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No. 45. New Zealand, No. 148. My Lord,— Downing Street, 14th July, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of Orders in Council of the 11th June, 1910, made under section 445 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, respectively, exempting on certain conditions Dutch ships in ports of the United Kingdom from the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to load-line and life-saving appliances on proof that they have complied with the Dutch regulations on these subjects. I am informed by the Board of Trade that the provisions of Netherlands law permit of the issue of special freeboard certificates for timber-laden vessels, but that the Netherlands Government have been informed that under no circumstances at present can these certificates be recognized in this country. I have, &c, CREWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c. Enclosure. Statutory Rules and Orders, 1910, No. 670. Merchant Shipping.—Prevention op Accidents ; Life-saving Appliances. Order in Council exempting Netherlands Ships, complying with Netherlands Provisions, from the Provision* of Sections 427-31 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (57-58 Vict, c. 60.), as to Life-saving Appliances, At the Court at St. James's, the 11th day of June, 1910. Present : The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by section i of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, it is provided that sections 427 to 431 ol the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (hereinafter called "the principal Act,") relating to life-saving appliances, shall, after the appointed day, apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships- : Provided that His Majesty may by Order in Council direct that those provisions shall not apply to any ship of a foreign country in which the provisions in force relating to life-saving appliances appear to His Majesty to be as effective as the provisions of Part V of the principal Act, on proof that those provisions are complied with in the case of that ship : ; And whereas by section 5 of the said Act it is provided that the said appointed day shall be the first day of January, 1909, or such other day not being more than, twelve months later, as the Board of Trade may appoint : And whereas the Board of Trade have appointed the first day of October, 1909, to be the day after which the provisions of the principal Act relating to life-saving appliances should apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships : And whereas it appears to His Majesty that the provisions in force in the Netherlands relating to life-saving appliances are as effective as the provisions of Part V of the principal Act : Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, is pleased to direct that the provisions of sections 427 to 431 of the principal Act shall not apply to any ship of the Netherlands while within any port of the United Kingdom, if it is proved that the aforesaid provisions in force in the Netherlands relating to life-saving appliances are complied with in the case of that ship. Almeric Fitzßoy.

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No. 46. New Zealand, No. 152. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th July, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Plunket's despatch. No. 48, of the 2nd June, forwarding further messages in connection with the death of King Edward VII, and the accession of King George V. 2. I have to request that your Lordship will be so good as to return in suitable terms to the senders the thanks of His Majesty for their messages, if this haf, not already been done. I have, &c, ORE WE Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

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