DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1910 Session I, A-02

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1910. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INDEX.

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No. of ieries Date. Subject. Page 1 j 18 Mar., 1909.. Ninth International Veterinary Congress at The Hague.. 2 23 „ ,, Accession of German Protectorates to the Berne Copyright Convention of 188(i 3 j 25 „ „ .. Metric Convention of 1907 .. 4 81 „ ,. . ■ Creation of an Imperial General Staff .. 5 1 April, „ .. International Copyright Convention of Berlin, 1908 (j 2 Appointment of Mr. Odin Moller as temporary Consul of Denmark at Christchuroh. . 7 7 " '.. Appointment of Mr. Thomas Young as Consul of Japan a1 Wellington y 10 „ ,, Support and development of the scientific and commercial work of the Imperial Institute 9 14 „ .. Customs treatment of commercial travellers' samples 10 15 M „ .. An Act to amend the Harbours Act, 1908 : Suggestion of the Board of Trade 11 16 || „ .. Duplicate records in Public Record Office 12 20 „ „ .. Assent to an Act to amend the Harbours Act, 1908 13 I 21 ,, ,, Appeals from the Supreme Court of New South Wales 14 22 ',', ',',■■ Requesting information re. enforcement of Arbitration Awards .. .. ... 15 97 || „ .. Importation of plumage and skins of non-edible birds into the Commonwealth of Australia l(j 2!) Extension of postal privileges to French settlements 17 29 „ „ .. Export of prison-made goods from the United States 18 i May I , rospects of oil-deposits in New Zealand U) 4 ' Appointment of Mr. James Molntoah as Consular Agent for France at Wellington .. 20 6 ',', ,', ■■ Army Order No. 109, of AprO, 1909 .. 21 7 Agreement r< International Bureau of Public Health at Paris 2-2 i l> .. ., .. Second Peace Conference at Hβ Hague, 1907 .. o;j 14 „ „ .. Patents, designs, and trade-marks 24 14 „ „ .. Loss of the British ship " Forest Hall " 25 21 .. „ .. International Conference on Eleotrioal Units and Standards 26 24 ',', » • • Uniformity of trade statistics of the Empire 27 25 '.', „ ■ ■ State and State-aided schools og j 27 ,. „ Application from Professor (J. ('. Henderson to examine certain despatches 29 ! 28 " " Shipping trade between Australia and Europe and the United States of America .. 30 28 ',', „ . ■ Approval of transfer of certain lands to the Governor 31 <jg ti „ .. International Conference for Preservation of Natural Resources, at The Hague 32 2 June, ',', .. Regulations under which commissions in the British army .oan be obtained by colonial officers 33*! 4 n ., Proposed Convention re direct exchange of money-oixlers between New Zealand and France 34 8 „ ,. . Appointment of the President and Public Prosecutor of the Joint Court in the New Hebrides 315 g University of London degrees open to colonial candidates 36 J( , || n .' Adherence of New Zealand to the Radio-telegraphic Convention.. 37 15 || „ .. Treatment of Mr. R. Harris . . 38 i i5 n Accession of Austria-Hungary to the Industrial Property ('.'mention of 1883 ,. 4 4 4 4 7 8 8 8 9 10 10 11 11 11 12 12 12 14 14 15 15 it; Hi 17 17 17 18 19 20 21 21 23 23 24 2.1 25 26 27

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INDEX— continued.

No. ol Scries V" .. No. of Date. Subject. Pasje £toi*i ph Series i 39 10 June, 1909 .. Period during which Hugs shall bo at half-iiiasl on death of foreign sovereigns .. 27 40 17 ,. .... Proposed Money-order Convention with France .. .. .. -7 11 17 .. .. .. Regulations re long-eervioe and good-oonduel medals, Royal Naval Reserve, applio- 28 able io New Zealand 12 21 .. .... Deleting Rarotonga ensign From Admiralty Blag-book .. .. .. ..28 43 30 .. \111 >oii 11 mi -i it of Mr. II. B. Sorenson as Consul of Denmark a1 Christohurch.. .. 2!i 44 3d .. .... Prevention of embarkation of consumptives for New Zealand .. .. .. 2'.i (r> :io „ .... Long-service medals. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve ., .. .. 32 Iβ 2 July, .. .. British colonies and protectorates acceded to treaty of commerce between I Hit nl 33 Kingdom and Servia 47 2 .... Fifteenth International Congress of Hygiene and Demography at Washington .. 33 48 2 .. .... Administration of U'allis and Futuna Islands .. .. .. .. ..34 49 2 .... International Telegraph Conference, Lisbon, 1908 .. .. .. ..34 ">() 8 .... Revised regulations, International Telegraph Convention .. .. .. 36 r>1 9 .. .... Examination of engineers, mercantile marine .. .. .. .. :!."> 52 14 .. .... Census of the British Empire .. .. .. .. .. ..35 58 15 ,, .... Appeals from Supreme Court of Western Australia .. .. .. .. 36 ;")4 Iβ „ .... Retention of title " Honourable" by Mr. William Hall-Jones .. .. .. 36 .V> 1(> .. .... Report of Royal Commission on Shipping Rings .. .. .. ..37 ."/•i Hi ,. .... Appointmentof President and Public Prosecutor, New Hebrides Joint Court .. 37 f>7 16 .. .... Reduction of charges on Press messages .. .. .. .. ..37 58 22 ,, .... Preservation of natural resources of the world.. .. .. .. 38 .V.I II Aug Report of Permanent Sugar Commission .. .. .. .. ..38 (ill 13 ,, Appreciation of kindness shown to Sir Charles Lucas anil .Mr. Pearson . . . . 39 f>1 N .. .... Special facilities to consular officers .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 02 27 .. .... Imperial Cancer Research Fund .. .. .. .. .. ..40 63 27 ,. Appointment of Mr. T. Young as Consul of Japan at Wellington .. .. .. 41 til 27 „ .... Censorship of plays .. .. .. .. .. .. ..41 65 3 Sept Survey of foreign passenger-steamers.. .. .. .. .. ..41 tiii 10 ,. .... Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence .. .. .. ..42 67 , 1") .. .... Life-saving appliances on ships .. .. .. .. .. ..43 us 17 New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Act, U08 .. .. .. .. ..43 i;!) 17 .. .... German and Norwegian ships exempted from regulations as to life-saving appliance-; ii 7" 20 „ „ .. Transmission of enteric fever by " chronic carrier " .. .. .. .. 44 71 24 ,. .... Immigration of Chinese in the Dominion .. .. .. .. ..44 72 24 ,, .... Long-service medals, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve: 45 Removal of restrictions 73 ! 24 ,, ,, . • Proposed Conference on Copyright .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 74 i 24 „ „ .. ! Army (Annual) Act, 1909 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 75 I 29 „ H .. J Asking for regulations governing horse-breeding in New Zealand.. .. .. 47 7li 1 Oct Courts-martial may be held in New Zealand .. .. .. .. ..47 77 ! 8 Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, 1908 .. .. .. ..Is 78 8 „ „ .. Protection of New Zealand trade-marks in Iceland .. .. .. 48 79 8 „ .... Presentation of kiwis and keas to Austrian Emperor .. .. .. .. 48 80 j 11 „ .... "Commissions Rogatoires," or Letters of Request .. .. .. ..49 81 11 ., „ .. Proposed International Botanic Congress at Brussels .. .. .. ..49 82 14 „ „ .. Navigation agreements with France .. .. .. .. .. ..50 83 18 „ „ ■• Illustrated lectures on the Empire .. .. .. .. .. ..50 84 29 „ „ .. Examination of masters and mates, mercantile marine . . .. .. .. 50 85 j 29 „ .... Appointment of Mr. P. K. Davies as Vice-Consul for Argentine at Wellington .. 51 86 30 ,, .... Second Peace Conference at The Hague .. .. .. .. ..51 87 30 ,, .... Load-lines for foreign ships .. .. .. .. .. ., ..52 88 3 Nov., Appointment c>1 Mr. H. B. Sorenson as Danish Consul at ('hristchurch approved .. 52 89 4 International Congress Radiology and Electricity .. .. .. ..52 90 8 ,, .... Supply and withdrawal of silver and bronze coin .. .. .. ... r>3 91 8 .. .. .. Honduranian Government terminates treaty of commerce aird navigation.. .. f>3 92 11 ,, .... Navigation agreement with France .. .. .. .. .. .. .">:; 93 lt> .. .... Reporl of International Scientific Conference on Leprosy .. .. .. 68 !)l 19 .. .... Proposed International Railway Congress at Berne, 1910 .. .. .. .Vi 95 I!) .. .... Proposed Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand .. .. 56 !i(i 2<> Treaty ports in the Far East .. .. .. .. 58 97 26 .. .... Colonial Naval Defence Amendment Act (Imperial) .. .. .. ,">s 98 26 .. .... Purchase of 4-6 in. Q.F. Howitzer equipment .. .. .. .. ..68 '■>'■> 3 Dec Appointment of President and Public Prosecutor, Join! Court. New Hebrides .. .">!i 100 :! .. .... Naval establishments in British possessions .. .. .. ., .. .">!i 101 f> ., .... Permanent Sugar Commission .. .. .. .. tin 102 7 .. .. .. International Conference on Electrioal Units .. .. .. oo 103 9 .. .... Load-line certificates of French ships .. .. .. .. .. ..60 104 10 .. .. .. Second l'eaee Conference .. .. .. .. .. .. .. <;| lo."> 10 .. .... Exchange of money-orders, France and New Zealand .. .. .. .. i>2 10(i Hi .. .... King's Colonials Yeomanry .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (ii 107 17 .. .... Establishment of Law Library for colonial counsel .. .. .. .. ii,-j 108 , 17 „ .. .. Proposed International Prison Congress .. .. .. .. .. 04 109 20 „ .. . . Swedish and French vessels exempted from life-saving appliances and regulations.. (ili 110 23 .. .... ; Examination of engineers, mercantile marine .. .. .. .. 1,1; 111 21 .. „ .. International Copyright Convention, 1908 .. .. .. .. gfl 112 29 ., .... Imperial Cancer Research Fund .. .. .. .. t>1; 113 30 ,, ,, .. Extradition treaty with France and Tunis .. .. .. .. ..67 114 31 .. .... Right of withdrawal from certain treaties with foreign powers .. .. .. us 115 (>' Jan.. 1910.. Transmission of enteric fever by "chronic carrier" .. .. .. ■. I 68 110 (i „ ., .. Export of prison-made goods from United States .. .. .. .. lis 117 7 „ . . Importation of Australian ami New Zealand potatoes into Peru prohibited .. 69 118 8 .. ,, .. King Edward medal for bravery in mines ,, .. .. .. .. 70

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INDEX— continued.

No. of Series Date. Subject. Pace 119 120 121 14 Jan., 1910 .. 14 , 14 Proposed International Congress of the Deaf .. .. .. .. .. 70 Use of white phosphorus in matches .. .. .. .. . . .. 71 Appointment of Sir Alfred L. Winsloe, K.C.B., C.V.O., C.M.G., Commander-in-Chief, 71 China Station Anglo-French navigation agreement .. .. .. .. .. ..71 Certificates of skippers of fishing-boats .. .. .. .. ..72 Appeals to His Majesty in Council from New Zealand.. .. .. .. 72 Long-service ami Good-conduci .Medals .. ,. .. .. ..72 Iniernational Congress on Family Kdueation .. .. .. .. ..73 Proposed International Congress on the Conservation of Natural Resources .. 7.'5 Use of white phosphorus in matches .. .. .. .. .. 73 Transandine Railway .. .. .. .. .. .. 73 Census of 1911 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..74 Judges of Supreme Court to hold the title " Honourable " .. .. 74 ■■ I infractions to Officers in British Colonies and Possessions—.Merchant Shipping and 75 Seamen'' Leprosy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 Transvaal Act, No. 31, of 1909 (Companies Act) .. .. .. ..75 Judge and Public Prosecutor, New Hebrides Joint Court .. .. .. 70 Postal arrangements with transferred Siam States .. .. .. .. 7(i ( lost of maintenance of Naval Force cm Australian Station . . .. . . 76 Periodical returns by bankers .. .. .. .. .. 77 President and Public Prosecutor. .New Hebrides Joint Court .. .. .. 78 Minutes of Committee. Law of Copyright .. .. .. .. ..78 German protectorates in the Pacific .. .. .. .. .. ..79 122 123 124 \->:, 120 127 128 129 130 131 132 14 , 17 „ „ .. 22 „ „ .. 26 27 „ „ .. 3 Feb * „ „ ■ ■ 4 , 9 „ „ • • 10 11 „ 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 1-t » » .. 15 „ „ .. 17 „ „ .. 18 4 Mar II „ » .. 11 „ „ .. 11 „ 11 „

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No. 1

New Zealand, No. 65. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th March, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a note from the Netherlands Minister at this Court, inviting the representation of your Government at the Ninth International Veterinary Congress, which is to take place at The Hague next September. I also enclose a copy of the programme of the Congress. 2. I shall be glad to learn in due course whether your Government propose to be represented on this Congress. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910, No. 20.

No. 2. New Zealand, No. 68. My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd March, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 17, of the 22nd January, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a paper which has been presented to Parliament by command of His Majesty, on the subject of the accession of the German Protectorates to the Berne Copyright Convention of 1886, and to the additional Act and Declaration of 1896. 2. I also enclose copy of an Order of His Majesty in Council of the 2nd March, which has been passed to give effect to the accession of the German protectorates to the Convention and the additional Act. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 70. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th March, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the Metric Convention of 1875, with the regulations annexed, as settled at the Fourth General Conference of Weights and Measures, held in October, 1907. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 71. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st March, 1909. With reference to my telegram of the 10th February, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, together with copy of a telegram from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, regarding; the creation of an Imperial General Staff. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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Enclosures. 7363. Conference—B93. 30. (' \NADA. The Governor-General to the Sborbtari of State. (Received Ist March, 1909.) [Copy to War Office, 15th March, 1909.] [Answered by No. 7363. J (No. 66.) My Loud,— Montreal, P.Q., 15th February, 1909. With reference to in) - telegram of the 12th instant, giving a summary of the observations of my Responsible Advisers upon four Lordship's despatch No. 30, of the 15th ultimo, on the subject of the creation of an Imperial General Staff for the service of the Empire as a whole, 1 have the honour to enclose copy of an approved minute of the Privy Council, upon which my telegram was based. I have, &c, Grey. Certified Copt of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved b}- His Excellency the Governor-General on the 10th February, 1909. (P.C. 70 N.) The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration a despatch, dated 15th January, I!)()!). From the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, forwarding a letter from the War Office, dated l.'ith December, L9OB, enclosing and commending to the attention of Your Excellency's Governjneni a memorandum prepared by the General Staff on the subject of the creation of an Imperial General Staff for the service of the Empire as a whole. The Minister of Militia and Defence, to whom the said despatch and enclosures were referred, submits a report thereon (hereunto attached), in which lie expresses the opinion that Your Excellency's Government may safely assent to the general principles proposed for adoption in the memorandum by the General Staff, and recommends that, as requested in the above-quoted Colonial Office letter, a cable message conveying that assent be addressed to the Colonial Office. The Committee, concurring in the said report of the Minister of Militia and Defence, submit the following as the text of the cable message to be sent by Your Excellency to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies: — "Your despatch, Canada, 30, of January 15th. My Ministers fully accept the principles set forth in memorandum by General Staff. Despatch will follow explaining precise position of Dominion Government." The Committee further advise thai Your Excellency may be pleased to transmit a copy of this minute and of the annexed report to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies. All which is respectfully submitted lor approval. F. K. Bennetts, Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council. Department o> Militia and Defence. Ottawa, 9th February, 1909. 1. The undersigned lias the honour to report, for the information of Your Excellency in Council, that he has had under his consideration Colonial Office letter (Canada, No. 30), dated loth January, 1909, in which the Secretary of State for the Colonies forwards a letter from the War Office, dated 15th December, 1908, enclosing and commending to the attention of Your Excellency's Government a memorandum prepared by the General Staff, on the subject of the creation of an Imperial General Staff for the service of the Empire as a whole. i\ The undersigned, after full and careful consideration of the important question referred to him, is of the opinion that Your Excellency's Government may safely assent to the general principles proposed for adoption in the memorandum by the General Staff, and recommends that, as requested in the above-quoted Colonial Office letter, a oable message conveying that assent be addressed to the Colonial Office. 3. At the same time, he is of opinion that it is advisable that, simultaneously with a general acceptance of the principles laid down in the memorandum referred to, the position of Your Excellency's Government upon certain points therein which especially appear to require attention should be precisely defined, and he therefore recommends that the cable message in question should further state that a despatch explaining this position will follow by the first mail. He submits the following as the te\t of the message: — "'Your despatch, Canada, 30, of January Lsth : My Ministers fully accept the principles set forth in memorandum by General Staff. Despatch will follow explaining precise position of I dominion Government." I. With regard to the despatch itself, the Minister of Militia recommends that it should state that four Bxcellency's Government is prepared to give Full assent to the general principles laid down, both in the letter of the War Office and in the memorandum prepared by the General Staff, and they do it all the more cordially in that they observe that, in the body of the memorandum itself, the great principle of complete local control, by the responsible Minister concerned, of the officers of (lie local section of the Imperial General Staff is fully safeguarded.

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r>. It will probably be within Your Excellency's recollection that, in the " Memorandum by the Canadian Ministers concerning Defence," which was drawn up at the Colonial Conference of IDOL , , the reasons given for dissenting from certain of the proposals laid before that Conference by the War Office and the Admiralty were stated t'> be that " the acceptance of the proposals would entail an important departure from the principle of colonial self-government." This important question appears to be adequately provided for in the latter portion of the penultimate paragraph of page i'"' of the present memorandum, in which it is stated that " the full control of the chief of the local section of the General Staff by his own Government must be accepted from the outset." It is further clearly laid down that, while chiefs of the local sections of the General Staff are to "keep in close communication with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff," they oannot ceceive orders from him. "He will keep them informed as to what ate considered, from an Imperial point of view, the correct general principles, and they will advise their Governments ,is to the bast method of applying these principles to local conditions, and as to the risk of departing from them. When this advice is not accepted, it will be their duty to carry out whatever their respective Governments tnaj older." 6. In regard to that portion of the paragraph quoted which states that "the chiefs of the local sections of the General Staff will keep in close communication with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff," the undersigned is oordially in agreement with the proposal, but he is of opinion that, in order to avoid possible misunderstanding by the Chief of the Canadian Section of the views or intentions of the Dominion Government, and consequent misrepresentation of those views to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, it would lie advisable to lav down definitely that all communications passing between the Chief of the Canadian Section and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, other than those on purely routine or ephemeral questions, must be submitted to the Minister of Militia for his concurrence before being despatched. 7. The Minister of Militia further feels it desirable thai a detinue assent should be given to the axiom (first paragraph of Part 111, p. 9) that " in order to qualify themselves for employment on the General Staff, officers must have been educated previously up to a certain common standard of military knowledge, and have become imbued with the requisite uniformity of thought and practice. Tins uniformity in training and thought can only be obtained by passing officers intended fur General Staff work through a Staff College. 8. The memorandum appears to contemplate the possibility of the Staff College at Camberley (England), which must for some years to come '»■ the central school of higher military education for the whole Empire, becoming congested, should large numbers of officers from overseas be collected together there, ami suggests, as a possible remedy, decentralisation by the establishment of similar colleges in the overseas Dominions. 9. The Minister of Militia holds the opinion that, in viefl of the improbability of any large increase of the Canadian Permanent forces for some years to come, it is unlikely that the Dominion would, fin , a considerable period, be able to spare more than four officers of that force at any one time for a Staff College training. If this be so, then it would not be worth while for the Dominion to establish a Staff College of its own, and it would be preferable, subject to War Office concurrence, to continue to send these officers to the Staff College, Camberley, following the existing arrangements. Should this course entail on the War Office any addition either to the accommodation at the College or to the number of the instructors, the Dominion Government would, of course, be prepared to bear its share of the expense, calculated upon any equitable basis. 10. Closely allied with this part of the subject is the question, also considered in the memorandum, of the preliminary military education of regimental officers, in order to insure that officers entering the Staff Colleges should have attained as uniform a standard of military knowLedge as possible, so that they may profit to the utmost by the instruction given at those colleges. This question in Canada may present minor difficulties, to some extent adumbrated in the memorandum. In the opinion of the Minister, these may best lie met by an extension of the functions of the Royal Military College. Kingston, and by including among its instructing staff specially selected officers from the educational branch of the Imperial General Staff. 11. Finally, the memorandum lays stress upon the advantages to lie gained by the free interchange of officers between the various blanches of the Imperial General Staff in the different parts of the Empire, and especially upon the great benefit which would result from periodical conferences of the Imperial General Staff, attended by representatives from all parts of'the Empire, and held under the presidency of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff in London. The advantages indeed are obvious. ll\e acceptance of these proposals and those others already referred to would, doubtless, involve expenditure, but the resultant benefits are, in the Minister's opinion, so great as to outweigh eiior usly the comparatively small expense involved. 12. The following extract from the "Memorandum by the Canadian Ministers concerning Defence " of August. 1902, already referred to. slates fully the policy which then commended itself not .1111 \ to the Government of Canada, but to the Dominion at large: "In conclusion, the Ministers repeat that, while the Canadian Government are obliged to dissent from the measures proposed (in 1902). they fully appreciate the obligation of the Dominion to make expenditure for the purposes of defence in proportion to the increasing population and wealth of the country. They are willing that these expenditures should be so directed as to relieve the taxpayer of the Mother - country of some of the .burdens which he now bears: and they have the strongest desire to carry out their defence schemes in co-operation with the imperial authorities and under the advice of experienced Imperial officers, so far as this is consistent with the principle of local self-government which has proved so great a factor in the promotion of Imperial unity."

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'This extract from a memorandum written six years ago would appear to represent correctly the attitude of Your Excellency's Government at the present time. F. W. Borden, Minister of Militia and Defence. To His Excellency the Governor-General in Council. k 7698/1909. Telegram.—The Governor-General of Australia to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Received, Colonial Office, 11.15 a.m., 3rd March, 1909.) Commonwealth of. Australia concur in general principles Imperial General Staff set out in memorandum of 7th December, 1908, but desire to emphasize fact that full local control retained. Despatch follows by mail. Dudley.

No. 5. New Zealand, No. 73. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist April, 1909. In continuation of my despatch No. 48, of the 27th February, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of minutes by the Hoard of Trade appointing a committee to examine the various points in which the revised International Copywright Convention signed at Berlin on the 13th November, 1908, is not in accordance with the law of the United Kingdom. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. N.Z. 73. At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, this 9th day of March, 1909. Present: The Right Honourable Winston S. Churchill, M.P. Tin: Board of Trade are pleased to appoint the following gentlemen, viz., — The Righi Honourable Lord Gorell (Chairman), Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins, Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema, 0.M., Mr. William Joynson Hicks, .M.1 , .. Mr. George Ranken Askwith, K.C., Mr. William Algernon Law, C.8., Mr. 11. Granville Barker, Mr. Frederick Macmillan, Mr. Charles W. Bowerman, M.P., Mr. Thomas Power O'Connor, M.P., Mr. Henry li. Clayton, Professor Walter Raleigh, Mr. 11<111 y .1. C. Cust. Mr. Thomas Edward Scrutton, K.C., Mr. Edward Cutlet, K.C., Mr. Edmund Trevor L. Williams, — to be a committee to examine the various points in which the revised International Copyright Convention signed at Berlin on the 13th November, 1908, is nol in accordance with the law of the United Kingdom, including those points which are expressly I H to the internal legislation of each country, and to consider in each case whether that law should be altered so as to enable His Majesty's Government to give effect to the revised Convention. The Board of Trade are also pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas W. Phillips to be Secretary to the said committee. Winston S. Churchill. At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, this I 7i h day of March, 1909. Present: Read minute, dated the 9th March. 1909, appointing a committee to examine and consider certain questions connected with the law of copyright of the United Kingdom. The Board oi* Trade are pleased to appoini Mr, William Boosey to be an additional member oi , the said committee, Winston S, Churchill,

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No. 0. New Zealand, No. 74. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd April, 1909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that an application has been received from the Danish Minister at this Court on the subject of the appointment of Mr. Odin Moller to take charge, temporarily, of the Consulate of Denmark at Christchurch. A copy of the Danish Minister's note is enclosed. As this gentleman is in New Zealand, I have to request that you will report whether there is any objection to this appointment; and, if not, that you will recognise him in that capacity, and report when you have done so. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 1910, No. 15.

No. 7. New Zealand, No. 77. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th April, 1909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that an application has been received from the Japanese Ambassador at this Court for the issue of an exequatur to Mr. Thomas Young, who has been appointed Consul of Japan at Wellington. As this gentleman is presumably in New Zealand, I have to request that you willreport whether there is any objection to his appointment; and, if not, that you will recognise him provisionally in that capacity until the arrival of the exequatur, and report when you have done so. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 1910, No. 18.

