hygiene to be held at .Buffalo, New York, from the 25th to the 30th August, 1913. 2. I should be glad to learn whether your Ministers desire to participate in the Congress. I have, &c, L. HAECOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sir, — American Embassy, London, 21st October, 1912. In pursuance of a joint resolution of Congress, approved 19th August, 1912, requesting the President to invite foreign Governments to participate in the fourth International Congress on School Hygiene, to be held at Buffalo, New York, 25th-30th August, 1913, I have the honour to extend to His Majesty's Government and to the Governments of the various colonial possessions and dependencies, an invitation, on behalf of the United States, to participate by official delegates in the Congress mentioned. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart, M.P., &c. William Phillips.

No. 91. New Zealand, No. 325. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth November, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 147, of the 13th September, forwarding a copy of a memorandum from your Prime Minister on the subject of the Hague Opiixm Convention. 2. I learn with much satisfaction that your Government agree to the signature of the Convention on their behalf. 3. I note that your Ministers regard the provisions of the Convention relating to export as having no application to New Zealand. I would, however, point out that acceptance to the Convention by New Zealand binds the Dominion to enact certain legislation in common with the other parties, and consequently requires that no distinction should be drawn between provisions which may be necessary in local circumstances and those which are not. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 92. New Zealand, No. 336. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th November, 1912. I have the honour to request you to inform you Ministers that, in connection with sections 32 and 33 of the National Insurance Act, the National Health Insurance Joint Committee consider that it would be of great service if they could be furnished with the fullest and latest information as to the general conditions of health insurance in the oversea dominions.

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2. The Joint Committee are specially anxious to obtain—(l) Particulars of any system of State health insurance, with copies of legislative enactments relating to it; and (2) particulars of any system of health insurance by means of societies or institutions, and especially of any regulations upon the conduct of such business imposed by the State. In this connection it would be convenient if a list of societies and institutions could be furnished, together with the rules, constitution, balancesheet and last annual report of a few of the most important of such societies. 3. The Joint Committee would also be obliged if they could be furnished with copies of any published works dealing with health insurance, whether through the State or societies, or with information as to where such works can be obtained ; and they request that, as far as possible, more than one copy of all printed matter may be supplied. 4. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be so good as to supply the information in question so far as it concerns New Zealand. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 93. New Zealand, No. 339. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th November, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 275, of the 20tb September, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that as soon as a definite decision has been arrived at with regard to the scope of the participation of this country in the San Francisco Exhibition, the Board of Trade propose to send a representative to San Francisco to enter into preliminary negotiations with the Exhibition authorities, and to study the prevailing conditions on the spot. 2. The Board of Trade will be glad to learn whether your Government would be disposed, in principle, to consider favourably the organization of an Imperial group of exhibits, if (after the report of the representative of the Board has been received) it is found practicable to arrange for such an organization. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington. X C M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 94. New Zealand, No. 340. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th November, 1912. With reference to Lord Elgin's circular despatch of the 21st July, 1906, and subsequent correspondence, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Government of the Union of South Africa have appointed the Secretary for Justice, Pretoria, as the authority for the Union under Article I of the White Slave Traffic Agreement of 1904, in place of the four authorities appointed prior to the date of union for the several provinces. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 95. New Zealand, No. 347. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st November, 1912. With reference to your telegram of the 9th July, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Deputy Govern or-General of the Dominion of Canada, explaining the views of his Government on the subject of the publication of dissenting opinions in the case of judgments delivered by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

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2. In view of the importance of uniformity in this matter, and having regard to the weighty considerations urged by the Privy Council of the Dominion of Canada in favour of the maintenance of the existing arrangement, I propose to postpone taking further action in the matter until I have received an expression of the wishes of your Ministers on the question. I have, &c. L. HARCOUET. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. The Acting Governor-General to the Secretary op State. No. 551. Sir,— Ottawa, 10th October, 1912. With reference to your telegram of the 3rd July, on the subject of the publication of dissenting opinions in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, I have the honour to transmit herewith, for your consideration, copies of an approved minute of the Privy Council for Canada, setting forth the views of my Responsible Advisers. I have, &c, C. Fitzpatrick, Deputy Governor-General.

Certified Copy op a Report op the Committee op the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Deputy Governor-General on the Bth October, 1912. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for External Affairs submits a memorandum, dated 25th September, 1912, from the Minister of Justice, with, reference to a despatch of 3rd July, 1912, from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating, in effect, that His Majesty's Government propose to submit to His Majesty the King an Order in Council authorizing the publication of dissenting opinions in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Mr. Harcourt states that he would be glad to know .whether Your Royal Highness's Ministers concur in this proposal, and he adds that they will no doubt ascertain the views of the Provincial Governments on the subject. The Minister of Justice observes that it has been ascertained upon inquiry of the local Governments that Ontario concurs in the proposal ; Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan express themselves in favour ; New Brunswick approves ; while British Columbia and Alberta have no objection. On the other hand, Nova Scotia and Manitoba are opposed to the proposal, the former upon the ground that no useful purpose would be served by the publication of dissenting opinions in any Court of final resort, and the latter for the reason that the publication of dissenting opinions is inadvisable. The Minister of Justice, upon careful consideration, is unable to escape the conclusion that it would not be in the public interest to introduce any change in the ancient constitutional practice with regard to dissenting opinions. The value of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as a final Court of Appeal consists not only in the ultimate and decisive effect of its judgments as relating to the particular cases submitted and the parties; but more especially, since appeals to the Judicial Committee usually involve serious questions of law, often of great public importance, the decisions are of permanentad vantage to the profession and to the public generally. While as to the immediate suitors, expression of dissent is of no material value because it does not alter the result, it would serve in the more important aspect of the case, from the public point of view, to affect the interpretation or certainty of a judgment, and its quality as a determining precedent. Moreover, cases not infrequently go to the Judicial Committee in which public opinion is very deeply concerned. There are constitutional questions as between the dominion and the provinces ; there are questions involving education having a religious aspect; there are cases involving racial differences, and others which may well be imagined, which cannot perhaps be acceptably determined except by a tribunal of the experience, learning, and impartiality which the Judicial Committee is universally acknowledged to possess and exercise. Recently it is becoming the practice for local Judges to sit in the Committee, and the Minister cannot help feeling that it would be extremely unfortunate if it were made known that one of these cases had been determined by a bare majority depending upon the concurrence of a local Judge. It might even perhaps be only less unfortunate that the local Judge should consider it necessary to express dissent. For these and other reasons which might be stated, the Minister of Justice considers that effect cannot be given to Mr. Harcourt's proposal without in a measure impairing the dignity and influence of a tribunal which is the ultimate exponent of the law and Constitution. The Committee concur in the foregoing, and, on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for External Affairs, advise that Your Royal Highness may be pleased to transmit a copy hereof, if approved, to the Right Hon. the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. All which is respectfully submitted for approval. RODOLPHE BOUDREAU, Clerk of the Privy Council.

