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with a width of 27 in. This material may be used for covering kapok, and during the war it may also be used for covering cork. Any other material must be submitted for approval. 5. Tapes. —The tapes must be of linen or cotton thread web l£in. wide, and capable of bearing a strain of 2001b, and must be securely attached to the cover; the ends of the tapes where they are attached to the cover must be doubled, and the ends displayed. The method of affixing and tying the tapes must be simple and easily understood, and capable of being rapidly carried out. 6. Sewing. —The tops of the cover must be sewn with doubled material, and must be at least as strong as No, 25a five-cord Whittemore cord. All other sewing is to be made with linen thread not less than No. 25. 7. Marking. —All jackets must be marked "Adult's Life-jacket," "Child's Life-jacket," or " Adult or Child's Life-jacket," as the case may be, and must also be marked in such a manner as will indicate clearly the Front and Back in. bold letters not less than 2 in. deep. The maker's name or trade-mark should be on all life-jackets. Life-jackets suitable for- children only should be encircled with a broad red band not less than 2 in. wide. 8. Distribution of Buoyancy. —The buoyancy must be so distributed in the life-jacket that when worn by a person, in the water it will comply with the following conditions : — (a.) When the wearer is inert the position of the body should be as near the vertical as possible, and if there is any tendency to depart from the vertical it should be to throw the head backwards. (b.) The buoyancy of the jacket should be so arranged that it will keep the wearer's head clear of the water when floating in the inert position, (c.) In the event of the wearer through any cause being rendered unconscious the head should be so supported that it would not fall forward and. the face become submerged . The "Adult's" jacket should satisfy these conditions when worn by a man of average size, weighing 10 1 to 11 stone, and the " Child's " when worn by an average-sized boy about eight years of age. 9. Approval of Life-jackets. —Application for test and approval of life-jackets should be made to the Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, Whitehall, S.W, by shipowners desirous of adopting any speciaj type of life-jacket, or by makers; a sample jacket should be forwarded for a test, arrangements for which may then be made, the makers or their representatives usually being notified so that they may be present. When the test is completed a specification form will be supplied by the Board of Trade, which must be correctly filled in. and duly signed by the maker, who must also submit sample photographs in various positions of adjustment, with instructions for adjustment. The specification and photographs, and report on the test by the Board's Surveyors, will then be submitted for the Board's consideration, the result of which will be communicated to the makers, and if the jacket is approved they will be requested to supply a number of copies of the specification and photographs for distribution amongst the Board's Surveyors, and to undertake to provide with all jackets supplied a minimum number of photographs showing adjustment. All life-jackets must strictly comply with the specification and original sample approved by the Board of Trade, and be inspected at the maker's works, or warehouse, or elsewhere by a Surveyor, when a percentage of each batch will be tested by floating them in fresh water with the required amount of iron suspended from them. If found satisfactory they should be stamped with the Surveyor's initials or number, and date of examination. All life-jackets found on board ship may be tested by the Board's Surveyor, whether previously approved or not, and may be tested as to condition, or to ascertain what weight of iron they will support, and if found deficient a report will be made to the Board of Trade, who reserve the power at any time to withdraw their approval, of an approved life-jacket. A fee of £1, with the Surveyor's expenses, will be charged when application is made for testing any special type of life-jacket for Board of Trade approval. 10. Cancellation of Previous Instructions. —This circular supersedes circular No. 1459, dated December, 1908, which is hereby cancelled. C. Hipwood, Assistant Secretary. Board of Trade, Marine Department, April, 1916.

No. 37. New Zealand, No. 433. My Lord, — Downing Street, 13th June, 1916. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that I have expressed my approval of a proposal submitted by the Governor of British Honduras for the imposition, of a war-tax of 1 cent on letters addressed to destinations within the Empire, and that, in order to avoid delay, the tax has been brought into force as from the Ist April last. The new rates of postage on such letters (which rates also apply to letters to the United States

A.-l, 1917, No. 39.

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