4044
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
No. 121

As a state of war now exists with Germany and Austria-Hungary, His Majesty’s diplomatic and consular officers in those countries can no longer exercise their functions. The United States Government have, however, been good enough to authorize the United States Ambassador and consuls in Germany and Austria-Hungary to give protection to British subjects so far as international law allows.

Inquiries with regard to British subjects in Germany and Austria-Hungary should be addressed to the Foreign Office and not to the United States Embassy or consulates, and they should contain the same information as in the case of inquiries respecting British subjects in neutral countries. These inquiries will be sent to the United States Embassy, who will endeavour to communicate them to the American representatives in Germany and Austria-Hungary, by the best route available, for such action as may be possible.

With regard to British subjects in Belgium and Luxembourg, the United States Embassy have agreed to instruct the American consular representatives in the districts in which His Majesty’s diplomatic and consular officers are no longer able to exercise their functions, to do the best they can for their welfare.

It is quite impossible to make special inquiries, either by post or telegraph, as to the safety or whereabouts of any particular private individuals either in neutral or enemy countries, whatever may be their official or other standing. This applies even to cases where expenses are guaranteed.

The Foreign Office is also unable to undertake the transmission of money or letters to private individuals. Persons wishing to transmit funds to relatives or friends abroad should consult their bankers.

The Foreign Office has been frequently pressed to advise or make suggestions with regard to the route by which British subjects will be able to reach this country, and even to forecast the duration of the war. It is impossible to reply to such questions.

It must be remembered that all postal and telegraphic communication with the Continent is either totally interrupted or greatly delayed. Persons having relatives or friends abroad, especially in allied or neutral States, should not, therefore, be alarmed if they do not receive news of their friends for some time to come.

All direct communication with British subjects in Germany and Austria-Hungary is of course quite out of the question.

The question of an exchange of British women, children, and non-combatants is forming the subject of negotiations with the German and Austro-Hungarian Governments through the United States Government. As soon as a decision is arrived at, an announcement will be made in the House of Commons and the Press. A statement on this subject was made in the House of Commons on the 31st August.

Foreign Office, September 1, 1914.

Notice warning People off Motuihi Island.

Department of Defence,
Wellington, 9th November, 1914.

MOTUIHI Island, Auckland, having been taken over by the Defence Department as a place for the internment of prisoners of war, notice is hereby given that no person is permitted to land on or approach the island without first obtaining permission from the Defence Authorities.

Any persons disregarding this notice will be fired upon by the guard.

J. ALLEN,
Minister of Defence.

Subsidies to Public Libraries.

Education Department,
Wellington, November, 1914.

NOTICE is hereby given that the sum of £4,000 has been voted by Parliament for distribution to public libraries.

The distribution will take place about the 1st March, 1915, and no claim will be entitled to consideration that shall not have been sent in in due form and received by the Secretary for Education, Wellington, on or before the 26th January, 1915.

1. A library to be entitled to a subsidy must be public in the sense of belonging to the public, and of not being under the control of an association, society, or club whose membership is composed of a section of the community only, and if within a borough it must be open to the public free of charge. The receipts for the year from subscriptions and donations must not have been less than £2, exclusive of moneys received from endowments, or from Government, or from Borough or County Councils, or for special building purposes, or as rent, hire, or consideration for the use of any room, or building, or land belonging to the institution, in respect of none of which will subsidy be allowed. The net proceeds of concerts, lectures, or other entertainments on behalf of the current expenses of the library will be regarded as voluntary contributions. A subsidy will not be given to more than one library in the same town.

2. In the division of the vote a nominal addition of £25 will be made to the amount of the income of each library derived from subscriptions, donations, and rates, and the vote will be divided according to the amounts thus augmented; but no library will receive credit for a larger income than £75—that is, in no case will the augmented amount on which distribution is based exceed £100.

3. The whole of the subsidy must be expended without delay in the purchase of books for the library.

4. It is particularly enjoined upon the authorities in charge of the public libraries concerned that a due proportion of the books purchased shall be books having a permanent value—that is, on books of more than merely passing interest.

5. Application to share in the distribution must be by means of a statutory declaration by the Chairman, or Secretary, or Treasurer of the institution on behalf of which it is made, and must be accompanied by a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the institution for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1914; and such declaration must be on the form provided for the purpose, which form shall be as follows:—

DECLARATION.

I, [Name], of [Place of abode], [Occupation], do solemnly and sincerely declare that I am Chairman [or Secretary, or Treasurer] of the [Name of institution]; that during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1914, the receipts of the aforesaid institution for the maintenance of the library only were as follows: From rates levied by a local governing body under Part I of the Libraries and Mechanics’ Institutes Act, 1908, or the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, pounds shillings and pence; from the subscriptions of members, pounds shillings and pence; and from voluntary contributions other than members’ subscriptions, pounds shillings and pence; that the library is public in the sense of belonging to the public, and is not under the control of an association, society, or club whose membership is composed of a section of the community only; that the information hereinafter furnished by me in the appendix hereto is correct in every particular; that the abstract of accounts is a true statement of the receipts and expenditure of the institution for the year herein specified; that the whole of the subsidy received during the year was expended in the purchase of books for the library; [and that by the rules of the library it is open to the public free of charge].

And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1908.

[Signature.]

Declared at , this day of , 191 , before me— , Justice of the Peace [or Solicitor, or Notary Public].

[Here affix and cancel a stamp at 2s. 6d.]

[NOTE.—The words relating to last year’s subsidy and to free admission may be struck out if they are not applicable. The words in brackets are not part of the form, but indicate matter to be inserted or substituted.]

6. Copies of the form of application may be obtained from the Secretary for Education, Wellington, and from the Secretary of any Education Board.

JAMES ALLEN,
Minister of Education.

Inventions relating to Arms and Munitions of War, &c.

Justice Department,
Wellington, 27th October, 1914.

THE attached Appendices to Imperial Army Orders are published for general information.

A. L. HERDMAN.

MEMORANDUM FOR INVENTORS (APPROVED BY THE WAR OFFICE, LONDON, AND ADOPTED FOR USE IN NEW ZEALAND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE).

1. Instructions how to submit.—Persons who desire to submit any invention for the consideration of the Army Council should do so by letter addressed to the Secretary, War Office, London.