FURTHER DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1881 Session I, A-02b

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1881. NEW ZEALAND.

FURTHER DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the Souse of Bepresentatives in compliance loith an Address to His Excellency the Governor.

No. 1. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon. (New Zealand, No. 1.) Sir, — Downing Street, 12th January, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of an Act of the New Zealand Legislature, No. 38, of 1880, entitled " An Act to amend and consolidate the Law relating to the Native Land Court," transmitted by Chief Justice Prendergast in his Despatch No. 59 of the 10th of September last, and also of a further Despatch No. 62, of the 11th September, enclosing a protest from certain members of the Legislative Council against this Act. 2. Before proceeding to tender any advice to Her Majesty with regard to the Act in question, I request that I may receive further information respecting certain points in connection with it. 3. Under "The Native Land Act, 1873," the Assessors of the Native Land Court were required to be aboriginal natives. This qualification does not appear to be expressly required by the new Act, and I should be glad to be informed whether the Assessors will continue to be Natives. 4. I also observe that, whereas the power to order a rehearing was by the Act of 1873 vested in the Governor in Council, it is by the present Act vested in the Chief Judge of the Court, and that the period within which an application for rehearing may be made is reduced from six months to three months. Even the longer of these periods is considered to be insufficient by the members of the Legislative Council who have protested against the Act. I should wish to be furnished with an explanation of the reasons for these changes. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G., KIMBERLEY. &c, &c.

No. 2. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon. (New Zealand, No. 2.) Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd January, 1881. I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her powers of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the Legislature of New Zealand, transcripts of which accompanied Chief Justice Prendergast's Despatch No. 59, of the 10th September last:— I—A. 2b.

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No. 1. An Act to validate certain Proclamations ; No. 2. An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the Publi Account to the Service of the Year ending th Thirty-first day of March, One thousand e'gh hundred and eighty-one; No. 3. An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the Publi Account to the Service of the Year ending th Thirty-first day of March, One thousand eigh hundred and eighty-one; No. 4. An Act to provide for the Further Detention, for a Limited Time, of certain Natives, now in Custody in Her Majesty's Gaols (Temporary) ; No. 5. An Act for raising the Sum of Two Hundred Thou sand Pounds by Treasury Bills, and for extending; the Currency of certain Treasury Bills ; No. 6. An Act to authorize the Detention fora Limited Time of certain Native Prisoners ; No. 1. An Act to apply a Sum or Money out of the Public Account to the Service of the Year ending the Thirty-first day of March, One thousand eigbj hundred and eighty-one ; No. 8. An Act to amend " The Land Transfer Act, 1870 ;" No. 9. An Act to amend " The Census Act, 1877;" No. 10. An Act to consolidate the Laws of New Zealand relating to Aliens ; No. 11. An Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ; No. 12. An Act to consolidate certain Laws affecting Trade and Commerce; No. 13. An Act to consolidate the Laws regulating the Importation, Sale, and other Disposition of Arms, Gunpowder, and Warliko Stores ; No. 14. An Afit to consolidate the Law for the Protection of the Property of Married Women in certain cases; No. 15. An Act for compensating the Families of Persons killed by Accidents; No. 16. An Act for consolidating the Law relating to Juries; No. 17. An Act to consolidate the Laws relating to Building Societies ; No. 18. An Act to consolidate the Law for the Protection of Animals and for the Encouragement of Acclimatization Societies ; No. 19. An Act to consolidate the Law relating to Securities affecting Personal Chattels ; No. 20. An Act to consolidate the Law for preventing the Adulteration of Food or Drugs, and for regulating the Manufacture and Sule of Bread ; No. 21. An Act to consolidate the Law of Marriage in New Zealand; No. 22. An Act to consolidate certain Laws relating to Banks and Bankers; No. 23. An Act to facilitate the remedies on Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Cheques, and other Contracts in Writing; No. 24. An Act to compel the Registration of Dogs ; No. 25. An Act to regulate the Branding of Stock, and the Registration of the Brands used for that Purpose ; No. 26. An Act to establish a Board of Pharmacy in New Zealand ; No. 27. An Act to amend "The Crown Grants Amendment Act, 1870; " No. 28. An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the Public Account to the Service of the Year ending the Thirty-first day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one ; No. 29. An Act to validate certain Proclamations purporting to have been made under " The Diseased Cattle Act, 1871;" No. 30. An Act to amend " The Joint Stock Companies Act, I860;" No. 31. An Act to render effectual the Remedies of Judgment Creditors against.the Real Estate of their Judgment Debtors; No. 32. An Act in Explanation of " The New Zealand University Reserves Act, 1875 ;" No. 33. An Act to amend the Law relating to District Courts ; No. 34. An Act to provide for the Registration of Dentists qualified to practice in New Zealand ; No. 35. An Act to regulate the Administration of Reserves and Endowments made for Colleges and High Schools, and to provide for the Application of the Proceeds thereof; No. 36. An Act to make Provision for the Trial of Election Petitions ; No. 37. An Act to provide for the Destruction of Rabbits in New Zealand ; No. 39. An Act to empower the Governor to settle Outstanding Questions on the West Coast of the Korth Island of New Zealand j No. 40. An Act to provide for the Settlement of certain Natives in the District of Waikato;

