A.—l.

Prince of Wales' Fund : — £ a. d. £ s. d. Lawrence Patriotic Fund ... ... ... ... 360 Mrs. J. Riddich, Wellington ... ... ... 0 10 0 3 10 0 Prisoners' Relief Fund :— Mrs. J. Riddich, Wellington ... ... ... ... 0 10 0 Union Jack Club Fund : — Southland War Funds Association ... ... ...' ... 25 0 0 Belgian Relief Fund : — Sounds District Belgian Relief Fund ... ... 55 0 0 Poor of Britain, &c, Relief Fund, Blenheim ... ... 10 0 0 Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association ... 374 0 0 439 (I 0 Serbian Relief Fund: — Taihape and District Patriotic Society ... ... 5 0 0 Lawrence Patriotic Fund ... ... ... ... 036 New Plymouth Patriotic Fund ... ... ... 00 0 0 Mrs. Forrest, Wellington ... ... ... ... 20 0 0 Wellington Publishing Company's list ... ... 0 14 9 Manawatu Patriotic Society... ... ...' ... 154 0 5 Wanganui-Waitotara Patriotic Association ... ... 37 11 7 Hawke's Bay Wat Relief Association ... ... ... 200 291 16 3 In addition the following amounts have been remitted to the Paymasters of the Now Zealand Forces : — New Zealand Red Cross Fund :— %ypt^ Marlborough Patriotic Fund ... ... ... ... 25 0 0 France — Marlborough Patriotic Fund ... ... ... ... 75 0 0 £9,282 14 0 Poor in Belgium Relief : — Monthly contribution under Government scheme (less £390 195., as explained in first paragraph of this memorandum) ... ... ... ... ... 14,009 I 0 £23,891 15 0 Arthuk M. Mtekis, Acting Minister of Finance.

No. 2 New Zealand, No. 15. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 15th January, 1917. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your predecessor's despatch, No. 688, dated 31st August, 1916, forwarding copies of an Act to amend the Marriage of British Subjects (Facilities) Act, 1915, together with a copy of an explanatory memorandum on the subject. 2. Ministers have taken note of the observations made in paragraph 2 of the despatch, and have asked me to acquaint you that the necessary legislation to meet the position will be introduced at the first opportunity. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter 11. Long, M.P., Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 34. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 19th January, 1917. I have the honour to inform you, in answer to the question raised in your predecessor's despatch, No. 856, of the 150 th October, 1916, that the Government of New Zealand agrees to undertake full pension liabilities in respect of those of its officers who are lent for service in the field. This under-

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