May 20.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1075

under the conditions published in the Queen’s Regulations and Admiralty instructions.

Pensions to Widows.

The widows and children of engineer officers who had completed ten years’ commissioned service are eligible, under stipulated conditions, to pensions and compassion-ate-allowances.

The rates payable and the regulations governing their award are published in the Queen’s Regulations and the Quarterly Naval List.

Relative Rank.

Engineer students rank with naval cadets according to date of entry.

Assistant engineers rank with sub-lieutenants according to date of commission.

Engineers of less than six years’ seniority rank with, but after, lieutenants under eight years’ seniority.

Engineers of six years’ seniority rank with lieutenants of less than eight years’ seniority according to date of commission.

Chief engineers rank with, but after, lieutenants of eight years’ seniority.

Staff engineers rank with lieutenants above eight years’ seniority.

Fleet engineers rank with commanders according to date of commission.

Inspectors of machinery under eight years’ service on full pay as such rank with captains under three years.

Inspectors of machinery of eight years’ service on full pay as such rank with captains of three years. The captain to reckon his seniority from the date of completing three years in that rank. The inspector of machinery to reckon his seniority from the date of completing eight years’ service as such.

Chief inspectors of machinery rank with captains of three years’ seniority according to date of commission.

MEMORANDUM AS TO THE PAY, ETC., OF THE ROYAL CORPS OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTORS.

1. The number, the designation, and the salaries of the members of the corps are as follow:—

Admiralty.—Director of naval construction, £1,500 a year, rising to £1,800 after five years’ service. One senior chief constructor, £850 a year, rising to £1,000 by £50 a year, and a London allowance of £150 a year. One chief constructor, £850 a year, rising to £1,000 by £50 a year and a London allowance of £150 a year. Two chief constructors, £700 a year, rising to £850 by £25 a year, and a London allowance of £150 a year. Three constructors, £400 a year, rising to £550 by £20 a year, and a London allowance of £120 a year. Six assistant constructors, first class, £300 a year, rising to £450 by £15 a year; duty-pay of £50 a year to assistant constructor in charge of foreign records; duty-pay of £50 a year to assistant constructor acting for chief constructor. One assistant constructor, first class (for scientific experiments), £250 a year, rising to £300 a year by £15 a year. Eight assistant constructors, second class, £160 a year, rising to £240 by £10 a year, and a London allowance of £50 a year.

Dockyards.—Three chief constructors, Chatham, Portsmouth, and Devonport Dockyards, £700 a year, rising to £850 by £25 a year, and a house. Two chief constructors, Sheerness and Pembroke Dockyards, £600 a year, rising to £750 by £25 a year, and a house. One chief constructor, Malta Dockyard, £650 a year, rising to £800 by £25 a year, and a house. One chief constructor, Hong Kong, £600 a year, rising to £750 by £25 a year; a house, or an allowance of $1,066⅔ a year in lieu thereof; and a colonial allowance of $1,066⅔ a year. Seven constructors, £400 a year, rising to £550 by £20 a year, and a house. One constructor, Bermuda, £400 a year, rising to £550 by £20 a year, a house, and a colonial allowance of £100 a year. Ten assistant constructors, first-class, £250 a year, rising to £300 by £15 a year. One assistant constructor, first-class, Hong Kong, £250 a year, rising to £300 by £15 a year, a house-allowance of $800 a year, and a colonial allowance of $533⅓ a year. Seventeen assistant constructors, second-class, £160 a year, rising to £240 by £10 a year. Nine assistant constructors, third-class, £110 a year, rising to £150 by £10 a year.

While appointed for service at sea, they shall have the rank of assistant engineer for temporary service, and pay at the rate of 7s. 6d. per day, being the same as that of assistant engineers who have passed through a similar training.

They shall be paid a gratuity of £50 for uniform and outfit.

While appointed for service at sea, their time shall count for purposes of civil superannuation.

All regulations as to pay, pension, retired-pay, allowances, are subject to alterations. [Defence, 97/1264.

Resignation of Volunteer Officer.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 14th May, 1897.

HIS Excellency the Administrator of the Government has been pleased to accept the resignation of the commission held by the under-mentioned officer:—

Wainiea Rifle Volunteers.

Captain Henry Wratt. Date of resignation, 12th April, 1897.

W. C. WALKER,
For Defence Minister.

Notice to Local Authorities under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886.”

The Treasury,
Wellington, 2nd April, 1897.

PURSUANT to section 16 of “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” the Colonial Treasurer hereby gives notice that on Wednesday, the 26th May, 1897, he will be prepared to consider applications from local authorities for loans under the Act.

Applications should be addressed to the Colonial Treasurer, and must be posted so as to arrive at the Treasury on or before the 25th May, 1897.

Applications received between the present date and the 25th May next will be considered on the 26th May, 1897.

R. J. SEDDON,
Colonial Treasurer.

New Zealand Hemp.—Notice No. 478.

Department of Agriculture,
Wellington, 30th March, 1897.

THE time for receiving applications for the bonuses mentioned in Notice No. 430 has been extended to 31st December, 1897.

JOHN McKENZIE,
Minister for Agriculture.

Bonuses for Encouragement of New Zealand Hemp (Phormium tenax) Industry.—Notice No. 430.

Department of Agriculture,
Wellington, 1st November, 1895.

Bonus No. 1.

A BONUS of £1,750 is offered for a machine or process for dressing New Zealand hemp (Phormium tenax) which shall be an improvement on the machines or processes now in use, and which shall, after trial, be found to materially reduce the cost of production, improve the product, or increase the quantity of dressed fibre.

The following are the conditions:—

1. All applications for the bonus must be sent addressed to the Hon. the Minister for Agriculture, Wellington, and must reach him not later than the 31st December, 1897. Each application must be accompanied by a description of the machine or process, particularly stating improvements on present machines or processes, and also the cost at which the machine or process can be supplied.

2. The applicants must be prepared to submit their machines or processes to examination at such time and place as the Government may direct.

3. The Government shall appoint a committee of three or more experts, to whom all applications shall be submitted. Such committee shall, after perusal, state what machines or processes they deem worthy of consideration, and may inspect the same at any place within the colony; and, having so inspected the whole or any of them, may direct that the whole or any of them be brought for further trial to such place as they may think fit.

The cost of bringing the machines or appliances on to the ground, from within the colony, supplying the necessary shafting, motive-power, and buildings, to be defrayed by the Government. If any machine sent from beyond the colony is awarded the bonus or part thereof, then the cost of bringing such machine shall be borne by the Government.

The following shall be the basis of the test:—

The committee shall supply a sufficient and equal quantity of green hemp to each machine or process as a test.

The committee shall take into consideration—

The time occupied by each machine or process in the operation;

The cost of labour and time required after the fibre has left the machine or process before it is ready for baling;

The percentage of dressed fibre and tow produced by each machine or process;