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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1891 Session I, A-01

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1891. NEW ZEALAND.

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

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1, (No. 26.) My Loed,— Wellington, New Zealand, 24th May, 1890. With reference to your Lordship's despatch circular (1) of the 19th November, 1889, forwarding a copy of a declaration made between the United Kingdom and France with reference to the disposal of the proceeds of wrecks on their respective coasts, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that my Government think it desirable that the stipulation of the declaration should be made applicable to this colony. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 2. (No. 30.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, 21st June, 1890. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 31st March last, requesting information as to the means employed in this colony for the transport of civilian sick and injured, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that in some of the principal towns the Police have been instructed in ambulance drill. An Ashford litter has been obtained for use by them in Wellington, but in other places they have to employ the most suitable conveyance which they can procure at the moment. The most complete organization, however, for this and other ambulance purposes is to be found in a branch of the St. John Ambulance Association established at Christchurch in 1885. This society, which, as your Lordship is aware, is conducted on voluntary principles, has in the last five years instructed 300 women and 150 men in rendering " First aid to the injured." Of the men, some fifty belong to the Police and the fire-brigade and to a corps formed at the large railway-workshops at Addington (a suburb of Christchurch), while 100 are scattered about in Christchurch and in various other parts of the Province of Canterbury. The association owns four Ashford litters, with wheels and delicate springs, each provided with a hamper of surgical appliances, which are stationed at the Police, railway, and fire-brigade depots (2) in Christchurch for the benefit of the public in case of accident or sickness. The members of the fire-brigade corps and the Addington workshop corps are thoroughly instructed and experienced in ambulance work. They are accustomed to remove sick and injured persons on the Ashford litters when required, and are authorised to receive a small fee from those who can afford it. It is proposed, when funds are available, to obtain more litters, to be stationed in the suburbs and neighbourhood, as well as a horse-ambulance for use in Christchurch.

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A branch of the association has been in existence for more than a year at Dunedin, and has provided ambulance instruction for a considerable number of persons. An ambulance corps has also been organized there in connection with the railway fire-brigade. Another branch is now being formed at Blenheim. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 3. (No. 31.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, 25th June, 1890. I have the honour to transmit herewith copies of the Speech with which, on the 19th instant, I opened the fourth session of the tenth Parliament of New Zealand, and of the Addresses in Eeply which have been presented to me by the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives respectively. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 4. (No. 33.) My Lord,— Wellington, New Zealand, 28th June, 1890. I have the honour to transmit herewith copies of the Financial Statement made by the Colonial Treasurer, Sir Harry Atkinson, in the House of Representatives, in the Committee of Ways and Means, on the 25th instant. 1 have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c, ONSLOW.

No. 5. (No. 34.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, Ist July, 1890. My Government are anxious to obtain all the information possible as to the practice of marking meat for the purpose of identifying the country of its origin. I am led to believe that the Government of the French Republic have some law or Customs regulation whereby meat imported across the French border is marked in each joint, with a view to enable the purchaser to ascertain whether it is of Home or foreign growth. I shall be obliged if your Lordship will move the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to make inquiries of Lord Lytton for such information as he may be able to supply of the manner in which such marks are made, and whether, in practice, it has been found possible effectually to prevent the introduction of foreign meat without being so marked, and whether any cases have been brought to the notice of the French Government in which the marks have been erased or obliterated. 1 shall also be obliged if your Lordship can furnish me with any information which may be in the possession of the Boards of Trade or Agriculture as to the practice believed to be adopted by the Jewish community for, marking meat killed, according to the requirements of their creed; or any other information which may be in possession of Her Majesty's Government relative to the marking of meat. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 6. (No. 36.) My Loed, — Wellington, New Zealand, Bth July, 1890. With reference to my Despatch No. 37, of the 26th of June, 1889, forwarding the protest and petition to the Queen of Messrs. Donald and Edenborough against the German authorities at Samoa, and also with reference to

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your Lordship's Despatch No. 30, of the 28th September, 1889, enclosing a despatch from the German Foreign Office, in which attention was called to the fact that Messrs. Donald and Edenborough had not as yet laid any substantiated statement of their claim before the Imperial German Government, I have the honour to forward herewith copies of their claim, dated the 24th of May, 1890, in which the total amount of compensation asked for is set down at .£5,663 6s. 4xl. The protest of the 21st of February, 1889, forwarded by my previous despatch, is incorporated by reference into the claim. I have therefore thought it more convenient to send additional copies of the protest herewith, for transmission to the Imperial German Government, together with the claim. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &o. ONSLOW.

