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No. 16. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby to the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. (No. 77.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord,— New Zealand, 21st October, 1875. I have the honor to transmit to your Lordship a Copy of the Speech* with which I prorogued this day the Fifth Session of the Fifth Parliament of New Zealand. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. NORMANBY.

No. 17. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby to the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. (No. 81.) Government House, "Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, sth November, 1875. In the course of an investigation which took place before a Select Committee of the Legislative Council during the past Session, it became apparent that very great carelessness existed in the mode in which gunpowder and other explosive materials have been stowed on board vessels which have recently arrived in this colony; and I now beg to bring under your Lordship's consideration a memorandum upon this subject which I have received from my Government. 2. The question is one which undoubtedly demands immediate attention; and I trust that your Lordship will bring the subject under the consideration of the Board of Trade, in order that provision may be made in the new Merchant Shipping Act which will insure such precautions being taken in the shipment of gunpowder and other explosive materials as may be considered best calculated to avert the great danger which at present undoubtedly attaches to all vessels carrying those materials. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon. NORMANBY.

Enclosures in No. 17. Memorandum for His Excellency the Goveenoe. The question of the carriage of gunpowder on board ships has recently been brought before the notice of the Government. A Select Committee of the Legislative Council on the Marine Act Amendment Bill, reported that—" The necessity of making some further provision for securing the safe stowage of explosive " material has been brought prominently into notice, in connection with the circumstances that have " occurred on board vessels that have lately arrived in the colony, and your Committee recommends " that the Government should ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies to move the Imperial " Parliament to embody the clause marked ' A,' appended herewith, in a new Act amending the present " law." A copy of the clause here referred to is attached hereto. The Commissioner of Customs would draw His Excellency's attention to the fact that, within a short period, several instances have occurred which show the necessity of legislating for the purpose of securing more adequate protection to life and property than that provided by owners or charterers under the present system. Attached is an extract from a Dunedin newspaper, containing correspondence between the Secretary to the Underwriters' Association at Dunedin, a marine surveyor at that port, and the master of the ship " Altcar," in which the ships "Knight of Snowdown" and "Altcar" are referred to, as showing the insecure and dangerous manner in which powder is stowed. The ship " Strathmore," mentioned in Captain Harvey's letter, is known to have had a considerable quantity of gunpowder on board as cargo; and, as she is now long overdue, it is feared here that the explosion has taken place, and there is no one left to tell the tale. The ship " City of Auckland " arrived lately at Auckland with powder, and in her case the powder appears to have been stowed without any special protection beyond canvas being spread below, and even of that there is some doubt. A case of broaching cargo occurred on the voyage, and it is shown, by the evidence taken at the Auckland Police Court, that the thieves, in order to get at the brandy stolen, had crawled over the powder with a lighted lantern. The " Border Chief," which recently

* Vide Journals of House of Representatives and Legislative Council, 1875. 2—A. 1.