13

H.—22

British Life Annuity Certificates. —There are a number of Imperial Government annuitants residing in New Zealand. In the past the verification of signatures of Justices of the Peace on certificates of certification of life has been a function of the Governor-General. New arrangements by the Imperial Government were gazetted under which the verification is to be by the Minister of Internal Affairs. Cemeteries Act. —No cemeteries were closed during the year. More requests than usual for authority to disinter bodies were received, this being the result of the epidemic. Though admittedly many of the burials were of a temporary nature, and relatives are naturally anxious to transfer the remains to family plots, it was felt that, in the interests of public health, strict adherence to the rule that no body should be disinterred until a period of at least twelve months had elapsed was necessary. Further representations as to the desirability of extending the facilities for cremation were made. The establishment of crematoria is, however, a matter for cemetery trustees. The Department has made inquiries and gathered information on the subject for reference when required. Chartered Clubs. —inspectors' reports show that the chartered clubs are all well maintained, and the conditions on which their charters were granted have been observed. The last charter issued was that of the Civil Service Club, Wellington, in 1906. The following is a list of the present charteied clubs :— Auckland District: Auckland Club, Auckland ; Auckland Masonic Institute and Club, H.M. Arcade, Auckland ; Auckland Working-men's Club, Auckland ; Auckland Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Club, Durham Street, Auckland ; Northern Club, Auckland. Hamilton District: Hamilton Club, Hamilton. Napier District: Hawke's Bay Club, Napier ; Napier Working-men's Club, Napier ; Napier Club, Napier ; Poverty Bay Club, Gisborne ; Cosmopolitan Club, Gisborne ; Ruahine Club, Dannevirke ; Hastings Club,, Hastings. Wanganui District: Palmerston North Working-men's Club, Cuba Street, Palmerston North ; Manawatu Club, Palmerston .North ; Wanganui Club, Wanganui; Wanganui Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association Club, Wanganui; Cosmopolitan Club, 18 Campbell Street, Wanganui ; St. John's and Suburban Working-men's Club, Wanganui; Rangitikei Club, Feilding ; Hawera Club, Hawera ; Taranaki Club, New Plymouth. Wellington District: Central Club (Limited) Hunter Street, Wellington ; Wellington Club, Wellington ; Wellesley Club, Wellington ; Wellington Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Club, Victoria Street, Wellington ; Wellington Working-men's Club, Wellington ; Wellington Civil Service Club, Wellington ; Petone Working-men's Club and Literary Institute, Petone ; South Wairarapa Working-men's Club, Greytown ; Hutt Club, Lower Hutt; Blenheim Working-men's Club, Blenheim ; Marlborough Club, Blenheim ; Nelson Club, Nelson ; City Club, Nelson. Christchurch District: Canterbury Club, Christchurch ; Christchurch Club, Christchurch ; Christchurch Working-men's Club and Mutual School of Arts, 202 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch ; Federal Club, Christchurch ; Oxford Working-men's Club, Oxford, Christchurch ; Richmond Working-men's Club, Stanmore Road, Richmond, Christchurch ; Kaiapoi Working-men's Club, Kaiapoi ; South Canterbury Club, Timaru. Dunedin District: Dunedin Club, Fernhill, Dunedin ; New Zealand Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association Club, Dunedin ; Otago Club, Dunedin. Invereargill District: Nil. Conferences. —During the year the Department was represented at the Australian Town-planning Conference in Brisbane by Mr. S. Hurst Seager. The Director of the Dominion Museum, the Government Astronomer, and the Librarian, Turnbull Library, were present at the New Zealand Science Congress in Christchurch. On the recommendation of the Imperial War Conference of 1918 and the Dominion Royal Commission, the imperial Government has called a conference of Statisticians to consider the establishment of an Imperial Statistical Bureau under the supervision of an Inter-Imperial Committee. The Government Statistician will represent New Zealand at the Conference. Consuls. —Consular appointments as under were recognized by the Governor-General: Chile (Auckland and Wellington) ; China (Wellington) ; France (Dunedin) ; Portugal (Auckland) ; Spain (Wellington) ; Sweden (Auckland and Wellington) ; Switzerland (Auckland) ; United States of America (Auckland). Section 28 of the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, makes it an offence for any person without the lawful authorization of the Crown to act as or to profess to be the representative in New Zealand of a foreign State or political community. Despatches. —l6o despatches from the Secretary of State, as against 126 in 1917-18, were received. Despatches are all treated as urgent, and many dealing with important matters of Imperial interest involve a considerable amount of thought and collating of information. Epidemic. —In common with others, this Department suffered severely by the influenza epidemic, the staff for at least a fortnight being barely sufficient to perform even the most urgent work. The Government's action in closing the Government Buildings gave an opportunity to fumigate and disinfect as thoroughly as was possible under the circumstances. From the reopening until the passing of the epidemic, sulphur-fumigation of the whole building was carried out every evening. This with other precautions taken—in particular the daily passing of all the office staffs through an inhalation-chamber —helped in some degree to check the spread of the disease. One of this Department's officers was sent at short notice with an inhalation outfit and as large a supply as could be obtained of disinfectants and medicines to Tokaanu.