5

H.—22

" Some enactment will be necessary in each colony availing itself of the Act to prevent British ships without certificated officers from trading to or from such colony, after a date to be fixed by the Government of such colony. The provisions of the Imperial Act applicable to British ships trading to or from the United Kingdom are contained in " The Merchant Shipping Act 1854," sections 136 and 161, and section 10 of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1862." The sections of " The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854," here referred to, are in force, by adoption, in this colony (see " The Merchant Shipping Adoption Act, 1869," transmitted in my letter No. 358n, of 13th April, 1872), so that it would appear that the provisions which prevent foreign-going ships from going to sea without certificated masters are as binding in New Zealand as they are in the United Kingdom, and that, therefore, a vessel which reaches New Zealand, and loses her master, or either of her mates, from any cause, would not be entitled to clear for the return voyage without having a new certificated master or mate appointed. Indeed, this seems reasonable ; for obviously the same necessity must exist for certificated officers on the return voyage as on the outward voyage. If, however, there is some provision in the law supporting the view expressed in your letter, which has escaped attention in this colony, I should esteem it a favour if you would point it out, in order that all doubt on this important point may be cleared up. I have, &c, William Seed, Secretary of Customs. The Assistant Secretary, Marino Department, Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, S.W. " " \

Mr. W. Seed to the Registeae-Geneeal of Shipping and Seamen, London. Customs Department (Marine Branch), Sib,— Wellington, 27th September, 1873. I have the honor to forward the enclosed certificate of competency as first mate, No. 16, issued in favour of Thomas Moffatt, who passed the necessary examination at Dunedin, in this colony, on the 2nd of this month. As he sailed to London in the "J. N. Fleming" before the certificate could be forwarded to him, he requested that it might be sent to him, to the care of the RegistrarGeneral of Shipping, London. I also forward herewith his certificate as second mate, No. 96087. I have, &c, The Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, William Seed, 6, Adelaide Place, London Bridge. Secretary of Customs.

Registbab-Geneeal of Shipping and Seamen, London, to the Secbetabt of Customs, "Wellington Office of the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, Sib, — Adelaide Place, London Bridge, E.C., Ist December, 1873. With reference to your letter of the 27th September last, enclosing Imperial certificate as second mate, JN o. 96087, granted to Thomas Moffatt, in May, 1872; also a certificate as first mate, No. 16, granted to the same person, at New Zealand, in September last, but which was not issued, owing to Moffatt having sailed on his return voyage to London in the " James Nicol Fleming," of Glasgow, official No. 60442 : I herewith return the last-mentioned certificate, which I beg to acquaint you is not valid in this country, under paragraph 5 of the Order in Council dated 9th August, 1872, as Thomas Moffatt, the person to whom it was granted, had not been domiciled in New Zealand, or served in ships registered there, for a period of three years immediately preceding the application for the same. The name has been struck out of the list dated the 26th September, 1873, received by this mail. The Imperial certificate has been retained for delivery to Mr. Moffatt on his arrival in London. I am, &c, Edwabd Howe Coleman, The Secretary of Customs, Wellington, New Zealand. pro Eegistrar-General.

Mr. W. Seed to the Chief Haebotjb Mastee, Dunedin. Customs Department (Marine Branch), Sic, — Wellington, 24th February, 1874. Eeferring to the examination that was passed by Mr. T. Moffatt, of the ship " J. N. Fleming," in Dunedin, for first mate's certificate, I beg to inform you that the certificate which was granted to him has been returned to this office by the Registrar-General of Seamen, London, with the announcement that it is not valid in the United Kingdom, because Mr. Moffatt had not been domiciled in New Zealand, or served in ships registered here, for a period of three years immediately preceding the application for the certificate. "When that application was made, I was informed by the Collector at Dunedin that applicant had been all his time with Captain Logan, had shipped originally at Dunedin, and that his parents were resident there. I inferred from this that Mr. Moffatt really belonged to Dunedin, and that his domicile was unquestionable. I therefore had no hesitation in issuing a certificate to him after he had passed. As the boon granted by the Queen's Order in Council of the 9th August, 1872, which recognizes New Zealand certificates as of equal value with those issued in the United Kingdom, will be greatly diminished if the youths of this colony who ship under circumstances similar to those described above cannot pass their examinations, and obtain their certificates here, I purpose making further represen-