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No. 96. New Zealand, No. 348. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd November, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 156, of the 26th September, or the subjsct of the appointment of Mr. H. R. Spence as Commercial Expert and Accredited Inquiry Agent for the New Zealand Department of Trads and Customs, with headquarters in London. 2. I request that you will inform your Minister? that the Board of Trade, to whom your despatch was communicated, have intimated that the Director of the Commercial Intelligence Branch of that Department will be happy to render Mr , Spence any assistance which can properly be afforcled him in connection with his inquiries. 3. I have so informed the High Commissioner for the Dominion. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

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No. 97. New Zealand, No. 354. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th November, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Home Office respecting the appointment of a departmental committee to inquire and report upon the precautions necessary in the use of celluloid in manufacture and the handling and storing of celluloid and celluloid articles. 2. I should be obliged if your Ministers would furnish, for the use of the committee, copies of any regulations on the subject which may be in force in New Zealand, together with any information available as to the working of such regulations and their effect on trade. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Home Office, Whitehall, 21st November, 1912. I am directed by Mr. Secretary McKenna to say, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that he has appointed a departmental committee to inquire and report upon the precautions necessary in the use of celluloid in manufacture and the handling and storage of celluloid and celluloid articles. The committee state that it would be very useful if they could be furnished with copies of the regulations dealing with this subject in force in the colonies, together with any information available as to the working of such regulations and their effect on trade, and Mr. McKenna would be glad if the request of the committee can be complied with. I am to add that it would be convenient if the replies of the various Governments concerned could be forwarded to the Home Office as they arrive. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. P. Byrne.

No. 98. New Zealand, No. 372. Sir, — Downing Street, 6th December, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the 22nd August, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Right Hon. Arnold Morley, under medical advice, has reluctantly asked to be relieved of the duties of the post of Chairman of the Royal Commission appointed in accordance with the resolution of the Imperial Conference of 1911 to inquire into the natural resources, trade, and legislation of certain portions of His Majesty's dominions. 2. His Majesty has been graciously pleased, on my advice, to confer the Chairmanship of the Commission on Sir Edgar Vincent, K.C.M.G., who has been a member of the Commission and Deputy Chairman since its inauguration. During the unavoidable absence from the chair of Mr. Morley, Sir Edgar Vincent has acted as

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Chairman, and has discharged the duties of the office with such acceptance that it was the desire of his fellow-Commissioners that he should be confirmed in the appointment. 3. To fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Morley His Majesty's Government have appointed Sir Alfred Bate man, K.CM-G. Sir Alfred Bateman was Controller-General for Commerce, Labour, and Statistics, and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence of the Board of Trade. He served on the Royal Commissions on Food-supply in Time of War in 1903-5 and on Shipping Conferences 1906-9. 4. I have also to state that Sir Charles Owens has found it necessary to resign his appointment as a Commissioner, and in his place His Majesty's Government have appointed Mr. Joseph Tatlow, late general manager and now a director of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland. 5. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair has taken the place of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., as the representative of New Zealand on the Commission ; and the Hon. Sir Richard Solomon, G.C.M.G., X.C.8., High Commissioner in London for the Union of South Africa, the place of Sir David de V. Graaf as the representative of the Union of South Africa. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 99. New Zealand, No. 386. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th December, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 20th instant, reporting that you were sworn in on the previous day as Governor of New Zealand. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 100. New Zealand, No. 387. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th December, 1912. With reference.to my despatch, No. 183, of the 23rd May, 1911, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Advisory Committee established in accordance with resolutions 3-5 of the Imperial Education Conference, 1911, held its first meeting on the 18th November, and that a resolution in the following terms was passed, drawing attention to the Bth resolution of the Conference (see pages 16 and 17 of Cd. 5666), as to the preparation by the Education Departments of the self-governing dominions of educational monographs : " That each dominion's representative should address his Government for the purpose of reminding the Education Department or Education Departments of the area with which that Government is concerned of the resolution of the Imperial Education Conference, 1911, as to the preparation by the Education Departments of the selfgoverning dominions of educational monographs ; and, further, that each dominion representative should point out through his Government that it is desirable that any Education Department which wishes to participate in the preparation of this series should complete the first monograph—viz., that on the curricula of schools for general education —by the Ist August, 1913, and that the letter from each dominion representative should be accompanied by the suggestions drawn up by the Office of Special Inquiries and Reports as to the various points which should be treated in the monograph. That the Secretary of State for the Colonies should be approached with a view to the issue by him of a despatch on similar lines to the Governments of the dominions concerned." 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will cause steps to be taken accordingly for the preparation of the monographs. They will observe that it is desired that the first monograph—viz., that on the curricula of schools for general education— should be completed by the Ist August, 1913.

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3. I enclose a copy of the suggestions drawn up by the Office of Special Inquiries and Reports for the preparation of this monograph. |[]4. In an explanatory memorandum in which these suggestions were laid before the Advisory Committee that office described them as " a rough list of some of the more important points which it seems desirable should be covered by the proposed monograph on the curricula of schools for general education." The memorandum proceeded : " These points have been set out in the form of brief general headings in order that it may be quite clear that there is no desire to prescribe in any way the precise manner in which the monographs should be written, since a great part of the value of the series would be lost if the monographs were not, both in general structure and in the incidence of their emphasis on particular points, the outcome of genuinely representative local opinion unhampered and unbiased by directions or prepossessions. There are, of course, a number of points of interest and importance affecting curricula besides those included in our suggestions, and it will frequently be in the problems and solutions peculiar to a particular country that matter of the most real interest will be found. Still, to persons desirous of getting some general view of the curricula of schools throughout the oversea dominions, it is important that there should be some " fixed points " in each separate monograph, and these will, it is hoped, be sufficiently provided by the topics suggested." 5. I request that you will also invite your Ministers' attention to the following further resolution passed at the meeting of the Advisory Committee with regard to the desirability of keeping the Board of Education supplied with documents of general interest or importance issued by Education Departments in the selfgoverning dominions : " That the Board of Education should approach the Secretary of State for the Colonies with the suggestion that he should address the Government of each self-governing dominion on the general desirability of keeping the Board of Education supplied with all documents of general interest or importance issued by the Education Department or Education Departments of the area with which that Government is concerned, and should further suggest that each Education Department might forward annually to the Board of Education a complete list of their publications for the year, for the purpose of enabling the Board to take steps, if necessary, to procure any publication a copy of which had not reached them." I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. List of Points of which it is suggested that a Monograph on Curricula of Schools for General Education might treat. elementary schools. 1. Development and Range of the Curriculum. (a.) A brief introductory history of the development of the curriculum, explaining the circumstances which have influenced its expansion, &c. (6.) Range : What subjects are included ? Is there a syllabus officially prescribed in detail ? Are all subjects compulsory, or may the curriculum be modified for individual schools ? 2. Distribution of Time. Are there general regulations as to the time to be allotted to the various subjects ? If not, what would appear to be the usual amount allotted to each ? Is home-work allowed, or encouraged, or compulsory ? 3. Subjects in Detail and theirJTreatment. Moral Instruction and Civics. —ls definite instruction given in these subjects, or is the teaching of them mainly incidental ? English. —Reading : The number and character of the books read by the various classes ; methods of treatment; the place of poetry among the books. Writing :Is any special system of handwriting adopted ? Composition, oral and written : Methods of treatment ; any special difficulties arising in this subject from the presence of non-English speaking children, and methods of dealing with them. Arithmetic. —How far practically studied and applied. Drawing. —To what extent is it done from actual objects ? Are flat copies used ? What media ■ — e.g., pen, pencil, brush —are employed ? How far does drawing from memory find a place in the instruction in this subject ' l .

