A.—2

34

Council by a vote, in person or by proxy, of not less than three-fourths of the whole Council, to dispense with the aforesaid examination in favour of any candidate of exceptional standing as a surveyor, or of a candidate holding an official appointment as a surveyor m any of the British colonies or dependencies who shall have passed such other examination as the Council may accept in lieu of the said examination." The Institution comprises two thousand five hundred members of all classes—fellows, professional associates, non-professional associates, and students. Admission to every grade of membership, except to the limited class of non-professional associates, can only be obtained through the avenue of examination, an ordeal of an extremely searching character, and for which, in the nature of the case, surveyors in the colonies could not be expected to present themselves. Acting under the powers conferred by the charter and the by-law above quoted, and with a view to federating the profession throughout the Empire, and with a further view of affirming and defining the professional status of colonial surveyors, the Council of the Institution are prepared to entertain applications for admission to membership, without examination, from surveyors holding official appointments in the following British colonies and dependencies, where it is understood that candidates for such appointments are required, as a condition precedent, to pass an examination which can be accepted in lieu of the professional examinations of the Institution : India, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Canada, British Guiana, West Indies, Cape Colony, Straits Settlements. The Council reserve to themselves the right of varying the list of such colonies and dependencies from time to time, should circumstances seem to render such a course desirable. The following are the conditions under which applications for admission will be considered by the Council: — (1.) A colonial surveyor will be considered eligible, ceteris paribus, if he shall have passed an examination qualifying him as an authorised or licensed surveyor, or as an official or Crown surveyor, or surveyor-general, in any of the foregoing colonies or dependencies. (2.) All candidates will be required to furnish a detailed description of the examination or examinations passed by them in the colonies, which description must be signed by the candidate, and, in the case of a subordinate officer, countersigned by the surveyor-general, or, in the case of a surveyor-general, by the Colonial Secretary or other chief official, and will also be required to furnish testimonials as to personal character, independently of the professional testimonials referred to. (3.) The diploma granted to a colonial member will bear upon the face of it a notification that it applies solely to the colonies, and is in no sense a diploma available for a surveyor practising in the United Kingdom. (4.) Each candidate will be required to sign a formal declaration to this effect, and an undertaking that the diploma shall be returned to the Council should the candidate, from any cause, cease to practice in the colonies. (&.) Each colonial member will be required to deposit with the secretary a standing order on a London agent for the annual payment of his subscription, and through whom papers relating to the Institution may be periodically transmitted. (6.) Colonial members will pay a reduced entrance-fee of three guineas, and a reduced annual subscription of two guineas. (7.) Candidates must be over twenty-five years of age. (8.) Colonial members, when elected, will be regarded as subject to such provisions of the general by-laws as are applicable to their case, and will be required to sign a formal declaration to that effect attached to the form of application. (9.) All applications must be made on forms to be obtained of the secretary of the Institution at the above address, and will be subject to all the provisions of the by-laws relating to approval by the Council and confirmation by the general body of members, and each case will be dealt with on its merits. The privileges of colonial members will be identical with those of other members, and may be briefly summarised as follows : — (a.) The right as a fellow of the Surveyors' Institute to use the designatory letters F.S.I. (b.) The right to receive copies of the " Transactions " of the Institution, published at frequent intervals during the session from November to May; also, copies of the "Professional Notes," published at intervals of two or three months throughout the year. (c.) The right to a diploma of membership, subject, as in other cases, to a notification of its annual renewal. (d.) The right, during temporary residence in England, to attend the meetings of the Institution, to use the library and rooms of the Institution, and to enjoy all the privileges of members resident in the United Kingdom ; and (c.) All voting-rights, so far as they are exercisable by persons not residing in the United Kingdom. By order of the Council. 17th November, 1892. Julian C. Eodgees, Secretary.

No. 38. (Circular.) Sic, — Downing Street, 9th December, 1892. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 4th of February last, respecting the termination of the commercial treaty between this country and Spain, I have the honour to transmit, for the information of the