No. 41. An Act to alter the Duties of Customs ; No. 42. Act to amend " The Stamp Act, 1875 ;" No. 43. An Act to provide for the Collection by means of Stamps of Fees payable in the various Departments of the Public Service ; No. 44. An Act to impose an Excise Duty on Beer; No. 45. An Act to amend " The Property Assessment Act, 1879;" No. 46. An Act to amend " The Counties Act, 1876 ; " No. 47. An Act to amend "The Electric Telegraph Act, 1875 s" No. 48. An Act to amend the several Acts relating to Municipal Corporations ;" No. 49. An Act to protect the Goods of Lodgers against Distresses for Rent due to the Superior Landlord ;" No. 50. An Act to make Provision for Sites for Native Schools;" No. 51. An Act to amend the Financial Arrangements Acts; No. 52. An Act to amend " The Public Revenues Act, 1878-" No. 53. An Act to authorize a Deduction of Ten per Centum from Salaries fixed by Permanent Acts of the General Assembly (Temporary) ; No. 54. An Act to amend certain Acts relating to Public Works; No. 55. An Act to appropriate certain Sums of Money for the purposes of Immigration and Public Works ; No. 56. An Act to apply a Sum of Money out of the Consolidated Fund and other Moneys to the Service of the Year ending the Thirty-first day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, and to appropriate the Supplies granted in this present Session. Local Acts. No. 1. An Act to provide for the Revision of one of the Boundary Lines of the Ahuaturanga Block of Land in the Upper Manawatu District; No. 2. An Act to enable the Bluff Harbour Board to Lease the Bluff Harbour Foreshore, or any Portion or Portions thereof; No. 3. An Act to amend " The Port Molyneux Reserves Leasing Act, 1876;" No. 4. An Act to enable the Sydenham Borough Council to make and maintain such Parts of the City of Christehurch Town Belt as adjoin the Boundaries of the Borough of Sydenham, and for other Purposes ; No. 5. An Act to amend " The Public Health Act, 1876 >" No. 6. An Act to amend "The Inch Clutha Act, 1878;" No. 7. An Act to transfer the Thames Water Supply to the Mayor, Councillors, and Burgesses of the Borough of the Thames; No. 8. An Act to authorize the Municipal Council of the Incorporated Town of Oamaru to raise Money for the purpose of completing the Waterworks for the Supply of the Town with Water ;" No. 9. An Act to authorize the Grant and Transfer of a certain Parcel of Land in the Borough of Invercargill in trust for the use of the Invercargill Volunteers, and to make provision for the Control and Management of the said Land; No. 10. An Act to declare valid Rates made under " The Otago Roads Ordinance, 1871," although Road Districts have not been proclaimed into Subdivisions ; No. 11. An Act to amend " The Auckland College and Grammar School Act, 1877 ;" No. 12. An Act to amend " The Nelson Gas and Waterworks Sale Act, 1877;" No. 13. An Act to amend " The Christehurch District Drainage Act, 1875 ;" No. 14. An Act to alter the Constitution of the Board of Conservators of the South Waimakariri ,River District ; No. 15. An Act to authorize the Governor to cancel certain Grants from the Crown to the Wanganui Harbour and River Conservators Board, and to issue other Grants in lieu thereof, and to alter and extend the Boundaries and Area of a certain Piece of Land authorized to be granted, but not yet granted, to the said Wanganui Harbour and River Conservators Board ; !Jo. 16. An Act to validate Proceedings heretofore had in relation to the Special Settlement at Jackson's Bay, in the Provincial District of Westland, and to regulate the future Administration of the said Settlement; tfo. 17. An Act to grant certain Special Powers to the Governor to issue Crown Grants, and to enable him to carry out certain Contracts and Promises; Ho. 18. An Act to amend " The Taranaki Iron-Smeltinff Works Lands Act, 1874;"

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No. 19. An Act to incorporate certain Boroughs in the Provincial District of Otago; No. 20. An Act to extend the operation of " The Canterbury Roads Ordinance Amendment Act, 1877," in certain cases; No. 21. An Act to vest certain Land in the Wellington Harbour Board, and also to vest certain other Land in the Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of the City of Wellington ; No. 22. An Act to enable the Hokitika Harbour Board to raise a Loan of Five Thousand Pounds, and to enable the County of Westland and the Boroughs of Hokitika, Ross, and Kumara to raise a Special

Rate for the purpose of providing Interest and Sinking Fund in respect of the said Loan; No. 23. An Act authorizing the Otago Harbour Board to Borrow more Money, and to authorize dealing with the Lands mentioned in the Schedules hereto. Private Acts. No. 2. An Act to amend " The Ashburton County Council Waterworks Act, 1879;" No. 3. An Act to amend " The Malvern Water-race Transfer Act, 1878," and to confer upon the Council of the County of Selwyn special Rating and Borrowing Powers in respect of the said Water-race.

With reference to Local Act No. 18, I request that you will inform the members of the Legislative Council, whose protest against the Act was transmitted in the Despatch No. 62, of the 11th September last, from the Officer Administering the Government, that I duly received this protest, but that I have not deemed it necessary to take any action upon it. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon. ' (New Zealand, No. 20.) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd June, 1881. I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance with respect to the Act of the Legislature of New Zealand entitled "An Act to amend 'The New Zealand Bank Act, 1861,' " a transcript of which accompanied the despatch of the Officer Administering the Government, No. 59, of the 10th of September last. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.O.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

Authority : GrEOBGE Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—1881.