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Music. —Form of notation used. What songs are taught ? How are they selected ? Is there any individual teaching of instrumental music ? ' Observation Lessons and Nature-study. —Principles|£on which subjects are selected. How far are they correlated with other subjects— e.g., drawing ? f/ Geography. —Text-books, maps, atlases. The place given to local geography journeys or expeditions. History. —Text-books. The place given to the history of the colony and the British Empire respectively. Is any classical or European history taught ? How far is history correlated with geography % Hygiene and Physical^Exercises. —ls any special system of physical exercises prescribed ? Is instruction in hygiene direct or incidental ? The place in the curriculum of organized games during school hours. Domestic Subjects for Qirls. —Is instruction confined to needlework or extended to include cookery and laundrywork, or housewifery ? Handwork, Gardening, &c. —Is handwork part of the ordinary curriculum, or is special instruction given in special classes ? What forms of handwork are commonly taught ? 4. What arrangements are there for the giving of religious instruction. ? 5. How far is the curriculum designed with a vocational bias 1 Specify the subjects — e.g., domestic subjects and handwork —introduced with this aim, the time devoted to each, and the method of treatment ? How far has it been successful in experience ? 6. School age. Duration of school life. Arrangements for granting exemption from attendance to children of school age who have reached a certain standard. Is there any half-time system ? How is the curriculum arranged for such half-time scholars ? 7. How far is the curriculum modified with a view to facilitating the passage of scholars from elementary schools to secondary schools and places of higher education 1 8. Is there any periodical examination of elementary schools ? If so, by whom is it conducted, and what form does it take ? Is there any form of leaving-certificate ? SECONDARY SCHOOLS OR DEPARTMENTS. 1. The age at which secondary education is begun. Do the children normally proceed from the elementary school to the secondary school or department, or have the majority of secondaryschool pupils attended preparatory schools with a curriculum differing from that of the elementary schools ? How far is secondary work confined to separate secondary schools, and how far is it given at the top of schools of which the lower part is elementary. 2. What arrangements are made for the grading of schools ? What is the general leaving-age of each grade ? Is there a and if so, is this identical for all schools, or is there a higher and a lower certificate ? 3. Are external examinations taken ? If they are taken, by whom are they conducted, and what is their influence on the curriculum ? Is this influence generally regarded as satisfactory ? 4. Relation of the secondary schools to higher education and technical schools. 5. Development and Range of the Curriculum. — (a.) A brief introductory history of the development of the curriculum, explaining the circumstances which have influenced its expansion, &c. (6.) Range : What subjects are included ? Is there a syllabus officially prescribed in detail 1 Are all subjects compulsory, or may the curriculum be modified for individual schools ? (c.) What arrangements are made for providing alternative courses for the pupils within a school ? What opportunity is given for specialization to pupils in the upper forms ? (d.) Are specified text-books recommended ? 6. Distribution of Time. —Are there general regulations as to the time to be allotted to the various subjects ? If not, what would appear to be the usual amount allotted ? Time allotted to home-work. 7. Subjects and Treatment. Religious Instruction. —What part does it take in the school-work ? What study of the Bible and Greek Testament is undertaken. Languages. —What foreign languages are taught ? The order in which they are taken, and the time elapsing between the taking of each. (a.) Ancient languages : To what extent are they taught ? Extent of reading, and standard attained. What pronunciation is used ? (b.) Modern languages : What methods are used ? To what extent is provision made for oral work ? Is the " direct " method used ? English. —The general treatment of the subject. Are specific authors studied ? What is the general method of teaching composition ? History. —What parts of history are studied ? Is there any study of history besides the history of the colony and the British Empire ? How far, in the case of pupils learning foreign languages, is instruction given in the history of the countries concerned ? Is there any study of ancient history ? Geography. —General scope of the work. Is there any instruction in practical geography ? Mathematics. —The general scope of the subject. How far practically studied. The methods of teaching geometry employed. Standard reached. Science. —What amount of time is devoted to its study, in the case of girls and boys respectively ? What provision is made for practical work, and what amount of time is assigned to it ? What branches of science are most usually taken ? How far is science studied with a vocational bias towards — (a) Agriculture ; (b) engineering, &c.; (c) domestic science?

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Art and Music. —How far are these subjects included in the ordinary school curriculum, and how are they treated 1 8. What provision is made for —(1) Domestic work for girls ; (2) definite, instruction in commercial work, and on what general lines ; (3) manual work, such as woodwork, claymodelling, metal-work ? Is this taken in school time or as a leisure occupation ?

No. 101. New Zealand, No. 390. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th December, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the protection afforded in the United Kingdom for crests, badges, colours, and other insignia of clubs, schools, &c. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT.

The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sib,— Home Office, Whitehall, 19th December, 1912. In reply to your letter (36415/1912) of the 22nd ultimo, inquiring what protection, if any, is afforded in the United Kingdom for crests, badges, colours, and other insignia of clubs, schools, and the like, with the object of reserving the exclusive right therein to such institutions, I am directed by Mr. Secretary McKenna to say, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that he is not aware of any provision having this effect. His attention has, however, been drawn by the Comptroller-General of the Patent Office to the fact that, though it would appear from section 62 of the Trade-marks Act, 1905, that badges, colours, and other insignia of schools, clubs, and the like cannot be registered under the Act, Rule 14 of the Trade-marks Act, 1905, provides as follows : " Where a representation of the arms or emblems of any city, borough, town, place, society, body corporate, or institution appears on a mark, the applicant [for registration of a trade-mark] shall, if so required, furnish the Registrar with a consent from such official as the Registrar may consider entitled to give consent to the use of such arms or emblems." Under this rule the Registrar may call for consent to the use of any emblem which is known to be the emblem of arty institution, but obviously it is impossible for the Patent Office to be cognizant of all emblems, &c, in use by various institutions, societies, &c. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. P. Byene.