No. 7. (No. 38.) My Lobd,— Wellington, New Zealand, 19th July, 1890. I have the honour to enclose copies of the report on the New Zealand Forces by Colonel Humfrey, the Under-Secretary of Defence, and LieutenantColonel Hume, the Inspector of Volunteers, recently presented to Parliament, together with copies of General Edwards's report on the same subject made in November last, on which it is to a large extent based, and which your Lordship may wish to bring under the notice of the Colonial Defence Committee. I would especially call your Lordship's attention to the following paragraphs in the first-mentioned report, and request that you will observe how they are borne out by the corresponding paragraphs in the report of General Edwards : (1.) Paragraphs 8 and 10 of Colonel Humfrey's report, recommending the adoption of the " partially-paid system," compared with paragraph 14 of General Edwards's report. (2.) Paragraphs 15 and 19 of Colonel Humfrey's report, respecting the inefficiency of the Naval and Garrison Artillery Corps in regard to heavy-gun drill, compared with paragraphs 7 and 8 of General Edwards's report. (3.) Paragraph 23 of Colonel Humfrey's report and paragraph 3 of Colonel Hume's report, pointing out the defects of the present system of election of officers in the Volunteers, compared with paragraph 21 of General Edwards's report. I further desire to call your Lordship's attention to the latter part of paragraph 27 of Colonel Humfrey's report, respecting the laxity of the attendance of the Volunteers at the Easter encampment, and the very insufficient excuses which they gave in many instances for their absence. In paragraph 12 of Colonel Hume's report your Lordship will find an account of the various inspections held by General Edwards during his visit here, of which I have already given your Lordship a sketch in my despatch of the Bth November, 1889; and I would request your Lordship to further note paragraph 13, respecting the number of absentees from these inspections, and their proportion to the strength of the corps. Paragraph 29 of General Edwards's report sums up his propositions for the reorganization of the Forces. My Ministers, as well as myself, are fully alive to the existence of the serious defects dealt with by the above reports in the defence system of this portion of Her Majesty's dominions ; and it is proposed this session to introduce a Bill dealing with the whole question, which it is hoped will, if passed, succeed in reducing the system to an efficient state. Every such measure, however, must necessarily involve a certain amount of expenditure, and the fact that the Government have already assented to the reduction of the first vote in the estimates by a small sum, as an indication that the whole of the expenditure shall, after the estimates have been passed, be reduced by £50,000 in such manner as the Government may deem best, does not augur very favourably for the success of a considerable vote in the supplementary estimates for the increase of the efficiency of the Defence Force. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &o. ONSLOW.

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No. 8. (No. 39.) My Loed,— Wellington, New Zealand, 22nd July, 1890. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 25th April, 1890, forwarding a regulation drawn up by the Board of Trade relative to the return of cancelled certificates in the mercantile marine, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the regulation will be adopted in this colony. My Government are, however, desirous to know under what circumstances cancelled certificates are reissued, and what length of service, if any, is required subsequent to the cancellation. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW T .

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t No. 9. (No. 41.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, sth August, 1890. 3 With reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 28, of the 29th May last, respecting the appointment of Mr. John Duncan as Consul for Portugal at Wellington, I have the honour to inform you that I am not aware of any objection to this appointment, and that I have accordingly recognised Mr. Duncan provisionally in that capacity, pending the arrival of the exequatur. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

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No. 10. (No. 42.) My Loed, — Wellington, New Zealand, 6th August, 1890. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 29th April last, requesting certain information as to taxation on land and taxation on buildings in this colony, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that it is not possible to supply separate returns of the taxation on lands and buildings, as the rates and taxes are assessed and levied on both together. The answers to your Lordship's questions will therefore run as follows :— Taxation on Land and Buildings. (a.) The percentage on the annual value which the rate levied amounts to ... ... ... ... ... .. 8-77 per cent. (b.) The total amount raised, the total for local and national purposes being stated separately— £ Local ... ... ... ... ... 338,355 National ... ... ... ... ... 192,042 Total ... ... ... ... £530,397 (c.) The percentage which the amount raised by taxation of land and buildings bears to the total taxation ... ... ... 21-23 per cent. I enclose a copy of the Commissioner's report on the results of property assessment for 1888, which may be of use to your Lordship in your inquiry. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

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No. 11. (No. 43.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, 7th August, 1890. t . With reference to your Lordship's Despatch No. 29, of the 4th June, 1890, respecting the reduction of the duty on currants, I have the honour to report that my Government find themselves unable to reduce the duty in this colony. Before the year 1879 the duty on currants in New Zealand was Id. per pound; but in that year it was raised to 2d. (the present rate) for purposes of revenue. I may mention that the increased duty has been cheerfully paid since 1879, and I would venture respectfully to point out to your Lordship that the

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present rate of 2d. per pound is the same in all the other Australasian Colonies, except in Tasmania and Western Australia, where the duty is 3d. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &o. ONSLOW.