No. 8. Circular.—N.Z., 85. Sir,— Downing Street, 10th April, 1909. I have the honour to address you with reference to my predecessor's circular of the 31st July, 1906, outlining a scheme for the support and development of the scientific and commercial work of the Imperial Institute, and proposing its experimental adoption for a term of three or five years from the Ist October, 1906. 2. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, after consideration of the replies from all parts of the Empire, agreed to make the contribution promised in the terms of paragraph 4 of that circular for three years—a period which will terminate on the 30th September next. The receipts from the colonies and protectorates, including certain grants from dominions possessing responsible Government, which can properly be set against the Imperial contribution, have amounted to £2,911 Bs. 6d. in the year from Ist October, 1906, to 30th September, 1907, and to £3,398 18s. 6d. in the year from Ist October, 1907, to 30th September, 1908. 3. Since the Ist October, 1907, the management of the Imperial Institute has been intrusted to the Colonial Office by the Board of Trade, and in the same month arrangements were made to take over the Indian Section of the Institute. 4. The work done by the Imperial Institute during the years 1906 and 1907 is described in the enclosed report, a copy of which has already been sent to you. It is regretted that the publication of this report was unduly delayed, and it is hoped to publish the report for 1908, which is now in course of preparation, in about two months. A report on the cottons grown in British possessions (Cd. 3997) has already been communicated to you, and a similar report on fibres is now being printed.

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5. The reports which have been published appear to me to show that the scheme which was adopted in 1907 as an experiment has proved a success. Greatly increased interest is being taken in the work of the Imperial Institute by the public of this country, and by the Governments of dominions possessing responsible Government; and I have much satisfaction in stating that His Majesty's Government have decided to continue the grant of £1,500 a year under the same conditions as those previously accepted. They have also decided to continue for another four years the grant of £500 a year for investigations in connection with cotton-growing. 6. It now remains for the Governments of the colonies and protectorates, whose contributions have up to the present-been limited to a period of three years, to consider the continuance—and perhaps in some cases an increase— of their annual grants towards the upkeep of the Imperial Institute. The scientific and technical work now carried on is strictly limited by the funds available, but is capable of almost indefinite expansion. It cannot be disputed that the investigations and reports already issued have been of high value for the commercial development of the Empire, and I hope that the Governments concerned will see then way to join in placing the present scheme on a more permanent basis. Although there is no immediate need for the formal submission of a vote to the Legislature, which can probably in most cases conveniently be delayed until the receipt of the report for 1908, it would be convenient that some intimation of each Government's intention should be before me as soon as possible, since there would be a danger of losing the trained investigators now employed in the Institute if they were left too long is uncertainty with regard to their future employment. 7. A balance-sheet for the year from Ist April, 1908, to 31st March, 1909, the first complete financial year dining which I have been responsible for the management, will be prepared as soon as practicable, and will ho sent for the information of your Government, together with a list of contributions to the funds of the Institute. I have, &c CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 9. New Zealand, No. 78. My Lord,— Downing Street, 14th April, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 4, of the 4th January, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Hoard of Trade on the subject of the Customs treatment oi commercial travellers' samples. I have, &c, CREWE Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &C.'

Enclosures. ('. 2832/09.— N.Z., 78. Board i>l , Trade (Commercial Department), Gwydyr House, Whitehall, Sin. Tendon, S.W., 27th March, 1909. With reference to your letter of the 27th February (6274), forwarding copy of a despatch from the Xc\\ Zealand Government, relative to the treatment of commercial travellers' samples entering New Zealand, I am directed by tin 1 Board of Trade t" transmit, for the information of I, mil Crewe, and for communication, should His Lordship sec fit, to the New Zealand Government, copy of a letter on the subject which they have received from the Commissioners of Customs. I have. &c, The Under-Seoretary <>f Mate Colonial Office. G. R. Askwith. C. 2832. Sir, — Customhouse, London, 19th March, 1909. Wiili reference to your letter of the 15th instant, C. 2016, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Xow Zealand mi the subject of the treatment of commercial travellers' samples, 1 am directed to state, for the information <>f the Board of Trade, that, in view of tl>e

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facilities which the New Zealand authorities are prepared to accord to commercial travellers from this country, the Commissioners of Customs have no objection to samples brought by commercial travellers from New Zealand being dealt with under the regulations in Customs General Order 3/1907, and that the necessary directions to this service will be issued accordingly. I am to add that three copies of General Order 3, l!) 07, showing the amendments therein to date, are, as requested, enclosed for transmission to the New Zealand Government. I am, &c, J. Browning. The Comptroller-General (Commercial Department), Board of Trade.

No. 10. New Zealand, No .79. My Lokd, — Downing Street, 15th April, 1909. I have the honour to request thai you will inform your Ministers that I have had under my consideration, in conjunction with the Board of Trade, Act No. 227 of 1908 of the Parliament of New Zealand, entitled " An Act to amend the Harbours Act, 1908." 2. The Board of Trade has suggested, for the consideration of your Ministers, that it would be advisable to amend section 80 of the principal Act so as to provide against pilots accepting rates less than those fixed, and imposing a penalty on any master who offers or pays to any pilot any rate in respect of pilotage services whether greater or less than the rate which may be demanded by law. This alteration would bring the New Zealand law on this point into conformity with section 592 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. 3. T shall be glad if your Ministers will take the suggestion of the Board of Trade into their consideration. T have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. .

A.-l, 1909, No. 23.

No. 11. New Zealand, No. 81. My Lord,— Downing Street, 16th April, 1909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Government have had under consideration the question of the disposal of certain duplicate records which are at present deposited in the Public Record Office, and it has been decided that it is not necessary to preserve any longer in that office duplicates of correspondence with colonial Governments. 2. It appears to me, however, possible that your Government will be glad to take this opportunity of obtaining duplicate copies of correspondence. There are available twenty-five volumes of correspondence from 1840-1855. 3. I shall be glad to learn, within six months from the date of your receipt of this despatch, whether your Government desire to be presented with any of the volumes in question. Tf not, the Record Office will consider themselves at liberty to destroy the duplicate volumes. 4. T may add that the number of volumes available will probably be increased within the next few months, as the process of examining and checking the correspondence of the Colonial Office now at the Record Office is proceeded with. The Record Office will, of course, be glad to show the volumes to any representative who may be appointed for that purpose by your Government through the Hioh Commissioner. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 12. New Zealand, No. 82. My Lord,— Downing Street, 20th April, 1909. I have the honour to inform yon that ilis Majesty will not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance with respect to Act No. 227 of 1908 of the Parliament of New Zealand, entitled "An Act to amend the Harbours Act, 1908," of which copies were enclosed in your despatch No. 81, of the 3rd November last. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c

A.-l. l'JOll No. 28.

No. 13. New Zealand, No. 83. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st April, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 54, of the sth March, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of an Order in Council of the 2nd April making provision for appeals from the Supreme Court of New South Wales to His Majesty in Council. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 14. New Zealand, No. 84. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd April, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Board of Trade requesting information regarding the enforcement of arbitration awards in the self-governing dominions. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be so good as to favour me with a report on the questions asked by the Board of Trade. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-iyio, No. 69.

Knclosure. C. 3137.— N.Z., 8-1. Board "!' Trade (Commercial Department), Gwydyr House, Whitehall, Sm. London, S.W., Uth April, 1909. I am directed by the Hoard of Trade t<> inform you that, at the requesi of the Association of Chamber of Commerce, they are desirous of obtaining information on the following points in connection with I he enforcement of British arbitration awards in the dominions and self-governing colonies: — (1.) Is an agreement in writing to refer to arbitration in the United Kingdom disputes arising out of commercial contracts valid and enforceable in any of the dominions or self-govern ing colonies? (2.) Can an award in an arbitration held in the United Kingdom be enforced in any of the dominions or self-governing colonies, and, if so, by what means — (a.) Where such an award is given in the United Kingdom; and (6.) Where, pursuant to the terms of the agre&nent or reference to arbitration, the award can be delivered in the place of domicile of eacli of the parties thereto? 1 am accordingly to ask yon io be good enough to move Lord (Vewe, should lie see no objection, to request the Governments of the dominions and self-governing colonies to furnish, so far as possible, answers to these questions, together with any observations which they may be willing to add by way of supplement or explanation to these answers. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. G. I!. Askwith.

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No. 15. New Zealand, No. 87. My Lord,— Downing Street, 27th April, 1909. I have the honour to request you to inform voin Ministers thai a Proclamation has been made by the Governor-General'of the Commonwealth of Australia, under the Customs Act, by which it is provided that the import;i tion into the Commonwealth of the plumage and skins of Qon-edible birds is prohibited in cases where the exportation thereof is prohibited in any country in which the particular birds are indigenous or have been acclimatised. •2. I shall be much obliged if you will be so good as to in form me of any cases in which the exportation of the plumage or skins of non-edible birds is prohibited by your Government. 1 have, &c., ' CEEWE. Governor, the Right Eon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A..-1, I'JIH, No. 54.

No. 16. New Zealand, No. 88. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th April, L 909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for India has been requested by the Government of India to secure the acceptance by the Postal Administrations of the Empire of letters from the British Indian post-office situated in the French settlements in India if stamped like letters from ordinary British post-offices in India. 2. I have to explain that the post-offices in question have been established in many cases for over a century on French territory, and they are treated in India precisely like ordinary British post-offices. 3. The French Government has consented to letters from the post-offices in question being treated in the same way as letters from post-offices in British territory, on condition that similar treatment is extended to letters posted in French post-offices in the settlements in question. 4. His Majesty's Government have agreed, as far as the United Kingdom and Crown Colonies are concerned, to comply with the condition laid down by the French Government, to which they feel that no reasonable exception can be taken, and letters addressed to the United Kingdom and any Crown Colonies or protectorates will be accepted as fully stamped if stamped in the same manner as letters posted in British India, whether posted in the British post-offices in the French settlements or in the French post-offices there. 5. Your Ministers will probably see no objection in the special circumstances of the case to extending to the British and French post-offices in the French settlements the advantages already given to the other post-offices of the Empire. No doubt the number of letters affected will be extremely small, but His Majesty's Government would he glad to learn that your Government agree to the concession being made. I have, &c, ' CEEWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910, No. 22.

No. 17. New Zealand, No. 89. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th April, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the export of prison-made goods from the United States. I have, &c, CEEWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Enclosures. Commercial, No. t2. R, , British Consulate, Chicago, 7th April. L 909. I have the honour to transmil herewith, under dying seal, a despatch to the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Customs, Wellington, \.-w Zealand, on prison-made goods written in reply to a question us to whether it was likely that such goods were sent. It was found out .some time ago thai much of the small hand farm implements were made by firms who had subsidiary companies carrying on the same business in prisons; and Canada,' Australia, and V« Zealand closed their markets to these firms. Of the list K iven in the despatch there i.s little doubt that many of the big firms who export would be found to be interested in such companies, especially in boots and shoes. Many of the Mates n,,w prohibit the general sale of prison-made goods, while others, like Minnesota, are ,m,klll g ! 'ing-twine for sale to the farmers of the State, in which business they only come into competition with a large corporation, I have, &c. His Majesty's Principal Secretary of Stale for Foreign Affairs, A-c. 0.0f., Xo. 23. SIE) . British Consulate, Chicago, 7th April, 1909. In reply to your inquiry as to classes of goods made by prison labour which, like the agricultural band-implements which your Governnieni has recently prohibited from importation. may be difficult to detect.from free4ab ■ made g Is, as none are marked: I have the honour to inform you thai the following list, with the name of the States in which tliev are made is a Fairly comprehensive one :— Agricultural hand-tools .. .. lowa, Michigan, Ohio. ' ia g s • • • • .. .. New Jersey. Baskets, willow-ware .. .. Illinois and Maryland. Hoots and shoes Connecticut, Illinois. Kentucky Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. Brass goods .. .. .. West Virginia. Brooms and brushes .. .. Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania. West Virginia, and Virginia. Buttons .. .. .. .. lowa. Carriages and wagons .. .. Maine and Michigan. Chairs and tables .. .. .. Connecticut. Illinois. Indiana, [owa, Kansas, Kentuoky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Now Hampshire. Vermont. Clothing .. .. .. .. Connecticut. Delaware. Indiana. .Maryland. Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island. West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Cooperage .. .. .. Illinois, Indiana. lowa.. Cotton goods .. .. .. Indiana. Enamelled ware .. .. .'. West Virginia. (rloves and mittens .. .. Indiana. Hardware, saddlery.. .. .. Ohio. Harness .. .. .. .. Kentucky. Maine, Tennessee. Hosiery .. .. Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Iron bolts, nuts, &c. .. ~ Ohio. Iron chains .. .. .. Indiana. Matting .. .. .. .. Maryland and New Jersey. Phosphate-mining .. .. .. Florida. Saddle-trees .. .. .. Missouri. Stove hollow-ware .. .. .. Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio. Stoves .. .. .. .. Oregon. Tobacco and cigars .. .. Michigan and Ohio. Turpentine and resin . . .. Alabama and Florida,. [Imbrellas .. .. .. Massachusetts. Whips .. .. .. .. West Virginia. Wire goods .. .. .. Ohio.

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Date. Description. L909. \pril 7 .. From II.M. Acting - Consul, Foreign Other. (!hicago, lo

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A.-l, 1910, No. -26.

The work is done under different systems, lease contract, piece price, and public account for these goods to be sold to the public. It is often found that the firm holding the contract or leasing the men is a subsidiary part of some big well-known corporation. To what extent prison-made goods are sold to the public it is impossible to say without a oareful inquiry, which will take some time and must be done very quietly. Under the public account system, as curried on now in Illinois instead of the contract system, it is very difficult for the general public to get any idea of what shoe-shops, for instance, sell prison-made goods. In former times, under the contract system, one shoeinaking firm who for years held the contracts made a fortune, as they had a cheap shoe that they could sell lower than what it cost to produce a low-grade shoe by free labour, and then used it as a club to force the retail shops to buy their whole line or none. To what extent this form still controls the output of the Illinois convict prisons I have not investigated. Last year, while in St. Louis, I inquired into the manufacture of shoes in the convict prisons there, but did not investigate as to who the firms holding the contracts really represented, as I did not know people sufficiently well to run the chance of asking some banker who might be identified with the interest affected; but there is no doubt that an investigation would reveal some startling facts as to this. 1 have, &c, Thomas Erskink. The Secretary and Inspector, Department of Trade ami Customs, Wellington, N.Z.

No. 18. New Zealand, No. 90. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th May, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the prospect of oil-deposits in New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1 . C.P. 13960. g IH) Admiralty, 29th April, 1909. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th April," No. 12491, transmitting copies of a letter and enclosures received from the Governor of New Zealand upon the prospects of oil being obtained in the Dominion. My Lords request that you will thank the Earl of Crewe for causing the report to be furnished in them, and desire me to say that they would be glad to receive copies of any reports made by the Director of Geological Surveys of Xew Zealand, especially of any comprehensive and detailed investigation which it may be decided to carry out in the North Island, and of any records that may have been kept of the boring operations. 1 am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Geo. H. Hopte, pro Secretary.

No. 19. New Zealand, No. 91. My Lord, Downing Street, 4th May, 1909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that an application has been received from the French Charge d'Affaires at this Court on the subject of the appointment of Mr. James Mackintosh as Consular Agent of France at Wellington. A copy of the application is enclosed.

Date. Description. April 29 1909. ... From the Admira Ity.

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I have to request you to recognise this gentleman accordingly, unless there is any objection to this appointment, and to report when you have done so. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 20. New Zealand, No. 92. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th May, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 32, of the 11th February, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of Army Order No. 109, of April, 1909, promulgating amendments to the regulations under which commissions in the army may be obtained by university candidates, and the regulations under which commissions in the army may be obtained by officers of colonial military forces. 2. 1 shall be glad if your Ministers will be so good as to bring these amendments to the notice of candidates for appointments. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. A.O. 109/1909. 100, Candidates. 4480. Commissions in the Abmt. — l. The following amendments will be made in the regulations under which commissions in the army may !*> obtained by (a.) Officers of the Speoial Reserve of Officers, <fee, issued with Army Order '246 of 1908. (b.) University candidates, issuod with Army Order 191 of 1907. (c.) Officers of colonial military forces, issued with Army Order 164 of 1907. In sections 2 and 4 of Appendix 111 of (a) and (c), and of Appendix IV of (b) above, for "Combined Training," substitute " Field Service Regulations, Part I, Operations, 1909." , 2. The following amendment will also be made in section 2 of Appendix 111 of the regulations referred to at (b) above as amended by Army Order 312 of 1908— For "Chapter IV, Combined Training," substitute ''Chapter V. Field Service Regulations, Part I, Operations, 1909."

No. 21. New Zealand, No. 93. My Lord, Downing Street, 7th May, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of an agreement signed at Rome on the 9th December, 1907, to which His Majesty's Government and the Indian Government are parties, for the establishment of an International Bureau of Public Health at Paris in accordance with Article 181 of the International Sanitary Convention signed at Paris, the 3rd December, 1903, together with copies of the statutes of the Bureau. 2. The agreement has now been ratified by all the Powers represented at Rome, with the exception of Portugal and the Netherlands. 3. The British representative on the International Bureau is Dr. Theodore Thomson, C.M.G., of the Local Government Board; and the Government of India is represented by Surgeon-General Sir Benjamin Franklin, K.C.I.E. 4. I have to explain that adherence to this agreement is open to all His Majesty's dominions on the terms laid down in Article VI of the agreement, and that the self-governing dominions which have not adhered to the International Sanitary Convention of 1903 are nevertheless at liberty to adhere separately to this agreement. At this early stage of the existence of the International Health Office I am not in a position to express any opinion as to what

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advantage might accrue to your Government from adherence to the Rome agreement. 5. The publications of the Bureau will be placed on sale to the public at 10 francs a year, or I franc for each number of the monthly bulletin. Governments which do not adhere to the agreement will therefore still be able to obtain copies of the papers published. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 22. New Zealand, No. 98. My Lord,— Downing Street, 12th May, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 80, of the 15th April, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying amended copy of the Bill which is being introduced into the Imperial Parliament to effect the legislation which is desirable before the conventions (other tjian the conventions for the establishment of an International Prize Court) drawn up at the Second Peace Conference at The Hague in 1907 are ratified by His Majesty's Government. 2. The amendments which have been made in the Bill are as follows : — Clause 2 (2) provides that any offences against the Order in Council to be made under the Bill shall be treated as an infraction of Section 10 of the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1.870. Section 2 (3) provides for offences committed or legal proceedings commenced whilst the Order in Council made under the Bill was still in force, after the Order in Council has ceased to be so in force. Clause 3 (2) prohibits the use of the Geneva flag by any British ship or boat other than a hospital ship or boat. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 23. New Zealand, No. 100. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th May, 1909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Government are anxious to compile a complete list of any enactments in His Majesty's dominions beyond the seas dealing with patents, designs, trade-marks, and the marking of merchandise, and of regulations issued under such enactments. 2. Inquiries on these topics are frequently made in this country of the Colonial Office and of the Patent Office, and it has not been found possible, wit 1 : the material at the disposal of this office, to produce a complete list of enactments and regulations on the question. I enclose a copy of a provisional list of such legislation in New Zealand, and I have to request that your Ministers will be so good as to indicate any respect in which it may be defective. It will at the same time be convenient if three copies of all the enactments and regulations on the matters in question which exist in New Zealand could be forwarded to this office. I have, &c, CRT, WE. Governor, the Right Hod. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910, No. 25,

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Enclosure. New Zealand. The Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act, 1908, No. 140. The Patents Regulations (Order in Council, 2nd October, 1889). The Trade-marks Rules, 1890 (Order in Council, 4th November, 1889). The Industrial Designs Rules, 1890 (Order in Council, 4th November, 1889). Rules for Registration of Patent Agents (Order in Council, 4th November, 1889). The Patent Office Rules, October, 1890 (Order in Council, 12th January, 1891). Additional Patents Regulations, 1899 (Order in Council, 29th April. l"899).

No. 24. New Zealand, No. 101. My Lord,— Downing Street, 14th May, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the loss of the British ship " Forest Hall." I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. M. 10125. Sir, — Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W., 13th May, 1909. I am directed by the Board of Trade to request you to be good enough to move the Earl of Crewe to cause a despatch to be addressed to the authorities at Wellington, New Zealand, requesting that the report of the investigation which they understand was held at Auckland into the loss of the British ship " Forest Hall " on the north coast of New Zealand in February last, may be sent to the Board of Trade, if it has not already been forwarded, at as early a date as possible, in accordance with section 470 (3) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. I have, &c, The Under-Seoretary of State. Colonial Office, S.W. Wai.tbb J. Howkll.

No. 25. New Zealand, No. 105. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st May, 1909. In continuation of my despatch No. 199, of the 28th November last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of the minutes and verbatim report of the proceedings at the International Conference on Electrical Units and Standards. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 106. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th May, 1909. In continuation of my despatch No. 55, of the sth March last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the 3—A. 2,

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Date. ate. Description. i May 13 1909. From the Board of Trade.

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enclosed printed copy of a further despatch from the Governor-General of Cajiada on the subject of uniformity in the trade statistics of the Empire. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Proof. 14*08. Conference—l 366. 20, 20 No. Canada. The Governor-General to the Secretary of State. (Received Ist May, 1909.) [Answered by No. .] (No. 192.) My Lord, — Canada, Montreal, P.Q., 19th April, 1909. With reference to Your Lordship's despatch No. 133, of the 3rd ultimo, on the subject of uniformity in the trade statistics of the Empire, 1 have the honour to forward copy of an approved minute of the Privy Council, from which Your Lordship will observe that my Responsible Advisers are prepared to take steps, during the present year, to obtain declarations from importers showing the countries from which imported goods are consigned to Canada, and to publish import statistics on that basis, and that they will further cause to be included in the annual returns of statistics for the financial year such a summary of imports and exports as is suggested in paragraph 5 of Your Lordship's despatch. I have, &c, Grey. Enclosure in No. Certified Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Govehnor-General on the 16th April, 1909. The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration a despatch, dated 3rd March, 1909, from the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the uniformity in trade statistics of the Empire. The Minister of Customs, to whom the despatch was referred, states that steps will be taken during the present year to obtain Customs entries from importers, showing the countries from which imported goods are consigned to Canada, and to cause import statistics to be published on that basis. The Minister observes that the Department of Customs will also undertake to include in the annual volume of statistics for the financial year a summary of imports and exports under the heads'of "Foods," "Raw Materials," and "Manufactured Articles" (not in detail), distinguishing in each category the trade with the United Kingdom, British possessions, and foreign countries. Ihe Committee, on the recommendation of the Minister of Customs, advise that a copy hereof be transmitted to the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. All which is respectfully submitted for approval. F. K. Bennetts, Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council.

No. 27. New Zealand, No. 108. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th May, 1909. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Board of Education have been in communication with the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury on the subject of the recognition of services completed in State and State-aided schools in the British oversea dominions as discharging the undertaking which is executed by teachers trained under the Board's regulations for the training of teachers for elementary schools, which came into force in August, 1908. 2. In these regulations it is laid down that a candidate, before admission as a recognised student to a training college, must give an undertaking to the Board that, in return for the grants paid under the Board's regulations on his or her account, he or she will serve as a teacher in an approved school for a specified period. Men students undertake to complete seven years' service

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within a period of ten years, and women students undertake to complete five years' service within a period of eight years, after finishing their courses of training. 3. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have empowered the Board of Education to accept for the purpose of the undertaking in question service in the British dominions in schools, whether elementary or secondary, or other schools of types now accepted for the purpose of the undertaking in England, provided— (a.) That the schools are either maintained or aided and inspected by the Dominion, Colonial, or State Government; and (b.) That the service is such as to occupy the whole working-time of the teacher. 4. The Board of Education will not consider applications from teachers for recognition of colonial service as discharging the undertaking unless such applications are made through the Education Department of the Dominion, Colony, or State in which the teacher proposes to serve. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

N6. 28. New Zealand, No. 109. My Lord,— Downing Street, 27th May, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of South Australia, forwarding applications from Professor G. C. Henderson requesting permission to examine certain despatches now on record in Australia and New Zealand, together with copy of the reply which I have sent to Sir Day Bosanquet. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. South Australia, No. 87. My Loud, — Government House, Adelaide, Ist December, 1908. I have the honour to forward the enclosed applications from Professor G. Henderson, M.A., Professor of History in the Adelaide University, fen- permission to have access to the despatches, <fee, in this office during the last century for the purposes of historical research. 2. Professor Henderson received, in 1903, permission from me to examine the records and despatches in my office for his admirable work on the life of Sir George Grey. On the occasion ot the present application I informed him of the substance of Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 21st September, 1905, on the subject, and of the limitation with regard to the periods and the conditions under which the Secretary of State permitted such investigation. I informed him that I was bound by the rules laid down in that despatch, but that if he sent me an application I would forward it to Your Lordship with my recommendation that, if possible, his request may be granted. 3. I know Professor Henderson very well personally, and am satisfied that if Your Lordship saw fit to grant him this permission it would not be abused. If granted it should be carefully stated that it is not to form a precedent for others who might make similar applications, for, as a general rule, I think it would not be desirable to go beyond the conditions laid down in Mr. Lyttelton's despatch. 4. The other application from Professor Henderson, which is addressed direct to Your Lordship, is for permission to examine the records in the other State Governor's Offices in Australia and in New Zealand, I have, of course, confined my recommendation to that applying to South Australia only, but I informed him that I would forward this general application to Your Lordship with the one particularly relating to this State. I have, (fee., George R. Le Hunte. The Right Hon. the Earl of Crewe, K.G., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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Sin, — The University of Adelaide, 25th November, 1908: 1 have the honour to request that you will grant me authority to examine the despatches, enclosures, and other State papers in the Government House in Australia and New Zealand which were transmitted between Downing Street and those parts of the Empire during the nineteenth century, for the purposes of historical research. In support of my request, and as an indication of my fitness for the work, 1 may respectfully urge that 1 was trained in Sydney and Oxford Universities, and that I was travelling scholar for the former, mid won the Brackeubury Scholarship ut lialliol College, Oxford, in 1894. lam now Professor of History in the Adelaide University, and have been trying for the past six years to found a school of original research into the history of those parts of the Empire that lie south of the Equator. In 1902 1 began my researches into the life of Sir George Grey, and had the authority of the Secretary of State, and the Governors of South Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, for investigating and studying the despatches intrusted to their care. In South Africa those despatches came down as late as IMJO, and in New Zealand as late as 1870. My book was published in 1907, and I respectfully urge that it may be considered as a test of my ability to use the documents with discretion and impartiality. Since the publication of my work on Sir George Grey 1 have been urged to compile a work consisting of documents illustrative of Imperial history in these parts of His Majesty's dominions during the nineteenth century. That would be a continuation of the work on which 1 have been engaged for the past seven years, and I am desirous of undertaking it; but it would be impossible to perform that work with any degree of satisfaction unless I am permitted to have access to the most reliable material ut our disposal in this part of the world. 1 sincerely trust that my request may be considered not only in the knowledge that it concerns an important part of my life's work, but also that it is preferred in the interests of scientific research, and in the conviction that valuable service may be rendered to the Empire by an impartial investigation of the most reliable State papers and documents. I have, dec., Geo. C. Henderson. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State, Westminster, England. South Australia, No. 56. Sir,— Downing Street, 27th May, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir George Le Hunte's despatch No. 87, of the Ist of December, forwarding copy of an application addressed to him by Professor G. Henderson for permission to have access to South Australian correspondence subsequent to 1836 for the purpose of historical research, together with an application addressed to the Secretary of State for permission to search similar correspondence in other Australian States and in New Zealand. 2. As you are aware, in Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 21st September, 1905, the responsibility for deciding whether to grant applications of this sort was left with the Colonial Governments, anil not with the Secretary of State; but, so far as 1 am concerned, I regret that I see no sufficient reason for granting Professor Henderson's application. 3. I have to explain that, in the case of the correspondence regarding Sir George Grey, to which Professor Henderson refers, he was not given a general permission to search all correspondence of a certain period, but only such correspondence relating to Sir George Grey as the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope ami New Zealand thought tit to show him. This procedure was in effect similar to that suggested for future exceptional cases in the third paragraph of Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch. i. I take this opportunity of informing you that since the date of that despatch it has been decided to render the records in this country accessible to the public, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, down to the year 1837, instead of the year 1830. 5. I have forwarded copy of this correspondence to the Governors of the other Australian States and to the Governor of New Zealand. I have, &c, Governor, Sir Day Bosanquet, G.C.V.0., X.C.8., &c. Chewe.

