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No. 56. New Zealand, No. 184. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th June, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 144, of the 16th May, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the correspondence noted in the margin regarding the date of celebration of the birthday of His Majesty the King. I have, &c, L. HAECOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

Enclosures. No. 15. The Governor to the Secretary op State. Sir, — State Government House, Melbourne, 12th April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 25, of the 14th February, and to previous correspondence respecting the observance of the birthday of His Majesty the King, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a memorandum on the subject which I have received from the Premier (Mr. Murray). 2. I shall be glad to receive an answer to the question contained in the last paragraph of Mr. Murray's memorandum. I have, &c, John Fuller. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Premier's Office, Melbourne, 4th April, 1912. The Premier presents his duty to Your Excellency, and in returning herewith Colonial Office despatches of the 14th February, 1911, the 3rd August, 1911, and the 14th February, 1912, on the subject of the observance of His Majesty the King's birthday on the actual date, begs to inform Your Excellency that under the provisions of the Public and Bank Holidays Act, 1900, No. 1661, of this State (copy enclosed), it is required, inter alia, that whenever the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty the King falls upon any day other than a Monday, the following Monday shall be observed instead. . . . Mr. Murray will be glad if Your Excellency will be pleased to ascertain whether the observance on the Monday succeeding the actual date will represent compliance with Imperial wishes, or whether the law should be amended so as to provide for the celebration taking place on the actual date of the anniversary of His Majesty's birthday. J. Murray, Premier. Act No. 1661, Victoria. An Act relating to the Observance of certain Public and Bank Holidays. [29th August, 1900.] Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows (that is to say) : — 1. This Act may be cited as the Public and Bank Holidays Act, 1900. 2. Whenever pursuant to any Act any holiday to which this Act applies would fall on any day other than a Monday, then the following Monday shall be observed as a public holiday and bank holiday instead of such day, and the provisions of any Acts relating to public holidays or bank holidays shall be deemed and taken to apply to such Monday. 3. This Act shall apply to the following holidays in each and every year, namely : — The anniversary of the birthday of Her Majesty or her successor for the time being ; and The anniversary of the birthday of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the time being. 4. The Governor in Council may by Order published in the Government Gazette proclaim that there shall be added to the holidays to which this Act applies the twenty-sixth day of January and the twenty-first day of April, or either of them, and thereafter, subject to this Act, the said day or days shall in each and every year be observed as a public holiday and bank holiday.

No. 13. The Governor to the Secretary of State. Sir,— Government House, Hobart, Tasmania, 19th April, 1912. With reference to your despatches, Nos. 50, dated 3rd August, 1911, and 20, dated 14th February, 1912, I have the honour to transmit a communication received from the Premier, referring to the celebration of the anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty King George V in this State, asking me to inquire whether His Majesty will be graciously pleased to accede to the request contained therein. I have, &c, Harry Barron, Governor.