No. 12. (No. 44.) My Lokd,— Wellington, New Zealand, Bth August, 1890. I have the honour to enclose a copy of a letter lately received be the Premier, Sir H. Atkinson, from Mr. Macdonald, the Clerk of Synod in New Hebrides, with its enclosure, which the Premier has requested me to forward to your Lordship, in the hope that Her Majesty's Government will take such steps in relation thereto as your Lordship may think fit. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. Treasurer's Office, 7th August, 1890. The Premier has the honour to forward for His Excellency's perusal the accompanying letter from the Clerk of Synod, New Hebrides, enclosing an extract from the minutes of that body dated the 25th June last, urging that facilities should be given to British subjects to settle in the group and to obtain legal titles to land; that the sale of arms should be thrown open or entirely prohibited; and that the labour-traffic should be prohibited. Perhaps His Excellency may consider it expedient to draw the attention of the Eight Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific to these subjects. E. Mitchelson, (For the Premier.)

Key. Sir, — 7th August. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th July, and the extract from the minutes of the New Hebrides Mission Synod dated 25th June, urging that British subjects should be encouraged to settle in the group and acquire legal titles to land; that the sale of arms, &c, should be thrown open or entirely prohibited, and that the labour-traffic should be prohibited. I have forwarded your letter to His Excellency the Governor, who will bring the matter under the notice of Her Majesty's Government and the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific. Rev. Dr. Macdonald, I have, &c, Havannah Harbour, New Hebrides. E. Mitchelson, (For the Premier.)

Sub-Enclosure. Sir, — Havannah Harbour, New Hebrides, 10th July, 1890. I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed minute of the New Hebrides Mission Synod. I have, &c, The Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, K.C.M.G., D. Macdonald, Premier of New Zealand, Welllington. Clerk of Synod.

59. The Synod being of opinion that the time has now arrived when it would be conducive to the civilisation of the natives of the New Hebrides, especially of those who have embraced Christianity, that British subjects should be encouraged to settle in this group as traders and planters, and that the present laws affecting this group are so inadequate and unequal as to deter the most desirable class of colonists from settling in this group, strongly urges that the Imperial Government be moved to provide that British subjects in the New Hebrides may be enabled to obtain legal titles to their lands, and also enabled lawfully to engage the natives of our island of this group to labour on another. The Synod is further of opinion that the prohibition of the sale of firearms and ammunition to natives of this group at present laid exclusively on British subjects should either be rescinded or applied universally to the subjects of all nationalities. Further, with reference to the foreign labour-traffic from this group, and in view of the fact that the Queensland branch of that traffic is about to cease, while the French and German branches of the same are still being vigorously prosecuted, this Synod is strongly of opinion that in justice to Queensland and to the New Hebrides the foreign labour-traffic from this group should be universally prohibited, the more especially as the settlers in this group will have need of at least all the available labour which it can afford. Extract minute of New Hebrides Mission Synod, 25th June, 1890. D. Macdonald, Clerk of Synod.

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No. 13. (No. 46.) My Lobd, — Wellington, New Zealand, 19th August, 1890. I have the honour to enclose the report of a question lately asked in the House of Representatives here by Mr. H. H. Valentine, the member for Waikaia, on the subject of beet-root sugar, which I venture respectfully to think may be of interest to your Lordship. [Vide Hansard, 1890, Vol. 12, p. 250.] I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 14. (No. 48.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, 6th September, 1890. I have the honour to enclose copies of an Act to which I have recently assented on behalf of Her Majesty, for the purpose of confirming the title of the Admiralty to certain naval reserves ground at Auckland, which was previously in a somewhat unsatisfactory condition. ['Naval Reserves Vesting Act (54 Vict., No. B).] I propose to direct the issue of the certificate of title (as provided by section 2 of the Act) as soon as I have ascertained through Eear-Admiral Lord C. Scott, in whom the Lords of the Admiralty desire that the lands in question should be vested. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 15. Telegram to the Secretary of State. Wellington, 16th September, 1890. Eeferring to your Despatch No. 34, Earotongan Eesident vote passed House of Eepresentatives 13th September.

No. 16. (No. 52.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, Bth October, 1890. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that on the 17th September I prorogued by Proclamation the fourth session of the tenth Parliament of New Zealand, and that, after further proroguing it by Proclamation to the 4th instant, I dissolved it by Proclamation on the 3rd instant. The general election is fixed to take place on the sth December. I have, &c. The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 17. (No. 53.) My Lord, — Wellington, New Zealand, 31st October, 1890. I have the honour to forward, for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure, copies of the Acts passed by the General Assembly during the late session, together with a synopsis of the same prepared by the Solicitor-General. 1 have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure No. 1. Public General Statutes, 1-40. Local and Personal Acts, 1-22. Private Acts, 1 and 2.

