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A.—2

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.