No. 102. New Zealand, No. 5. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd January, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 24th December, and to request you to inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for India has telegraphed to the Government of India the message of sympathy, communicated in your telegram, at the attempt made upon the life of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, and that Lord Crewe desires me to convey to you and to your Government and the people of New Zealand his most cordial appreciation of the message. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Date. Descriptio From the Home Office. Description. 19th December, 1912. .

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No. 103. New Zealand, No. 10. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd January, 1913. With reference to my telegram of the Ist instant, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the General Post Office giving particulars of the reductions in cable rates which came into force on the Ist instant. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 31st December, 1912. With reference to your letter of the 13th December (37769/1912), I am directed by the Post-master-General to say, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the following reductions in the transatlantic cable rates will be brought into force on the Ist of January : — (i.) A reduction of a word in the charge for deferred (half-rate) telegrams for Canada, Newfoundland, and the United States. (ii.) A reduction in the charge for day-cable letters (to be known in future as " night-cable letters ") from 6s. for twenty-one words to 3s. for thirteen words for messages to be delivered by telegraph in the east of Canada and the United States. The rates for the more distant places have also been reduced. The period of delay has been decreased, and the messages will be delivered on the day after despatch instead of the second day after despatch. (iii.) For week-end cable letters the charge will be 4s. 6d. for twenty-five words, instead of 6s. for thirty-one words, and the messages will be delivered on the Monday after the week in which they are sent instead of on the Tuesday. The Western Union Company, with whom these arrangements have been made, undertook to make corresponding arrangements for traffic sent over the Pacific cable. After considering the matter the Pacific Cable Board decided to make no reduction in the charges for deferred (half-rate) telegrams, and not to adopt the system of night-cable letters. The Board have, however, arranged a system of week-end cable letters with Australia and New Zealand at a charge of 18s. for twenty-four words and 9d. per word beyond twenty-four. These messages must be received by Saturday night, and will not be delivered before the following Tuesday. Full particulars of the service are given in the accompanying extract from the Post Office circular. As regards this service, it should be mentioned that the arrangements, to some of which it is understood the Australian Post Office has objected, were drawn up by the Pacific Cable Board and the Eastern Telegraph Company, and that the Post Office has no responsibility for the service beyond arranging for the transmission of the messages either by post or by telegraph within this country. The arrangements detailed above have only been completed within the last few days. On the Ist September last the Western Union Company reduced the rate for ordinary Press telegrams to Canada, Newfoundland, and the United States by ljd. per word, and decreased the period of delay for deferred Press telegrams. It was arranged that these concessions should also be available for Pacific traffic ; and the Pacific Cable Board reduced the rate for Press telegrams to Australia and New Zealand from 9d. to 7|d. per word. The Board decided that the arrangements for reducing the delay on deferred Press telegrams were not suitable for adoption.in their service. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. A. F. King.

No. 104. New Zealand, No. 21. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth January, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Islington's despatch, No. 165, of the 11th October last, on the subject of the carrying of colours by regiments of the New Zealand Territorial Force. 2. I referred Lord Islington's despatch to the Army Council, who have informed me that they see no reason why the 11th New Zealand Regiment should not be permitted to retain its original title of " Taranaki Rifles," and to keep possession of the private colours presented to it by the ladies of Taranaki. 3. The Army Council, however, point out that it would be contrary to the custom of the British, or indeed of any army, for a Rifle battalion to carry a colour on parade, and that they would therefore be unable to support the application for sanction to depart from a time-honoured principle, which is prized by Rifle regiments as a distinction marking the difference which originally existed between their duties and those of other Infantry regiments. With regard to the reference made in the

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memorandum from the officer commanding the Taranaki Rifles, to the fact that an Indian regiment is permitted to carry three colours, the Army Council state that since the year 1835, when the matter was referred to King William IV, it has been the invariable practice to refuse permission for a third colour to be carried in the ranks by any battalion, though several are in the possession of honorary colours, which, though not carried on parade, are preserved in the officers' mess on account of some special association. 4. In the event of your Ministers concurring in the proposal that the Taranaki Rifles, so long as it retains that designation, should not carry colours, steps will be taken to submit for His Majesty's approval the carrying of colours by the other New Zealand regiments as requested in the letter from the High Commissioner for New Zealand of which a copy was enclosed in my despatch, No. 237, of the 17th July, 1911. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

y No. 105. New Zealand, No. 55. My Lord, — | Downing Street, 31st January, 1913. i With reference to Lord Islington's despatch, No. 125, of the 9th August, 1912, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of despatches from the Governor-General of Canada and the Governor of Newfoundland on the subject of uniformity in accident-compensation Law throughout the Empire. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

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Enclosures. No. 654. The Governor-General to the Secretary of State. Sir,— Government House, Ottawa, sth December, 1912. I have the honour to forward herewith, for your information, copy of a letter from the Secretary of State for External Affairs, dated 2nd December, 1912, on the subject of uniformity throughout the Empire in the laws of accident compensation. Reference to previous despatch : Colonial Office, No. 712, 25th August, 1911. I have, &c, Arthur.

Secretary of State for External Affairs to the Governor-General. Ottawa, 2nd December, 1912. With reference to a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Your Royal Highness, No. 712, dated the 25th August, 1911, touching uniformity throughout the Empire in the laws of accident compensation, the undersigned has the honour to submit herewith copies of despatches received from the Lieutenant-Governors of the several provinces of Canada in relation thereto, and to recommend that the same be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the information of His Majesty's Government. Humbly submitted. R. L. Borden, Secretary of State for External Affairs. His Royal Highness the Governor-General. Sir, — Government House, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 30th September, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 11th instant, transmitting copy of a despatch from the Colonial Office, dated 25th ultimo, and its enclosures, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation. I now enclose a copy of a letter from the Deputy Provincial Secretary embodying the views of my Government on the subject. I have, &c, James D. McGregor, The Under-Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Governor. Sir, — Provincial Secretary, Nova Scotia, Halifax, 26th September, 1911. Referring to your despatch of the 14th instant to the Provincial Secretary, and its enclosures with reference to the resolution xi of the Imperial Conference, 1911, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, and to the memorandum by the Home Office on the subject, in which it is pointed out that uniformity appears

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to His Majesty's Government especially desirable in regard to seamen, reciprocity, and statistics, I am directed by the Provincial Secretary to inform His Honour that if it be practicable the Government regard uniformity in such laws as desirable, but with respect to seamen there are doubtful questions of jurisdiction as between the federal and provincial authorities in respect to the matter, and as a preliminary to such legislation there should be a conference and agreement between the provinces of Canada and the dominion in respect to the scope of any proposed Act. The Nova Scotia Act is, in principle, practically the same as the British law, and applies to workmen without distinction of race or nationality. I have, &c, Peed F. Mathers, The Private Secretary, Government House. Deputy Provincial Secretary.

