A.—2

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whereby the ultimate management and control of the Institute is in the hands of the Colonial Office. As regards the second object, it is hoped, by the establishment of an executive council constituted in the manner contemplated, to secure not only greater interest in the work of the Institute, but also a fuller development of its various activities. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

No. 36. New Zealand, No. 380. My Lord,— Downing Street, 24th May, 1916. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 307, of the 16th July, 1914, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of new instructions on the subject of life-jackets which are being issued by the Board of Trade to their Surveyors. 2. The Board of Trade state that copies have been sent to colonial authorities having power to issue passenger certificates valid in. this country, by virtue of Order in Council made under section 284 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. 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. Circular 1572.) Instructions to Surveyors.—Life-jackets. 1. Inspection of Life-jackets. —No life-jacket inspected on or after the Ist July, 1916, may be passed (except as specified in paragraph 2) as part of the statutory equipment of a vessel, unless.— (a.) It is of a type approved by a certificate of approval issued on or after the Ist January, 1915; (b.) It complies with the specification annexed to the certificate; and (c.) It is in good condition and generally fit for the service intended. Makers of life-jackets who wish to obtain approval for their life-jackets should make application as indicated in paragraph 9. On the Ist July, 1916, all certificates of approval dated earlier than the Ist January, 1915, will be cancelled. 2. Life-jackets previously passed. —Until the Ist January, 1918, any life-jacket which has been previously passed by a Board of Trade Surveyor as part of the statutory equipment of a vessel may be accepted as part of the statutory equipment of the same vessel so long as it remains in good condition. On and after that date no life-jacket should be passed unless it complies with the conditions stated in paragraph 1. 3. General. —Life-jackets intended to form part of the statutory equipment of a vessel must be of approved material and construction, and those intended for use by adults must be capable of supporting 15 lb. of iron in fresh water for twenty-four hours. Life-jackets intended only for use by children must in general be capable of supporting 12 Ib. of iron in fresh water for twenty-four hours. The required buoyancy may be supplied by cork, kapok, or other approved substance, but no life-jackets which depend on air compartments for their buoyancy will be accepted. The cork used in the manufacture of life-jackets should not weigh more than 12 lb. per cubic foot, and must-be of good quality, cleaned, and in pieces of not less than 20 cubic inches, except for shoulder or other special pockets. Kapok must be pure Java kapok of good quality, free from seeds or other foreign matter, and well cleaned. At least. 24 oz. of kapok must be in each life-jacket whose buoyancy is derived from this material. 4. Covers. —The covers may be of cotton, linen, or other approved material, subject to the following conditions : — Covers of all linen Tecklenburg with no admixture of other material must weigh not less than 6 oz. to the yard with a width of 27 in., must have at least twenty-eight threads to the inch in the warp and in the weft, and must be unglazed and uumangled. and free from all dressing. It may be bleached or unbleached, but no artificially coloured material is to be used. This material may be used for covering either cork or kapok. The minimum standard for covers of all cotton with no admixture of other material will be grey cotton duck 38 double warp and 54 in weft, weighing not less than 5 pz. to the yard,

A.-l, 1917 No. 38.