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A.-l

No 1.2, (No. 76.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth August, 1903. With reference to your despatch on the subject of cancer research, I have the honour to inform you that instructions have been issued to the various District Health Officers with reference to the investigation of cancer. 2. At the present time my Government do not see their way to subscribing to the fund now being raised at Home in connection with this disease. [ II3»VC &c The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, TtANFURLY. Secretary of State tor the Colonies.

No. 13. (No 87.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 2nd September, 1903. With reference to your despatch (New Zealand, General), dated the 27th May, 1903, on the subject of the Industrial Property Convention,l have the honour to inform you that my Government consider that no alteration is required to bring the law of this colony into conformity with the provisions of the additional Act of 1900. A copy of " The Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act, 1889," as amended by the Act of 1897, is forwarded herewith, and I would invite your attention to section 106 of the Act of 1889, page 41. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1904, No. 8.

No. 14. (No 91.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth September, 1903. With reference to your despatch (New Zealand, No. 46), dated the 30th June, 1903, on the subject of the alleged differential treatment of Austrian and Hungarian goods, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers have reported to me on this matter as follows : It is not the case that there is a difference in the treatment of goods coming from Vienna and Buda-Pesth via Hamburg, as compared with Canadian goods via New York. If goods made in Austria or Canada are sold and invoiced by the manufacturer in these countries f.0.b., Hamburg or New York duty is charged on the f.o.b. value. On the other hand, if the goods are sold and invoiced in, say, Vienna, or, say, Toronto, and if the Customs officers are satisfied that the transaction is generally a sale at the " fair market value " in those places, the carriage to port of shipment is not included in the value for duty. If a doubt exists as to the genuineness of the transaction, the officers require the importer to verify the amount alleged to be paid for carriage to port of shipment by production of a railway receipt or freight note, in which case such an amount would not be included. This applies tc all goods from all countries alike, and goods from Vienna and Buda-Pesth are not exceptionally treated as compared with Canada or the United States. When the importer is dissatisfied with the action of the Customs Department, he is invited to submit the case to arbitration in accordance with section 46 of " The Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 1882," New Zealand. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 15. (No. 92.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 16th September, 1903. At the request of my Government I have the honour to enclose you herewith, for transmission to the Secretary of State for War, lists showing the