Sir, — Government House, Edmonton, 23rd January, 1912. With reference to your letter of the 11th September last, file No. 1995, I enclose herewith a copy of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1908, Alberta, being a measure which is modelled on the lines similar to that in force in Great Britain. I have, &c, Geoege H. V. Bulyea, The Hon. the Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Governor.

Sir, — Government House, Victoria, British Columbia, 16th February, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th ultimo, calling my attention to your letter of the 11th September, 1911, upon the subject of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, and to forward you herewith, in reply thereto, a communication signed by the Deputy Provincial Secretary, giving the report of the Attorney-General in the matter. I have, &c, Thomas W. Patterson, The Under-Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Governor. Sic, — Provincial Secretary's Office, Victoria, 13th February, 1912. With reference to the subject of your letter of the 18th September last, I am to state, for the information of His Honour, that the despatch of the 25th August, 1911, from the Colonial Office, covering copy of resolution xi of the Imperial Conference of 1911, concerning uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident and compensation, was referred to the Law Department, and the Attorney-General in his report remarks as follows : " The Provincial Workmen's Compensation was passed in 1902, and is virtually a copy of the Imperial Act of 1907." While the Government is anxious to promote in every way uniform legislation throughout the Empire, still it must be remembered that the conditions are so varied in the different colonies that what might suit one place would not suit another. The Act of 1902 has worked well in this province, and so far there has been little criticism, and it might be a rather questionable move to now proceed to introduce any amending legislation. As there seems to be no decided movement amongst the people in the province for the legislation suggested in the New Zealand Act, the Government is of opinion that, for the present at least, it will be better to allow the Act to remain as it is. I have, &c, A. Campbell Reddie, The Private Secretary. Deputy Provincial Secretary. Ser, — Government House, Winnipeg, Bth March, 1912. Adverting to my despatch of the 26th ultimo, concerning the uniformity in law of accident compensation, I now have the pleasure in enclosing you a report of the Hon. my Attorney-General on the matter. I have, &c, D. C. Cameron, The Hon. the Secretary of State, Ottawa, Ontario. Lieutenant-Governor. Sir,— Winnipeg, sth March, 1912. In reply to the letter of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, of the 26th ultimo, in reference to the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation referred to me, would say that our Workmen's Compensation Act makes no provision in regard to seamen on any British or colonial ships, unless the word " workman " as defined in the Act can be held to apply to seaman. Our Act further provides that compensation is to be paid only to dependants residing within the province; and further, that our Act makes no provision for the collection of statistics as are mentioned in the memorandum attached to His Honour's letter. In view of the fact that our Workmen's Compensation Act was considered by a Committee appointed and representing all interests concerned, and was the unanimous conclusion arrived at, this Department would not recommend any changes at present. I have, &c, J. H. Bowden, The Hon. the Provincial Secretary, Buildings. Attorney-General. 10—A. 2 ]

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Sir, — Government House, Toronto, 11th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 9th ultimo, No. 1995/11, upon the subject of the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in' the law of accident compensation, and to inform you that Sir William Meredith, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, has made an interim report to my Government with regard to accident compensation, but has not yet recommended the form which such legislation should take. The Province of Ontario would welcome greater uniformity throughout the Empire in respect of the law on this subject, but it does not appear how this can be accomplished except by the different countries each endeavouring to enact the best possible law, when the good features of each would commend themselves to the other provinces, and some uniformity might result. I have, &c, J. W. Gibson, The Hon. the Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieu tenant-Governor.

Sir, — Government House, Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, 22nd May, 1912. Immediately upon receipt of your despatch of the 23rd April last I called the attention of the Government to the subject-matter of that and several previous despatches —namely, the question of the desirability of uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation —and have only now been furnished with the answer thereto. Mr. Premier Matheson's letter upon the question, received to-day, is enclosed herewith, wherein it appears that the Government is not inclined to deal with the matter in any way. I have, &c, Benjamin Rogers, The Under-Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Govemor. Uniformity in Law of Accident Compensation. Sir, — Premier's Office, Charlottetown, 18th May, 1912. With reference to the despatch from the Department of the Secretary of State, Ottawa, of the 11th September last, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, I have to say that the Government has determined that the question is one involving so much research that it is not possible for them to deal with it at present. I have, &c, J. Matheson, Premier. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, Government House, Charlottetown.

Province of Quebec, Hotel dv Gouvernement, Quebec, Monsieur, —■ 12 Novembre, 1912. J'ai Thonneui' de vous informer que pour faire suite a votre depeche, portant le No. 1995, en date dv 24 Octobre dernier, mon gouvernement a etudie la resolution de la conference imperiale dans laquelle il est question de I'uniformite dcs lois accordant dcs indemnites aux ouvriers gui subissent dcs accidents. II apparait que les conditions de travail sont tellement difierentes dans les diverses colonies britanniques, qu'il est tres difficile d'avoir dcs lois uniformes ace sujet. L'on constate meme qu'elles sont difierentes dans les provinces dv Canada. Mon gouvernement a mis en vigueur, en 1909, une loi dcs accidents dv travail gui semble dormer satisfaction et il croit qu'il ne serait pas prudent de I'amender, avant qu'elle ait subi l'epreuve dv temps. J'ai, &c, F. Langelier, L'Honourable Secretaire d'Etat, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Gouverneur. Sir, — Government House, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Ist November, 1912. In further reply to your Honour's despatch, No. 1995, S/S, 24th October, 1912, in reference to a resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, I now enclose your Honour a further reply from the Clerk of the Executive Council of this province, which is self-explanatory. I have, &c, Josiah Wood, The Hon. the Secretary of State, Ottawa. Lieutenant-Go vernor. Dear Sir, — Fredericton, New Brunswick, 31st October, 1912. Referring to the despatch of the Under-Secretary of State for Canada, No. 1995, of date 24th October instant, in which he refers to your predecessor's despatch of the Ist November, 1911, enclosing a communication from the Clerk of the Executive Council of New Brunswick, dealing with the resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, and inquiring whether the report that your Ministers have no objection to offer to the proposed legislation is to be understood as meaning that your Ministers are in favour of promoting the principle of uniformity by local legislation, I am directed to say that

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the Province of New Brunswick has now among its statutes a very comprehensive Act in reference to accident compensation, unci, that the Executive Council have no objection to promoting legislation with a view to uniformity, provided the same can be done without affecting the efficiency of our own Act. I have, &c, I Jos. Howe Dickson, Clerk, Executive Council. Hon. Josiah Wood, D.C.L., LL.D., Lieutenant-Governor, &c, 'Saskville, New Brunswick.

