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that the New Zealand regulations for the examination of engineers are now being amended for the purpose of bringing them into conformity with the latest regulations issued by the Board of Trade, and provision will be made in the amendments to include the regulations as to attendance at technical schools embodied in the circular forwarded with your despatch. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies:

No. 38. New Zealand, No. 185. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 4th December, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 287, of the Ist August, on the subject of certificates issued by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in regard to the soundness of stallions exported from Scotland. 2. In answer to your inquiry as to whether my Government are prepared to comply with the wishes of the Board, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum received from my Prime Minister containing his observations on the subject. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A. 2, 1914, No. 52.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 28th November, 1913. Memorandum to His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency, and begs to inform him, with reference to the attached despatch dated Ist August from the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Government House, No. 767/1913), that at the present time there is no law in New Zealand under which certificates of hereditary unsoundness are required to accompany stallions or mares imported into this Dominion from the Old Country, and that the New Zealand Government is consequently unable to accept the offer of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland to supply certificates. It may be added that in the Stallions Bill introduced into Parliament this session, but not passed, there is a provision under which such certificates would be practically necessary, and if the Bill referred to is brought forward during a future session, and becomes law, the question of accepting the Scottish Board's certificates will receive careful consideration. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister

No. 39. New Zealand, No. 186. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth December, 1913. In accordance with the desire expressed in your despatch, No. 308, of the 14th August, relative to the recent epidemic of smallpox in New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a report from the Chief Health Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals which has been sent me by the Minister in Charge of Public Health for your information. 2. The documents referred to in the report are also enclosed. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1914, No. 58.

A.-2, 1914, No. 53.