A.-2

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No. 27. New Zealand, No. 230. My Lord,—- Downing Street, 29th March, 1916. With reference to my despatch, No. 86, of the 7th February, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information' of your Ministers, three copies each of a memorandum prepared by the Committee of the Privy Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, on the proposals for extending the scheme of State-aided research to the Empire as a whole, the parliamentary paper (Cd. 8005) in which the scheme was originally set out, and the Order in Council of the 28th July, 1915, by which the Committee of Council was established. 2. Copies of these documents are also enclosed for communication to the University of New Zealand. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1917. No. 26.

No. 28. New Zealand, No. 233. My Lord, — Downing Street, 30th March, 1916. With reference to my despatch, No. 129, of the 22nd February, relative to the ships-licensing system, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that I am advised by the Board of Trade that the authorities in British oversea ports need not take any steps to ensure that British vessels have obtained the licenses necessary to enable them to engage in any particular trade in accordance with the provisions of the Orders in Council of the 10th November, 1915, and the 15th February, 1916. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Ear] of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

No. 29. New Zealand, No. 237. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st March, 1916. With reference to my telegram of the 31st March, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 30th March, entitled " The Declaration of London Order in Council, 1916," modifying certain parts of the Orders in Council at present in force relative to certain provisions of the Declaration of London. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

Enclosure. At the Court, at Buckingham Palace, the 30th day of March, 1916. Present: The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by the Declaration of London Order in Council No. 2, 1914, His Majesty was pleased to direct that during the present hostilities the provisions of the Convention known as the Declaration of London should, subject to certain omissions and modifications therein set out, be adopted and put in force by His Majesty's Government.: And whereas doubts have arisen as to the effect of Article 1 (iii) of the said Order in Council on the right to effect the capture of conditional contraband on board a vessel bound for a neutral port: And whereas it is expedient to put an end to such doubts and otherwise to amend the said Order in Council in the manner hereinafter