No. 29. New Zealand, No. 110. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th May, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the shipping trade between Australia and Europe and the United States of America. I have, &c, CREWE

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. Description. I Summary of Report of Suez Canal Company.

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No. 30. New Zealand, No. 111. My Lord,— Downing Street, 28th May, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 171, of the 16th October last, i have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the approval of the Army Council and of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury has now been obtained to the transfer to the Governor of New Zea land of the lands referred to in your despatch No. 67, of the 28th August last. 2. In accordance with the procedure laid down in the first section of the Colonial Fortifications Act, 1877, representations are being laid before both Houses of Parliament, and when these representations have lain for forty days on the tables of both Houses they will be submitted to His Majesty, and an Order in Council will be issued vesting in the Governor the lands in question. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 31. New Zealand, No. 112. My Lord,— Downing Street, 28th May, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a note from the United States Ambassador at this Court to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on the subject of the proposed International Conference for the Preservation of Natural Resources to be held at The Hague. 2. I also enclose a copy of a despatch from Mr. Bryce to Sir Edward Grey, which gives certain further information with regard to tfie proposed Conference. The United States Government have been asked to state in due course the date on which the Conference will assemble, and to furnish a definite programme of the subjects for discussion. 3. His Majesty's Government have decided to be represented at the Conference, and they have ascertained from the United States Government that it is their desire that the self-governing dominions of the British Empire should also be represented by delegates. 4. I shall be glad to learn whether your Government proposes to accept the invitation of the United States Government to send representatives. I have, &c. CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910, No. 27.

Enclosures. (10577.) Sir, — American Embassy, London, 18th March, 1909. I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of an Instruction from the Department of State, dated the 19th ultimo, in connection with a proposed World Conference for the Conservation of National Resources, which would be held at The Hague. I venture to express the hope that His Majesty's Government may be disposed to accept the invitation to send delegates to the Conference in question. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., &o. Whitelaw Reid. Sir, — Department of State, Washington, 19th February, 1909. There is now assembled in Washington, in response to the invitation of the President, a Conference of representatives of the United States of Mexico and of the Dominion of Canada to meet the representatives of the United States of America for the purpose of considering the common interests of the three countries in the conservation of their natural resources. The cordiality with which the neighbouring Governments accepted the invitation is no less an augury o£ the success of this important movement than is the disposition already shown by the Conference to

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recognise the magnitude of the question before them. While recognising the imperative necessity for the development and use of the great resources upon which the civilisation and prosperity of nations must depend, the American Governments realise the vital need of arresting the inroads improvidentlv or unnecessarily made upon their natural wealth. They comprehend also that, as to many of their national resources, more than a merely conservative treatment is required; that reparatory agencies should Ik.- invoked to aid the processes of beneficent nature, and that the means of restoration and increase should be sought whenever practicable. They see that to the task of devising economical expenditure of resources, which, once gone, are lost for ever, there should be superposed the duty of restoring and maintaining productivesness wherever impaired or menaced by wastefulness. In the northern part of the American hemisphere destruction and waste bring other evils in their train. The removal of forests, for instance, results in the aridity of vasts tracts, torrential rainfalls break down and carry away the unprotected soil, and regions once abundant in vegetable and animal life become barren. This is a lesson almost as old as the human race. The older countries of Europe, Africa, and the Orient teach a lesson in this regard which has been too little heeded. Anticipating the wide interest which would naturally be aroused in other countries by the present North American Conference, the President foresaw the probability that i 1 would be the precursor of a World Congress. By an Aide-Memoire of the- 6th January last, the principal Governments were informally sounded to ascertain whether they would look with favour upon an invitation to send delegates to such a Conference. Ilie responses have so far been uniformly favourable, and the Conference of Washington has suggested to the President that a similar general Conference be called by him. The President feels, therefore, that it is timely to initiate the suggested World Conference for the Conservation of National Resources by a formal invitation. By direction of the President, and with the concurrence of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, an invitation is extended to the Government of Great Britain to send delegates to a Conference to be held at The Hague, at such date as may be found convenient, there to meet and consult the like delegates of the other countries, with a view to considering a general plan for the inventory of the natural resources of the world, and to devising a uniform scheme for the expression of the results of such inventory, to the end that there may be a general understanding and appreciation of the world's supply of the material elements which underlie the development of civilisation and the welfare of the peoples of the earth. It would be appropriate also for the Conference to consider the general phases of the correlated problem of checking, and, when possible, repairing the injuries caused by the waste and destruction of natural resources and utilities, and make recommendations in the interest of their conservation, development, and replenishment. With such a world inventory and such recommendations, the various producing countries of the whole world would be in a better position to co-operate, each for its own good and all for the good of all, towards the safeguarding and betterment of their common means of support. As was said in the preliminary Aide-Memoire of the Ctli January, " The people of the whole world are interested in the natural resources of the whole world, benefited by their conservation, and injured by their destruction. The people of every country are interested in the supply of food and of material for manufacture in every other country, not only because these are interchangeable through processes of trade, but because a knowledge of the total supply is necessary to the intelligent treatment of each nation's share of the supply." Nor is this all. A knowledge of the continuance and stability of perennial and renewable resources is no less important to the world than a knowledge of the quantity or the term remaining for the enjoyment of those resources which when consumed are irreplaceable. As to all the μ-reat natural sources of national welfare, the peoples of to-day hold the earth in trust for the peoples to come after them. Heading the lessons of the past aright, it would be for such a Conference to look beyond the present to the future. You will communicate the foregoing to the Government of Great Britain, with the expression of the President's hope that we may be soon informed of its acceptance of the invitation. You will at the same time inform His Excellency that upon informal inquiry a gratifying assurance of the sympathy of the Government of the Netherlands has been received. I have, tfcc, Robeht Bacon. No. 71 (11208). g lßj _ Chicago, Illinois, 12th March, 1909. I have the honour to inform you that, in a conversation which I had yesterday with Mr. Gifford Pinchot, head of the Forestry" Branch of the Department of Agriculture, and Chairman of the recent International Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources, I inquired from him how long the sittings of the proposed World Congress on the conservation of natural resources were expected to last, and what programme, if any, was contemplated for its proceedings. He is expected to be the principal delegate from the I'nited States to this Congress, and in view of your last despatch to me upon the subject it seems worth while to convey the substance of his reply. He observed that, although the date of September next had been suggested for the meeting of the Congress, it might probably be postponed until the following spring. It was likely then that the sittings would be short—'say, two or three weeks only—because the first business of the Congress would probably be to determine how the actual natural resources of the earth should be ascertained and tabulated by the various countries represented. Many countries would possess the information already, and little would need to be done by them beyond selecting the material facts and putting them in the most convenient form. Other countries, however, might have to OoUed and arrange the facts, and would need time—perhaps a year or more. To settle the best

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methods of tabulation, and to consider to what points subsequent discussions might most profitably be addressed, might be as much as the first sittings could accomplish. Assuming that the Congress considered that it could with advantage meet again to discuss the facts tabulated, and to interchange views regarding the best expedients for conservation, it would be for it to determine when the subsequent sittings should be held. He thought an interval of at least a year would be needed between the first sittings and the second sittings, if any second sittings, as he hoped, were decided upon. Should this view prove to be correct, the expense of the British delegates could not be large, considering how near The Hague is and the shortness of the proposed sittings, or, at least, of the first sittings. Nor, so far as the United Kingdom is concerned, would the collection and printing of the information be a serious item, for the facts desired are doubtless nearly all in print already. The same is likely to be the case as regards India also. It may not be so as regards Australia and some of the Crown colonies. Mr. Pinchot did not seem to know from how many countries replies had yet been received, but he spoke as if the meeting of the Congress were certain. I have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. James Brtce.

No. 32. New Zealand, No. 113. My Lord,— Downing Street, 2nd June, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 92, of the 6th May, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of Army Order 139, of 1909, promulgating an amendment to the regulations under which commissions in the British army can be obtained by officers of colonial military forces. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will bring this amendment to the notice of candidates for appointments. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G.. X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. A.O. 139, 1909. 100. Candidates. 4328. Commissions in thb Army.—l. The following amendments will be made to clause (2) of the syllabus for the subject of " English " in the Army Qualifying Examination, in Appendix II of the following regulations: — (a.) Regulations respecting admission to the Royal Military Academy, issued with Army Order 191 of 1907; (b.) Regulations respecting admission to ths Royal Military College, issued with Army Order 191 of 1907 : (c.) Regulations under which commissions in the British Army may be obtained by officers of colonial military forces, issued with Army Order 164 of 1907: (d.) Regulations under which commissions in the regular army may be obtained by officers of the Special Reserve of Officers, kc., issued with Army Order 246 of 1908. For "Short 'pass , essays on a limited number of questions (three to be done of a larger number set)," substitute " English composition tested by essay or letter-writing (a candidate will be required to write an essay on one of three given subjects, or a letter on a given subject or 'from data) " 2. The above amendment will be brought into force at the Army Qualifying Examination to lie held in March, 1910.

No. 33. New Zealand, No. 114. My Lord.- Downing Street, 4th June, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 17, of the Ist March, and to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a letter from the General Post Office, and of a letter which I have caused to be addressed to the Foreign Office, respecting the proposed Convention for a direct exchange of money-orders between New Zealand and France. T have - *£••_, CREW X Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., <&c.

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Enclosures. No. 611993/08. Sir,— General Post Office, London, 24th May, 1909. With reference to your letter of the 19th of last month, No. 1249~4/1909, forwarding the enclosed English text of the proposed Convention for a direct exchange of money-orders between France and New Zealand, together with a copy of recent correspondence on the subject, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to point out that certain discrepancies exist between the accompanying draft and the French text, of which a copy was sent with your letter of the 22nd December last, No. 46001/1908. Article 1, paragraph 1. The French text stipulates that the service is to extend to the Principality of Monaco, but no such provision appears in the English text. Article 1, paragraph 2. Ihe equivalent of £40, the maximum amount of a single order in British currency, is fixed at 1,008 francs in the French text, but is not specified in the English text. Article 8. The words " re clames par " in the French text are rendered by " paid to " in the English text, and " definitivement acquises a" by "ultimately belong to"; but the phrases "claimed by" and "become the property of," respectively, which appear in the Money-order Convention recently concluded between France and the Transvaal, are thought to give a closer approximation to the French text, and to be more suitable for adoption. Apart from these differences, the Postmaster-General sees no objection to the terms of the accompanying draft instrument ; and he presumes that the Earl of Crewe will now ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to take the necessary diplomatic measures for the conclusion of the Convention. A French toxt of the detailed regulations for the execution of the proposed Convention has lull been received in this office: hut 1 am to make the following observations on the English text now returned to you: — (1.) No specimen of the List of Money-orders described in detail in Article IV, and referred to as "Form A " in Article VI, appears in the appendix. A specimen of the form will doubtless be placed with the completed regulations; and 1 am to suggest that the words "similar to specimen A annexed to these regulations " should lie inserted in the first paragraph of Article IV, between the words " list " and " of." (2.) In Article X it is provided that money-orders shall remain payable in France for one year from the date of issue, and in New Zealand for twelve months after the expiration of the month of issue; but in the Convention between France and the Transvaal the period of validity was fixed at twelve months from the date of issue for each country. (3.) Mr. Buxton has no objection to the settlement of balances due from France to New Zealand through the medium of the Accountant-General's Department of this office, as contemplated in Article XV : but any drafts issued in this connection should be made payable to the order of the Postmaster-General, and not to the Comptroller and Accountant-General. (4.) In Table B of the appendix the allowance provided for in Article 3 of the Convention is incorrectly given at \ instead of i per cent. This is presumably a clerical error. I am, <fee, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. H. Babinhton Smith. No. 17609/1909. g IR) Downing Street, 4th June, 1909. With reference to your letter No. 1909, of the 9th March, I am directed by the Earl of Crewe to transmit to you, to lie laid Itefore Secretary Sir E. Grey, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of Now Zealand respecting the proposed Convention for a direct exchange of money-orders between France and the Dominion. 2. I am alsn to enclose a copy of a letter on the subject from the General Post Office, to which Department Lord Plunket's despatch was referred on receipt. 3, As the English text of the proposed Convention forwarded by the Governor is definitive, I am to request that the necessary diplomatic measures may be taken for its execution as it stands. 4 The regulations, it appears, are to l>e signed by the Postmaster-General of New Zealand and the Under-Secretary of State for Posts and Telegraphs of France : and I am to suggest that the alterations which tlic General Post Office proposes in Articles IV and XV and in Table B of the appendix should W- brought to the notice of the French Government, in order that, if accepted, they may be made before the regulations are signed in Paris and sent out to Now Zealand for signature by the Postmaster-General of the Dominion. Tt is presumed that the regulations, when signed in Paris, will be sent out direct to Wellington. I «m. *c.. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. H. VS. Just.

No. 34. New Zealand, No. 116. My Lord, Downing Street, Bth June, 1909. With reference to my predecessor's despatch No. 111, of the 6th December, 1907, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your

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Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the British Ambassador at Paris respecting the appointment of the President and Public Prosecutor of the Joint Court in the New Hebrides. 2. Your Ministers may be aware that the delay in completing the arrangements for providing house accommodation for these officials lias been due to local difficulties in regard to such matters as the acquisition of the necessary land, &c. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Pluiiket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. No. 239 (18878/09). Sir,— Foreign Office, 28th May, 1909. In your despatch No. ~)J3, of the Ist December, 1907, Your Excellency informed me of the decision of the King of Spain, communicated to the French Government, to appoint the President and Public Prosecutor of the Joint Court in the New Hebrides whenever the difficulties in regard to house accommodation should have been surmounted. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has been informed by the Commissioner for the Western Pacific thai the houses now being erected for tlu-se officials will be completed by the Ist November next 1 have therefore to request Your Excellency to propose to the French Government that joint representations should now be made by Hi.- Majesty's representative and the French representative ;ii Madrid to the King of Spain, with a view to His Majesty's selecting the officials without further delay, His Majesty being informed of the date on which the buildings will be completed. I am, &c, Louis Mallet, (For the S. of S.). His Excellency the Righi Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., &.c.

No. 35. Dominions. —Circular. Sir,— Downing Street, Bth June, 1909. With reference to Lord Elgin's circular despatch of the 25th January, 1907, forwarding a pamphlet respecting the degrees of the University of London open to colonial candidates, I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that the Senate of the University has passed a resolution in the following terms : — " That, on condition that application made in accordance with the regulations relating to examination in the colonies be received at the University by the 14th February preceding the examination, the B.D. Honours Examination for external students be held in the colonies in the year 1910 and subsequently. I have, &c, CR'EWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 36. New Zealand, No. 118. My Lord, Downing Street, 10th June, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 25, of the Ist April, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the General Post Office on the subject of the adherence of the Dominion of New Zealand to the Radio-telegraphic Convention. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Phinket, K.C.M.G , X.C.V.0., &c.

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Enclosure. 252,931. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 14th June, 1909. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the -2nd ultimo, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of New Zealand on the subject of the adherence of the Dominion to the Radio-telegraphic Convention. The International Bureau will be requested to forward to the Postmaster-General of New Zealand the copies of the circulars and notifications subsequent to Circular No. (i and Notification No. I'J, to which New Zealand is entitled. The Bureau would noi necessarily, the PostmasterGeneral understands, forward copies of the documents of the Berlin Conference, 190(i, or of the Radio-telegraphic Convention, to adhering Administrations, though it would no doubt do so if requested. As this Depart mini has a number of spare oopies of the documents, however, 1 am to forward three copies herewith fur the use of the New Zealand Administration, together with six oopies of the parliamentary paper containing the Convention, with a translation. Telegraphic Administrations adhering to the Radio-telegraphic Convention are not entitled, in consequence of such adhesion, in additional oopies of the Journal T&igraphique. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of Slate, Colonial Office. A. M. Ogilvik.

No. 37. New Zealand, No. 121. My Lord, — . Downing Street, 15th June, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 204, of the 9th December last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on the subject of the allegations of Mr. R. Harris with regard to his treatment under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth of Australia. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor, the Right Eon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 94. Commonwealth of Australia, Governor-General's Office, Melbourne, My Lord,— 3rd May, 1909. Referring to Your Lordship's despatch No. +14, dated 9th December, 1908, covering a copy of a letter from Mr. R. Harris, of New Zealand, relative to his treatment under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth of .Australia, I have the honour to forward herewith, for Your Lordship's information, a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to me by His Majesty's Prime Minister of the Commonwealth upon the subject. I have, <fee, Dudley, Governor-General. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. P.M. 09/1625. Commonwealth of Australia. Prime Minister, Melbourne. My Lord,— Melbourne, 23rd April, 1909. With reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies' despatcli of the 9th December last. No. 411, forwarding copy of a comrmmication received from a coloured resident of Auckland named R. Harris, a pugilist, who arrived at Sydney from New Zealand sonic two years ago, I have the honour to invite Your Excellency to be so g 1 as to inform Lord Crewe that it appears from the reports received that on this man's arrival doubts were felt by the officers administering the [mmigratipn Restriction Acts as to the bona fides of his expressed intention to leave Australia. 2. Inquiries were accordingly made of the Union Steamship Company and Cook's Tourist Bureau in Sydney with a view to learning whether security for his departure from Australia was forthcoming. As it was not, and as, on account of his blustering attitude and demeanour generally, it was not thought desirable to recommend the issue of a certificate of exemption without security, he was noi permitted to land, but returned to New Zealand the following day. .!. With regard t<. Harris's statement that he passed the dictation test, I shall be pleased if Your Excellency will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the Customs officer who applied the test, which was in English, states that Harris made an effort tn write the passage submitted to him, but gave it up as a failure. I have, &c, W. M. Hughes, For the Prime Minister. Governor-General, His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Dudley, P.C.. G.C.V.0., (fee.

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No. 38. New Zealand, No. 122. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th J une, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of an Order of His Majesty in Council, giving effect in this country to the accession of Austria-Hungary to the Industrial Property Convention of the 20th March, 1883, and to the Additional Act of Brussels of the 14th December, 1900. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Eight Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 39. Dominions. —Circular. Sir, — Downing Street, 16th June, 1909. The question has recently been raised as to the period during which flags should be flown at half-mast in the event of the death of foreign sovereigns. 2. As it is desirable to adopt a uniform practice in this respect in all parts of the Empire, the matter was submitted to His Majesty the King for decision, and His Majesty has signified his pleasure that flags should be flown at halfmast on the day of the sovereign's death, and also on that of the funeral. 3. I shall be glad if your Government will cause this procedure to be followed with regard to flags on any public buildings in the Dominion. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 40. New Zealand, No. 126. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th June, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the proposed Money-order ('onvention with France. I have, &c, CREWE The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Date. Description. June 11 ... ... ... To H.M. Ambassador at Paris.

Enclosure. No. 50. Treaty. (21296/09.) Sir,— Foreign Office, 11th June, 1909. I transmit to Your Excellency herewith a copy of a letter from the Colonial Office, enclosing the draft of a proposed Convention for the direct exchange of money-orders between France and the Dominion of New Zealand. Tour Excellency will observe that the text of the Convention, as forwarded by Lord Plunket, hae been definitely settled between the respective Postal Administrations, and you are accordingly authorised to sign it as it stands. 1 also enclose the draft of detailed regulations which are apparently to be signed by the Post-master-Oeneral of New Zealand and the Tinder-Secretary for Posts and Telegraphs of France. In communicating this latter draft to the French Government, Your Excellency should call their attention to the amendments proposed by the Post Office (see their letter to the Colonial Office of the 24th ultimo in Articles 4 and 15 and in Table B of the appendix, in order that, if accepted,

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they may be made before the regulations are signed in Paris, and sent out to New Zealand for signature by the Postmaster-General of the Dominion. As regards the formality of signature, 1 have to observe that the preferable course, in my opinion, will be for the regulations to be first signed by the Under-Secretary for Posts and Telegraphs, and then returned, through Your Excellency, to this Department for transmission, through the Colonial Office, to New Zealand. 1 am, &c, His Excellency the liight Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 41. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th June, 1900. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of the regulations which have been approved for the award of medals for long service and good conduct for men in the Hoyal Naval Reserve. These regulations will be generally applicable to the branches of the Royal Naval Reserve established in Australia and New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 42. New Zealand.--Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 21st June, 1909. With reference to Your Lordship's despatch No. 14, of the 7th April, 1906, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter received at the Admiralty from the commanding officer of His Majesty's ship " Cambrian," in which that officer suggests that the Rarotonga ensign should now be deleted from the Admiralty Flag-book, and at the same lime draws attention to the use of the Union Flag by the Resident Commissioner. 2. I shall be glad to be informed whether your Government still desire the Rarotonga ensign to be retained in the FJag-book, either for use by the Resident Commissioner or for any other purpose. 3. With regard to the tise of the Union Flag by the Resident Commissioner, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have pointed out that the Union Flag, undefaced, is, when flown afloat, properly the flag of an admiral of the fleet. In these circumstances your Government will doubtless recognise the inconvenience of the Union Flag, undefaced, being used by the Resident Commissioner when afloat, and I would suggest that, if your Government consider it desirable that the Resident Commissioner should have a personal flag, and that such flag should.not be the Rarotonga ensign, he should use the Union Flag defaced with some suitable badge. 4. As, however, any vessels conveying the Resident Commissioner will presumably, as a rule, be vessels in the service of the Government of the Dominion, and will therefore carry the New Zealand Ensign as their distinctive flag, it seems to be a matter for the consideration of your Government whether it is necessary for them to fly also a special flag, in order to denote the presence of the Resident Commissioner on board. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, I'JIO No. 30.

Enclosure. No. 124. Sir,— H.M.S. " Cambrian, , ' at Tahiti, 20th February, 1909. I have the honour to bring to your notice the fact that the flap shown on Plate 12 of the Admiralty publication " Flags of all Nations," purporting to be the Rarotonga ensign, does not

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how exist, and should be deleted. Before the annexation it was the flag of Queen Makes (authority Resident Commissioner). Also, that the Resident Commissioner flies a Union Flag at all times, without any badge .similar to the other Resident Commissioners in the Pacific Ocean. As the Cook Islands " form part of New Zealand," 1 submit the badge perhaps should be in connection with that of the Dominion. 1 have, &c., Vauuhan Lewes, Captain. The Commander-in-Chief, H.M. Ships and Vessels, Australia.

No. 43. New Zealand, No. I*2B. Mv Lord, — Downing Street, 30th June, 1909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that an application has been received from the Danish Minister at this Court for the issue of an exequatur to Mr. H. B. Sorensen as Consul of Denmark at Christchurch. A copy of the Danish Minister's note is enclosed. As this gentleman is resident in New Zealand, 1 have to request that you will report whether there is any objection to his appointment; and, ff not, that you will recognise him provisionally in that capacity until the arrival of the exequatur, and report when you have done so. I have, &c, CREW K. Ill. Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 1910 No. 30

Enclosure. (23224.) Mr. Secretary of State, — Danish Legation, London, 19th June, 1909. By my note of the 26th March la.st 1 took the liberty to inform you of the death of Mr. E. Chr. Skog, Royal Danish Consul at Christchurch (New Zealand) I have now the honour to state that Henry B. Sorensen, an auctioneer and a Justice of the Peace in Christchurch, has been appointed Danish Consul there for the southern of the New Zealand Islands, and, by order of my Government, to ask you kindly to cause the Royal exequatur lo be given Mi-. Sorensen in the above capacity. With the request that the enclosed Royal Commission appointing Mr. Sorensen Danish Consul at Christchurch be returned to this Legation with your answer. I have, Aβ., Sir Edward Grey, Bart., <fee. C. Bhcn.

