A.—2

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coasting service, and will require eighteen months to equal twelve months in the foreign trade, whereas it is understood that twelve months of .such service {i.e., in the Victorian home trade), if presented by a candidate in New South Wales, would be accepted as being service performed in the foreign trade as denned by your Act and regulations, and vice versa, as regards the coasting service of New South Wales, if presented under like circumstances in Victoria. Eeferring to your regulation (1890) for the examination of engineers, clauses 23 and 157 thereof define coasting as being within the limits of Eockhampton on the north and Melbourne on the south. Under your regulations it is believed that you would exact eighteen months of servico therein from a candidate requiring to be examined ; yet under the regulations of this Board similar service, if on a vessel trading to or from this port, and having been performed outside of our " home-trade limits," would be counted as foreign service, and twelve months of such service would therefore suffice. Shortly put, it would appear that, in consequence of the wording of the regulations, and the definitions of what constitutes the "coasting" or "home trade" in the respective colonies, it is possible for candidates to evade the intention of the regulations in respect of the additional service required when engaged in other than the foreign trade. This Board contemplates amending its regulations, and the matter is now in hand; but before finally dealing with the same I have been directed to communicate with you to ascertain whether the anomaly has presented itself in any form in connection with any candidates at your port. Having in view also the definitions attached to the terms "jurisdiction" and "foreign-going ship" (clause 4 of the New South Wales Act No. 7), and "coasting service" and "coast-trade steamship " (Examination Eegulations 23 and 157), may I ask that you will kindly advise this Board as to what is your actual practice in the matter of service in your home or coasting trade. Is service performed in vessels trading outside the limits of your jurisdiction accepted as foreign service ? Apart from the direct questions raised, I would be glad to be favoured with your remarks on the subject generally. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Board, Sydney. J. Gbo. McKie.

Sic, — Marine Board of New South Wales, Sydney, 25th November, 1892. In reply to your letter of the 23rd instant, I have the honour, by direction, to inform you that this Board has always liberally interpreted the clauses mentioned by you, more especially as the candidates have to show by an examination their proficiency or otherwise ; consequently all service outside New South Wales, or between this and any other colony, is considered foreign for the purpose of allowing candidates to present themselves for examination. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Board, Melbourne. G. S. Lindman, Secretary.

Sic, — Marine Board Office, Brisbane, 18th January, 1893. In reply to yours of the 4th instant, re qualifying service for engineers' certificates of competency, I have the honour, by direction, to inform you that this Board have always considered service between this and neighbouring Australian Colonies as coasting service, eighteen months of which service has been required to qualify a candidate for examination both for masters', mates', and engineers' certificates. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Board, Melbourne. S. A. Pethebeidge, Secretary.

Coasting Service. Sic, — Marine Board of Victoria, Melbourne, 11th March, 1893. Adverting to my letter of the 4th January (M. 9328), and your reply thereto of the 18th idem, as to the interpretation placed by your Board on the term "coasting service" in its relation to "foreign service," Inowbegto forward, for your information, & precis of the replies received from the other colonies on the question then at issue, and also a copy of a report of committee adopted by the Board at its last meeting. Action will be taken with the least delay to give effect to the Board's resolutions. I have, &c, The Secretary, Marine Board, Brisbane. J. G. McKib, Secretary.

Coasting v. Foreign Service. Précis of Replies received by the Marine Board of Victoria from Adjacent Colonies.

J. G. MgKib, Secretary. Marine Board of Victoria, Melbourne, 11th March, 1893.

Colony. Interpretation. 'asmania All service outside of Tasmania, or between Tasmania and any other colony, is eonsiderod foreign for the purpose of allowing candidates to present themselves for examination. All service between this colony and any other is admittedly foreign. Coasting service is that performed within the limits of this province. Service in vessels trading on the coast at New Zealand is treated as coasting service only, and service in vessels trading between New Zealand and the Australian Colonies, in the course of which trade a certain portion of the timo is occupied in passing along the coasts of this colony, has up to the present been treated as foreign service. All servico outsido New South Wales, or between this and any other colony, is considered foreign for the purpose of allowing candidates to present themselves for examination. iouth Australia few Zealand Tew South Wales ..