Sir, — Government House, Regina, 30th October, 1912. 1 have now the honour to acknowledge receipt of a letter from the Under-Secretary of State, dated the 24th instant, inviting my attention to the fact that no reply has been sent to a departmental letter of the 11th September, 1911, with reference to a resolution of the Imperial Conference respecting uniformity of laws governing accident compensation. I now enclose certified copy of a minute in Council bearing on this subject for transmission through the usual channels to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and regret the unavoidable delay that has occurred. I have, &c, G. W. Brown, Lieu tenant-Governor of Saskatchewan. The Hon. the Secretary of State, Ottawa. Certified Copy of a Minute of the Executive Council of Saskatchewan, dated at Regina on Wednesday, 4th September, 1912, and approved- by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. The Executive Council has had under consideration a report from the Attorney-General, dated. 29th August, 1912, with reference to a despatch from the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Royal Highness the Governor-General, dated the 25th day of August, 1911, on the subject of the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation. Upon consideration of the foregoing report, and on the recommendation of the Attorney-General, the Executive Council advises that approval be given to the principle recommended by the Imperial Conference of 1911, as set forth in resolution 11, having reference to this matter, and that such approval be communicated through the usual channels to the Secretary of State for Canada. J. McLeod, Clerk of the Executive Council.

No. 102. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir, — Government House, St. John's, 26th December, 1912. Referring to your despatches, No. 201, of the 25th August, 1911, and No. 18, of 18th January, 1912, on the subject of uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, I have the honour to transmit herewith a letter received from the Colonial Secretary on the subject. I have, &c, Ralph Williams.

Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, St. John's, Newfoundland, 10th December, 1912. Referring to despatches, No. 201, of date 25th August, 1911, and No. 18, of 18th January, 1912, from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, respecting the desirability of greater uniformity throughout the Empire in the law of accident compensation, I have the honour to intimate that Ministers~concur in the principle of the resolution No. 11 of the Imperial Conference of 1911 regarding this matter. I beg to return herewith to Your Excellency the original despatch, No. 201, on this subject. I have, &c, R. Watson, His Excellency Sir Ralph Williams, K.C.M.G., &c. Colonial Secretary.

No. 106. New Zealand, No. 57. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st January, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the appointment of Rear-Admiral Thomas H. M. Jerram, C.8., as Commander-in-Chief ofjJH.M. ships and vessels on the China Station. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT.

The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. Description. !4th January, 1913 .. From the Admiralty.

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Enclosure. Sib,— Admiralty, S.W., 24th January, 1913. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that Rear-Admiral Thomas H. M. Jerram, C.8., has been selected to succeed Admiral Sir Alfred Winsloe, X.C.8., C.V.0., C.M.G., as Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's ships and vessels on the China Station, with the acting-rank of Vice-Admiral, to date the 25th January, 1913. Vice-Admiral Jerram will take over the command of the China Station in March next. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. Graham Greene.

No. 107. New Zealand.—Honours. My Lord,— Downing Street, 7th February, 1913. . By command of the King I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a letter from the Secretary to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, addressed to Leonard Stowe, Esq., containing the Sovereign's Warrant conferring upon him the dignity of Companion of that Order, together with a packet containing the appropriate insignia ; and I have to request that you will, if practicable, present them or cause them to be presented to the recipient in an official and ceremonial manner, and that you will forward to me in due course a report as to the presentation. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 108. New Zealand, No. 66. My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th February, 1913. With reference to my despatch, No. 273, of the 20th September, 1912, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a circular issued by the Board of Trade respecting the examination in this country of masters and mates in the mercantile marine, and skippers and second hands of fishing-vessels, I have, &c. L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Examination of Masters and Mates, Skippers, and Second Hands. — Instructions to Examiners, and Notice to Candidates.—Sight Tests. Board of Trade (Marine Department), December, 1912. 1. The departmental committee appointed to inquire into the Board of Trade sight tests have recommended that certain modifications should be made in the wool test hitherto used, and that, in addition, a lantern test should be used in examining all candidates. The Board of Trade have decided to carry into effect these recommendations, and the following instructions will, therefore, on and after Ist April, 1913, supersede those contained in the present (1909) edition of the Eegulations relating to the Examination of Masters and Mates, in so far as the colour vision test is concerned. I. The Wool Test, 2. The wools provided are divided into five groups, one to each test skein. The test skeins are labelled respectively : I (light green), II (pink), 111 (brown), IV (purple), and V (yellow), and must always be used in the order named, Care should be taken that the labels do not become detached nor the skeins belonging to the different groups get mixed. To avoid this, only one group of skeins should be exposed on the table at one time. A special bag with five pockets is provided, in which the wools when not in use must be kept, in order that they may not become faded or dirty. 3. The examination in the wool test should be conducted as follows : The first group of wools is placed in a heap upon a table covered with a white cloth, and the first test skein a little to one side of it, care being taken that no strong sunlight falls directly upon the skeins. The person examined should be requested to note carefully the colour of the test skein, and then to divide the group into two parts, one part consisting of those skeins which have the same colour as the test skein in them

