A.—l

10

2. My Ministers note that the Commissioners desire that the sale of National Health Insurance stamps, for the payment of contributions to seamen who are required to be insured, should be continued in New Zealand; and the officers who are in charge of the stamps in this Dominion have been instructed accordingly. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. A. Bonar Law, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 21. New Zealand, No. 164. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 21st August, 1915. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 340, dated 26th June, intimating that the Government of the United States of America had extended to British self-governing Dominions an invitation to send representatives to the International Congress of Education at Oakland, California, in connection with the Panama Pacific International Exposition. 2. As it is stated that the Congress is being held during the period from the 16th August to the 27th August, 1915, and as your despatch did not reach me until the 9th August, it is, of course, too late to consider the question of sending a representative from New Zealand. 3. My Ministers would, however, be much obliged if they could be furnished later with a copy of the volume of proceedings of the Congress, wTiich will no doubt be published later on. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right lion. A. Bonar Law, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1915, No. 81.

No. 22. New Zealand, No. 165. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 30th August, 1915. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 320, of the 17th June, relative to facilities to he afforded to prisoners of war for the execution of legal documents. 2. My Ministers ask me to inform you that, in accordance with the suggestion made in the concluding paragraph of your despatch, instructions have now been issued by the New Zealand Government similar to those issued by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. A. Bonar Law, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 23. New Zealand, No. 168. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 31st August, 1915. With reference to your despatch, No. 377, of the Bth July, forwarding, for the information of my Ministers, a copy of the revised draft stipulation which will in future be added to lascar agreements, I have the honour to inform you that, in compliance with your request, the necessary instructions are being issued by my Government to the Superintendents of Mercantile Marine in New Zealand in regard to the endorsement of any alterations in lascar crews in lascar articles of agreement. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. A. Bonar Law, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1915, No. 35.