25

A.—2

It was settled by King Edward during the early progress of the work that such of Your Majesty's dominions and colonies as have contributed to the memorial should be represented by means of devices and inscriptions on the various gates and on the salient features of the memorial itself. This is being done. His late Majesty was graciously pleased to approve of contributions being made from the memorial funds towards the work carried out by the First Commissioner of Works in St. James's Park, necessary and consequential upon the decision to place the memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. On the change of Government in 1906, the Right Hon. L. Harcourt, M.P., the new First Commissioner of Works, became a member of the special committee ; but by His late Majesty's command the Earl of Plymouth, who vacated that office, continued to give his services to the committee. In order that the work might be completed as rapidly as possible, Mr. Brock, R.A., was obliged to build an additional studio, being the third in which this great work was carried on. From the commencement the Lord Mayors of the City of London have kindly acted as treasurers of the fund. Statements of account were furnished from time to time by Sir William Soulsby, C.8., and submitted to King Edward. The total amount of subscriptions received is £323,609, contributed by Great Britain and Ireland, by the dominions, colonies, and dependencies of Your Majesty's Empire, by Your Majesty's subjects resident in foreign countries, and also by citizens of the United States of America. A financial statement will hereafter be prepared by the Lord Mayor, and submitted for Your Majesty's information, showing a list of the countries and parts of the Empire represented by the contributors. The committee would be failing in their duty to Your Majesty's beloved father and their late Sovereign were they to refrain from laying some stress upon the magnitude and character of the memorial to Queen Victoria. An attempt has been made on a large scale to treat a public memorial in an architectonic spirit, and under the auspices and largely at the initiative of King Edward the memorial and its surroundings may be said to be the first example in recent times of town-planning in the metropolis. To Sir Aston Webb thanks are due for the devotion which he has shown throughout in maintaining the broad lines of the original scheme and for the elaborate care he has bestowed upon his details. The committee find it difficult to express their sense of what is due to the genius of Mr. Brock. The monument itself stands as the best testimony of his work. The successive Lord Mayors of the City of London, from 1901 to the present time, as treasurers, and Sir William Soulsby, as secretary, have been unfailing in their co-operation, while without the generous assistance of the Commissioners of Works and their staff the memorial could not have been satisfactorily completed. In humbly submitting this report to Your Majesty, it is impossible to conclude without an expression of deep gratitude to Your Majesty's beloved father, by whom the committee were carefully and wisely guided through many difficulties, and from whom they invariably received the most cordial support and encouragement. Esher (Chairman). Beauchamp. Plymouth. Redesdale. SCHOMBEBG K. McDoNNELL. 16th May, 1911. John Stirling-Maxwell.

No. 36. New Zealand, No. 189. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th May, 1911. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council dated the 22nd March, 1911, making regulations as to the manner in which Government ships in the service of the Admiralty may be registered as British ships, in accordance with section 80 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 22nd day of March, 1911. Present: the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by section 80 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, power is given to His Majesty by Order in Council to make regulations as to the manner in which Government ships may be registered as British ships under the Merchant Shipping Acts ; 4—A. %

Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 22nd day of March, 1911. Present: the King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by section 80 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, power is given to His Majesty by Order in Council to make regulations as to the manner in which Government ships may be registered as. British ships under the Merchant Shipping Acts ; 4—A, 2,