31

A.—2

Whereas other British steamships, provided with measurement certificates made out after 30th April, 1855, shall be subjected in Swedish harbours to a partial remeasurement for ascertaining according to Swedish custom both the gross tonnage of the space above the measurement deck and also the space to be exempted for engine-space and other spaces situate above as well as below the measurement deck, for which exemption from dues is granted in Sweden.

No. 49. New Zealand, No. 159. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd July, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Plunket's despatch, No. 26, of the 14th April last, forwarding copies of a scheme for the reorganization of the prison system of New Zealand. I have read Dr. Findlay's scheme with interest, and I shall be glad to be informed of any further developments in giving effect to it, whether by law or rules. I have, &c, CEEWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

A.-l, 1911, No. 48.

No. 50. New Zealand, No. 161. My Lord,— Downing Street, 27th July, 1910. With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of copyright, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a memorandum showing the results of the proceedings of the Imperial Copyright Conference. 2. I also enclose copies of the Bill which was examined by the Conference, and which, after amendment, in accordance with the resolutions of the Conference, has been introduced into the Imperial Parliament. The terms of the Bill are intended to give legal effect to the resolutions arrived at by the Conference. 3. In view of the meeting of the Conference, His Majesty's Government decided that it would not be possible to ratify the revised Convention of Berne, and I enclose a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin, and forwarding a copy of the note which he communicated to the German Foreign Minister explaining the position adopted by His Majesty's Government, together with copy of Baron yon Schoen's reply. 4. His Majesty's Government desire to place on record their very great appreciation of the care with which this important subject has been discussed by the representatives of the self-governing dominions. It is their confident hope that in removing the restrictions on the powers of dominion Legislatures which have hitherto existed with regard to copyright they will in no way have affected the unity of Imperial and international copyright, but will have secured that it shall owe its continuance to the concerted action of the dominion Parliaments. I have, &c, CRBWE. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, D.5.0., &c.

No. 51. New Zealand, No. 162. My Lord,— Downing Street, 29th July, 1910. I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that Lord Dunmore moved in the House of Lords on the 13th instant for a return giving particulars of the financial relations in the principal foreign countries, and in British dominions between the central and the local Governments. 2. I have ascertained that what Lord Dunmore is anxious to ascertain is the sources of revenue of the central and local governing bodies, and the ratio between the amounts raised by the Central Government and the local authorities in each case.