A.—l.

No. 27. (No. 107.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 21st December, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge Your Lordship's despatch (Miscellaneous) of the 17th October last, on the subject of candidates for certificates of competency as Master or Mate being required to show that they possess a knowledge of First Aid to the Injured. 2. The Marine Department of this Dominion is communicating with the Secretaries of the branches of the St. John Ambulance Association at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin as regards those branches affording facilities for instruction and examination of candidates for certificates and it is proposed to make a similar regulation to that made by the Board of Trade to come into force on the Ist January, 1909. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1908, No. 18.

No. 28. (No. 108.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 21st December, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge Your Lordship's circular despatch of the 25th September last, on the subject of the Foreign Tribunals Evidence Act. 2. My Ministers inform me that'they are submitting your despatch and the copy of rules enclosed therewith to the Chief Justice of New Zealand, with a vieAv to similar rules being framed for adoption in this Dominion. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies

No. 29. (No. 109.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 21st December, 1907. In reply to your despatch (Miscellaneous) of the 28th August last, I have the honour, at the request of my Ministers, to inform Your Lordship that, if possible, the Dominion of New Zealand will be represented at the next Congress of Orientalists, which is to be held at Copenhagen in August 1908. 2. The letter of invitation which Your Lordship enclosed for the University of Otago has been forwarded to the Registrar at Dunedin. 3. I may add that the Otago University, though retaining that title, does not confer degrees. It is affiliated to the New Zealand University, which is the University for this Dominion. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1908, No. 8.

No. 30. (No. 1.) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 2nd January, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge Your Lordship's despatch (Miscellaneous) of the 22nd November last, transmitting to me Letters Patent, constituting the Office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand, together with the Royal Instructions accompanying the Letters Patent, and a Commission appointing me to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion. I have, &o, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1908, No. 20.

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