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and the other part the skeins which have none of the test skeiu colour in them. The examiner should explain that there is no exact match for the test skein, as the skeins which contain this colour are all either lighter or darker, and that the only question is the division of those skeins which contain the test colour more or less from those which do not. No difficulty should be experienced in explaining to the candidate what he is required to do, but if the examiner thinks he has not grasped what is required he may himself divide the heap into two parts as a demonstration, mixing the skeins up again thoroughly before allowing the candidate to do the test. 4. When the candidate has dealt with the first test skein each of the four remaining tests should lie gone through in a similar manner and in the order named. 5. As the examination proceeds the examiner should place on one side the skeins which the candidate has wrongly selected as either resembling or not resembling the test skeins, and when the examination is finished a small piece (say, 1 in.) should be cut off every one of the actual skeins incorrectly selected by the candidate, and stitched to Form Exn. 17c under the proper heading in the spaces provided for each test. 6. The greatest care must be taken that the pieces forwarded are cut off the actual skeins selected by the candidate, in order that there may be a reliable record of the actual selections made by the candidate if any question should subsequently arise. 7. During this test the examiner should avoid naming the colours of any cf the wools, and should explain to the candidate that he does not require them to be named by him. 8. The wool test should only be held in daylight. If a good natural light is not obtainable the test must be postponed. If dark or foggy weather renders it necessary to postpone the examination until after the examination in navigation or seamanship has been begun, the examiner should not fail to inform the candidate that the latter examination will be cancelled in the event of failure to pass the sight tests. //. The Lantern Test. 9. A special lantern and a mirror have been provided for this test. The lantern should be placed directly in front of the mirror, so that the front part of the lantern is exactly 10 ft. from the mirror. Care should be taken that the lantern is properly placed —that is to say, the lights reflected in the mirror must show clearly when viewed through the rectangular aperture on the left of the lantern. The examiner should always satisfy himself that these conditions are fulfilled before commencing the examination. 10. It is essential that a candidate should be kept in a room which is either completely or partially darkened for at least a quarter of an hour before he is required to undergo this test. 11. Before the examination commences the examiner must satisfy himself that the room in which it is conducted is so darkened as to exclude all daylight. 12. The lantern supplied for the examination is so constructed as to allow one large or two small, lights to be visible, and is fitted with twelve glasses of three colours —red, white, and green. At the commencement of the examination the examiner should show to the candidate a series of lights through the large aperture, and should require him to name the colours as they appear to him. Care should be taken in showing the white light to emphasize the fact that the light is not a pure white. If a candidate makes a mistake of calling this light " red," a proper red light should be shown immediately after, and the candidate's attention directed to the difference between the two. After a series of lights through the iarge aperture has been shown, the examiner should make a complete circuit with the two small apertures, requiring the candidate to name the colours of each set of two lights from left to right.- To prevent any possibility of the order in which the lights are arranged from being learnt, the examiner should at least twice in each circuit go back a varying number of colours. He should keep a record of the number of the glass with which he began the series, and should take care to vary it from time to time. A record of any mistakes made with either the large aperture or the two smaller apertures should be kept on Form Exn. 17c in accordance with the instructions thereon. 13. As the lantern itself forms a test for colour-ignorance, the old colour-ignorance test becomes unnecessary, and should be discontinued. ///. Success or Failure. 14. If a candidate with either the large aperture or the two smaller apertures of the lantern mistakes red for green or green for red, he should be considered to have " failed " in colour vision. 15. If a candidate makes no mistakes in the wool test, and if the only mistakes made by him with the lantern is to call the white light " red," and if after his attention has been specially directed to the difference between the two he makes no further mistake of this nature, he should be considered to have passed in colour vision. 16. If a candidate makes any other mistake with the lantern— i.e., if he calls white " red " repeatedly or red " white " at all, or confuses green and white, or if he makes any mistake whatever in the wool test —his case should be reported to the Principal Examiner of Masters and Mates, and he should be told that the decision as to whether any further examination is necessary or not will be communicated to him in due course. Pending the receipt of the Principal Examiner's instructions, such a candidate should only be allowed to proceed with the remainder of the examination for a certificate of competency on the express understanding that the latter examination, will be cancelled in the event of failure in the sight tests.

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IV. Further Examination and Appeals. 17. If in the cases covered by the preceding paragraph the Principal Examiner decides that a further examination is necessary, arrangements will be made for a special examination to be held in London, and the third-class travelling-expenses necessarily incurred by a candidate in attending such an examination will be paid by the Board of Trade, together with a,subsistence allowance at a rate which will be notified to the candidate, but which will not in any circumstances exceed 10s. for each day necessarily occupied in attending the examination. In these cases the above expenses will be paid whatever may be the result of the final examination. 18. If, however, on the report of the local examiner the Principal Examiner decides that the nature of the mistakes made shows conclusively that a candidate is so colour-blind as to be unfit to hold a certificate, the candidate shall be considered to have failed. In such cases, as well as in the cases covered by paragraph 14, the Board will be prepared to allow a candidate who is dissatisfied with this decision to appeal for a special examination in London, but the Board will not pay the travelling-expenses of any such candidate unless he is reported by the special examiners conducting the appeal examination to have passed. H. LlewellynJ Smith, Secretary. Walter J. Howell, Assistant Secretary.

No. 109.| New Zealand, No. 72. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 12th instant, conveying a message of sympathy and regret in connection with the disaster which has overtaken Captain Scott and the members of his party who lost their lives in the recent Antarctic Expedition. 2. Your telegram has been communicated to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to the British Antarctic Committee, and to the Press, and will be sent in due course to Mrs. Scott. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No.? no. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lokd, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1913. With reference to my predecessor's Miscellaneous despatch of the 18th October, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a book of lantern lectures on Australasia which has been prepared for the Visual Instruction Committee of the Colonial Office, together with a separate copy of the list of slides. 2. The slides with which the lectures are illustrated are derived from pictures painted and photographs taken by the committee's artist, Mr. A. Hugh Fisher, supplemented by many excellent photographs kindly placed at their disposal by the Government Departments, by private individuals, and by the High Commissioners and Agents-General in this country. 3. I have to request that you will convey to your Ministers the thanks of the committee for the many facilities which were afforded Mr. Fisher during his visit. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 111. New Zealand, No. 74. My Lobd, — Downing Street, 20th February, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 23rd December and despatch, No. 192, of the 27th December, on the subject of the proposal to establish an Imperial Bureau of Entomology in London, and to inform you that I have learnt with much pleasure that your Ministers are willing to support the scheme and to agree to a contribution of £200 per annum being made for three years by the Government of New Zealand towards the expenses of the bureau.

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2. The various contributions suggested in paragraph 4 of my despatch of the 3rd October last have now been agreed to by the respective Governments invited to co-operate, with the exception of the Government of India, which is not prepared at present to support bureau. The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury also have sanctioned a grant of £500 per annum from Imperial funds for three years, on my recommendation. I am now in communication with certain of the Crown colonies which have expressed a desire to avail themselves of the facilities afforded by the bureau, and, in anticipation of additional financial support from the Governments of those colonies, I have had no hesitation in giving my approval to the work of the bureau being started forthwith. 3. By the kindness of the authorities of the British Museum (natural history) at South Kensington, arrangements have been made for Mr. G. A. K. Marshall, director of the bureau, to be accommodated in the museum, and the head office of the bureau will accordingly be located there. Premises have also been leased by the managing committee for a publication office at 27 Elvaston Place, near the museum. It would be a great convenience if copies of all publications issued by your Government which touch in any way on entomological matters in relation to agricultural, medical, or veterinary work, could be sent direct to Mr. Marshall for consideration in connection with the journal of the bureau, and I should be glad if your Ministers could arrange for this to be done. As explained in my despatch of the 3rd October, the object of this journal is to summarize all the current literature which has a practical bearing on the investigation and control of noxious insects, and it is therefore most important that the director should receive copies of all publications of this nature with the minimum of delay. The first number of the journal, which is to be known as the Review of Applied Entomology, is now ready for distribution, and I am informed that copies are being sent to all the Governments which are cooperating in the scheme. 4. With regard to representation on the managing committee, I note that your Ministers concur in the suggestion that the Government Entomologists of the contributing Governments should be ex officio members of the committee, and that I shall receive a further communication from you as to the nomination of a representative of your Government on the committee. 5. Finally, as to the payment of the contribution from your Government, I have to request that your Ministers will be good enough to arrange for the sum of £200 to be paid to the Crown Agents for the Colonies in London for the account of the bureau on or about the Ist April next, and at the same date in 1914 and 1915. I have, &c, L. HAKCOURT. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 112.| New Zealand, No. 77. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st February, 1913. With reference to my despatch, No. 231, of the 2nd August last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the despatches noted in the margin, on the subject of the mutual enforcement throughout His Majesty's dominions of judgments, orders of Courts of justice, and arbitration awards arising out of commercial contracts. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 31. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir, — Government House, Brisbane, 20th July, 1912. In reply to your despatch, No. 39, of the 27th March, relative to the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders as to commercial arbitration awards, I have the honour to inform you that the

