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No. 87. New Zealand, No. 196. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th October, 1909. With reference to my despatches No. 19, of the 25th January Jast, and No. 189, of the 14th instant, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Board of Trade relative to the proposed recognition in the United Kingdom of load-lines for foreign ships assigned by Bureau Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd under the authority of the French and German Governments respectively. I have, &c, CKEWE. Governor, the Righi Eon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. M. 22048. Board of Trade, Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, S.W., Sin, — 22nd October, 1909. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the recognition of the load-lines of foreign ships in the ports of the United Kingdom in connection with section 1 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, 1 am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the informal ion of the Karl iil Crewe, that the Belgian Government recently approaohed this* Department asking thai loadings assigned to Belgian vessels under the rules and tables of freeboard adopted by the German and French Governments should lie recognised in this country, on the ground that the Belgian Government did not intend to adopt any rules or regulations on this subject, and thai the German and French rules had been recognised by this Department as equally effective with the British rules. Having regard i<> all the circumstances of the case, and especially to the importance of securing in the fullest sense, at as early a date as possible, an international load-line for ships, the Board have decided to recognise in the ports of the United Kingdom the load-lines of foreign ship* assigned by Bureau Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd, under the authority of the Frenoh and German Governments respectively, in accordance with the Frenoh and German regulations, pro vided the ships do not belong to a country which has adopted freeboard regulations recognised by this Department as equally effective with the British regulations. In such a case the recognition of the load-lines of the ships of that country will be limited to those assigned under national rules by the competent authorised authority or authorities. 1 am to add that, although other countries are preparing to adopt similar regulations to those in operation in this country, the only regulations which have, up to the present, been accepted as equally effective with the British regulations are those of France and German] I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colouial Office. R. C. Hekon Maxwell.

No. 88. New Zealand, No. 197. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd November, 1909. With reference to your despatch No. 70, of the Ist September, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that the King's exequatur empowering Mr. 11. B. Sorensen to act as Danish Consul at Christchurch has received His Majesty's signature. T have, &c, CREWE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 89. New Zealand, No. 198. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th November, 1900. I have the honour to transmit to you, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of a note from the Belgian Legation relative to the International Congress

A.-l, 1910, No. G6.