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Enclosure (Circular 1568.) Examination of Masters and Mates.—lnstructions to Examiners and Notice to Candidates. Temporary Certificates as Second Mate. The Board of Trade have decided to issue during the war temporary certificates of competency as second mate to candidates who have served three years at sea, and who pass the examination for a second mate's certificate. The certificates issued will be marked "temporary," and will be valid only until three months after the termination of hostilities. All the provisions of the regulations for the examination of masters and mates which apply to the examination for a second mate's certificate, other than the requirement as to four years' service at sea, will apply equally to the examination for a temporary second mate's certificate. Two years on a training-ship followed by two years' service at sea will therefore qualify a candidate for examination for a temporary second mate's certificate. On the completion of the service at sea required by the existing regulations the holder of a temporary second mate's certificate can exchange this certificate for a full second mate's certificate. George Stapylton Barnes, Secretary Ernest G. Moggridge, Assistant Secretary. Board of Trade, Marine Department, January, 1916.

No. 21. New Zealand, No. 86. My Lord, — • Downing Street, 7th February, 1916. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Ministry of Munitions enclosing a copy of a circular letter respecting inventions and research which is beingissued to educational institutions. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1917, No. 12.

Enclosures. Ministry of Munitions of War, 6 Whitehall Gardens, London S.W., Sir,— 28th January, 1916. I am directed by the Minister of Munitions to transmit herewith, as arranged at the interview on the 27th January between you and Mr. H. W. Dickinson, of the Inventions Department of this Ministrj', a copy of the circular letter respecting inventions and research which is being issued to educational institutions, together with a list of the institutions in the dominions, &c, to which it is being sent. I have, &c, The IJnd er -Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. H. Llewellyn Smith.

Sir — I am directed by the Minister of Munitions to draw your attention to the Inventions Department of this Ministry which was recently constituted for the purpose of dealing with ideas, suggestions, and inventions for appliances in connection with the prosecution of warfare on land. The Comptroller is assisted in the task of dealing with the large number of cases that have been and are being received by an advisory panel of scientific and other experts acting in committees. The Minister has come to the conclusion that it is important that this new Department should be brought into close touch with the scientific departments of the universities and technical institutions throughout this county and other parts of the Empire. The Minister is aware that in many cases the heads of such departments are already engaged on the work of Government committees, or in special investigations which have been delegated to them. In other cases, no doubt, members of the staff are carrying out experimental work on ideas of their own, which they believe may be of value in connection with the many scientific problems bearing on the preparation of munitions of war; but he feels that it would be helpful to this Department to have some definite and detailed information on these points. Where the head of a department is already a member of a Government committee, or is carrying out in his laboratory special experimental work for such a committee, it would be sufficient for this Department to be informed of that fact; but in the case of other experimental work which has not been directly authorized, it would be of great advantage that this Department should be informed in some detail as to the nature of the work. In the above connection it is necessary to explain that all communications are confidential, so that where the subject-matter is patentable such communications will not in any way prevent a patent being taken out subsequently, should the inventor so desire, or the Department think fit.