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Government of this State, while favouring the principle recommended by the Imperial Conference, desires to communicate with the Governments of the other States to ascertain their opinions on the matter and also with a view to securing uniformity of legislation in whatever States may be favourable thereto. , I have, &c, Wμ. MacGregor, Governor. No. 36. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir, — Government House, Hobart, Tasmania, 16th August, I!) 12. With reference to your despatch, No. 32, dated the 27th March last, transmitting copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in 1911 in favour of the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, 1 have the honour to transmit enclosed communication received from the Premier on trie subject. I have, &c, John Mclntyre, Deputy Governor.

Your Excellency,— Premier's Office, Hobart, 14th August, 1912. Referring to the accompanying despatch, No. 32, received from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the enforcement of the orders of Courts of justice, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the principle recommended by the Imperial Conference is one which will be accepted by this Government, and your Ministers are prepared to introduce legislation to reciprocate with any self-governing dominion, state, or province. I uave, &c, His Kxcellency the Governor of Tasmania. A. E. Solomon. Premier.

No. 75. The Governor to the Secretary op State. Sir,— Perth, Western Australia, 18th November, lit 12. With reference to your despatch, No. 37, of the 27th March, lit 12, relative to the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, including judgments and orders as to commercial arbitration awards, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers have intimated that this Government proposes to introduce a measure on the lines suggested in your despatch during the next session of Parliament. I have, &c, G. Strickland, Governor.

No. 79. The Governor to the Secretary op State. Sir, — Government House, Adelaide, 27th November, 1912. In reply to your despatch, No. 35, of 27th March, 1912, I have the honour to forward herewith a report by the Right Hon. the Chief Justice of South Australia, re mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice throughout the Empire. I would add that the report in question has the approval of the Government of South Australia. I have, &c, Day H. Bosanquet, Governor.

Returned to the Hon. the Attorney-General. It would undoubtedly be a great public benefit to have legislation for reciprocally enforcing judgments of the superior Courts throughout the self-governing portions of the Empire, in the same way as in the United Kingdom under the Judgments Extension Act, 1868. As regards awards, the resolution at the Imperial Conference, 1911, was directed only to commercial arbitration awards. On this point the proposals contained in the Secretary of State's despatch are naturally cautious ; but I see no reason why any legislation on the subject should be limited to arbitrations arising out of commercial contracts, except that commercial awards alone were the subject of the resolution passed by the Conference. The simple course would be to provide that an award of any kind to which the effect of a judgment of a superior Court has been given should be enforceable as a judgment. The proposed Bill is to be limited to Great Britain and to apply to judgments and awards in the dominions and colonies which pass reciprocal laws as to the enforcement of British judgments. In order, therefore, to give complete effect to the scheme of the proposed measure, if will be necessary to have legislation with reciprocal provisions in each of the self-governing dominions in addition to the Imperial statute. No doubt this course is suggested in order to avoid encroaching upon the legislative jurisdiction of the dominions, states, and provinces concerned. But this objection would be avoided if the Imperial Parliament were to pass a general measure applicable to the United Kingdom and reciprocally amongst the dominions, &c, concerned on their adopting it either by legislation or by Proclamation. This would also have the advantage of securing uniformity of procedure, though probably it would be desirable to reserve to the Dominion and State Legislatures the power of repeal and amendment as to their own territories.

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Part IV of the Commonwealth Service and Execution of Process Act, No. 11 of 1901, sections 20 to 26, provides a similar scheme as regards inter-State judgments to that which is now proposed with respect to the United Kingdom and self-governing dominions. J. W., 18th October, 1912. C.J.

No. 116. The Governor to the Secretary tir State. Sir, — State Government House, Sydney, 4th December, 1912. Referring to your despatch, No. 45, of the 27th March last, transmitting copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in 1911 in favour of the mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, including judgments and orders as to commercial awards, I have the honour to inform you that the Premier has intimated to me that the question has now received the consideration of Ministers, and has asked me to acquaint you that Ministers are of opinion that legislation by the Imperial Parliament substantially on the lines of the Commonwealth Service and Execution of Process Act (No. 11 of 1901, Part IV) would adequately meet requirements, provision being made to enable each Court to make rules regulating the procedure under the Act in that Court in respect; both of its own judgments which are to be enforced elsewhere and of the judgments of other Courts brought to it for enforcement. Ministers consider that power should also be given to add to the amount of the judgment the costs properly incurred in proceedings under the Act, both in the original Court and the Court where the judgment is enforced. I have, &c, Chelmsford, Governor.

No. 113. New Zealand, No. 78. My Lord,— Downing Street, 21st February, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries on the subject of the restrictions on the importation of live-stock into the Dominion from Great Britain, on which my telegram of the 21st instant was based. I have, &c, L HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sir,- 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 19th February, 1913. 1 am directed by the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that certain restrictions were imposed by the New Zealand Government on the landing of British live-stock in New Zealand on account of the existence of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain. With a view to the withdrawal as soon as possible of all such restrictions, Mr. Runciman would be much obliged if Mr. Harcourt would arrange to inform the Governor of New Zealand by cable—(1) That the existence of foot-and-mouth disease was last confirmed in Great Britain, near Ashford, Kent, on the Ist December last; (2) that the disease was extirpated forthwith by the slaughter of all affected animals and of all animals which had been directly exposed to the risk of infection ; (3) that all the general precautionary measures which, were adopted by_the Board in connection with the outbreak were withdrawn by them on the 10th ultimo ; and (4) further, that there is no reason to suspect that the disease exists in any part of Great Britain. Mr. Runciman is very desirous to learn as soon as possible that the restrictions imposed by the Government of New Zealand have been withdrawn, and he will be much obliged if the Governor may be requested to notify His Majesty's Government by cable as soon as this step has been taken. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Sydney Olivier. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (I.SOO copies), £16.

Authority : JoirN Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l3.

Price Is. 6d.]

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DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, A-02

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DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, A-02

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DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, A-02

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DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, A-02

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DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, A-02

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