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Britain and Ethiopia, signed on the 14th May, 1897, and ratified by the Queen on the 28th July, 1897. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see New Zealand Gazette, 21st April, 1898, page 660.]

No. 2. (Circular.) Sir, — . Downing Street, Ist March, 1898. I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under your Government, copies of an order of the Queen in Council applying section 238 of " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1891," respecting the arrest of seamen deserters, in the case of Japan. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. [For enclosure, see Neiv Zealand Gazette, 12th May, 1898, page 806.]

No. 3. (Circular.) Sir,— Downing Street, 2nd March, 1898. By desire of the Board of Trade, I have the honour to transmit to you, for information in the colony under your government, copies of the Act passed last session of Parliament amending " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894," with respect to the power of detention for undermanning, together with the instructions which will shortly be issued by the Board to their surveyors under that Act. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure No. 1. 60 and 61 Vict.] "Merchant Shipping Act, 1897." [C. 59. Chapter 59. An Act to amend " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894," with respect to the Power of Detention for Undermanning. A.D. 1897.] [6th August, 1897. Be it enacted by the Queen'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.) Section four hundred and fifty-nine of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894" (which gives power to detain unsafe ships), shall apply in the case of undermanning, and accordingly that section shall be construed as if the words "or by reason of undermanning" were inserted therein after the word " machinery," and as if the words " or for ascertaining the sufficiency of the crew " were inserted after the word " surveyed," and as if the words " or the manning of the ship " were inserted therein after the words "reloading of cargo," and the powers exercisable under or for the purposes of that section shall include power to muster the crew. (2.) Section four hundred and sixty-two of " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 " (which relates to foreign ships), shall also apply in the case of undermanning, and accordingly that section shall be construed as if the words " or by reason of undermanning" were inserted therein after the words "improper loading." 2. This Act may be cited as " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1897."

Enclosure No. 2. Board of Trade, Marine Department, February, 1898. Instructions to Principal Officees, Superintendents, and Surveyors. " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1897." — Instructions as to Procedure. Foreign-going steamships of over 200 ft. in length, or not less than 700 tons gross, when proceeding to sea should have, independently of the master and two mates, a sufficient number of deckhands available for division into two watches, so as to provide a minimum effective watch viz. a