A.—2.

No. 23. New Zealand, No. 171. My Lord, — . Downing Street, 11th May, 1911. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Book of Instructions to Registrars of Shipping issued by the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs and Excise is now under revision, and that it is desired to send copies of the revised edition when ready for issue to all ports in the colony at which Registrars of Shipping have been appointed. 2. I should be glad if your Ministers would be so good as to inform me how many copies of the revised edition will be required for this puipose. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 24. New Zealand, No. 172. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th May, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 135, of the 7th April, transmitting a copy of the new commercial treaty between Great Britain and Japan, I have the honour to inform you that a telegram has been received from His Majesty's Embassy at TokJo, reporting that ratifications of the treaty were exchanged with Japan on the sth May. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. No. 25. New Zealand, No. 173. My Lord,— Downing Street, 11th May, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 4, of the 11th January, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the infoimation of your Mini&ters, the accompanying copy of a letter from the War Office, fiom which it will be seen that, subject to the conditions stated, the Army Council have decided to adopt the recommendations contained in the enclosures to your despatch No. 86 of the 21st July last, respecting the acceptance of certain examinations as qualifying for admission to the British Army in the case of candidates from the New Zealand Forces. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Sib,— War Office, London S.W., 3rd May, 1911. 1 am commanded to inform you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, in reply to your letter of the 20th February last, No. 4842, forwarding a memorandum by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, that the Army Council have decided to adopt the recommendations respecting the acceptance of certain examinations as qualifying for admission to the British Army from the Colonial Forces contained in Lord Islington's despatch of 21st July, 1910, subject to the conditions stated. A. That the matriculation examination shall be considered equivalent to qualification at an Army qualifying examination or in the new Army entrance examination, provided the candidate satisfies the examiner in the following subjects: (1) English, (2) English history, (3) Geography, (4) Elementary mathematics, (5) French or German. B. That the other University examinations mentioned, being post-matriculation examinations, shall be regarded as equivalent to the Army qualifying or Army entrance examinations. C. That the departmental examinations conducted by the New Zealand Education Department shall be taken as exempting from the Army qualifying or Army entrance examinations, provided the subjects are as laid down for the matriculation examination in paragraph A above, and that the same standard is reached.

No. 25. New Zealand, No. 173. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th May, 1911. With reference to your despatch, No. 4, of the 11th January, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Mini&ters, the accompanying copy of a letter from the War Office, fiom which it will be seen that, subject to the conditions stated, the Army Council have decided to adopt the recommendations contained in the enclosures to your despatch No. 86 of the 21st July last, respecting the acceptance of certain examinations as qualifying for admission to the British Army in the case of candidates from the New Zealand Forces. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sib,— War Office, London S.W., 3rd May, 1911. I am commanded to inform you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, in reply to your letter of the 20th February last, No. 4842, forwarding a memorandum by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, that the Army Council have decided to adopt the recommendations respecting the acceptance of certain examinations as qualifying for admission to the British Army from the Colonial Forces contained in Lord Islington's despatch of 21st July, 1910, subject to the conditions stated. A. That the matriculation examination shall be considered equivalent to qualification at an Army qualifying examination or in the new Army entrance examination, provided the candidate satisfies the examiner in the following subjects: (1) English, (2) English history, (3) Geography, (4) Elementary mathematics, (5) French or German. B. That the other University examinations mentioned, being post-matriculation examinations, shall be regarded as equivalent to the Army qualifying or Army entrance examinations. C. That the departmental examinations conducted by the New Zealand Education Department shall be taken as exempting from the Army qualifying or Army entrance examinations, provided the subjects are as laid down for the matriculation examination in paragraph A above, and that the same standard is reached.

A -1, 1912. No. 28.

19