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Enclosure. Sir,— Liverpool, 22nd April, 1912. We are in receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, covering copies of telegrams from the Governor-General of Australia, Governments of New Zealand, New South Wales, and Victoria, expressing their sympathy with the relatives of those lost in the terrible disaster to s.s. " Titanic," and hasten to record our gratitude for the more than kind terms of the messages, which are a great consolation to us in our trouble, and we are certain they will be very highly appreciated by the bereaved relatives, to whom we are communicating the contents. , Might we trouble you to convey to the senders our heartfelt thanks. We are, &c, For Ismay, Imrie, and Co., The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W. A. E. D.

No. 37. New Zealand, No. 130. My Lord,— Downing Street, 30th April, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 382, of the 15th November last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, two copies of a circular issued by the Board of Trade relating to the examination of masters and mates and skippers and second hands in the British mercantile marine. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G-., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosure. Examination of Masters and Mates, Skippers, and Second Hands.—lnstruction to Examiners and Notice to Candidates. Board of Trade (Marine Department), April, 1912. The attention of examiners and candidates is called to the judgments in the case of the steam-trawler " Europe " and the steamship " Grovehurst," in which the duty of a steam-trawler engaged in trawling when approaching another vessel was brought under consideration. The " Europe," a steam-trawler showing the triplex light prescribed in article 9 of the Collision Regulations, was fishing in the North Sea off Flamborough Head, when the steamship "Grovehurst" ran into and sank her. The vessels were crossing, the " Grovehurst " being on the starboard bow of the trawler ; the latter continued on her course, and the " Grovehurst " ran into her starboard side. The case was heard in the Admiralty Division of the High Court on the 17th, 18th, and 21st March, 1910, before Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane, with two Elder Brethren of the Trinity House. The Court pronounced the " Grovehurst " alone to blame. The following is an extract from the judgment: "In my opinion, the whole object of putting into law the necessity for carrying that triplex light is to show vessels approaching not that the trawler will act under the ordinary sea rules, but that she is incapable of following the ordinary sea rules, and that vessels approaching her must keep out of the way." (Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane.) This decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal, to which the case was carried, the appeal beingdismissed. The following are extracts from the judgment:— " I can see no reason for the rule that trawlers should carry the triplex light when the trawl is down but to show vessels approaching that the trawlers with their trawls down must be treated as incapable of obeying the ordinary sea rules, and that therefore other vessels approaching must get out of the trawler's way." (Lord Justice Vaughan-Williams.) " Good seamanship, apart from the regulations, requires that the vessel which is under command shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is not under command. In construing rule 9it is essential to bear that in mind." (Lord Justice Buckley.) " It would seem to be entirely in the interest not only of the fishing community, but also of all those who navigate waters where fishing business is carried on, that there should be no uncertainty as to the course to be pursued, arising from a want of knowledge of the manoeuvring-facilities of a trawler,

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Date. Description. f !2nd April, 1912 From Messrs. Ismay, Imrie, and Co.