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Master: Paper on navigation and nautical astronomy, 3 hours; nautical astronomy and trigonometry, 2 hours; chart work, 3 hours; sumner problem and meteorology paper, 2 hours; compass-deviation, 1A hours; naval architecture, 1£ hours; essay, 2 hours. Extra master : Paper on navigation and nautical astronomy, 3 hours; nautical astronomy and trigonometry, 2 hours; chart-construction, 3 hours; chart work, 2 hours; naval architecture and stability, 3 hours; magnetism, 2 hours; general knowledge, 3 hours; essay on meteorology or other subject as may be selected, 2 hours. Home-trade mate : Arithmetic paper, 2 hours; chart work, 3 hours. Home-trade master: Arithmetic paper, 2 hours; chart work, 3 hours; nautical astronomy and deviation questions, 3 hours. C. Hipwood, Board of Trade, Marine Department, July, 1916. Assistant Secretary.

Board of Trade (Marine Department), 7 Whitehall Gardens, London S.W, Sir,— 25th August, 1916. I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit herewith six copies of a circular announcing certain forthcoming changes in the Regulations for the Examination of Masters and Mates, and I am to suggest that similar modifications should be adopted in the examinations of candidates in for certificates of competency of Imperial validity. A few of the changes come into force on the Ist October, 1916, but the more important modifications of the examinations will not come into operation until the Ist January, 1918. The Board think it desirable that the examinations for masters' and mates' certificates which have Imperial validity should, as far as possible, be uniform throughout His Majesty's dominions, and that the revised scheme of examination which has been found desirable and necessary should be brought into operation everywhere at the same date —namely, Ist January, 1918. With this object in view the Board's Principal Examiner of Masters and Mates will have pleasure in providing you, if you will notify the Board that you desire them, with complete sets of papers for the new examinations in sufficient time to enable copies to be printed by that date, and also in furnishing you from time to time in future with further sets of papers for use in the examinations in order to ensure variety in the examination, and to make it more effective as a test of competency. The problems contained in these papers will be based on the " Nautical Almanac abridged for the Use of Seamen " for the year 1918, and on the Admiralty Tide-tables for the year 1917. If, therefore, it is desired that sets of papers shall be supplied to you as suggested it will be necessary to provide a sufficient number of copies of those publications for use in the examinationrooms. Adequate precautions must be taken to prevent any examination-papers supplied by the Board of Trade, or printed locally, from getting into the hands of the public. I am, &c, C Hipwood.

No. 60. New Zealand, No. 809. My Lord,— Downing Street, 10th October, 1916. With reference to my despatch, No. 570, of the 27th July, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, a, copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia respecting the scheme for the organization and development of scientific and industrial research. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

Enclosure. Commonwealth of Australia, Governor-General's Office, Melbourne, Sir,— 31st July, 1916. With reference to your despatch of the 29th March, 1916, No. 293, on the subject of the proposal to make the scheme of His Majesty's Government for the organization and development of scientific and industrial research applicable to the whole Empire, I have the honour to inform you that in December last the Commonwealth Government invited the Ministers of Agriculture of the several States, and representatives of the Australian universities, associated Chambers of Manufactures and of Commerce, and of the mining industry, to meet in Melbourne to discuss the question of taking steps to develop the primary and secondary industries of the Commonwealth. The Conference, which was presided over by the Prime Minister, was held on the sth and 6th January, 1916, and a Committee of the Conference was appointed to formulate proposals to the Government. Six copies of the report of that Committee are attached hereto,

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