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No. 25. New Zealand, No. 176. My Lord,— Downing Street, 9th May, 1913. With reference to my despatch, No. 145, of the 16th May, 1912, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of the Army (Annual) Act, 1913, of the Imperial Parliament. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor His Excellency the Eight Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 180. My Lord, — Downing Street, 15th May, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency the accompanying extract from the Board of Trade Journal announcing the appointment of a committee to advise the President of the Board of Trade as to the attitude which should be adopted by the British representatives at the forthcoming International Conference on Load-lines. 2. As soon as the advice of the committee has been received and considered a draft of the regulations which it is proposed that His Majesty's Government should lay before the Conference as embodying their views on this question will be forwarded to your Government for any criticisms and suggestions which they may desire to offer. If your Government have any objections to the proposed regulations His Majesty's Government will be glad to give the fullest consideration to these objections, and, if necessary, to discuss them with an expert representative or representatives of your Government, who could, if desired, assist the representatives of His Majesty's Government during the conference. 3. I have to add that no date has yet been fixed for the conference. ♦ I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor His Excellency the Eight Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c. Enclosure. [Extract from the Board of Trade Journal, dated 17th April, 1913.] Load-line Committee. The President of the Board of Trade has appointed a committee to advise him as to the attitude which should be adopted by the British representatives at the forthcoming International Conference on Load-lines, and for that purpose to inquire and report whether, and if so in what respects, the tables of freeboard revised in 1906 need further revision in the light of the experience gained since that date of their practical working and effect. The committee is constituted as follows : Sir Philip Watts, X.C.8., F.R.S. (Chairman), Adviser on Naval Construction, Admiralty;- Westcott S. Abell, Esq., Professor of Naval Architecture, University of Liverpool; W. David Archer, Esq., Principal Ship Surveyor, Board of Trade ; Archibald Denny, Esq., LL.D., Chairman of the Committee on Bulkheads and Watertight Compartments ; John Gravell, Esq., chief representative for the United Kingdom, Bureau Veritas ; J. Poster King, Esq., Chief Surveyor, British Corporation for the Survey and Registry of Shipping ; Sir William E. Smith, C.8., late Superintendent of Construction Accounts and Contract Work, Admiralty ; S. J. P. Thearle, Esq., D.Sc, Chief Ship Surveyor, Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping ; and Captain A. H, F. Young, professional member of the Marine Department, Board of Trade. The Secretary to the committee is Mr. C. J. 0. Sanders, of the Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London S.W., to whom all communications relating to the work of the committee should be addressed. No. 27. New Zealand, No. 182. My Lord,— Downing Street, 16th May, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a circular letter sent out from the

Enclosure. [Extract from the Board of Trade Journal, dated 17th April, 1913.] Load-line Committee. The President of the Board of Trade has appointed a committee to advise him as to the attitude which should be adopted by the British representatives at the forthcoming International Conference on Load-lines, and for that purpose to inquire and report whether, and if so in what respects, the tables of freeboard revised in 1906 need further revision in the light of the experience gained since that date of their practical working and effect. The committee is constituted as follows : Sir Philip Watts, X.C.8., F.R.S. (Chairman), Adviser on Naval Construction, Admiralty;- Westcott S. Abell, Esq., Professor of Naval Architecture, University of Liverpool; W. David Archer, Esq., Principal Ship Surveyor, Board of Trade ; Archibald Denny, Esq., LL.D., Chairman of the Committee on Bulkheads and Watertight Compartments ; John Gravell, Esq., chief representative for the United Kingdom, Bureau Veritas ; J. Poster King, Esq., Chief Surveyor, British Corporation for the Survey and Registry of Shipping ; Sir William E. Smith, C.8., late Superintendent of Construction Accounts and Contract Work, Admiralty ; S. J. P. Thearle, Esq., D.Sc, Chief Ship Surveyor, Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping ; and Captain A. H, P. Young, professional member of the Marine Department, Board of Trade. The Secretary to the committee is Mr. C. J. 0. Sanders, of the Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London S.W., to whom all communications relating to the work of the committee should be addressed.

No. 27. New Zealand, No. 182. My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th May, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a circular letter sent out from the