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in which is forwarded an address to the Queen from the Government of the Cook Islands expressing their deep sympathy with Her Majesty and the Princess Beatrice on the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg. I am commanded by the Queen to request that you will convey to the Government of the Cook Islands, on behalf of Her Majesty and of Her Eoyal Highness, an expression of their cordial thanks for this mark of sympathy. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 7. (G-eneral.) My Lobd, — Downing Street, 17th June, 1896. I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship, for the information of your Government, and for such action as they may think fit to take, a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, with enclosures, respecting the desire expressed by the committee of Lloyd's that arrangement should be made for notifying changes of masters of vessels to their local agent at Auckland. I have, &c. J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.0.M.G., &c.

Enclosures. Board of Trade (Marine Department), 7, Whitehall Gardens, Sir,— London, S.W., 10th June, 1896. I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, copies of two letters which have been submitted to them by the Registrar-General of Seamen, in which the committee of Lloyd's suggest that consular officers in foreign ports, and officers dealing with such matters in colonial ports, should be asked to notify changes of masters to Lloyd's local agents, with a view to these changes being included in their reports. I am also to enclose a copy of a memorandum by the Registrar-General of Seamen dealing with the question. It will be seen that the committee propose that the arrangement should be carried out only at certain of the large consular and colonial ports, and also that they are prepared to pay a fee for the information as supplied. It appears to the Board of Trade that the suggestion that the information should be forwarded to Lloyd's agent by the consular (or colonial) officer may be regarded as hardly reasonable, and the Board are not prepared to support it. The Board would, however, be glad to learn whether Mr. Chamberlain is of opinion that some arrangement might conveniently be made for supplying Lloyd's agent with the required information at the ports named. I am to add that a similar letter has been addressed to the Foreign Office. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Ingram B. Walker.

Sib,— Lloyd's, London, 8.C., 18th May, 1896. I am instructed by the committee of Lloyd's to bring under your notice that lately underwriters were seriously inconvenienced through a change being made in the master of a vessel in a foreign port without its coming to their notice until after the accident. My committee will therefore be extremely obliged if you will be so good as to move the proper authorities to allow the consular officers in foreign ports, and the officers reporting such matters in colonial ports, to be requested to notify at short periods changes of masters to Lloyd's local agents, so that the latter may be directed by my committee to include these changes in their earliest telegraphic reports. I need only add that my committee will be happy to pay a small fee for this information to the consular officers, but they trust that you will bear in mind that, as a large number of these reports may be received, and the cost of telegraphing may be considerable, this fee should be fixed at as low an amount as possible. My committee will, of course, be only too happy that any information telegraphed to this office in this way shall be at the disposal of your own or any Government office. I am, &c, H. Hoziee, Secretary. The Eegistrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, Customhouse, E.C.