No. 44. New Zealand, No. 129. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th June, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the prevention oT embarkation for New Zealand of persons suffering from consumption. I have, &c, CKEWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. M. 12492. Sth, — Marine Department. 7 Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W., 19th June, 1909. With reference to your letters of the 12th June, 1908 (No. 19677/08), and the 4th May last (M. 14001/09), respecting the immigration of consumptives into New Zealand, I am directed

Date. Description. une 19 From the Board of Trade.

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by the Board of Trade to transmit to you, lo be laid before the Secretary of State, the enclosed copy of a letter addressed to the .shipping companies whose vessels were referred to in the list furnished by the New Zealand Government, together with copies of the replies which have been received by this Department. The general effect oi' these letters is to show thai the shipping companies realise the necessity of taking steps to prevent the embarkation of persons suffering from consumption, and will co-operate with authorities in the matter. It is pointed out, however, that there is difficulty in detecting consumption in the initial stages, and that the Dumber of cases reported in the New Zealand Government list is not large considering the total number of passengers conveyed. The power of this Department is limited, under section 306 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to preventing the embarkation of steerage passengers or members of the crew who appealunfit to proceed or likely to endanger the health of the other persons about to proceed in the ship, and every care is taken to see that persons who appear likely to be a danger to themselves or to others on the voyage are not permitted to embark. 1 have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Walter J. Howbll. M. 10292. Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W., Gentlemen, — 25th April, 1909. I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to you, for your confidential information, the enclosed copy of correspondence which has taken place respecting the carriage of persons suffering from consumption from this country to New Zealand, from which it will be seen that the New Zealand Government have suggested that if greater care could be exercised at the medical Inspection at the port of departure, much disappointment and waste of money might be prevented, and have forwarded a list of passengers Erom the United Kingdom arriving at New Zealand suffering from consumption. The Board of Trade would be much obliged if the company would be so good as to favour them with their observations on the general question raised by the New Zealand Government, and also, so far as may now be practicable, on the cases mentioned in the list in which the company's vessels aie concerned. I have, &c, Walter J. Howell. The New Zealand Shipping Company, Rochester Buildings, 138 Leadenhall Street, E.C. [and five other companies]. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited), 34 Leadenhall Street, SIR) _ London, E.C, 27th May, 1909. We duly received your confidential letter (M. 10292), of the 25th instant, with reference to the carriage of consumptives from this country to New Zealand, and are much obliged to you for giving us an opportunity to report on the instances relating to cases conveyed in the steamers of this line. We have extracted these from the list you enclose, and attach hereto a statement giving details as far as we have them of each case. Two of the cases, you will observe, were members of the crews of our steamers, and in regard to these we would point out that it is now our practice to require each member of the crew of eaoh vessel to undergo a medical examination before signing on. Such instances, therefore, should be rare in future. In one case, as you will observe, the man was not intended to remain in the Dominion, but deserted from his vessel there. t As regards passengers, we invariably require a declaration before booking that the intending passenger is in a good state of health, and all our agents are warned against booking any one who has not this qualification. The only case in the list where this precaution was not taken is a second-class passenger who was conveyed by instructions from the Dominion, and whose passagemoney was paid there. . The steamer's surgeon and the Board of Trade doctor inspect all third-class passengers on embarkation, and, although the duty of the latter officials appears to be limited to observations as to the possibility of contagion, infection, and suchlike, they are of assistance in detecting any sigrn of consumption. . ... On the run from London to Plymouth the steamers' surgeons have instructions to scrutinise all the passengers carefully, and, if any appearance of ill health or consumptive tendency is observed to examine the subject thoroughly, and, if the condition demands it have the passenger landed at Plymouth. Our surgeons are instructed to ask the assistance of the Board of Irade officials in any difficult or doubtful case. The only observations on the subject which occur to us to be made are — (I ) Thit it i* very desirable that the Board of Trade officials should be authorised and instructed to give official assistance to the steamers' surgeons to prevent the embarkation or proceeding of passengers of any class who are disqualified by health from landing abroad. . (2 ) That the scope of the duties of the Board of Trade officials be extended so as to include consumption in all its stages in those matters concerning passengers which " are likely to be a danger to themselves or to others on the voyage. We would remind you that we fully explained our practice in regard to this matter in our letter to yon of the Ist April. 1908. y a Manager. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited). The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, Whitehall, S.W.

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M. l- , mi- , . Sir, — 138 Leadenhall Street, London, Ist June, 1909. We beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo regarding the carriage of persons suffering from consumption from this country to New Zealand, and enclosing copy of correspondence on the subject. In reply, we desire to point out that in the thirteen cases mentioned as having travelled by our steamers, six were booked by agents in the provinces, two l)eing second-class passengers. One passenger, Mr. C. R. Watson, was approved by the High Commissioner and received an assisted passage, and one, Mr. J. C. Smith, was booked by Mr. E. A. Smith, (he Government ShippingAgent. Mr. Gun we cannot trace as being a passenger on the " Turakina " sailing from London in December, 1905. The remaining three were booked bj n>. and we hold booking-forms from Messrs, Smith and Owen stating that they were in good health. We are unable to find the papers in connection with Mr. Lrvine, who was a passenger by the '■ Turakina " sailing from London in February, 1905. We enclose copy of the prospectus and handbook issued to passengers, in both of which the fact that persons suffering from any disease which is contagious, loathsome, or dangerous are not allowed to land in New Zealand, is clearly pointed out, and it is also stated that any one suffering from consumption will nol be allowed to embark. We also enclose a copy of instructions issued with ticket-book to the company's passenger agents, in which the same clause appears, and a copy of booking-form, on which passengers are required to state whether they are in good health. There is a footnote on this form specially drawing the passenger's attention to the importance of correctly answering this question. It will be seen that in several ways we take every opportunity of warning passengers not to book to New Zealand unless they are in good health. During the last five years, twelve thousand passengers have travelled to New Zealand by our steamers, and the cases mentioned are only equal to O'l per cent. Eight of the thirteen were allowed to land under bond, and as no further remarks appear against tbeir names, we conclude thai their health is satisfactory. In addition to the medical inspection of third-class passengers by your Department, all third class passengers arc also examined by the ship's doctor. We consider that the above observations and the statement of our usual practice show that we are doing our utmost to support the wish of the New Zealand Government. If there is any further information you require, we shall be pleased to afford it to the best of our ability. We are, &c, The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited , ), C. J. Cowan, Joint Manager. The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall (hardens. S.W.

M. 12321. Sin, — 112 Fenchurch Street, London, E.C., 26th May, 1909. We are in receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, enclosing correspondence with regard to the carriage of persons suffering from consumption from this country to New Zealand, and asking us for our observations thereon. All steerage passengers by our steamers are examined before departure by a doctor appointed by the Board of Trade. At the same time the doctor appointed by the New Zealand Government is also on board our steamer watching the embarkation, and, we understand, passing the emigrants on behalf of the New Zealand Government. The saloon passengers are not examined by the Government doctors: but, so far as we are concerned, those passengers arriving in New Zealand by our " Shire " steamers, noted in the list, as suffering from consumption, are all steerage passengers with the exception of Pnterson, by the "Fifeshire." We are somewhat at a loss to make any practicable suggestion unless that of having a more stringent examination on embarkation. Intending passengers could be asked to supply medical certificates: but we question if this would be satisfactory, as the disease might be only in its infancy, and the family medical man might issue a certificate on the strength of the recovery before arrival in New Zealand. The only safeguard, therefore, is, as we have said, a more stringent medical examination on embarkation. We would point out that the list of passengers from the United Kingdom arriving in New Zealand suffering from consumption, sent by the New Zealand Government, covers from the year 1904 till February, 1909, a period of about four years and a half. Out of twenty-nine, eighteen were allowed to land under bond. This leaves eleven, or, say. two a year, who have obtained admission into New Zealand although suffering from consumption. When one takes into account the number of passengers, many of whom are induced to go to New Zealand by the advantages held out for that country as being a most attractive health resort, it appears to us a very small proportion indeed. At the same time we will heartily co-operate in any regulations which may be issued for minimising the risk of carrying undesirable people to the colony. Yours, A-c. Turnbuu*. Martin, and Co. The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall Gardens, S.W.

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M. 12320. Sir,— 2 Fenchurch Avenue, London, E.C., 28th May, 1909. With reference to your letter of the 2oth instant, enclosing correspondence on the subject of conveying persons suffering from consumption to New Zealand from U.K. ports and asking for our comments : All third-class passengers by our vessels are examined by a doctor appointed by the Board of Trade before leaving, and a doctor appointed by the New Zealand Government also attends on board our steamers to watch the embarkation, and, we understand, pass the emigrants on behalf of the New Zealand Government. Ihe saloon passengers, as you are aware, are not examined by the Government doctors; and those arriving in New Zealand by Federal steamers mentioned in your list as suffering from consumption were steerage passengers. We can only suggest there should be a more stringent examination on embarkation by the medical men appointed for the purpose, and we will co-operate with the authorities and do everything in our power to make effective any regulations made to diminish the risk of carrying passengers suffering from consumption to the colony. Yours, &c, Federal Steam Navigation Company (Limited). G. W. Law, Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall Gardens, S.W. M. 12278. Orient Line, 5 Fenchurch Avenue, London, E.G., 27th May, 1909. Sir, Passenger Department . We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, referring to the carriage of persons suffering from consumption from this country to New Zealand. We may say that we discourage the booking of this class of passenger as much as possible; but the bulk of our bookings are effected through correspondence, and it is not until the passenger arrives on board ship that we are aware of his condition. Under these circumstances we cannot claim that the precautions taken by us are sufficient to explain the small number of consumptive passengers arriving in New Zealand via the medium of our steamers. We may, however, call your attention to the fact that in the return you send us only one consumptive passenger appears to have been conveyed to New Zealand by the Orient Royal Mail Line since the year 1904. We would suggest that if the surgeon appointed by the Board of Trade to medically examine passengers on embarkation were empowered to reject those suffering from consumption, the objects desired by the New Zealand Government would in a large measure be attained, but there would, no doubt, be many cases of incipient disease which would escape the notice of the medical officer at the time of embarkation. We are, &c, Anderson, Anderson, and Co. W. J. Howell, Esq., Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, S.W. M 121 1 Slß ,_' ' ' Liverpool, 26th May, 1909. We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th instant (M. 10292), enclosing copy of a correspondence which has passed'between the Board of Trade and the New Zealand Government on the subject of the carriage of persons suffering from consumption. With regard to the general question, and your request for our observations on the points raised by the New Zealand Government, we cannot, we think, do better than refer you to our communication of the Bth April, 1908, copy of which we attach. Your Board may rest assured that every possible precaution is taken by us to avoid oarrying any passengers by our steamers who are suffering from consumption, but they will, we think, readily recognise the difficulty of detecting incipient cases at the medical inspection at time ot embarkation. , This company has no steamers taking passengers from Liverpool direct to New Zealand, anrt, with regard to the particular cases referred to in the list which you have sent us as being carried on board the company's steamers sailing from London in conjunction with the service of Messrs. Shaw Savill, and Albion Company (Limited), we have to state that we are communicating with Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited)., and requesting them to write you; but doubtless you are already in correspondence with them on the subject. We are, arc, Ismay, Imrie, and Co., Managers. The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department. Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.

No. 45. New Zealand.—Miscellaneous. My Lord, Downing Street, 30th June, 1909. f have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers copy of the regulations which have heen approved for the award of medals for long service for men in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

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2. His Majesty's Government would suggest that, should it be desired at any time in the future to organize a Naval Militia or Volunteer Force, these regulations might well serve as a model in drawing up regulations regarding the issue of medals to such forces, subject, of course, to modifications to suit local circumstances. 3. It will be necessary, in order to give any medals issued to such forces an Imperial character, and to enable them to be properly worn in any part of the Empire, that their issue should be approved by a Royal Warrant, and I enclose a draft of the Warrant which it is proposed to issue, and which follows the lines of the Warrant for the grant of medals to colonial military forces. The Warrant has been prepared in view of the existence of a naval Militia and Volunteer Force in Australia, but it is general in terms, and will apply to medals issued in any part of His Majesty's Dominions. I have; &c, CEEWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 46. New Zealand, No. 130. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 1909. With reference to your telegram of the 31st March, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a parliamentary paper giving a list of the British colonies and protectorates which have acceded to the treaty of commerce between the United Kingdom and Servia of the 17th February, 1907. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.'V.O., &c.

No. 47. New Zealand, No. 131. . My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the American Ambassador at this Court inviting the participation of your Government in the Fifteenth International Congress of Hygiene and Demography, which is to be held at Washington from the 26th September to the Ist October, 1910. 2. I shall be glad to learn in due course whether your Government proposes to be represented at this Congress. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910 No. 41.

Enclosure. (20715.) Sin, — American Embassy, London, Ist Juno, 1909. Under instructions from my Government I have the honour to extend to His Majesty's Government an official invitation from the Government of the United States to participate in the Fifteenth International Congress of Hygiene and Demography, to be held at Washington from the 2fith September to the Ist October, 1910. As you may not have forgotten, at the last of these Congresses, which was held at Berlin in 1907, the American delegates, in pursuance of a joint resolution of the Congress of the United States, approved 26th February, 1907, were instructed to extend to the Congress an invitation to hold its next meeting at the City of Washington. The invitation was accepted, and the Fifteenth International Congress will accordingly be held at that city. Tho Department of State has assumed the responsibility of the conduct of the Congress, and has made the following appointments for the purpose of its organization : President, Dr. Henry P. Walcott, of Massachusetts: Secretary-Central, Dr. John S. Fulton, of Pennsylvania: members

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of the General Committee —Professor William 11. Welch, of Maryland; Dr. John S. Sillings, of New York; Professor Victor C. Vaughan, of Michigan; Mr. Edward T. Devine, of New York; Dr. Abraham Jacobi, of New York; Dr. A. ('. Abbott, of Pennsylvania; Professor F. F. Westbrook, of Minnesota; Mr. X. S. I). North, of Washington; Surgeon-General George M. Sternberg, of Washington; Medical Inspector Henry <■. Beyer, of Washington; Dr. A. D. Melvin, of Washington; Surgeon-General Walter Wyman, of Washington; Mr. John M, Glenn, of New York; Dr. Hermann M. Bigys, of New York; Professor Theobald Smith, of .Massachusetts; Dr. Charles \Y. Waloott, «i!' Washington; Dr George H. Simmons, of Illinois; Colonel Walter l>. MoCaw, of Washington. The International Congress of Hygiene ami Demography ranks among the most important of international scientific gatherings. It comprises distinguished representatives of many and diverse professions, which are inure or less connected with govermental administration, and it is therefore thought that representation at the Congress by official delegates would ii"l be without advantage to His Majesty's Government. I am also instructed, in extending this invitation, to explain that it is intended to include also the important State, provincial, and municipal Governments, and to express the pleasure with which the Government of the United States will learn of the acceptance of His Majesty's Government. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Whitelaw Reid.

No. 48. New Zealand, No. 132. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the future administration of the Wallis and Futuna Islands. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. No. 240. Sir, Paris, 19th June, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, extracted from the Journal Offieiel of to-day's date, a decree respecting the future administration of the Wallis and Futuna Islands. The present dependence of these islands cm New Caledonia is stated in the preamble of the decree to be undesirable for various reasons, economic and geographical, which render a change necessary. The Governor of New Caledonia, Commissioner-General of the Republic in the Pacific Ocean, while continuing to hold plenary powers over the two islands, will be represented in them by a resident, who will be appointed by the Minister of the Colonies. Arrangements are also to be made for placing the finances of the islands on a more satisfactory basis. I have, <fee, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., .fee. T>. D. Cahneoie.

No. 49. New Zealand, No. 133. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd July, 1909. With reference to your telegram of the 16th June, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has instructed His Majesty's representative at Lisbon to notify the

ite. Description. Description. Date. une 19 ... No. 240. From the British Legation at Pari (Without enclosure).

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Portuguese Government of the assent of the New Zealand Government to the revised regulations and tariffs drawn up at the International Telegraph Conference held at Lisbon in 1908. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 50. New Zealand, No. 136. My Lord, Downing Street, Bth July, 1909 With reference to my despatch No. 222, of the 30th December last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of the English translation (as recognised by the General Post Office) of the International Telegraph Convention, with the regulations and tariffs as revised at Lisbon. I have, &c, CREWE Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 51. New Zealand, No. 137. My Lord, Downing Street, 9th July, 1909. With reference to Lord Elgin's despatch, General, of the 20th August, 1906,1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, two copies of a circular instruction cancelling, on and after the Ist January, 1910, the last clause of paragraph 23 (a) of the Regulations relating to the Examination of Engineers in the Mercantile Marine, and substituting fresh clauses I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket. K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 52. New Zealand, No. 141. My Lord,— Downing Street, 14th July, 1909. As your Ministers are no doubt aware, at the conclusion of the last census of the United Kingdom, returns made by the several British dominions, colonies, and protectorates were collated and analysed by the Registrar-General of the United Kingdom, and finally embodied in a return presented to Parliament in 1906, and entitled " Census of the British Empire " (Cd. 2660), copy of which is enclosed for convenience of reference. 2. It is contemplated that a census of the United Kingdom will be taken on or about the 2nd April, 1911, and His Majesty's Government are anxious that a report on the census of the British Empire shall be published as soon as possible after that date. 3. For this purpose your Ministers may be glad to consider whether it will be possible to take a census in New Zealand about the same date, and to obtain the information indicated in the enclosed statement, which shows the main heads under which information is desirable for the purpose of the proposed report on the census of the British Empire for 1911. In this connection lam also to invite attention to pages lix-lxiv of the enclosed report [Cd. 2660]. 4. The Registrar-General has pointed out that in the last census returns the Maori population is not classified by condition as to marriage, occupation, religion, education, or infirmities, and that no census was taken of the Cook Islands and other dependencies of New Zealand.

A.-l, 1910 No. 31.

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5. It is not yet possible to furnish a copy of the schedule to be used at the census of England and Wales, but when the final draft is prepared a copy will be communicated to your Ministers. I have, &c , CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Statement B. Main heads under which it is desirable to obtain statistics from the several colonies, &c, for the purposes of the report on the census of the British Empire, 1911 : — 1. Area of colony and of each of its principal local subdivisions. 2. Houses inhabited, uninhabited, and building. 3. Population, distinguishing male and female, also military and shipping population. i. Population of chief towns. 5. Ages of males and females in individual years or in quinquennial groups. 6. Condition as to marriage in combination with ages. 7. Occupations. 8. Birthplaces, distinguishing the country of birth, and whether British subjects, naturalised British subjects, or foreign subjects. 9. Religions. 10. Degrees of elementary education. 11. Infirmities, distinguishing blind, deaf and dumb, and mentally deranged.

No. 53. New Zealand, No. 142. My Lord,— Downing Street, 15th July, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 83, of the 21st April, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of an Order in Council dated the 28th June, providing for appeals from the Supreme Court of Western Australia to His Majesty in Council. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 54. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th July, 1909. In reply to your Lordship's despatch No. 39, of the Bth May, I have the honour to request that you will be good enough to inform your Ministers that His Majesty has been pleased to approve of the retention of the title of " Honourable " by Mr. William Hall-Jones, who has served for more than three years as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand. 2. A notification to this effect is being published in the London Gazette. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 55. New Zealand, No. 143. My Lord, Downing Street, 16th July, 1909. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 29th January, 1907, and subsequent correspondence, I have the honour to transmit

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to you, for the information of your Ministers, six copies of the report of the Royal Commission on Shipping Rings. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 56. New Zealand, No. 144. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th July, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the appointment of a President and a Public Prosecutor of the New Hebrides Joint Court. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. No. 262. Sir, — Paris, sth July, 1909. On receipt of your despatch No. 239, of the 28th May last (18878/09), I addressed a note to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs proposing that joint representations should be made to the King of Spain by His Majesty's representative and the French representative at Madrid, with a view to the selection by His Majesty of a President and a Public Prosecutor of the Joint Court in the New Hebrides. I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of Monsieur Pichon's reply, in which he states that the Minister of the Colonies, whilst recognising the necessity of shortly taking action in this sense, will be unable to place His Excellency in a position to adopt the suggestion of His Majesty's Government until he has received certain information on the subject from the French High Commissioner for the New Hebrides. I have, &c., The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie. M. l'Ambassadeur, — Paris, le ler Juillet, 1909. A la date dv 29 mai dernnier, Votre Excellence a bien voulu m'exprimer le desir que le gouvernement de la Republique agisse aupres dv gouvernement espagnol en vue de la nomination, par le Hoi, dv president dv tribunal mixte, gui doit sieger aux Nouvelles-Hebrides, et dv magistrat charge de representer le ministere public pres de cette jurisdiction. M. le Ministre dcs Colonies, que j'ai saisi de cette question, tout en reconnaissant la n£cessit£ de proceder dans un rapproche a la demarche dont il s'agit, ne pourra me mettre en mesure de dormer suite a votre suggestion avant d'avoir recu certains renseignements qu'il attend au sujet de cette affaire dv Haut Commissaire de la France aux Nouvelles Hebrides. Agreez, <fee, Son Excellence Sir Francis Bertie. S. Pichon.

No. 57. New Zealand, No. 145 My Lord,— Downing Street, 16th July, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, enclosed copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the Imperial Press Conference regarding the reduction in the charges on Press messages for Australia and New Zealand, together with copy of a letter on the subject from the Pacific Cable Board to the Secretary of the Conference. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

i Date. Date. Description. uly 5 1909. From H.M. Ambassador, Paris.

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Enclosures. Copt of Resolution adopted at a Meeting op the Imperial Press Confbrbnob, at the Institution of Civil Engineer, Friday, 25th June, 1909. Australia and New Zealand. Me. Nelson (Victoria, Canada) proposed, That, in view of the announcement by the management of the Pacific Cable Board that it will greatly reduce the charges for Press messages passing over its lines between Canada and Australia and New Zealand, provided the Governments of the latter dominions make a corresponding reduction in their terminal rates, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand be at once communicated with, acquainting them with the terms of the concession made by the Pacific Cable Board, and asking for their co-operation in reducing the cost of these messages. Dear Sir,— 30th June, 1909. In reply to your favour of the 25th June concerning a resolution passed at a meeting of the Imperial Press Confez'ence, I am authorised by my Board to inform you that they are prepared to reduce the Press rate between Australasia and the United Kingdom to 9d. a word, provided the New Zealand and Commonwealth Governments will reduce their terminal rates to Jd. a word. ' The Board are communicating (by cable) with the Governments in question, and hope to be able to announce shortly that the reduced rate will come into effect at an early date. I am, &c., A. S. Baxendale, London Manager and Secretary. Harry E. Brittain, Esq., Honorary Secretary, Imperial Press Conference, Savoy Hotel, W.C.

No. 58. New Zealand, No. 147. My Lord,— Downing Street, 22nd July, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 112, of the 28th May, regarding the proposed Congress on the subject of the preservation of the natural resources of the world, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington has asked, on behalf ot the head of the United States Forestry Department, to be furnished with the names of any persons who may wish to have copies of the proceedings of the Conference of United States Governors held in Washington in May, 1908. I shall be obliged if your Ministers will kindly furnish me with the required information for communication to the United States Government. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 59. Dominions. —Circular. S IRj Downing Street, 11th August, 1909. With reference to my circular despatches of the 3rd February and 2nd March last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of the report of the President of the Permanent Sugar Commission on the proceedings of the Commission at its recent session held at Brussels in June last. Your Ministers will observe that the only decision arrived at by the Commission has reference to the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, in respect of which it has been decided to reimpose on sugar locally produced the countervailing duties which had previously been in force, but whose operation has for some time been suspended. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand

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Enclosure. [Enclosure in Circular dated 11th August, 1909. J Commission Permanknte institutes hah la Convention Internationale dcs Suches. Rapport adresse au Gouvernemeiit beige, uu lioin de la Commission Permanente dcs Sucres, en execution de I'article 7 de la Convention dv 5 Mars, 1902. Lα Commission Permanente dcs Sucres s'esl leunie a Bruxelles les 21 et 22 Juin, 1909. Conformeinent a son ordre dv jour, la Commission s'est oecupee notamment dcs sucres dcs Colonies portugaises; et a la suite dun nouvel examen de la situation de l'industrie et dv commerce dcs sucres dans la Colonic de Mozambique, elle a decide de retablir les droits compensateurs lives anterieurement a l'e'gard dcs sucres <lr oette provenanoe, et dont l'application avait etc suspendue. Ces droits sont de F. 13.50 les Ino Kos. pom- les suores brute et de F. 13 les 100 Kos. pour les sucres raffines. Quant aux autres points figurant a l'ordre dv jour <le la session, ils n'ont pas fait, quant a present, I'objet de decisions de la part de la Commission permanente ; les echanges de vues auxquels ils ont donne lieu seront consignee aux proces-verbaux dcs deux stances. Ije President de la Commission Permanente. Bruxelles, le 24 Juin, 1909. Capellb.

