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sections two and three of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1894, and section one of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1896, which give powers with reference to the protection of wild birds and their eggs, without any application or representation from the Council of any county or county borough. 5. In this Act — The expression " plumage " includes the skin or body of a bird with the plumage on it : The expression " sell " includes exchange and let out on hire : The expression " importer " has the same meaning as in the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876. 6. This Act may be cited as the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1913, and shall come into operation on the first day of January, nineteen hundred and fourteen. SCHEDULE. Ostriches. Eider ducks.

No. 57. New Zealand, No. 303. My Lord, — Downing Street, 12th August, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for communication to your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, forwarding copies of a memorandum on the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain and certain other countries during the year 1912. 2. Your Ministers will observe that the Board of Agriculture ask that the memorandum may be put into the hands of the agricultural correspondents of the principal newspapers. I have, &c, r L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c. Enclosures. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, SIE _ 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 31st July, 1913. I am directed by the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to enclose 100 copies of a statement which Mr. Runciman has had prepared, describing in general terms the course of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which occurred in Great Britain last year ; the measures which were successfully taken to cope with the outbreak ; and the organization which exists in Great Britain for dealing with foot-and-mouth disease when it is introduced into this country. Mr. Eunciman is desirous that the facts contained in this memorandum should as far as possible be brought to the notice of stockowners, who may be purchasers of British pedigree stock, in the dominions to which such stock are usually exported, in any considerable numbers, as he thinks that such information would tend to create confidence on the part of such buyers in the satisfactory sanitary condition of live-stock in this country, and demonstrate that importers of live animals from Great Britain run little or no risk of introducing disease amongst their stock by such means. With this object in view, Mr. Runciman would be obliged if the Secretary of State could see his way to cause copies of the memorandum to be sent to the Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, the Union of South Africa, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Dominion of New Zealand, in order that it might be arranged that the documents should be put into the hands of the agricultural correspondents of the principal newspapers in the dominions named, and also presented officially to the Governments of such dominions with a view to its wide circulation throughout the dominion concerned. I am to add that a further supply of the memorandum can be sent to you if required. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Sydney Olivier. Memorandum on Outbreak of Foot-and-mouth Disease in Great Britain and certain Other Countries during the Year 1912. Narrative Account of the Epidemic. Great Britain had been completely free from foot-and-mouth disease for more than six months, when, on Sunday, the 23rd June, 1912, the following telegram was received by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries : " Veterinary Inspector, Penrith, suspects foot-and-mouth disease on farm, Sarah Bellas, Bellmount, two miles from Penrith ; six cows affected.—Superintendent." The Board immediately instructed' one of their veterinary officers to proceed to Penrith in order to investigate the report. Meanwhile, every possible precaution was taken on the spot by the local authority's Inspector and the police to prevent the spread of infection ; Bellmount Farm and two adjoining farms were placed under restrictions prohibiting the movement .of animals, manure, &c, and police officers were stationed at convenient points to prevent any unauthorized person entering upon the premises or leaving them

A.-l, 1914. No. 29.

Enclosures. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, $ m ,— 4 Whitehall Place, London S.W., 31st July, 1913. I am directed by the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to enclose 100 copies of a statement which Mr. Runciman has had prepared, describing in general terms the course of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which occurred in Great Britain last year ; the measures which were successfully taken to cope with the outbreak ; and the organization which exists in Great Britain for dealing with foot-and-mouth disease when it is introduced into this country. Mr. Runciman is desirous that the facts contained in this memorandum should as far as possible be brought to the notice of stockowners, who may be purchasers of British pedigree stock, in the dominions to which such stock are usually exported, in any considerable numbers, as he thinks that such information would tend to create confidence on the part of such buyers in the satisfactory sanitary condition of live-stock in this country, and demonstrate that importers of live animals from Great Britain run little or no risk of introducing disease amongst their stock by such means. With this object in view, Mr. Runciman would be obliged if the Secretary of State could see his way to cause copies of the memorandum to be sent to the Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, the Union of South Africa, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Dominion of New Zealand, in order that it might be arranged that the documents should be put into the hands of the agricultural correspondents of the principal newspapers in the dominions named, and also presented officially to the Governments of such dominions with a view to its wide circulation throughout the dominion concerned. I am to add that a further supply of the memorandum can be sent to you if required. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Sydney Olivier. Memorandum on Outbreak of Foot-and-mouth Disease in Great Britain and certain Other Countries during the Year 1912. Narrative Account of the Epidemic. Great Britain had been completely free from foot-and-mouth disease for more than six months, when, on Sunday, the 23rd June, 1912, the following telegram was received by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries : " Veterinary Inspector, Penrith, suspects foot-and-mouth disease on farm, Sarah Bellas, Bellmount, two miles from Penrith ; six cows affected. —Superintendent." The Board immediately instructed one of their veterinary officers to proceed to Penrith in order to investigate the report. Meanwhile, every possible precaution was taken on the spot by the local authority's Inspector and the police to prevent the spread of infection ; Bellmount Farm and two adjoining farms were placed under restrictions prohibiting the movement .of animals, manure, &c, and police officers were stationed at convenient points to prevent any unauthorized person entering upon the premises or leaving them