A.—2

82

No. 146. New Zealand, No. 108. My Loed, — Downing Street, 17fch March, 1911. With reference bo my telegram of the 16th March, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 4th March, confirming, under section 735 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and declaring the Eoyal assent to, the Act to amend the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1909, of the Parliament of New Zealand. I have, <fee, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 4th day of March, 1911. Present: The King's Most Excellent Majesty, Lord President, Lord Denman, Lord Sandhurst, Mr. J. A. Pease, Master of Elibank. Whereas it is, among other things, enacted by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, that the Legislature of any British possession may, by any Act or Ordinance confirmed by His Majesty in Council, repeal wholly or in part any provisions of the said Act (other than those of the third part thereof which relate to emigrant ships) relating to ships registered in that possession, but that any such Act or Ordinance shall not take effect until the approval of His Majesty has been proclaimed in the possession, or until such time thereafter as may be fixed by the Act or Ordinance for the purpose : And whereas by an Act passed in the session held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria's reign, entitled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is, amongst other things, declared that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said colony shall signify, either by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before His Majesty in Council, and that His Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same : And whereas by a Proclamation dated the 10th day of September, 1907, His late Majesty King Edward VII was graciously pleased to change the style and designation of " the Colony of New Zealand " to " the Dominion of New Zealand " : And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Dominion entitled " An Act to amend the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1909," was presented to the Governor of the said Dominion for His Majesty's assent: And whereas the said Bill was reserved by the said Governor for the signification of His -Majesty's pleasure thereon: And whereas the said Bill so reserved as aforesaid has been laid before His Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said Bill should be confirmed and assented to by His Majesty : Now, therefore, His Majesty, in pursuance of the said Acts, and in exercise of the powers thereby reserved to His Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present Order, by and with the advice of His Majesty's Privy Council, confirm and declare his assent to the said Bill. Almeric Fitzßoy.

No. 147. New Zealand, No. 110. My Lord, — Downing Street, 17th March, 1911. In reply to your Lordship's despatch, No. 14, of the 3rd February, concerning rumours as to a proposal to transfer the headquarters of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific from Suva tc Sydney, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the proposal referred to in Sir J. Ward's memorandum of the 24th January is not under consideration. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.