No. 60. New Zealand, No. 157. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th August, 1909. I have the honour to inform you that Sir Charles Lucas has expressed his very warm appreciation of the kindness extended to him in New Zealand, and I shall be glad if you will be good enough to convey to your Ministers my most cordial thanks for their courtesy to him, and for the kindly welcome which they have given him. 2. I have also to express my appreciation of the hospitality shown by yourself and by Lady Plunket both to Sir Charles and to Mr. Pearson. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 61. New Zealand, No. 159. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th August, 1909. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 6th April, 1905, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Foreign Office on the subject of the grant of special Customs facilities to the consular officers of Governments by which similar facilities are accorded to His Majesty's consular officers abroad. 2. I may add that the Netherlands Minister has stated that the privilege of entry free of Customs duty is granted in respect of the undermentioned articles imported for British Consulates in the Netherlands colonies : — (1.) Furniture and effects in the case of " Consuls de Carriere." (2.) Flags, coats-of-arms, and other articles for official use imported by consular officers, whether " Consuls de Carriere " or not. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. No. 20065/09. Foreign Office, 9th June, 1909. I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to state, for the information of the Earl of Crewe, that, as the result of communications between this Department and the Treasury, it has been decided that in the case of countries which accord substantially incioassd privileges in the matter of Customs facilities to His Majesty's diplomatic and consular officers abroad, preferential treatment will similarly be granted by His Majesty's Government,

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The United States Government have recently granted, in the case of His Majesty's consular officers, the privilege of free importation without examination of their baggage and personal effects and those of their families and suites. The Mexican Government have similarly decreed, on the basis of reciprocity, that no import duties, or any other form of tax connected therewith, will be levied by the Customs on luggage, travelling-effects for private use, and used furniture belonging to foreign consular officers on their lirxt arrival in th;- country; nor on shields, flags, seals, and office requisites, or articles transmitted to them by the Governments of their States. The Cuban Government have likewise, on a reciprocal basis, accorded the privilege of free entry and exemption from examination to the baggage and effects of consular officers, as well as to officially sealed packages addressed to them by their Governments. Customs, regalia, stationery, and other articles for their official use will also be admitted free of duty. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have accordingly instructed the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to accord to consular officers of these countries, on the notification of their arrival in the United Kingdom, the usual privileges conceded to an ambassador in regard to the examination of their baggage and effects and those of their families and suites. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. F. A. Campbell.

No. 62. Dominions.—Circular. Sir,— Downing Street, 27th August, 1909. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the Executive Committee of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund have expressed the opinion that it is desirable again to draw the attention of the British colonies and protectorates to the importance attaching to the investigation of cancer throughout the Empire on a uniform basis; the reports received during the past five years having been of the highest value in extending medical knowledge of cancer, and in bringing to light its associations with peculiar forms of chronic irritation consequent upon the practice of Native customs. 2. Great importance attaches to investigating the occurrence of cancer in widely separated geographical areas and in divergent races of mankind, in accordance with a uniform plan, and over a prolonged period of time. The valuable information already provided by the various British Administrations has attracted the attention of authorities in foreign countries, who, while not enjoying equal opportunities for such extensive investigations, unanimously emphasize their unique value. 3. The Committee desire to repeat that it is essential that wherever it is difficult to conduct a satisfactory microscopical examination of tumours, reports should be accompanied by small pieces of the tumour placed in formalin immediately after removal from the body. These, like the reports, should be forwarded to Dr. Bashford, General Superintendent, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Savoy Street, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C. 4. Suitable tubes, packed in wooden cases and conforming with the regulations of the General Post Office, will be despatched to any Government or medical officer whenever it is probable that such a course will insure the transmission of specimens; and, when desired, reports on the nature of the tumours will be sent to the medical officers who have provided the specimens. 5. At the same time, in appraising the value of the reports of the occurrence of cancer in aboriginal races and in different parts of the Empire, microscopical examination is of the first importance, not only because of the variations of the extent to which cancer is recorded, but also because of the uncertain nature of many of the diseases common in the tropics.. 6. The Executive Committee, as stated in my predecessor's despatch of the 30th June, 1906, are fully cognisant of the difficulties with which medical officers have to contend in discovering cancer in aboriginals and in obtaining and forwarding specimens, as well as of the difficulties in the way of obtaining definite data in regard to the age of the patient and the history of tho illness. They wish, however, to point out that it is "just where the requisite evidence is difficult to obtain that it possesses most value. The total number of cases of

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cancer observed in Native races being still small, the investigations should be continued until adequate evidence of the frequency of the disease has been obtained, or an explanation arrived at as to the reasons for its real or apparent rarity. The lower average age of the Natives examined may account for the rarity of the disease in some instances, but this explanation is not valid in others. In many aboriginal races almost all the cases recorded have been instances of external cancer. The apparent greater rarity of internal cancer points to the probability that the disease where situated in internal organs will be discovered only after death as the result of post-mortem examinations made by the medical officers themselves. Particular attention should be directed to sites of the body subject to various forms of chronic irritation in consequence of the practice of Native customs. I have, &c, CREWE., The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 63. New Zealand, No. 165. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th August, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 54, of the 17th June, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that the King's exequatur empowering Mr. T. Young to act as Consul of Japan at Wellington, New Zealand, has received His Majesty's signature. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 64. New Zealand, No. 164. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th August, 1909. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Joint Committee on Stage Plays now sitting in connection with the question of the censorship of plays have expressed a desire to be furnished with information as to the law and practice prevailing in the self-governing dominions with respect to the licensing, if any, of plays before production, and the control of dramatic productions by local or other public authorities, as distinct from the control exercised in respect of structural matters in theatres for the safety of the public. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be good enough to furnish as soon as possible the information desired by the Committee so far as New Zealand is concerned. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910, No. 39.

No. 65. New Zealand, No. 169. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd September, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Trade furnishing a statement of the action which has been taken in this country with regard to the survey of foreign passenger-steamers-. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c fi—A. 2.

A.-l, 1910, Nc. 38.

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Enclosure. M. 13240. Sik, — Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W., 17th August, 1909. With reference to the provisions of section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, relating to foreign passenger-steamers trading with the Tinted Kingdom, 1 am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of the Earl of Crewe, that, in view of the fact that certain of the colonies have adopted legislation providing for the survey of foreign passengersteamers trading with the ports of the colony, it would probably Ik- useful for those colonies to be furnished with a statement of the action which has been taken in this country in regard to the matter. Under section 363 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, arrangements have been made for the recognition in this country of the official passenger-steamer certificates issued in Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Holland; and vessels holding sucli certificates are exempt from the survey required under section 13 of the Act of 1906, although the Board's surveyors have power to go on board to see that the condition of the vessel and equipments is as stated in the certificate. A similar arrangement is on the point of being concluded with France, and a further communication will be addressed to you shortly regarding the negotiations with that country. Negotiations are also in progress with Italy, Japan, Belgium, Sweden, and Russia, and the result of these negotiations will lie communicated to you in due course. It ma}' l>e added that in the meantime the Board have not considered it necessary to enforce the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts as to annual survey in the case of passenger-steamers belonging to countries with which negotiations are proceeding, provided there is no reason to doubt that the passengers are carried on substantially the same conditions as to safety, numbers, and accommodation as obtain on British vessels. As some of the colonial Governments are possibly aware, an arrangement has been in force for many years under which passenger-steamer certificates issued by the United States Government are recognised in this country. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. K. C. Heron Maxwki.l

No. 66. New Zealand, No. 172. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th September, 1909. With reference to your telegram of the 24th August, 11)05, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Board of Trade regarding the proposed reconstitution of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence, whose appointment terminated on the 28th August last. I shall be glad to be informed as soon as possible whom your Government wish to nominate as their representative. I have, &c, CRiWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. No. 7064. Board of Trade (Commercial Department), Gwydyr House, Whitehall, Sin, — London, S.W., 2nd September, 1909. I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the period of office for which their Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence was appointed in 1905, and reappointed for one year in 1908, terminated on the 28th August last, and that they propose to reconstitute the Committee, with the least possible delay, on the same lines and with the same general functions as the Committee which has now come to an end. Lord Crewe will be aware that the Dominions were represented upon the Committee by four members nominated by the respective Governments, viz. : — Canada ... ... ... ... Lord Strathcona. Australia ... ... ... ... Mr. David George. New Zealand ... ... ... .. Hon. W. Pember Reeves. and South Africa ... ... ... ... Mr. Henry Birchenough, C.M.G. The Board are desirous that this colonial representation should be continued upon the now Committee, and I am accordingly to ask you to be good enough to move Lord Crewe to take such steps as he may deem proper to obtain at the earliest possible date nominations for this purpose from the Governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. It is intended that the Committee shall be appointed for three years. I have, &c, The Under-Secretarv of State, Colonial Office, H, Lt,ewei,lyn Smith.

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No. 67. New Zealand, No. 173. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th September, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a new rule for life-saving appliances on ships, made by the Board of Trade under the provisions of section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord IMunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910. No. 44.

Enclosure. [For official use.] Statutory Rulee and Orders, 1909, No. 7*7. Merchant Shipping.— Life-saving Appliances. Rvle dated May 21,. 1909, madi by the. Board of Trade, under the Merchant Shipping Art, (51 dud 58 Viet., c. v>o), (ix to Life-saving Appliances. Undeh the provisions of .section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the Hoard of Trade hereby make the following rule tor life-saving appliances. This rule shall he construed as one with the rules relating to life-saving appliances dated the 10th February, 1902, and shall come iritoefieet on the Ist day of August, 1909. Dated this 24th day of May, 1909. H. Llewellyn Smith, Secretary to the Board of Trade. Waltbb J. Howei.i,, Assistant Secretary, Marine Department. Motor Life-bodts. .Notwithstanding anything contained in the rules relating to life-saving appliances dated the 10th February, 1902, it shall be permissible, in the case of such foreign-going passengersteamers or emigrant-ships as are required under Division A, Class 1, or Division A, Class 2, of those rules to carry more than four boats placed under davits, to substitute a motor life-boat approved by the Board of Trade for one of the boats under davits. Proper appliances shall be provided for putting any such motor life-boat into the water. The life-boat shall also be adequately provided with fuel, and kept so as to be at all times fit and ready for use.

No. 68. New Zealand, No. 176. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th September, 1909. I have the honour to request you to draw your Ministers' attention to the letter from the Board of Trade to the Marine Department of New Zealand, relative to the issue of certificates of competency under the provisions of section 26 of the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, copy of which is enclosed. I hope that your Ministers will see their way to comply with the suggestions contained in the Board's letter. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910, No. 43.

Enclosure. M. 18331. Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens. London. S.W., Sir,— Ist September, 1909. T am directed by the Board of Trade to inform you that the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen has forwarded to this Department your letter of the Bth ultimo (M. 1258/1908) stating that a certificate of competency, No. 1097, has been issued to Mr. Bernard St. Vincent Ford under the provisions of section 26 (1) of the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908. The Board recognises that, in view of the terms of that section, your Department have no alternative but to issue such a certificate if required to do so. As, however, certificates of com-

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potency are never granted by the Board of Trade except after examination, they cannot but regret that it should be possible for any candidate for a certificate to obtain without examination a certiticate, which by the Order in Council of the 9th August, 1572, is of the saint , force as a certificate of equal grade issued by the Board. I am therefore to inquire whether your Department would be prepared to co-operate with the Board of Trade in this matter, and take such opportunity as may arise of amending section 2ti of the above Act referred to in such sense as to insure that only certificates of service may be granted without examination. lam to add that this is provided for by section 99 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, in the following terms :— (1.) A person who has attained t lie rank of lieutenant, sub-lieutenant, navigating lieutenant, or navigating sub-lieutenant in Her Majesty's Navy, or of lieutenant in Her Majesty's Indian Marine Service, shall be entitled to a certificate of service as master of a foreign-going ship without examination. (2.) A person who has attained the rank of engineer or assistant engineer in Her Majesty's Navy or Indian Marine Service shall be entitled without examination, if an engineer, to a certificate of service as first-class engineer, and, if an assistant engineer, to a certificate of service as second-class engineer. (3.) A certificate of service shall differ in form From a certificate of competency, and shall contain the name and rank of the person to whom it is delivered, and the Board of Trade shall deliver a certificate of service to any person who proves himself to be entitled thereto. (4.) The provisions of this Act (including the penal provisions) shall apply in the rase of a certificate of service as they apply in the case of a certificate of competency, except that the provisions allowing a holder of a certificate of competency as master of a foreign-going ship to go to sea as master or mate of a home-trade passenger-ship shall not apply. I have, &c, R. C. Heron Maxwell. The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 69. New Zealand, No. 177. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th September, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copies of two Orders of His Majesty in Council, dated the 10th August, exempting German and Norwegian ships, under certain conditions, from the British regulations as to life-saving appliances under thfe provisions of section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.Y.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910. No. 45.

No. 70. Dominions. —Circular. Sir,— Downing Street, 20th September, 1909. With reference to Lord Elgin's library despatch of the 3rd April, 1908, I have the honour to transmit, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a paper which has been presented to Parliament containing a memorandum by the Director-General, Army Medical Service, on the transmission of enteric fever by the " chronic carrier." I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 71. New Zealand, No. 179. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th September, 1 909. With reference to my despatch No. 1.5, of the 22nd January, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a note addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the

A.-l, 1910 No. 62.

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Chinese Minister, requesting that certain changes may be introduced into the laws oi' New Zealand relating to the immigration of Chinese subjects in the Dominion. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. (30921.) Yovu ExOELLHNCT, — Chinese Legation, 14th August, 1909. I have the honour to inform Your Excellenoy that I have received telegraphic instructions from the Wai-wu Pu in Peking, directing me to approach Your Excellency on the subject of the present position of Chinese subjects in tiic Dominion of New Zealand. In the year 1908 the New Zealand Legislature passed an Act entitled the Immigration Restriction Act, with an addition in the same year called the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act. On leading the provisions contained in the said Acts, 1 cannot refrain from remarking that the restrictions they impose upon Chinese subjects appear very oppressive and undiscriminating. With the exception of oflieers or crews of Chinese vessels of war, as provided for in clause 41 of I'arl 111 of the principal Act, all other classes of Chinese subjects are precluded from visiting thai prosperous colony of the British Empire unless they are willing to submit themselves to certain proceedings derogatory to their dignity and self-respect. As New Zealand is within easy distance of China, and has made great progress within the last generation in the development oi' various industries, and also in her economical conditions, it would be to the advantage of both countries if facilities were afforded to Chinese subjects to visit that Dominion not only for the purpose of encouraging trade, but also for intellectual studies. With this object in view the Chinese Government have had this matter under consideration for some time, and have now arrived at the conclusion that the present might be considered an opportune time to approach the Government of New Zealand for the negotiation of some change in their laws regulating the immigration of Chinese subjects into their Dominion. I am now instructed, therefore, by my Government to enclose herewith, for Your Excellency's information, a memorandum of the proposed modifications on the existing immigration rules of New Zealand, and my Government would feel deeply gratified if Your Excellency could see your way to exercise such a favourable influence in the matter as would contribute to the settlement of tliis important question in the sense desired. I have, &c. Sir Edward Grey, Bart.. M.P., &c. Li Chinq-Fong Memokandum of Proposed Modifications in the New Zealand Regulations for the Immigbation of Chinese. 1. Chinese officials, students, and merchants with capital shall be granted the same privileges and facilities in landing at any port of New Zealand as are granted to the subjects of other Powers who have treaty relations with England : Provided they can produce passports issued by competent Chinese authorities certifying as to his status and condition, such passports to be viseed by English Consuls or otherwise duly authorised English officials. i. Any Chinese subject who lias been resident in New Zealand for over three years, and who is well known to have been engaged bona fide in any respectable business, can have his wife and family brought from China to New Zealand to reside with him, and his wife and family may be allowed to land without paying any tax or submitting themselves to the language test, if they can produce a passport or passports issued by a competent Chinese authority certifying that they are in fact the wife and family of the aforesaid Chinese subject. ■'!. No Chinese subject who has been resident in any part of New Zealand for a number of years and is well known to his neighbours shall, if he desires to leave New Zealand temporarily with the intention of returning within four years, be required to leave his thumb-impressions for identification. 4. Any Chinese subject who is able to pass the language test on entering New Zealand shall be allowed to land, like the subjects of other Powers, without paying any tax. 3. An} - Chinese subject who is passing through New Zealand on his way to other countries shall be exempted from paying any tax if he can find sureties to guarantee that he is a bona fide through traveller. If such traveller is afterwards found to remain in any part of New Zealand he will be dealt with in accordance with clause 34 of the Immigration Restriction Act of 1908.

No. 72. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord,— Downing Street, 24th September, 1909. With reference to my despatches, " Miscellaneous," of the 17th and 30th June, enclosing the regulations which have been approved for the award of long-service medals to men of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval

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Volunteer Reserve, I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided that the restriction of the award of these medals to men who were on the Active List on the Ist January, 1908, is to be removed. The medals will therefore be awarded to any men living at the present time who satisfy the other conditions respecting length of service, &c. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 73. New Zealand, No. 180. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th September, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 87, of the 23rd November Last, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers thai liis Majesty's Government would suggest thai it would Ik , most convenient for the proposed subsidiary Conference on Copyright to meet in London early in the spring <>t next year —say, in March or April next. I f your Ministers concur in this proposal, the exact date of assembling can be arranged by telegraph later. 2. I shall bo glad to be informed in due course of the name of the represen tative whom your Government desire to send to the proposed Conference. 3. Copies of the replies which have been received from the Governments of the various self-governing dominions to my despatches of the 2nd and 3rd September, proposing a subsidiary Conference, are enclosed for the information of your Ministers. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 74. New Zealand, No. 181. My Lord, — Downing Street, 24th September, 1909. T have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the Army (Annual) Act, 1909. of the Imperial Parliament. 2. Your Ministers will observe the amendments introduced into the Army Act by sections 6, 8, 9, and 11 of the present Act. 3. The result of the alteration of the law by sections 6 and 11 of the Act is to remove any doubt as to the power of issuing to a Governor or a GovernorGeneral a warrant to convene Courts-martial under the Army Act in any case in which the command of any part of I [is Majesty's forces may have been conferred on him. The power in question has been conferred as experience in the case of Canada and Australia during the South African war has shown that it is convenient that it should exist with reference to troops raised in a dominion or colony (but not under the terms of a local Act) for service beyond the dominion or colony. 4. I now enclose the Warrant, which has accordingly been issued to the Governor , of New Zealand under the Sign-Manual. You will observe that the Warrant is directed to you not by name, but by the designation of your office, and T have to request that you will insure that it is handed over to your successor when you leave New Zealand. 5. Sections 8 and 9 of the Act effect the legislation necessary to secure the application of the Army Act to officers or men of local forces while undergoing training in England, and to make it clear that in applying the Army Act to local forces colonial legislation may vary the provisions of that Act in such manner as may be desired. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 75. New Zealand, No. 183. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th September, 1909. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that, with a view to more effective action being taken for the improvement of breeds of horses in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland contemplate the promotion of legislation empowering them to examine and license stallions standing for public service in that country. 2. Before proceeding definitely in the matter, the Department desire to have before them information as to any legislation of a similar nature that may be in force in the self-governing dominions. 3. I shall be much obliged if your Ministers will be good enough to cause me to be furnished with particulars as to any laws or regulations governing horse-breeding in New Zealand. I have, &c, ' CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910 No. 50.

No. 76. New Zealand, No. 184. My Lord,— Downing Street, Ist October, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 181, of the 24th ultimo, I have the honour to observe as follows with regard to your powers under the General Court-martial Warrant, which has been issued to you. 2. Under this Warrant you will be able to convene and confirm general Courts-martial held within the territorial limits of the Dominion for the trial of offences committed against the Army Act by persons subject to that Act. For instance, if a Force is raised in the Dominion under the Army Act, any offence committed against that Act by a member of such Force while within the territorial limits of the Dominion may be tried by Court-martial, the Court being convened and the proceedings confirmed under authority of your Warrant. Or, again, when a Force raised in the Dominion under a local Act is serving for the time being solely under the Army Act, and not under the local Act, offences against the Army Act may be dealt with by Court-martial within the Dominion under the Warrant. 3. The Governor cannot, however, convene or confirm a Court-martial held outside the territorial limits of the Dominion; but, where troops who are subject to the Army Act alone are embarked at ports in the Dominion in ships which are not commissioned by His Majesty for conveyance to a seat of war, the Governor may issue a Warrant on Army Form A 5 to the senior combatant officer on board any such ship, if not below the rank of captain, empowering him to convene and confirm district Courts-martial for the trial of a person under his command who is subject to the Army Act. The Warrant thus given (Army Form A 5) should be granted for the period of the voyage only, ancf will become inoperative as soon as the troops reach the port of disembarkation, when they come under the command of an officer of the regular forces having power to convene and confirm general Courts-martial. 4. When the force is returning to the Dominion, an officer of the regular forces having power to convene general Courts-martial (usually the general officer commanding at the port of embarkation) will give to the senior combatant officer on board a ship (not being a ship commissioned by His Majesty), if he is not below the rank of captain, a Warrant on Army Form A 5 for use during the voyage. This latter Warrant will lapse as soon as the troops disembark in the Dominion. 5. [ enclose twelve copies of Army Form A 5 for your use when necessary. I have, <fee, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 77. New Zealand, No. 185. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth October, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 57, of the sth March, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of an order which has been issued by the Local Government Board amending the Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, 1908, together with a copy of a circular by the Board on the same subject. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 78. New Zealand, No. 186. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth October, 1909". With reference to my despatch No. 37, of the 16th February, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that I learn from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that the Danish Government have taken steps with a view to protection being accorded in Iceland to New Zealand trademarks. I enclose a translation of a Royal Decree applying, under certain conditions, the Icelandic law of the 13th November, 1903, to New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord PlunEet, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Decree whereby the Protection of Trade-marks authorised by the Law of November 13, 1903, ia made applicable to various British colonies. We, Frederick VIII, by the grace of God King of Denmark, of the Vends and Goths, Duke of Sch'leswig, Holstein, St'ormarn, Ditmarch, Lauenburg, and Oldenburg, make known : That, whereas in the British Colonies of« Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Cape (Colony), Natal, Bahamas, Barbados, Ceylon, Grenada, Hong Kong, Jamaica. Malta, Saint Vincent, Trinidad, and the Leeward Islands the same opportunity for protection of trade-marks is assured to those who are engaged in manufactures or trades, agriculture, mining, commerce, or other business in Iceland as to the subjects of these colonies themselves. We therefore decree, in pursuance of the authority which is given to that end by the Law of November 13, 1903, section 15, that it be hereby enacted that the protection of trade-marks authorised by the law last mentioned also be accorded to those who are engaged in manufactures or trades, agriculture, mining, commerce, or other business in the above-mentioned British colonies, under the same conditions as those prescribed in the decree of July 20, 1907, with repaid to Great Britain and Ireland. This decree comes into force immediately. All those whom it concerns shall act in conformity with it. Given at Fredensborg, June 3, 1909, under our Royal Hand and Seal. r L s ] Frederick R. Bjorn Jonsson.

No. 79. New Zealand, No. 187. My Lord,— Downing Street, Bth October, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed translation of a note' from the Austro-Hungarian Embassy expressing the thanks of the Austrian Emperor for the presentation of six kiwis and four keas to His Imperial Majesty by your Government. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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Enclosure. [Tkanslatiox.J (;55702.) Yotu Kxcellenct, — Austro-Hungaiian Embassy, 20th September, 1909. The Austro-Hungarian Consul at Auckland has reported to the Imperial Lord Chamberlain's office that the Government of New Zealand have handed over to him, for His .Majesty the Emperor, six kiwis and four keas. In accordance with the Imperial commands, I have the honour to request that the warmest thanks of His Apostolic Majesty for this presentation may be conveyed to the Government of New Zealand. The authorities of the Imperial menagerie at Schonbrunn have been instructed to place them selves in communication with the Consulate at Auckland. 1 have, &c, Tarnowski.

No. 80. Dominions Circular. Sir,— Downing Street, 11th October, 1909. With reference to Lord Elgin's circular despatch of the 25th September, 1907, respecting the Rules of Court relating to the procedure with regard to the execution of " Commissions Rogatoires " and Letters of Request emanating from foreign tribunals, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that, my attention has been called to cases in which such documents have been received by a Colonial Government, direct from the foreign State for whose Tribunal the evidence is sought. These are cases in which the territory of the foreign State is adjacent to or situated a comparatively short distance from that part of His Majesty's Dominions to which the " Commission Rogatoire" or Letter of Request is forwarded for execution. In such cases unnecessary inconvenience and delay would obviously arise if the depositions were to be returned through this Department and the Foreign Office, as contemplated by the rules adopted in most of the King's dominions. It is therefore desirable that they should be returned to the Foreign Court or Tribunal through the same channel as that through which the "Commission ' is received. T have to request that such instructions may be given as will insure that in the case of " Commissions Rogatoires " or Letters of Request received from foreign Tribunals through this Department the depositions will be returned through the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Foreign Office, and that in the case of similar documents which are forwarded direct from the foreign Stale they will be returned direct. I shall be glad if your Ministers will be good enough to take steps to amend the Rules of Court adopted in New Zealand as the result of the circular referred i<> above in any way that may be deemed necessary to insure this procedure. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 81. New Zealand, No. 188. My Lord,— Downing Street, 11th October, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a note addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the Belgian Minister respecting the Third International and Quinquennial Botanic Congress, to be held at Brussels in May, 1910. 2. I have also to enclose copies of circulars furnishing particulars of the Congress. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. 7—A. 2.

