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No. 7. New Zealand, No. 67. Sr_t,— Government House, Wellington, 16th February, 1917. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Bonar Law's despatch, No. 957, of the sth November last, forwarding copies of instructions issued by the Board of Trade to Consuls, Superintendents, and officers in British possessions, and of a notice issued to masters of home-trade ships, in which attention is called to the importance of the insertion of the signatures of seamen on their discharge-certificates. 2. My Ministers inform me that, in accordance with the request contained in the circular, the instructions are being communicated to the Superintendents of Mercantile Marine in New Zealand. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 8. New Zealand, No. 68. Sir,— Government House, Wellington, 16th February, 1917. With reference to my despatch, No. 46, of the 30th January, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum, addressed to me by the Acting Minister of Finance, to which is appended a statement showing contributions by the people of New Zealand to various war funds during the month of January, 1917. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter 11. Long, M.P., Governor. Secretary of State for' the Colonies.

Enclosure. Minister's Office, Finance Department, Wellington, 14th February, 1917. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. I have the honour to advise Your Excellency (hat flic sum of £14,698 19s. Bd., being New Zealand's contribution for the relief of pour in Belgium under the Government scheme, for the month of January, 1917, has been transmitted by cable to the High Commissioner. This is £301 Os. 4d. less than the amouni usually remitted monthly, one of the districts having contributed less than its quota to the scheme. The following contributions have' also been remitted to the High Commissioner for distribution :— Belgian Relief Fund : — t; «. d. t s. d. Shannon Belgian Relief and Patriotic Society ... 100 I) l) Sounds District Belgian Relief Fund ... ... 55 0 0 Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Society... ... 379 (I 0 Hawke's Bay War Relief Association ... ... 300 0 0 Sounds District Belgian Relief Fund ... ... 50 0 0 Poor of Great Britain. Arc.-, Relief Fund, Blenheim ... Id 0 (I 89. i) 0 Belgians in England Relief Fund : — Dunedin Evening Star fund ... ... ... ... 65 li 0 Belgian Children Christmas Appeal Fund (for payment to London Ford Mayor's Fund):—From sundry contributors ... ... ... 247 3 2 Poor of Great Britain, etc., Relief Fund, Christchurch... 2,000 (» 0 , 2,247 3 2