17

A.—2

No. 34. (Circular.) Sib, — Downing Street, 13th April, 1897. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, requesting to be informed as to the practice which obtains in regard to the discharge of seamen at colonial ports. I shall be glad if you will furnish me with the information desired by the Board so far as it relates to the colony under your government. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government J. CHAMBERLAIN, of New Zealand.

Enclosure. (M. 6274.) Board of Trade, Marine Department, 7, Whitehall Gardens, Sir,— London, S.W., sth April, 1897. I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, that questions have been raised in connection with section 188 of " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894," which provides that seamen can only be discharged or left behind in a British possession with the sanction of the local superintendent or officer of Customs, and the Board think it would facilitate the settlement of these questions if precise information could be obtained as to the practice at present followed in this matter in the various colonies. I am accordingly to suggest for the consideration of the Secretary of State that the Colonial Governments may be requested to be good enough to forward information with regard to the principles upon which it is decided at each large port whether the sanction required by section 188 shall be granted or not; and whether sanction to the discharge of crews whose agreements have terminated at a colonial port is ever refused, it being a question of some doubt whether section 188 would apply in such cases ; also the extent to which the decision as to granting or withholding sanction in these cases is governed by local laws or ordinances. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Walter J. Howell.

No. 35. 'Sir,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 14th April, 1897. With reference to your telegram of the 16th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has been pleased to signify her approval that members of the Legislative Council in certain colonies possessing Responsible Government, including New Zealand, may, on retirement or resignation, after a continuous service of not less than ten years, be eligible to be recommended by the Governors of such colonies for Her Majesty's permission to retain the title of " Honourable," and that you will, therefore, be at liberty to recommend for the privilege any gentlemen who may be duly qualified. I enclose a copy of the notice in the London Gazette on this subject, and also of a despatch which I have addressed to the Governors of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia, whose representatives at the recent Conference at Hobart were not in favour of the adoption of the proposal. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government J. CHAMBEELAIN. of New Zealand.

Enclosure No. 1. [Extract from the London Gazette.] Downing Street, 10th April, 1897. This Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her approval that members of the Legislative Councils in certain colonies possessing Responsible Government may, on retirement or resignation after a continuous service in such Councils of not less than ten years, be eligible to be recommended by the Governors of such colonies for Her Majesty's permission to retain the title of " Honourable." 3—A. 2.