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No. 82. New Zealand, No. 189. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th October, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 169, of the 3rd ultimo, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the consideration of your Ministers, copies of correspondence, as noted in the margin, on the subject of an agreement between Great Britain and France with regard to security of navigation. I shall be glad to be informed by telegraph at your Ministers' early convenience whether your Government desire to adhere to this agreement. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 83. New Zealand.— Miscellaneous. My Lord,-- Downing Street, 18th October, 1909. I have the honour to invite your attention to the 7th paragraph of Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 13th April, 1905, in which allusion is made to the question of the preparation of illustrated lectures on the Empire for use in the schools of the United Kingdom. 2. Most of the money required for the necessary initial expenditure has been secured, at the instance of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, by Lady Dudley and a committee of ladies who raised by private subscriptions a sum nearly amounting to £4,000. This sum was placed at the disposal of the Committee on Visual Instruction, sitting at this office, to enable them to proceed with the scheme. 3. The preparation of the lectures has been intrusted to Mr. H. J. Mackinder, and the committee have obtained the services of Mr. A. Hugh Eisher, a member of the Painter-Etcher Society, to visit India and the colonies for the purpose of obtaining sketches and photographs suitable for lantern-slides. 4. Mr. Eisher has completed his work in India, the Eastern Colonies, Somaliland, Cyprus, Canada, and Newfoundland; and it is now proposed that, after calling at Gibraltar and Malta, he should proceed to Australia, leaving Naples in the " Omrah " on the 21st November, and reaching Melbourne on the 22nd December. It is intended that he should visit each of the States of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua. No definite programme has been laid down, and his movements will depend largely on the local circumstances. He will probably return to this country in May or June of next year. 5. While in India and Canada Mr. Fisher was given free passes on the railways as well as Customs facilities, whereby his valuable photographic apparatus, which requires very careful handling, was admitted without examination. Any similar privilege that your Ministers may be good enough to grant in New Zealand would be very gratefully valued by the committee, whose funds are not at present adequate to cover the whole of the work which lies before them throughout the Empire, and who are most anxious that the Dominion should be illustrated both by view and letterpress in the most effective manner possible. T have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 84. New Zealand, No. 192. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th October, 1909. T have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, two copies of a revised edition of the regulations relating to the Examination of Masters and Mates in the Mercantile Marine.

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The Board of Trade trust that, should an opportunity -arise, your Ministers may see their way to alter the regulations relating to the Examination of Masters and Mates at present in force in New Zealand, so as to correspond as nearly us circumstances permit with those in force in the United Kingdom. I have, &c, CREVVE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Flunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 85. New Zealand, No. 193. My Lord, — Downing Street, 29th October, 1909. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that an application lias been received from the Argentine Minister at this Couii for the issue of an exequatur to Mr. P. E. Davies as Vice-Consul at Wellington, with jurisdiction over the North Island. As this gentleman is resident in Wellington, I have to request that you will report whether there is any objection to his appointment; and, if not, that you will recognise him provisionally in that capacity until the arrival of the exequatur, and report when you have done so. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

A.-l, 1910 No. 61.

No. .86. New Zealand, No. 194. My Lord, Downing Street, 30th October, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 98, of the 12th May last, I have the honour to inform you that, with the consent of Bis Majesty's Government, the 27th proximo has been fixed as the date for the first deposit of ratifications of the Conventions drawn up at the Second Peace Conference at The Hague in 1907. 2. It is accordingly proposed to deposit on that date His Majesiy's ratification of the follow ing Conventions and Declaration (in respect of which legislation is not required), viz. :— (1.) Convention respecting tlie limitation of the employment of force for the recovery of contract debts; (2.) Convention relative to the opening of hostilities; (3.) Convention concerning the laws and customs of war on land; (4.) Convention relative to the status of enemy merchant ships at the outbreak of hostilities; (5.) Convention relative to the conversion of merchant ships into warships ; (H.) Convention relative to the laving of-automatic submarine contaci mines; (7.) Convention respecting bombardments by naval forces in time of war; (8.) Convention relative to certain restrictions on the exercise of the right of capture in maritime war; (9.) Declaration prohibiting the discharge of projectiles and explosives from balloons. 3. The Conventions relative to the laying of automatic submarine contact mines, and bombardments by naval forces in time of war, were signed by His Majesty's plenipotentiaries subject to certain reservations. These reservations will be recited and embodied in the instrument of ratification. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 87. New Zealand, No. 196. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th October, 1909. With reference to my despatches No. 19, of the 25th January Jast, and No. 189, of the 14th instant, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Board of Trade relative to the proposed recognition in the United Kingdom of load-lines for foreign ships assigned by Bureau Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd under the authority of the French and German Governments respectively. I have, &c, CKEWE. Governor, the Righi Eon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. M. 22048. Board of Trade, Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, S.W., Sin, — 22nd October, 1909. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the recognition of the load-lines of foreign ships in the ports of the United Kingdom in connection with section 1 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, 1 am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the informal ion of the Karl iil Crewe, that the Belgian Government recently approaohed this* Department asking thai loadings assigned to Belgian vessels under the rules and tables of freeboard adopted by the German and French Governments should lie recognised in this country, on the ground that the Belgian Government did not intend to adopt any rules or regulations on this subject, and thai the German and French rules had been recognised by this Department as equally effective with the British rules. Having regard i<> all the circumstances of the case, and especially to the importance of securing in the fullest sense, at as early a date as possible, an international load-line for ships, the Board have decided to recognise in the ports of the United Kingdom the load-lines of foreign ship* assigned by Bureau Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd, under the authority of the Frenoh and German Governments respectively, in accordance with the Frenoh and German regulations, pro vided the ships do not belong to a country which has adopted freeboard regulations recognised by this Department as equally effective with the British regulations. In such a case the recognition of the load-lines of the ships of that country will be limited to those assigned under national rules by the competent authorised authority or authorities. 1 am to add that, although other countries are preparing to adopt similar regulations to those in operation in this country, the only regulations which have, up to the present, been accepted as equally effective with the British regulations are those of France and German] I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colouial Office. R. C. Hekon Maxwell.

No. 88. New Zealand, No. 197. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd November, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 70, of the Ist September, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that the King's exequatur empowering Mr. 11. B. Sorensen to act as Danish Consul at Christchurch has received His Majesty's signature. T have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 89. New Zealand, No. 198. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th November, 1900. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of a note from the Belgian Legation relative to the International Congress

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on .Radiology and Electricity, to be held at Brussels in 1910. I also enclose printed copies of documents furnishing particulars of the Congress. 2. I should be glad to learn whether your Ministers desire to be officially represented at the Congress. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 90. New Zealand, No. 199. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth November, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 60, of the 12th March, I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed copies of an amended set of regulations issued by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for the supply of British silver and bronze coin, and the withdrawal of worn coin from circulation. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G.. K.C.Y.O, &c.

No. 91. New Zealand, No. 200. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth November, 1909. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the Government of Honduras have denounced the treaty of commerce and navigation of the 21st January, 1887, with this country. Notice of the intention of the Honduranian Governmeni to terminate the treaty was received on the 6th October, and i! will therefore, in accordance with the provisions of Article Iβ, be terminated in one year from that date—viz., on the 6th October, 1910. T have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Bon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 92. New Zealand, No. 201. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th November, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 189, of the 14th October, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of a correspondence with the Foreign Office relative to an agreement between Great Britain and France with regard to security of navigation. I have, <fee, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 3961? Tin-: (Jnder-Seoretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments i<> the Piider-Serretary of State for the Colonies, and is directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit ilie accompanying copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris on the subject of ttie Anglo-Frenoh Agreemeiri for the Security of Navigation. The Secretary of State would be glad to be advised what answer should be returned to this despatch. A similar letter has lx>en sent In the India Office. Foreign Offioe, I si November, 1909.

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No. 327. Commercial. 39618. Sm,— Paris, 27th October, 1009. With reference to Monsieur Piohon's note of the sth instant, copy of which was enclosed in mv despatch No. 309j Commercial, of the llth October, I Lave the honour to transmit to yov herewith copy of a further note from His Excellency transmitting copies of the " Permiw de Navigation," issued by the French Government. Monsieur Pichon requests thai he may be informed as goon as possible of the decision taken by the Governments <>f British colonies and possessions in regard to their adhesion to the recenth concluded arrangement relative to the security of navigation. I have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Bait., <fee. Francis Bbrtie, Monsieur Pichox to Sir Francis Bertie. Monsieur i/Ambassadeur, — . Paris, le 26 Octobre, 1909. Ainsi que mi lettre dv 8 Octobre oouranl en informal Votre Excellence, j'avais fail part . : i Monsieur le Ministre de la Marine dv desir qu'exprimait le Gouvernemeni britannique de receVMii lea modeles de documents francais oorrespondant a oeux quo Votre Excellence ma remis le I INK,lire. Mon Collegue vieni de m'adresser ces exemplaire que je m'empresse de fane parvenir et-jointx '» Votre Excellence. D'accord avec Monsieur 1. , Ministre de la Marine, je me pennets d'attirer ('attention de Votre Excellence sur I'inte'r&t gui s'attache a cc (|ue je sois, aussi promptemeni que possible, de l'accueil fait par les Gouvernements dcs Possessions et Colonies britanniques a I'arrangement eanctionne i 12 Octobre. Comnie le sait Votre Excellence, o'est settlement lorsque les Da vires francais seroni admis, dans cos Possessions et Colonies, an meme traitemeni i|iie dans les ports dv Royaume-Uni dv Grande Bretagne et d'lrlande, <\xie les navires dcs dites Possessions el Colonies pourrent binifieier, dans les ports de France et dcs Colonies francaises, d litre transitoire ou definitif, dcs dispositions dv regime 6tablie en favour dcs navires anglais. A-greez, &c, S. Pichon. BSpublique Franqaise. — Marine Xatioiiale. — Navigation et Peches Maritimes. Permis db Navigation. Vu la demande presentee le par M a l'efl'et d'obtenir un permis de navigation pour son navire (a voile ou a vapeur), dune jauge brute de tonneaux. dont la description figure en tete dv registra special ouvert en execution de l'article 11 de la loi dv 17 Avril, 1907 : (') Suivant le ca« : 1", 4 et 12 Vu l'article (') de la loi precitee : pour le permis initial delivre Yule Keglement d'Administiation publique dv rendu en France ou en Algerie ;5, . S(J|] applica-tion ; t>, et 12 pour le pormis period- -it i i i_ i j i i i /' ique ar-livre en France ou en v '« proces-verbal de vislte on date dv .. de la (;OmAlgeria; 15 pour le permis, mission instituee par larticle (' 2 ) de la meme loi ; aoit initial, soit periodique, II est delivre au navire un permis de navigation. dSlivre aux colonies; 16 pour L e p resen t permis doit etre renouvele au premier port on fonctionne l'etrangT "" " la Commission de visite prevue a I 'article 6de la loi, lorsque douze ... ~ .. ~. mois se sont ecoules depuis le date de la derniere visite, ( 2 ) i, ou t>, ou 15, ou lb, - ~ . r . ~ , - i.-,ii suivant les distinctions speci- sauf suspension dans les cas vises aux articles 5. paragraphe 3et 14, fiees au renvoi ci-deseus. de la loi. (3) Remplacer les mote " LAd- Delivre a le ministrateur de l'lnscription L'AdmINISTKATEUR DX I'InSORIPTION MARITIME ( 8 ). maritime "—(a) aux colonies, v parceux de " L'Officier charge Nota. I/attention dcs aimateurs et dcs capitaines est attiree sur de la police de la'navigation [ es penalites prevue aux articles 33 et suivants de la loi dv 17 Avril, 'de , " a Le° tr con g e e ul 19 °?'' en cas d'infraction aux prescriptions concernant le permis de general (Consul ou Vice-Con- navigation, sul) de Prance." Marine.—No. 3543 bis.—Navigation maritime. -1909 (274—Telliere redui 32). No. 36138/1909. Sir, Downing Street, 10th November, 1909. I am directed by the Karl of Crewe to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Isi instant. 39618 09, enclosing copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador ai Paris relative to the Anglo-French A.greemen< for the Security of Navigation. i. I am t<> suggest, for the consideration of Sir E. Grey, that the French Government should be tuld thai the self-governing dominions were asked to notify by telegram their decision in regard to their adhesion to the agreement, and that the French Government will l>e informed as soon as the decision in each case has reached His Majesty's Government. T have, &c, The Undersecretary of State, Foreign Office. C. P. Lucas.

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No. 93. New Zealand, No. 202. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th November, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 'M, of the 12th April, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, six printed copies of the report of the representatives of His Majesty's Government at the international Scientific Conference on Leprosy, held at Bergen in August last. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Righi Bon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 94. New Zealand, No. 203. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th November, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 159, of the 18th September, 1908, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a note addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by the Belgian Minister relative to the International Railway Congress, to be held at Berne in 1910. 2. Your Ministers will observe that the Belgian Government are anxious to learn as soon as possible the names of the delegates selected. T have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. (41067.) The Under-Secretary el Stat* for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary (if State for the Colonies, and is directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit the accompanying oopy of a note which lias been received from the Belgian Minister at this Court respecting the International Railway Congress which is to be hehl at Berne next year. Tho Secretary of State would be glad to !«■ advised what answer should be returned to Count de Lalaing as soon as possible. Similar letters have been addressed d> the India Office and the Board of Trade. (Ref. F. 0., 31st July, 1908.) Foreign Office, 10th November, 1909. No. 1122 (41067). MoNSIEUB t,e Secretaire: d'Ktat, — Londres, le fi Novembre, 1909. J'ai l'honneur de faire eavoir a Votre Excellence comme suite a ma lettre dv 17 Juillet, 1908, que la proohaine session Congres International dcs Chemins de Fer us tiendra a Berne dans la premiere quinzaine dv mois de Juillet. 1910: la seance d'ouverturo nurn lien probablement le 4 Juillet, et la fermeture le 16 Juillet. Cette session promet de presenter mi interet considerable. La section locale d , organisation a le grand desir de faire tout cc gui depend d'elle pour reoevoir dignement les delegues, et pour < ■ in- la Suisse remplissc sos devoirs d'hospitalite a I'entiere satisfaction de see hotes. La carte de legitimation gui sera delivree a chaque deletrue lvi donnera droit , : i la lihre circulation sur les chemins de fer Suissee pendant la periode dv 15 Juin atl 15 Aout, 1910: dcs cartes seront aussi remises aux femmefl el aux fillrs dcs membres dv Congres gui en exprimeront le desir. Les demarches necessairea seront faites pour obtenir que, comme lors dcs sessions precedentes, cette carte de legitimation permette, en outre, an titnlnirr sevl, d'effectnev. I°. Un voyage aller de sa residence ou dun port de debarquement en Europe jusqu'en Suisse, entre le 10 Juin et le 15 Juillet, 1910. 2°. Tin voyage de retour d< , la frontiere suisse a sa residence on a un port d'embarquement en Europe entre le 5 Juillet et le 25 Aout. La section suisse d'organieation devra s'necupes prochainemeni dcs mesures a prendre pour I'organisation de la session: <'lle aura toul d'abord a resoudre la question dcs logements, qu'elle considere comme etant de la premiere importance. 11 se pourrait, en effet. que l'on no put rrouver a Berne la place aeoessaire pour loger tons I. ,1 * congressistes si. comme il \- a lien de I'eeperer, oeux-ci sont fort nombreux.

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Dun autre cote, les delegues, accompagnes de leure families, prefereront sans doute a tnterlaken, d'ou ils pourraient se rendre ii Berne par chetain de for. 11 existe dcs communications fiicik's entre ces deux villes, et dcs trains speciaux pourraient au besom, etre organises journelletneni le matin et le soil-. J'ai l'honneur de recourir aux bone offices de Votre Excellence atiri d'obtenir cjue Its renseignenients gui precedent Boieni a titre d' information, au gouvernemeni britannique et aux de l'lnde et dcs Colonies Anglaises inteVesseee. Je lvi serais reconnaissani si Elle voulait bien, en meme temps, leur faire pari dv desir de la section locale suis.se d'organisation dv Congres de oonnaitre, le plus t6i possible, les intentions dvs delegues. Ceuz ci se mettront sans doute directenient en rapport a oe sujet avec la section locale. Mod Gouvernement desirerait vivement connattre le pint tot possible lee noma et qualites dcs delegues. Cette notification sinipose d'autaut plus que la publication dee exposes dcs rapporteurs a deja : il est evideniment desirable que les inembres gui assisteront a la session recoivent ces documents au fur et a mesure de leur publication, aim i|u'ils puissent en faire nue etude approfondie et prendre ainsi utilement part aux discussions. Je saisis, &c, Son Excellence Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.1 , ., &c. Lalaing.

No. 95. New Zealand, No. 205. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th November, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 125, of the 17th June last, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of further correspondence with the Foreign Office relative to the proposed Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand. I have, &c., CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.Y.0., &c.

A.-l, 1910. No. 58.

Enclosures. No. 25263. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and. by direction of the Secretary <>f State, transmits herewith copy of the undermentioned paper. Foreign Office. 9th July, 1909. Reference to previous letter: Foreign Office, 12th June.

Description of Enclosure.

No. II . Treaty. (25263). S,k. Paris, 2nd July, Midi). I have the honour to inform you that I have this day addressed a note to the French Government in the sense of your despatch .No. •"><•. Treaty, of the 11th ultimo, in regard to the proposed Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand. I enclose herein a copy of iii\ communication. T have, &c., Francis Hkhtik. His MajesivV Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Sir Francis Bbrtie to Monsieur Pichon. Monbibuh us Mimstkk, — Paris. 2nd July, lltofl. Under instructions from Sir Edward Grey, I have the honour to inform Your Exoellencv that, the "British and French Postal Administration having definitely settled the text of the proposed Convention, a oopy of which is enclosed herein, for the direct exohange of money orders between France and the Dominion of New Zealand. I have been authorised to sign it as it stands. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency herewith the draft of detailed regulations which it is understood are to he signed by th< Postmaster-General of N">w Zealand and the I'nderSecretary for Posts and Telegraphs of France. In communicating this draft to Your Excellency I am instructed to call your attention to the following amendments proposed by the Post Office, in order that, if accepted, they ma\ ]h- made before the regulations are signed in Paris and sent nut to New Zealand for signature by the Postmaster-General of the Dominion: —

Name and Dan-. Subject. t.M. Ambassador at Paris, 2nd July, 1909 Money-order Convention between Fiance and New Zealand.

57 A.—2. 1. No specimen of the List of Money-orders described in detail in Article IV referred to as " Form A " in Article VI appears in the appendix. A specimen of the form will doubtless be placed with the completed regulations, and it is suggested that the words " similar to specimen A annexed to these regulations " should be inserted in the first paragraph of Article IV, between the words " list " and "of." In order to avoid the delay which an application to the New Zealand Government for a Form A would involve, and in view of the fact that A is, according to Article VI of the regulations, a blank form, His Majesty's Government would be grateful if the French Government will consent to insert one if they have it, or to sign the regulations and allow it to be inserted afterwards. 2. In the last paragraph of Article XV, respecting the settlement of balances due from France to New Zealand, it is necessary that any drafts issued in this connection should be made payable to the order of the Postmaster-General and not to the Comptroller and Accountant-General. 3. In Table B of the appendix the allowance provided for in Article 3 of the Convention is incorrectly given as £ per cent, instead of per cent. This is presumably a clerical error. As regards the formality of signature, I have the honour to inform Your Exoellency that the preferable course, in the opinion of Sir Edward Grey, will be for the regulations to be first signed by the Under-Secretary for Posts and Telegraphs, and then returned, through this Embassy, to the Foreign OfTiot , lor transmission to New Zealand. I have, &c, Francis Bertie. 22936/1909. Siii,— Downing Street, Bth October, 1909. With reference to your letter of the 9th July, (25263), I am directed by the Earl of Crewe to inquire whether any reply has yet been received to the communication made to the French Government by His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris in regard to the proposed Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. H. Bertram Cox. No. 41490/09. Sir, — Foreign Office, 16th November, 1909. With reference to your letter of the Bth ultimo, (22936/09), I am directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to enclose, for the information of the Earl of Crewe, a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris on the subject of the proposed Money-order Convention between Francs and the Dominion of New Zealand. Sir Edward Grey proposes, with Lord Crewe's concurrence, to approve Sir F. Bertie.'s action in proceeding to the signature of the Convention. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. F. A. Campbell. No. 74. Treaty. Sin,— ' Paris, 11th November, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 76, Treaty, of the 11th ultimo, (37394/09), in regard to the proposed Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that the French Government accept the draft text as transmitted to me in your despatch No. 50, Treaty, of the 11th June last, and that he will propose an early date for the signature of the Convention. MonsieurfPichon adds that some points of detail in regard to the administrative regulations remain to be settled between the French Minister of Posts and the Postmaster of New Zealand, but that an agreement between the two Administrations is assured. In these circumstances I propose to proceed to the signature of the Convention with Monsieur Pichon as soon as I am informed by him that the necessary arrangements have been made. I have, &c, The RifM Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart,, M.P., &c. Francis Bertie. M. T'ichon to Sir F. Bertie. M l'Ambassadeur,— l>ulis > le 8 Novembre, 1909. Me referant a sa lettre dv 2 Juillet dernier, gui etait accompangee dun projet d'arrangement destine a organiser entre la France et la Nouvel Zelande un echange direct de mandate, j'ai l'honneur de faire connaitre a Votre Excellence que I'Administration francaise est completement d'accord avec l'Office neo-zelandais sur le texte de cet Acte international. J'aurai par suite l'honneur de proposer a Votre Excellence une date prochaine pour la signature de I'Arrangement, en vue de laquelle Elle doit etre munie de Ses Pleins Pouvoirs. En cc gui concerne le reglement d'execution, il reste encore quelques points de detail a regler avec le Postmaster de Wellington : M. le Ministre dcs Travaux Publics, dcs Postes, et das Telegraphes poursuit directement I'etude de ces dispositions, de concert avec l'Office de la NouvelleZelande. L'accord entre les doux Administrations postales est assure. Quant a la procedure a suivre pour la signature de cc reglement, j'ai signale a mor .\<ilegue les indications contenues dans la lettre de Votre Excellence en date dv 2 Juillet, 1909. Agreez, &c S. Pichon. Son Excellence Sir Francis Bertie, Ambassadeur d'Angleterre a Paris.

B—A. 2.

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37500/1909. Sik,— Downing Street, 19th November, 1909. 1 am directed by the Earl of Crewe to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, (41490/09), enclosing copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris relativ* to the proposed Money-order Convention between France and New Zealand. 2. Lord Crewe concurs in Sir E. Grey's proposal to approve Sir F. Bertie's action in proceeding to the signature of the Convention. I have, &C., The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. C. P. Lucas.

No. 9ti. New Zealand, No. 207. Mγ Lord, Downing Street, 26th November, 1909. 1 have the honour to transmit to Your Lordship, for the information of your Ministers, three printed copies of the List of Treaty Ports, Ports of Call, and Places open to Foreign Trade in the Far East, as revised by His Majesty's Legations at Peking and Tokio, October, 1909. T have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 97. New Zealand, No. 208. My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th November, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of an Act which has been passed by the Imperial Parliament amending the Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865, in certain particulars, together with a copy of an explanatory memorandum, which was prefixed to the Bill when submitted to Parliament. I have, &c. ± CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 98. New Zealand, No. 209. My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th November, 1909. I have the honour to state, for the information of your Ministers, that the Army Council propose to enter into an agreement with the Coventry Ordnance Works (Limited) for the purchase, at open tender, of the 45 in. Q.F. howitzer equipment recently approved for Royaf Field Artillery. 2. The terms of the proposed agreement are as follows :— (1.) A general indemnity to be given by the company to cover the use by His Majesty's Government, including the Governments of India and the colonies, of the patents claimed to be involved in the manufacture of the equipment. (2.) The payment of £50 per howitzer as royalty, subject to the abovementioned indemnity. (3.) The date of expiry of Patent No. 2504 of 1903 to determine the payment of royalty in connection with the equipment. 3. Your Ministers will understand that the effect of the agreement so far as (1) is concerned is to enable the Governments of other parts of His Majesty's dominions to purchase the equipment, if they so desire, on the same terms as the Government of this country. The Army Council would desire that any orders should be placed through the War Office. I have, &c, CREWE Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0.. &c.

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No. 99 New Zealand, No. 210. My Lord,— Downing Street, 3rd December, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 144, of the 16th July, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a despatch addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, stating that the French Ambassador at Madrid has been instructed to concert with His Majesty's representative at that Court, with a view to approaching the King of Spain in regard to the appointment of a President and a Public Prosecutor for the Joint Court in the New Hebrides. His Majesty's Government are instructing the British representative at Madrid accordingly. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 460. Sin, — Paris, 25th November, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 427. of the 30th ultimo, 1 have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from th<? French Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that the Minister of the Colonies has expressed the opinion that, as the buildings necessary for the accommodation of the New Hebrides Joint Court are now finished, there is no objection to approaching the King of Spain forthwith with a view to the nomination by His Majesty of a President and Public Prosecutor for the Court. The French Ambassador at Madrid has accordingly been instructed to concert with His Majesty's representative on the subject. M. Pichon adds that, according to information received by the Ministry of the Colonies, it would lx j desirable that the officials in question should etari for the New Hebrides in the month of February next at latest. I have, Ac, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey. Hart.. M.1 , , *c. Fbanois Bbrtik. M. Pichon to Sir F. Bbbtib. Monsieur l'Ambassadeuh, — Paris, le 22 Novembre, 1909. A la date dv 5 Octobre, Votre Excellence a bien voulu m'exprimer le desir de savoir si le gouvernement de la Republique etait pret a faire aupres de Sa Majeete le Roi d'Espagno, de concert avec le gouvernement britannique, la demarche prevue par la convention dv 20 Octobre, 1906, en vue de provoquer la designation dv president et dv procureur public de la Cour mixte dcs Nouvellss-Hebrides. M. le Ministre dcs colonies, que j'ai consulte a cc sujet, vient de me mander que, les installations destinees au tribunal mixte etant terminees, il n'a pas d'objection a cc que la demarche dont il s'agit soit immediatement effectuee. En consequence j'invite l'ambassadeur de la Republique a Madrid a s'entendre avec le representant de Sa Majeste Britannique a l'effet de sollicitre la designation dcs deux magistrate. D'apres les informations dv Pavilion de Flore il est desirable que ces magistrate puissent se mettre en route pour les Nouvelles-Hebrides dans le courant dv mois de Fevrier prochain au plus tard. Agreez, &c, S. Piohon.

