52

if so, in what terms the instructions or recommenda-
tions should be sent to them; I am to request you to
call the attention of Mr. Secretary Cardwell to the
accompanying translation of a French Imperial Decree
published in the Moniteur of the 7th instant, whereby
the adoption of the “Commercial Code of Signals” is
notified, and its exclusive use ordered for the French
Merchant Navy, after a date to be hereafter fixed.

The Signal Book and the Mercantile Navy List is
also to be furnished to all French vessels of war for
communicating with merchant vessels.

Under these circumstances, and as it is probable
that the Commercial Code will, in time, become the
universal code for merchant vessels of all countries,
my Lords are of opinion that Her Majesty’s Govern-
ment ought to make every endeavour to facilitate the
interchange of communication with French and other
vessels employing the Commercial Code, by promot-
ing the use of the Code in our Colonies and
Dependencies; and my Lords would suggest that in
drawing the attention of the Governors of Her
Majesty’s possessions abroad to the Decree in
question, Mr. Cardwell should impress upon the several
Governments that it has now become a matter of
importance that all master attendants and harbour
masters, and all signal stations within their respective
jurisdiction, should be provided with sets of the flags
and balls for communicating by the Code, and that
they should also be furnished annually with the
Signal Book and Mercantile Navy List, which are
now combined in one volume.

I am to add, that if in any Colony or Possession
there should be any port, place, or signal station of
any importance, the name of which does not at present
appear in the geographical table of the Signal Book, a
representation of the fact should be made to the Home
Government, in order that the name may be added in
the next edition, if the necessity is shown.

I have, &c.,

JAMES BOOTH,
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.

Decree of the Emperor of the French for the exclusive use of The Commercial Code of Signals for All Nations.

Napoleon, &c., have decreed, and do decree, as
follows:—

Art. 1. The Commercial Code of Signals for all
Nations, such as has been adopted by the Anglo-
French Commission, shall be the only one employed
for the interchange of communication with French
vessels, either amongst themselves, and with the
semaphores, or with the vessels of other nations.

Art. 2. Every vessel of our Imperial Navy, and
every semaphore on the coast of France, should be
provided with the vocabulary of flags, and other
objects necessary for the exchange of communica-
tions with vessels belonging to the French Mercantile
Marine and foreigners, according to the system
determined by the said Code.

Art. 3. Our ships of war will continue to communi-
cate with each other, and with the French semaphores,
by means of signals at present in use in the Imperial
Marine.

Art. 4. Specimens of the work will be sent, under
the direction of our Secretary of State of the Marine
and Colonies, to the Chambers of Commerce at the
different ports:

1st. The Vocabulary of the Commercial Code of
Signals, as well as the list of French and Foreign
vessels, and their official numbers in the Commercial
Code of Signals;

2nd. List of French Semaphores.

Specimens will also be sent to the Chambers of
Commerce:—

1st. Of the Universal Series of Flags contained in
the Commercial Code of Signals;

2nd. Of the Black Balls used in signalling at a
great distance.

Art. 5. The details of the telegraphic transmission
of commercial despatches received from vessels, or
transmitted by the semaphores, will be regulated by
ulterior arrangements concerted by our Ministers,
Secretaries of the State of the Interior, and of the
Marine.

Art. 6. An order of our Minister, the Secretary of
State, shall determine the day from the date of which
the Commercial Code of Signals shall be exclusively
employed.

Art. 7. All rules contrary to the present decree are
and remain abrogated.

Tuileries, June 25th, 1864.

SUBSCRIPTIONS will be at the rate of £1 per
annum, or 5s. per quarter, payable in advance to the
Publisher. Single copies of the Gazette not to exceed
6d. Subscriptions can commence at any time, but
must terminate not later than 31st December, 1865.

PRIVATE ADVERTISEMENTS will be charged at
the rate of 6d. per line. Late Advertisements, 1s.

THE GAZETTE is published every Wednesday
morning, and Notices for Insertion must be received
at the Superintendent’s Office not later than 2 o’clock
p.m. on the Tuesday preceding. Advertisements
received after that hour will be charged 1s. per line.
Any irregularity in the receipt of those Gazettes
which are given gratis by the Government should be
reported at once to the Provincial Secretary.

Printed for the Provincial Government by DANIEL CAMPBELL, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.