No. 100. New Zealand, No. 212. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd December, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, three copies of an Act which has been passed by the Imperial Parliament to make better provision respecting naval establishments in British possessions. I also enclose a copy of the explanatory memorandum, which was attached to the Bill as originally introduced. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 101. Dominions.—Circular. Sir, — Downing Street, 6th December, 1909. In continuation of my circular despatch of the 30th October, 1908, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the Proces verbaux of the sittings of the Permanent Sugar Commission held during the twelve months from the Ist September, 1908, to the 31st August, 1909. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 102. New Zealand, No. 213. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th December, 1909. In continuation of my despatch No. 105, of the 21st May last, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of an appendix to the report of the proceedings at the International Conference on Electrical Units and Standards. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 103. New Zealand, No. 215. My Lord, — Downing Street, 9th December, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 19, of the 25th January last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copy of an Order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 22nd November, providing for the recognition in this country of the load-line certificates issued to French ships by the French authorities under the French regulations of the 21st September last. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. New Zealand, 215. Extract from the "London Gazette" of Friday. 2Rth November, 1909. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 22nd day of November, 1909. Present: The Kino's Most Excellent Majesty in Councit,. Whereas by section four hundred and forty-five of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, it is enacted that where the Board of Trade certify that the laws and regulations for the time being in force in any foreign country, and relating to overloading and improper loading, are equall} : effective with the provisions of that Act relating thereto, His Majesty in Council may direct that, on proof of a ship of that country having complied with those laws and regulations, she shall not when in a port of the United Kingdom be liable to detention for non-compliance with the said provisions of that Act, nor shall there arise any liability to any fine or penalty which would otherwise arise for non-compliance with those provisions: And whereas by section one of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, provision, us is more particularly therein mentioned, is made for applying to foreign ships when in ports in the United Kingdom certain sections of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, which relate to load-line, without prejudice to any direction of His Majesty in Council given under the said section four hundred and forty-five of the last-mentioned Act: And whereas the Board of Trade have certified that certain statutory regulations which have been approved by the French Government relating to overloading, so far as regards the assignment of load-lines to French ships, on and after the twenty-first September, one thousand nine

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hundred and eight, are equally effective with the corresponding regulations in force in this countryrespecting the assignment of load-lines to British merchant ships: Now, therefore, His Majesty in Council doth direct that, on proof that French ships have complied with the aforesaid French regulations, such ships shall not, when in ports of the United Kingdom, be liable to detention for non-compliance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to overloading, nor shall there arise any liability to any tine or penalty which would otherwise arise for non-compliance with those provisions. Almerio Fitzßoy.

No. 104. New Zealand, No. 216. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th December, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 194, of the 30th October last, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the enclosed copy of a despatch addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by His Majesty's Representative at The Hague, reporting the deposit by Great Britain and other Powers of the ratifications of such of the Conventions and of the Declaration drawn up at the second Peace Conference, as had been ratified by their respective Governments. A list showing which of the Conventions have been ratified by the respective Powers is also enclosed. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 49. Treaty. (43597.) Sik, — The Hague. 27th November, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 30 (40931/09) of this series, of the 20th of this month, I have the honour to report that the representatives of the following Powers—Germany, United States of America, Austria-Hungary, China, Denmark, Great Britain, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, and Sweden —held a meeting this afternoon, under the presidency of the Minister for Forsign Affairs of the Netherlands in the " Salle de la Treve " of the Ministry of Waterways, and signed protocols recording the deposit of the ratifications of such of the Conventions and of the Declaration drawn up at the Second Peace Conference, as had been ratified hy their respective Governments. In signing the protocols relative to the Bth and 9th Conventions I was careful to state that the reservations made by His Majesty's Plenipotentiaries at the time of signature are especially maintained. The enclosed list will show which of the Conventions have been ratified by the respective Powers. I shall have the honour to forward to you copies of the protocols, signed by my colleagues and myself, as soon as they have been communicated to me. I have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Georoe W. Buchanan.

Depot dtt 27 Novbmbrb, 1909. Allemagne ..I II 111 IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XIII Amerique .. .. I II 111 IV V .. .. VIII IX X XI .. f, XIV Auttiche-Hongrie. .. I II 111 IV V VI VII VIII 'IX X XI XIII 1 ! .. Chine .. ..I X .. .. XTV Danemark ..I II 111 IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XIII Grande Bretagne .... II 111 IV .. VI VII* VIII IX .. XI ... XIV Mexique .. .. I II 111 IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XIII Pays Bas .. .. I II 111 IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XIII XIV Russie .. .. I II 111 IV V VI VII .. IX X .. XIII Suede .. .. I .. 11l IV V VI VII .. IX .. XI XIII

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No. 105. New Zealand, No. 217. My Lord,— Downing Street, 10th December, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the Convention providing for the Exchange of Money-orders between France and New Zealand. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. 14049/09 Sik, — Foreign Office, 7th December, 1909. With reference to ray letter of the 16th ultimo, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before the Earl of Crewe, a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris forwarding the British signed copy of the Convention providing for the Exchange of Money-orders between France and New Zealand (concluded at Paris on the Ist instant, together with four copies of the Convention as signed. Sir E. Grey would be glad to be informed whether steps should now be taken for the preparation of the King's ratification as provided for by Article XI of the Convention. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. F. A. Campbell. No. 80.—Treaty. Sik, — Paris, Ist December, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 85, Treaty, of the 29th ultimo, (42549/09), I have the honour to transmit to } t ou herewith the Convention providing for the Exchange of Moneyorders between France and New Zealand, which I have signed to-day with the French Minister for Foreign Affairs. I also enclose copies of the Convention. I have, ifec, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Behtik.

No. 106. New Zealand, No. 218. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th December, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter, which has been addressed by the Army Council to the Secretary of the Territorial Force Association for the County of London, on the subject of the appointment of a committee to administer the affairs of the King's Colonials Yeomanry. 2. It will be seen that arrangements have been made by the War Office to create an independent organization for the management of that force. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Date. Description. 1909. From the Foreign Office. December 7 ... Two copies of the Convention ated 1st December, 1909.

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Enclosure. 9/King's Colonial! Yeomanry/16. (C. 3.) Sir,— War Office, Ist July, 1909. 1 am commanded by the Army Council to acquaint you that they have approved of the appointment of a Committee, under the nominal superintendence of the Territorial Force Association for the County of London, to administer the affairs of the King's Colonials Yeomanry. It is to be understood that the interposition of the London County Association implies no power of interference with, or control of, the Committee by the association, which is to be merely the channel of communication between the Committee and the War Office in order to satisfy the statutory requirements of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act. The regiment will in all other respects be subject to the regulations governing the Territorial Force generally. 2. The constitution of the Committee is as follows : — Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, G.C.M.G. ; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir A. Bigge, G.C.V.0., <fee. : Sir Somerset French, K.C.M.G. ; Captain R. M. Collins, C.M.G., R.N. ; Colonel the Honourable H. A. Lawrence; together with the High Commissioners and Agents-General of such dominions and colonies as may have regiments affiliated to the King's Colonials Yeomanry, the commanding officer and the second in command of the regiment, and such other gentlemen as the Committee may co-opt, with the approval of the War Office. .'i. The relations between the London County Association and the Committee administering the King's Colonials Yeomanry will be as follows:— The association will hand over to the Committee all the giants received in respect of that unit. The Committee will be responsible for the administration of the funds thus created. They will keep a separate account of receipts and expenditure, and will frame an annual estimate on Army Form N 1444, which will be submitted to the Army Council through the association. The accounts of this Committee will be audited separately at the end of the year in the manner indicated in paragraph 686, Territorial Force Regulations, and the auditors' report will be forwarded to the War Office with that of the County Association. The Committee will have no further claim on the funds of the association when the grants made in respect of the regiment have been paid over, and the association will not be permitted to make good from its public fund any deficit that may aris<>. The Committee will administer, entirely at their own discretion, any funds derived from sources other than the association. The Committee, apart from the association, will have no power to acquire and hold land or buildings which are to be acquired by money provided from public funds. 4. It is requested that the officer commanding the King's Colonials Yeomanry may be informed accordingly. 1 have, &c, E. W. D. Ward. The Secretary, Territorial Force Association for the County of London, Craig's Court House, Charing Cross, S.W.

No. 107. New Zealand, No. '2'2Q. My Lord, Downing Street, 17th December, 1909. I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Government have for some time past had under their consideration a proposal, which originated with the Canadian Government, for the establishment in Downing Street of a Law Library available for the use of colonial counsel practising before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. 2. His Majesty's Government have been glad to find, on the rearrangement of rooms in the buildings occupied by the Privy Council consequent on the Board of Education vacating the Treasury Buildings, in which the Privy Council offices are situated, that further accommodation can be provided for the use of the Lords of the Judicial Committee, and counsel practising before the Committee. Arrangements are accordingly being made to fit up a room, for the use of counsel practising before the Judicial Committee, with shelving to hold the books required by counsel, or so many of them as can be conveniently accommodated. 3. It is not intended to make any charge for rent in respect of these facilities, and it is proposed that the custody of the library shall be in the hands of the Registrar of the Privy Council, by whom the use of the room will be controlled, and who will supervise the attendant in charge, the latter being a servant of His Majesty's Government.

A.-l, 1910, No. 68.

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4. The Canadian Government are already making arrangements for the transfer of the books belonging to the Canadian Law Library in London, and have undertaken to bear the expense incidental to the upkeep of their library, such as cataloguing, rebinding, and the purchase of new books. This work is, however, to be carried out independently of His Majesty's Government, under the supervision of the Canadian Office in London, or as may be otherwise arranged by the Canadian Ministers. 5. I shall be glad to learn in due course whether your Ministers would wish to co-operate in the establishment and upkeep of the library on the same lines as the Canadian Government. I have, &c •> CREWL. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 108. New Zealand, No. 221. My Lord,—- Downing Street, 17th December, 1909. 1 have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the British Ambassador at Washington conveying an invitation to the several Governments of the British Empire to be represented at the International Prison Congress, to be held next October at Washington. 2 I also enclose a copy of a letter from the Home Office on the subject, together with copy of a memorandum by Sir E. Ruggles-Brise, Chairman of the Prison Commission for England and Wales, with copies of his reports on the proceedings of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Congresses. 3 I request that you will draw the attention of your Ministers to Sir E. Ruo'gles-Brise's remarks as to the motives which have inspired this movement, and the importance which is attached to the representation of the self-govern-ing dominions at the forthcoming Congress, and their adherence, if possible, to the permanent International Prison Commission. I have. &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1909 No. 64.

Enclosures. Treaty No. 30. (38762). Washington> October> 1909 1 have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a letter which I have received from the President of the International Prison Association in Chicago, in which he expresses his desire to have as large a representation as possible of the various countries of the British Empire, and tateTtha ne will be glad to have the British Empire fully represented at the International Prison Congress! which is to'take place at Washington in the autumn of 1910. This Congress is fully approved by the United States Government, and Congress have appropriated $20,000 for it. An invitation has already been addressed to the Dominion Government to send a representative and 1 wouldTuggest that it would be greatly appreciated if delegates from the other colonies could be I have, <xc, sent - H. W. Kennard. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., Ac. For the Ambassador. International Prison Commission, the University of Chicago, Chicago, 27th September, 1909. I have the honour to report to Your Excellency the desire of the International Prison r< • Lin rnnsonance with the views of your Government, to have as large a representation ;3 ofth tSS£ countrfi of the British Empire. I believe that my lamented predecessorDr S J Barrows, had begun a Conference on this subject previous to h.s death; but my information is imperfect, and so I open the question on my own account. The Dominion of Canada is represented in our American Prison Association, and my Canadian colleagues 3d be glad to be represented in the International Prison Commission, but they feel that the initiative should come from you.

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Transvaal is already a member of the Commission. The interests of Australasia are so fast and peculiar that that country could contribute to the value of our investigations and publications. The correctional institutions of Scotland and Ireland are notable, and their administrations are worthy of our recognition. Sir Evelyn Ruggles-Brise is already an esteemed member of our Commission, and we should like to have him consulted in any negotiations which may in any way afiect him. I am sending you, under another cover, a printed statement about the Congress of 1910, iv which we of the United States would be glad to have the British Empire fully represented. If you desire further information it will give me pleasure to respond to your inquiries. Very respectfully, Charles Richmond Henderson, United States Commissioner and President of the International Prison Commission. His Excellency the Right Hon. James Bryce, 0.M., &c. 184,962/2. Sir,— Home Office, Whitehall, 6th December, 1909. I am directed by the Secretary of State to send herewith copy of a letter that he has .addressed to the Foreign Office on the subject of the International Prison Congress, to be held next year at Washington, U.S.A., and to say that Mr. Gladstone hopes that Lord Crewe will be able to obtain the attendance of some representatives of the colonial Governments at the Congress. Sir E. Ruggles-Brise will be glad to give information with regard to the work of the International Commission, and the programme of the forthcoming Congress, to any representatives of the colonial Governments who may apply to him therefor. 1 have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. P. Byrne. 184962/2. Sir, — Home Office, Whitehall, 6th December, 1909. In reply to your letters of the 25th October last and of the Bth ultimo, with reference to the Prison Congress at Washington in 1910, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Gladstone to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Sir Edward Grey, that he proposes that Sir E. RuggleeBrise, who is the British representative on the International Prison Commission, should attend the Congress as the representative of His Majesty's Government. Professor Henderson, who is the President-elect of the forthcoming Congress, has in a personal interview with Sir E. RugglesBrise expressed an earnest desire that representatives of the colonial Governments should attend the forthcoming Congress. The periodical meetings of the international Prison Commission have tended to set up an international standard in the matter of prison-administration, and the Secretary of State considers that it is most desirable that larg<> communities such as those of the self-governing colonies should be in touch with this movement. He therefore hopes that the colonial Governments will see their way to accept the invitat'on of the American Government, and send delegates to the Congress who are already acquainted with penal administration, and who might thereafter become members of the International Commission. In the matter of the treatment of criminals much may be learnt from the experience f.nd experiments of other countries, and the Secretary of State is confident that representatives fi om the colonies could not fail to profit by attendance at the Congress. Mr. Gladstone is communicating directly with the Colonial Office in this sense, and also with the Scottish and Irish Offices, to ascertain whether they wish to have a separate representation. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State. Foreign Office. W. P. Byrne. Prison Commission, Home Office, Whitehall, S.W., 9th December, 1909. The Eighth Quinquennial International Penitentiary Congreis will take place at Washington in October, 1910, on the invitation of the President of the T nited States. A strong personal appeal has been addressed to me as British representative on th» International Prison Commission by the President-elect of the forthcoming Congress—Professor Henderson, Chicago University— to use any influence I may possess in order to persuade the gi eat self-governing dominions both to send official representatives to the Congress, and also, if possible, to give their adhesion to the permanent International Commission, under whose auspices ihese Quinquennial Congresses are organized and held. In the introduction to my report on the last three Prison Congresses, pages vii to x, will be found a short statement as to the history and purpose of these International Congresses. Copies of this report, was enclosed. If the Secretary of State for the Colonies should think fit t'i support the appeal that has been made for colonial representation at the forthcoming Congress, it might be thought advisable to forward copies of this report to the Governments concerned, and to point out. at the same time, that, owing to the fact that the International Penitentiary Conp-ress is about to take place for the first time outside Europe, arrangements have been made whereby proceedings, oral and written, which have hitherto been conducted exclusively in French, shall lx> bilingual — i.e., rendered in French and English equally. This departure is not without significance, and furnishes, I think, an occasion for a fuller participation in the aims and purposes of such a Congress by the English-speaking races. It seems to me reasonable and fitting that each of the self-governing colonies should have their representatives on the permanent Commission, and that on the occasion

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of the Quinquennial Congresa the various parts of these dominions should be specially represented. I know from the opinions which have been expressed to me from my colleagues on the International Commission that the adhesion of representatives of our great colonies would be warmly welcomed, and no one would welcome them more warmly than myself, who am the only British representative (although the subject-matter — i.e., penal law and penal administration, and the general treatment of prisoners—is one that must most closely and intimately concern and interest those responsible for prison-administration in our dominions over the seas). The movement is inspired by a lofty humanity; it is directed by earnest and competent men, representing most of the States of Europe; and I can say with sincerity, from an experience extending over several years, that it has a real public utility in the opportunities which it affords for comparison of the various laws and institutions of different countries, and of the various modes of thought prevailing in the different countries on all matters relating to the treatment of crime. E. Kugoles Brise.

No. 109. New Zealand, No. 222. My Lord, — Downing Street, 20th December, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you', for the "information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of Orders in Council of the 22nd November, made under section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1896, exempting Swedish and French vessels respectively from the provisions of the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, relating to life-saving appliances. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 110. New Zealand, No. 224. My Lord, — Downing Street, 23rd December, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 137, of the 9th July, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, two copies of a circular instruction issued by the Board of Trade with regard to the examination of engineers in the Mercantile Marine. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 111. New Zealand, No. 226. My Lord,— Downing Street, 24th December, 1909. With reference to my despatch No. 180, of the 24th September, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the report of the Committee appointed to consider in what respects it would be necessary to amend the existing law of copyright in this country so as to enable His Majesty's Government to give effect to the revised International Copyright Convention signed at Berlin on the 13th November, 1908. 2. The appendices to the report will be forwarded as soon as they have been issued. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 112. Dominions. —Circular. Sir,— Downing Street, 29th December, 1909 With reference to my circular despatch of the 27th August last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers and of the medical officers concerned with the transmission of specimens to the Imperial

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Cancer Research Fund, a copy of a letter which has been received from the General Post Office by the Secretary of the Fund with regard to the Post Office regulations relating to the transmission through the post of pathological specimens intended for medical examination or analysis. 2. I enclose also, for convenience of reference, an extract from the regulations referred to, and have to suggest that the necessary instructions shall be given to insure that specimens for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund are forwarded in future by letter-post. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. Enclosure 1 in Circular dated 29th December, 1909. Sir, — General Post Office, London. It has been reported to the Postmaster-General that, from time to time, packets containing pathological specimens intended for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund have been received in this country by parcel-post from places abroad, and have been delivered at the Examination Hall exceptionally, although the transmission of such specimens by parcel-post in this country is contrary to the regulations of this office. The prohibition is based chiefly on the ground that the parcel-post, being available for large packets, is extensively used for the transmission of articles of food and clothing, and that it is out of the question to safeguard such articles from contamination in the event of the breakage of, or leakage from, other packets. The objection applies, of course, with greater force in the foreign and colonial parcel-post than in the inland, because of the longer time that foreign and colonial parcels are in transit, and also because of the greater liability to damage during transit. In ths circumstances the Postmaster-General has had no alternative but to issue instructions that in future pathological specimens received by parcel-post from abroad are to be destroyed, however addressed. I am, &c, The Secretary, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. J. P. Kino.

Enclosure 2 in Circular dated 29th December, 1909. Articles sent for Medical Examination or Analysis. Deleterious liquids or substances, though otherwise prohibited from transmission by post, may be sent for medical examination or analysis by a qualified medical practitioner or qualified veterinary surgeon to a laboratory or institute, public or private, or to a medical practitioner or veterinary surgeon within the United Kingdom, by ordinary letter-post, under the following conditions :— Any such liquid or substance must be enclosed in a receptacle hermetically sealed, which receptacle must itself be placed in a strong wooden, leather, or metal case in such a way that it cannot shift about, and with a sufficient quantity of some absorbent material (such as sawdust or cotton-wool) so packed about the receptacle as absolutely to prevent any possible leakage from the package in the event of damage to the receptacle. The packet so made up must be conspicuously marked " Fragile, with care," and bear the words " Pathological specimen," and also the signature and address of the medical practitioner or veterinary surgeon who sends it. The packet must on no account be sent hy parcel-post. Any packet of the kind found in the parcel-post, or found in the letter-post not packed" and marked as directed, will be at once stopped and destroyed with all its wrappings and enclosures. Any person who sends by post a deleterious liquid or substance for medical examination or analysis otherwise than as provided by these regulations is liable to prosecution. It is recommended that, if receptacles are supplied by a laboratory or institute to medical practitioners or veterinary surgeons, they should be submitted to the Secretary, General Poet Office, in order to ascertain whether they are regarded as complying with the regulations.

No. 113. New Zealand, No. 227. My Lord, Downing Street, 30th December, 1909. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council of

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the 2nd December, 1909, on the subject of extradition between His Majesty's dominions on the one side, and France and Tunis on the other. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Piunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 114. New Zealand, No. 230. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st December, 1909. With reference to previous correspondence on the possibility of obtaining for the self-governing dominions the right of withdrawal from certain treaties with foreign Powers, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has instructed His Majesty's representative at Vienna, Rome, and Mexico to enter into negotiations with the Governments of Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Mexico, in order to secure, if possible, for the self-governing dominions the right to withdraw from the Treaty of Navigation with Austria-Hungary of the 30th April, 1868, the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Italy of the 15th June, 1883, and the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation with Mexico of the 27th November, 1888. 2. I shall inform you in due course of the results of these investigations. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Piunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 115. New Zealand, No. 3. My Lord, Downing Street, 6th January, 1910. In continuation of my circular despatch of the 20th September last, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a further paper which has been presented to Parliament containing a second report by the Director-General, Army Medical Service, on the transmission of enteric fever by the " chronic carrier." I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Piunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 116. New Zealand, No. 4. My Lord, Downing Street, 6th January, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the export of prison-made goods from the United States. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Date. Description. 1909. December 20 ... ... From H.M. Consul, St. Louis.

A -1, 1910 No. 65.

Date. Description. Description. 1909. December 20 From H.M. Consul, St. Louis.

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Enclosure. Commercial, No. 24. Sir, — British Consulate, St. Louis, 20th December, 1909. 1 have the honour to inform you that the Missouri State Prison Board approved on the 17th instant the contracts for the next four years for the employment of the convict labour in the State Prison, and that the following contractors agreed to pay 70 cents a day for such labour: — Star Clothing Company ... ... ... ... ... 600 men. Vaughan-Monnig Shoe Company ... ... ... ... 300 ~ Sela-Schwab Company ... ... ... ... ... 200 ~ Priesmeyer Shoe Company ... ... ... ... ... 175 ~ Sullivan Saddle-tree Company... ... ... ... ... 125 ~ Ruwart Saddlery Company ... ... ... ... ... 12 ~ Central Broom Company ... ... ... ... ... 75 ~ As some of these manufacturers export to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, their goods should be prohibited under the Customs laws of those countries. I have, &c,

No. 117. New Zealand, No. 6. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th January, 1910. 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the prohibition of the importation of Australian and New Zealand potatoes into Peru. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosure. No. 44, Commercial (46785). Sib,— Lima, 19th November, 1909. I have the honour to transmit herewith the text and translation of a decree, dated the 12th November last, prohibiting the importation of potatoes from Australia and New Zealand, in consequence of a report received by the Peruvian Foreign Office from the Consul-General of the republic to the effect that the disease known as " Iris blight " has made its appearance in those countries. I have, &c, Sir E. Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. C. Dbs Gbaz. (Translation.) Potato-disease. In consideration of a despatch directed by the Consul-General of this republic to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in which he reports the appearance of the disease called " rona Irlanda " (Iris blight) that seriously affects potato crops; it being necessary to adopt adequate measures to avoid the introduction of the said disease into the country: Be it resolved, — To absolutely prohibit the importation of potatoes from Australia and New Zealand. Cargoes of potatoes that arrive on ships proceeding from the above-mentioned places as comestibles must be consumed on board, and the peelings and waste that have not been boiled must be burnt. The Ministries of Commerce, Finance, and of War and Marine are authorised to make the necessary dispositions for the due observance of the present resolution according to the requirements of their respective Departments. Bβ it registered, communicated, and published. Signature of His Excellency : Labrabuke V Correa.

Date. Description. 1909. ovember 19 From H.M. representative at Lima.

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No. 118. Dominions. —Circular. Sir, — Downing Street, Bth January, 1910. With reference to Lord Elgin's circular despatch of the 16th December, 1907, enclosing a copy of the Royal Warrant instituting the Edward Medal for courage in saving, or attempting to save, life in mines or quarries, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, at copy of a further Royal Warrant extending the scope of that medal so as to admit of its being awarded to those of His Majesty's subjects who, in course of industrial employment, endanger their own lives in saving, or endeavouring to save, the lives of others from perils incurred in connection with such employment. I have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 119. New Zealand, No. 12. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th January, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying invitation, addressed to your Government, inviting them to be represented at the International Congress of the Deaf, to be held at Colorado Springs, Colorado, from the 6th to the 13th August, 1910. 2. This invitation has been forwarded to His Majesty's Government by the United States Ambassador at this Court, who has been instructed to make it clear that the Congress will not be under the auspices or patronage of the Government of the United States, although that Government would view with pleasure the appointment of foreign delegates should the subjects to be discussed prove of sufficient interest to the Governments invited. 3. I have to add that His Majesty's Government have replied that they are not in a position to accept the invitation which has been addressed to them to be represented at the Congress. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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Enclosure. National Association of the Deaf, Office of the President, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 23rd November, 1909. Thb National Association of the Deaf of the United States of America has the honour to invite the Government of New Zealand to participate by delegates in the International Congress of the Deaf, which will meet at Colorado Springs, in this State, Colorado, from 6th August to 13th August, inclusive, 1910. George Wμ. Veditz, President. Wμ. C. Ritter, Secretary. The programme will include the following topics :— The best method of educating the deaf. The deaf man in the business world: how best to overcome prejudice and distrust toward his employment. Homes for the aged and infirm deaf. The deaf in benevolent assurance associations : Organizations of the deaf veraut organizations of the hearing. Independent newspapers for the deaf: how best to maintain them and increase their scope and usefulness. The evils of classifying the deaf with the dependent and delinquent classes. The organization of the deaf in national federations.

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No. 120. New Zealand, No. 14. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th January, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 219, of the 17th ultimo, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that I learn from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that in the list of French colonies which have adhered to the Berne Convention respecting the Use of White Phosphorus in Matches, the French settlements in the East were included by error. The correct notification should have been " the French settlements in Oceania," and not " the French settlements in the East." I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 121. New Zealand, No. 15. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th January, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the appointment of Sir Alfred L. Winsloe, X.C.8., C.V.0., C.M.G., as Commander-in-Chief on the China Station. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

. Enclosure. M. 219. Sir, — Admiralty, Bth January, 1910. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred L. Winlsoe, X.C.8., C.V.0., C.M.G., has been selected to succeed Vice-Admiral the Honourable Sir Hedworth Lambton, X.C.8., X.C.V.0., as Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty ships and vessels on the China Station. 2. Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred Winsloa will sail for Hong Kong in H.M.S. "Minotaur" about the end of January, and will take over the command of the China Station at Hong Kong in March next. I am, &c, Geo. H. Hoste, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Pro Secretary.

No. 122. New Zealand, No. 16. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th January, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the Anglo-French agreement respecting security of navigation. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Date. Description. anuary 8 1910. From the Admiralty.

Date. ascription. 1910. anuary 8 ... From the British Ambassador at Paris.

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Enclosure. No. 8. Commercial. 1033. Sir,— Paris, Bth January, 1910. 1 have the honour to inform you that I have this day addressed a note to the French Government in the sense of your despatch No. 5, Commercial, of yesterday's date, stating that it has been decided to recognise in New Zealand official passenger-steamer certificates issued in France. I have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., &c. Francis Berths.

No. 123. New Zealand, No. 17. Mv Lord,— Downing Street, 17th January, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the enclosed copies of a circular instruction, which has been issued by the Board of Trade, respecting the extension from the Ist July, 1"91O, of the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Acts in regard to the certification of skippers and second hands of fishing-boats, to all liners and drifters of 50 tons gross tonnage and upwards, propelled by steam or other mechanical power. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 124. New Zealand, No. 19. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd January, 1910. With reference to your despatch No. 82, of the 19th October last, T have the honour to forward, for the information of your Ministers, copies of an Order in Council dated the 10th January, 1910, respecting appeals to His Majesty in Council from the Dominion of New Zealand. 2. I take this opportunity of transmitting, with reference to my despatch No. 195, of the 30th October last, copy of a similar Order in Council respecting appeals from the Province of Alberta. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 125. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord, Downing Street, 26th January, 1910. With reference to my despatch " Miscellaneous," of the 17th October, 1908, and to your reply No. 1 of the 4th January, 1909, respecting the institution of a general Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct in the Colonial Forces throughout the Empire, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a specimen of the medal, with riband, as approved by His Majesty the King. 2. As the lettering for the medal originally proposed did not show that it was intended for the permanent forces of the oversea dominions and colonies, the inscription on the reverse was, with the concurrence of Sir Joseph Ward when in this country in August last, altered to its present wording so as to make this clesir 3. Requisitions for the medal should be sent to the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint, Tower Hill, E.C., and for the riband to the Chief Ordnance Officer, Royal Army Clothing Factory, Grosvenor Road, S.W. 4. The new medals, like those now granted to the New Zealand Permanent Forces, will be issued under the authority of the Royal Warrant of the 31st May, 1895, and no change will be required in the existing regulations governing the grant of medals to those forces to make them applicable to the grant of the new medal.

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5. The Army Council have, however, suggested that the prohibition of the wearing of the Long-service Medal, together with the Meritorious Service Medal, which formerly appeared in the King's Regulations, but has now been cancelled, should also be removed from the New Zealand Regulations. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 126. New Zealand, No. 20. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th January, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 127, of the 17th July, 1908, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a pamphlet issued by the Committee of the Thirteenth International Congress on Family Education. 2. I shall be glad to learn whether the Dominion Government propose to be represented at the Congress. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 127. New Zealand, No. 24. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd February, 1910. With reference to your despatch No. 70, of the 16th August last, 1 have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs learns from His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington that the proposed International Congress on the Conservation of Natural Resources will not be asked to meet this summer, and that the United States Government are unable to state at present what date will be proposed. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 128. New Zealand, No. 25. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th February, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 14, of the 14th January, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that Tunis has adhered to the International Convention of the 26th September, 1906, relating to the prohibition of the use of white phosphorus in the making of matches. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., Ac.

No. 129. New Zealand, No. 27. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th February, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the Transandine Railway. I have, &c, CREWE The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

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Enclosure. (2618.) Extract. Transandine Railway.—A historic event occurred on the 27th November in the final meeting of the two tunnels commenced some five years ago from the Chilean and Argentine sides of the Andes. The work has been carried on steadily but quietly by a syndicate chiefly English, and the engineers have been entirely English. It is stated that at the point of piercing only a difference of inches in horizontal and vertical direction was found. The tunnel will make an all-train journey now possible between Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Valpariso, and, with a quick steamer service between England and River Plate, and between Valpariso and Sydney, it might shorten the journey to Australia—fifteen days from England to Buenos Aires, two days from there to Valpariso, and ten (lavs from the latter port to Sydney. The company expects to be able to run trains throughout the year, and it is felt here that Chile is not so isolated from Europe as she was before the advent of the tunnel.

No. 130. New Zealand, No. 29. My Lord, — Downing Street, 9th February, 1910. With reference to your despatch No. 77, of the 30th September, 1909, I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of India in Council to the Secretary of State for India, on the subject of the compilation of statistics of Indians resident in the British dominions beyond the seas in connection with the census of 1911. 2. I shall be glad to learn whether your Ministers will find it possible to adopt the suggestions made in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of the Census Commissioner's letter of the 13th November last. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0.. &c

No. 131. New Zealand. —Miscellaneous. My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th February, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No. 85, of the 25th October, enclosing a memorandum from your Prime Minister urging that the rule relating to the recognition of the title of " Honourable " throughout His Majesty's dominions should be made to extend to the Judges of the Supreme Court. 2. I laid the "matter before His Majesty the King, and His Majesty has been pleased to approve of my recommendation that the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme and superior Courts of His Majesty's self-governing dominions, who by local usage receive the title of " Honourable " while in office, or who may have been or may hereafter be permitted to bear the title on retirement, should enjoy the title throughout the Empire.

A j, 1910, No. 73.

Date. Description. 1909. 'ecember 10 ... Extract from a report by H.M. representative at Santiago.

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3. Those retired Judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand who have already received permission to bear the title of " Honourable " within New Zealand will therefore have that title generally recognised, and His Majesty's permission to bear the title will in future be granted without any limitation to those Judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand who may be recommended for such permission by the Governor. T understand that a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand is, while in office, usually styled " His Honour," and 1 do not wish to suggesi any alteration in the existing practice: but it at any time the title of "Honourable" should be accorded by local usage to the New Zealand Judges while holding office, it will, as in the case of Judges of other dominions, be recognised throughout the Empire. I have. &c, CREW X Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 132. New Zealand, No. '.VI. My Lord,-- Downing Street, I Ith February, 1910. 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a revised edition of " Instructions to Officers in British Colonies and Possessions—Merchant Shipping and Seamen.' 2. This edition supersedes the Instructions issued in 1875, and all supplementary printed Circular Instructions issued since that date to the present time, to officers performing under the Board of Trade in the British dominions the duties intrusted to them by the Merchant Shipping Acts. '■i. Copies of the Instructions have been sent direct to the officers concerned. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 133. New Zealand, No. 33. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th February, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 202, of the 16th November last, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, three copies of a circular despatch which I have addressed to the Governments of the Crown colonies and protectorates, enclosing copies of a printed paper (Miscellaneous, 239) relating to leprosy in certain British colonies. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 134. New Zealand, No. 34. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th February, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 34, of the 12th February, 1909, I have the honour , to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of the Transvaal Act No. 31 of 1909, shortly entitled the Companies Act, 1909. I have, &c, CREWE Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. ]I—A. 2.

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No. 135. New Zealand, No. 36. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th February, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for , the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the selection of the Judge and Public Prosecutor for the New Hebrides Joint Court. 1 have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand

Enclosure. Xo. G. (2921.) Sir, — Madrid, 22nd January, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. '2, of the Bth instant, I have the honour to riport that I again asked the Foreign Minister yesterday, at his weekly diplomatic reception, progress was being made in the selection of thu Judge and Public Prosecutor for the New Hebrides, who were to be nominated by the King of Spain. The same question was put I>\ tlit- Fn-nrli Ambassador. Senor Perez Caballero assured me thai he was not losing sight of the matter. 11. said he ha.l several candidates in view, but would not mention any names, as lie had not yet quite rnlut Up his mind. He promised to let me know as goon as a decision was reached. I have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., tfce. Mauhick dk BuNSbH.

No. 136. New Zealand, No. 37. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th February, 1910. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the adoption Dl the Imperial penny postage scheme, I have the honour to acquaint you, tor the information of your Ministers, that the scheme has now been extended to the States recently transferred by Siam to the protection of His Majesty— namely, Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis, and Trengganu. 2. The Imperial rate of postage was brought into operation in the case <>l letters from Kelantan on the Bth November, 1909; the States of Kedah and Perlis are adopting the scheme forthwith; and the State of Trengganu will do so as soon as a post-office is established there. Meanwhile correspondence may be forwarded to its destination in Trengganu at the sender's risk. As regards the United Kingdom, the reduced rate of postage came into force on the Ist February. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 137. New Zealand, No. 43. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th March, 1910. T have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the cost during the financial

Date. Description. January 22 1910. ... From H.M. Ambassador at Madrid.

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year 1908-9 of the maintenance of ships forming the Naval Force on the Australian Station. I have, &c, CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand

Enclosures. No. 1, E 1026/1039. Sin,— Admiralty, 28th February, 1910. I inn commanded by uiy Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty t<. forward, for the information of tli<: Secretary of State for the Colonies, » statement showing the cost (hiring the financial rear 1908—9 of the maintenance of ships forming the Naval Force on the Australian Station. It will l>e seen that the total cost—viz., £622,022—exceeds the minimum amount necessary to justify the full contribution of £210,000 provided for under Article VIII of the Xaviil Agreement with the Australian Commonwealth ami the Dominion of New Zealand. I am, dec, The Under-Secretary of State. Colonial Office, S.W. W. CJrahame Mheenk.

Statement of Cost during the Period 1st April, 1908, to 31st March, 1909, of the Maintenance of Ships forming the Naval Force on the Australian Station.

Note. —The " Cambrian " left the limits of the station on the 3rd March, 1909. The " I'egasus " was outside the limits of the station from the 6th February to the 22nd March, 1909. The figures in the statement do not include the cost of the upkeep, &0., of the naval establishment at Sydney, which was approximately £*1,000.

No. 138. New Zealand, No. 45. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th March, 1910. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that an address has been presented to His Majesty by the House of Commons asking for a return to give— (1.) The colonies and British dominions in which periodical returns are required by law of unclaimed balances and securities in the hands of bankers; and

Date. Description. . ebruary 28 1910. From the Admiralty.

Niuiif "t Ship. Class. I? 1 ' ■ IS-. i i H Powerful Challenger Encounter Cumbrian Pioneer Prometheus I'yramus Pegasus Psyche Cruiser, 1st class 2nd .. 2nd „ 2nd „ „ 3rd „ ,. 3rd „ 3rd „ 3rd „ 3rd „ £ £££££££ 42,475 64,724 18,120 7,140 7,777 16,087 .. :i,l>74 22,299 40,549 7,760 3,362 3,644 10,268 .. 1,208 22,881 22,541 7,760 4,965 4,328 6,868 .. 3,391 13,620 17,119 4,900 4,798 2,467 7,528 .. 1,186 8,735 14,728 2,610 3,002 2,761 3,892 .. 1,892 7,877 13,197 3,940 3,390 2,450 6,814 .. 1,021 8,052 14,834 2,605 3,567 2,011 2,411 .. 1,762 7,045 11,879 3,450 2,985 2,501 7,076 .. 724 9,128 15,156 2,605 3,493 1,071 3,742 . . 997 3,200 £ £ £ £ 1,116 5,360 18,976 175,449 45 528 6,384 96,034 125 667 9,869 82,380 59 263 6,666 58,495 79 1,237 3,220 42,146 32 111 5,353 44,185 *•■"> 1,007 3,218 39,512 42 137 4,693 40,532 48 809 3,040 40,089 3,200 Total .. 142,112 204,727 53,750 36,702 29,000 63,668 3,200:15,855 1,591 110,109161,308 622,022 1,591 110,109:61,308 622,022 .

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(2.) The total amount of such unclaimed balances and securities disclosed up to the 31st day of January, 1910, in each of such colonies or dominions respectively. 2. 1 shall be much obliged if your Ministers will be so good as to furnish me as soon as possible with a report giving the information desired so far as it is available for New Zealand. I have, (fee, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

No. 139. New Zealand, No. 46. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th March, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 36, of the 17th February, I have the honour to transmit to you copies of the correspondence noted in the margin with regard to the selection of a President and Public Prosecutor for the Joint Court in the New Hebrides. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c. Enclosure. Xo. 17. (6773.) Sm,— Madrid, 22nd February, 11*10. With reference to my despatch No. 14. of the Kith instant, I have the honour to report thai Sefior Garcia Prieto spoke to me on the 18th instant about the selection of a Judgv , and Public Prosecutor for the New Hebrides. His Excellency said he was happy to think he had at last found a suitable person to act as Judge. He belonged to the Judicial Department of the Spanish Navy, and the Foreign Minister expected to be able to give me his name in the course of the next few days. As regards the Public Prosecutor, he feared lie might have to look for candidates abroad, as he had failed to find the proper person in Spain. I regret to state that, on inquiry this morning at the Ministry Tor foreign Affairs, I was informed that the intended Judge had finally refused the offer. In spite, therefore, of the good will shown by successive Spanish Governments in the matter, no success has as yet attended their efforts to liinl the judicial officers who are to be nominated by King Alfonso. I have, &c, Sir Edward Grey, Hart.. &c. Kvknyn Grant Duff. 6502 k>lo. Sin.— Downing Street, 11th March. 1910. lam directed by the Earl of Crewe to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (Xo. 6773 10), of the 4th instant, with regard to the selection of a Judge and Public Prosecutor for the Joint Court in the New Hebrides. 2. I am to suggest that, if Sir E. Grey sees no objection, His Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid should U' instructed to thank the Spanish Government for their previous efforts, and to inquire what steps are now being taken: and also to say that, if the Spanish Government think such a course necessary in order to enable them to find suitable candidates. His Majesty's Government are prepared to consider, in consultation with the French Government, whether it would be possible to raise the salaries offend. 3. 1 am to add that it is of importance that the appointments should be made at the earliest possible date. 4. Sir E. Grey will no doubt consider whether it would be desirable for the French Government to lie informed of the tenor of the communication proposed above. I am, &c, The Under-Secretarj of State, Foreign Office. .T. W. Just.

H.M. AmbaF sadcr, Madrid, lo F. 0., 22nd February ; CO. to F. 0., 11th March.

No. 140. New Zealand, No. 47. My I.oki). Downing Street, 11th March, 1910. With reference to my despatch No. 226, of the 23rd December, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the minutes of evidence taken before the Law of Copyright Committee. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

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No. 141. New Zealand, No. 49. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th March, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted helow on the subject of German protectorates in the Pacific. I have, &c., CREWE.

The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures. No. 39. (5989.) Sir, — Berlin, 17th February, I Wo. I have the honour to transmit, herewith copies of the memoranda recently presented to the Reichstag on the subject of the development of the protectorates of German New Guinea (Old Protectorate), German New Guinea (Island Territory), and Samoa, in the year 1908 9, together with a pricis nf each memorandum. I have, (fee, Sir Edward Grey, Bart, &c. W. E. Gosohkn. Precis oi Mkmoranduw oh thk Development of German \i;w Guinba (Old Photkctoratb : BISMABOE AUCHIPBJLAGO, SOLOMON Islands, imi KaIHER-WiT,HHLMES-LiAND). UriiiNi; the year there were no disturbances among the Natives or other events worthy of mention. Native taxation (Kopfsteuer) was introduced in all the organized communes. The population in these districts was counted, and found to Iμ , 6,950, of whom there were 2,175 men Liable to I" , I a xed. The European population on the Ist January, 1909, amounted to 671, as against (54 7 in the previous year. Of this number, r>os are malts and 1(16 females. The various nationalities are represented as follows: 549 Germans, 1!> English, 26 colonial English, '.• Austriane, !!• Dutch. '1 Diincs. and 8 Swedes. The non-Native coloured population amounted to 689 on the Isi January, 1909, an increase of 116. Among these were 476 Chinese (7 of whom were women), 128 Malays or Japanese (•'!! of whom were women). The general health of the Europeans was, on the whole, good, except in the Gazelle PeniiiHuln. The principal disease among Europeans »;is malaria. r>uriHμ the year fourteen new commercial undertakings were started. The expori of sea-products —mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell, and trepang —decreased in value. An area of 18,235 hectares was under cultivation in plantations, showing an increase of 1.107 hectares over last year. In 1908 the trade of the protectorate amounted to 1,815,075 M.. which represented a decrease of 581,196 M. Ihe export of copra from the protectorate rose from 5,694 tons in li) 07 to tons in 1908, while the value fell from 1, f<07,000 M. to 1,549,000 M. The total trade was divided among the various countries as follows: German, 2,123,352 M.: Kngland, 199.013 M.; Australia. 1,740,605 M. ; Asia, 592,622 M. ; America. 104.980 M.; and Other countries, 54,500 M. England anil Australia were the only two countries with which the trade increased. The shipping- in Simpsonhaven increased I>\ seventy-eighi steamers, with a tonnage of fi£,2so. The revenue of the protectorate will probably exceed the estimates by 150,000 M., a surplus which is due to the introduction of Xative taxation and of the 10-per-cent. Customs duty. The memorandum contains the following annexes: — (1.) Criminal Statistics. (2.) Population Statistics. (3.) Trade Statistics. (4.) List of Commercial. Agricultural, and Industrial Undertakings. (5.) Plantations and Experimental Gardens. (6.) Report of (lovernment Schools in Simpsonhaven. (7.) Shipping. (8.) Posts and Telegraphs.

Date. Descript ion. 1910. February 17 ... From H.M. Ambassador, Berlin.

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PrAcis hi Mkmohandum on the Development ok Gekuan New Guinea (Island Territory). East ' 'arolines. The discovery of phosphate in the German Micronesian Islands has given them an economic importahce whiob go one could have imagined a Eew ysars ago. The Easi and Central Carolines have, however, not an immediate share in this development. The white population lias nut essentially changed during the year. There was no event of importance in the climatic conditions of tin . Islands. The health of the Europeans was mi the whole good, while the Natives suffered greatly Erom dysentery. The success of the Native schools has hitherto been very small. The Truk Group, which is inhabited bj over 14,000 Natives, promises In i<s position, its fertility, and its considerable copra-production, to become in a few years a valuable possession in the Eastern and Central Carolines. The Native-tax, levied in the form of labour, is expected both there and in Ponape to induce the Natives to use greater diligence in working their planta tions. The total trade in the calendar year I'JOS was 116,662 marks less than in 1907, the imports having decreased by 103,666 marks and the exports by 12,996 marks. The exportation, however, of products of the land (principally copra) increased by 7,712 marks. West Carolines, Pelew, Mariannes, The year under review was an important one. In April, 1908, the commercial bouses "f •lap received a renewed permission to deal in copra, and since August. 1908, the ships of the Austral-Japan line of the North German Lloyd have called regularly twice a month at Jap. The German South Phosphate Company, Bremen, was also founded for the exploitation of the phos I'hate-fields of Pelew. In February, 1909, work was commenced in Angaur. On the Ist January, 1909, the white population, including Japanese, amounted to 153. The climatic conditions were normal, except for the great lack of rain in the dry season. There were no serious epidemic- The trade of the Islands again decreased, as shown by the fol lowing : — Imports. Exports. Kg. M. Kg. M. 1i)07... ... ... 2,198,382 15j.697 1,007,068 255,200 L 908... ... ... 1,537,427 389,292 1,042,873 231,341 The new Customs duties had doubtless a great influence on the imports. In .la].. Saipan, and Pelew, ■'!•"> steamers, with a total tonnage of 27,4X9 tuns, were cleared, and 38 sailing-vessels, with a tonnage of 7,84:8. Marshall Islands. The annexation of this district to the Protectorate of German New Guinea took place quite s, tidy, although resulting in slight economic disturbances. The trade in copra and the pro duction of phosphate increased. (in the Ist January, 1909, there were 164 white people, 533 non-Native South-Sta-lslanders. 112 half-breeds, and 138 Chinese. Of the L 64 white people, there were i>l Germans, as against 88 in the previous yea)-. The number of English has decreased from 59 to 52. There were 9.267 Natives. The health of the Europeans was good. ■Hi,' copra-production increased fro-,, 2,038,262 kg. in 1907 to 3,560,899 kg., an increase which was due principally t«. the fact that the consequenoes "f the typhoon had been more and more overcome. The lotal trade increased as follows: Imports. Exports. total. M. M \1 [MOT ... 1,495,459 1,111,418 2,606,877 1908 ... ... 1,367,066 1.015.579 5,382,645 The decrease in the imports was principally due to the fact that the buildings belonging to the phosphate company were for the most par* finished, and therefore fewer building-materials were imported. The increase of the exports is accounted for mainly by the increased output of phosphate and copra. . The imports from England and Australia to the Marshall Islands increased, while those from other countries declined, as shown by the following figures: Si. ' M. Australia fi.59.337 683,456 Kg :: ::: I i ■■ SiS | China ' •■■ ••■ 160,527 101,423 United States of America ... ... • •■ 101,044 71,865 Other countries ■•■ 6 21 ' 273 Tl,e greater part of the copra (1,627,577 kg.) went to Germany, after which came Australia with 998,749 kg., and Chile with 984,573 kg. Phosphate is exported principally to Australia, which received 39,319.000 kg. Germany received 6,400,000 kg., England 5,300,000 kg., Honolulu 4,000,000 kg.

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The shipping returns show 125 ships, of 102,940 tons, as against 134 ships, with 95,447 toils, in the previous year. Of these 125 ships, -'SO. with 52,858 tons, called at Nauru with the mail without taking cargo. Finances of the Three Groups. As far as it is possible to calculate, the revenue for 1908 amounted to about 777,300 M., while the expenditure was 761,800 M. The following annexes are to be found at the end of the memorandum : (l.) Criminal Statistics. (2.) Population Statistics. i'l.i Commercial Statistics. (4.) List of Commercial, Agricultural, ami Industrial Undertakings. (5.) Plantation Statistics. (6.) Shipping. (7.) Posts and Telegraphs. Precis ok M k.mokamh m on rut: Development of the Protectorate of Samoa in the Year 1908-9. Dußixt; the year there was a movement on the part of the Native chiefs in favour of self-govern-ment, which was, however, easily suppressed, and which had hardly any influence on the economic life of the protectorate. The white population amounted to 468 (356 males and I 12 females) on the Ist January, L909, as against 43G in the previous year. There were 978 half-breeds (488 males and 490 females), as against 938 in the previous year. The Chinese had increased from 1.050 to 1,123. The coloured contract workmen had increased from 667 to 749. The Samoan population amounted to 33,478, divided as follows: 10,120 men, 9,563 women, 7,028 boys, and 0,767 girls. Hie climatic conditions were normal, and the health of the population was on the whole good. The weather was favourable for agriculture. The copra crop was good, and the quality greatly improved. The cultivation of cacao was still further extended. Considerable progress was made in the plantation of caoutchouc, particularly of the [fovea. The total trade of the year 1908 shows an increase of 610,581 M. over that of 1907. the export increasing by 901,489 M., and tin- import decreasing by 616,581 M. The increase in the exports is accounted for by the advance in the export of copra from 1.709.7 11 M. to 2,671,233 M. Although the expori of cacao increased from 116J tons in the previous year to 204i tons, this result did not come up to expectation. The decrease of the imports from 2,767.314 M. to 2,482,406 M. is due principally to the fact thai at the end of 1907 the stocks of goods in the hands of dealers was too great. The imports from Australia decreased by 10 per cent., and from England bv 25 per cent., whereas the imports from Germany increased by 5 per cent., and from China by 15 per cent. The revenue of the protectorate in 1908 was about 580,400M., as against the estimate of 500,100 M. Tliis revenue was made up as follows: — Taxes ... ... ... ""' ... ... ... ... 147.310 Customs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 331,620 Other dues, fees. Ac. ... ... ... ... ... ... 101,440 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 580,10(1 The memorandum contains the following annexes :- (1.) Criminal Statistics. (2.) Population Statistics. (3.) Trade Statistics. (I.) List of Commercial. Agricultural, and Industrial Undertakings. (5.) Plantations and Experimental Gardens. (0.) Report of Government School. (7.) Report of the Samoa Conservatory. (8.) Shipping. (9.) Posts and Telegraphs. ApproximaU coal of paper. —Preparation, not given: printing (1,500 copies), £48 16s. By Authority : .John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington. —1910 /Vic, Is. 9d.

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