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Enclosure No. 2. Synopsis of the Acts passed by tlie General Assembly of New Zealand in the Session of Parliament held in the Year 1890. The Public General Statutes. 1. The Imprest Supply Act authorises an advance of £200,000 out of the Public Account by way of imprest for the service of the year ending 31st March, 1891. The money to be charged in the manner expressed in the Appropriation Act of the session appropriating the same. 2. The Imprest Supply Act (No. 2) authorises a further advance of £175,000 in the same manner as stated in the above-mentioned Act. 3. The Imprest Supply Act (No. 3) authorises a further advance of £150,000 in the same manner as stated in the Imprest Supply Act. 4. The Dog Registration Act Amendment Act provides for a reduction of registration fee for sheep- or cattle-dogs, not exceeding three in number, the property of the same owner, in country districts. 5. The Eepresentation Act Amendment Act (temporary) provides for the formation of electoral rolls of new electoral districts, by declaring that the report of the Eepresentation Commissioner fixing boundaries for the said districts shall take effect at once, instead of on the dissolution or expiry of Parliament. 6. The Educational Reserves Leasing Act modifies the terms and conditions upon which reserves may be leased, especially when consisting of bush-lands, and for the issue of timber licenses. 7. The Education Reserves Act Amendment Act validates the apportionment of certain reserves made for education purposes, and rectifies certain errors made in the apportionment thereof. 8. The Naval Reserves Vesting Act vests in the Admiralty certain lands near Auckland which were reserves for naval purposes and as a naval reserve. 9. The Todmau Land Grant Act authorises the grant of certain land at Waitara to Robert Bradshaw Todman, in lieu of other lands at New Plymouth to which he was found entitled, but which had been disposed of by the Crown in error. 10. The Arbitration Act is an adoption of the Imperial Statute 52 and 53 Vict., c. 49, on the same subject, and repeals all former enactments relating thereto. 11. The Mercantile Agents Act is an adoption of the Factors Act of the Imperial Parliament, 52 and 53 Vict., c. 45, and repeals all existing parts of " The Mercantile Law Act, 1880," relating to advances to agents. 12. The Electoral Acts Amendment Act provides for written nominations of candidates for the House of Representatives, and substitutes for the public declaration of the result of the poll an advertisement in a newspaper. Part 11. provides a scheme whereby seamen who are registered for any district in the colony may vote in any port in the colony where they may be at the time of any election for such district. 13. The Census Act Amendment amends the principal Act and its schedules in certain particulars. 14. The Companies Act Amendment Act provides for the liquidation of companies under the principal Act, though not registered under that Act, if registered elsewhere under a similar Act, and provides for a preferential payment of salaries and wages in any case of winding-up a company. 15. The Shipping and Seamen's Acts Amendment Act amends the law relating to the payment of wages to seamen left on shore on account of illness, and provides that such wages shall be payable for a period not exceeding three months, notwithstanding such illness and his discharge from his ship, and provides for the disposition of such wages for the use of the seamen. 16. The Volunteer Drill-sheds and. Lands Trustees Validation Act validates certain acts done by trustees of drill-sheds, &c, notwithstanding an informality in the instrument appointing them respectively. 17. The Rabbit Nuisance Act, in amendment and extension of former Acts on the same subject, makes more stringent provisions for the destruction and the prevention of the spread of rabbits. 18. The Cattle Act is in supplement of " The Diseased Cattle Act, 1881," and provides for dealing with single cases of disease in cattle without proclaiming quarantine over a whole district; also provision is made for the burying of all carcases lying near any highway. 19. The Sheep Act consolidates and amends in a modified form the provisions of the law relating to the eradication of scab in sheep, the disease having been virtually stamped out. 20. The Government Life Insurance Acts Amendment Act amends the principal Act in several details, and provides for a triennial instead of quinquennial division of profits. 21. The Children's Protection Act, and for the prevention of cruelty, is an adoption of the Imperial Statute 52 and 53 Vict., c. 44, on the same subject. 22. The Mining Companies Act Amending Act amends the principal Act of 1886 in matters of detail, and enacts in regard to foreign mining companies that they shall be subject to " The Foreign Companies Act, 1884." 23. The Coal-mines Act Amendment Act makes better provision for the appointment of managers of mines and their being certificated, and amends the principal Act in details for the greater safety of miners. 24. The Police Offences Act Amendment Act regulates the driving of traction-engines along roads and bridges. 25. The Post and Telegraph Classification and Regulation Act provides a system of classifica-

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tion of the officers of the departments, and regulates the annual increases of salaries from class to class. 26. The School Committees Election Act redefines the meaning of a " householder " in respect of elections, and abolishes the system of cumulative voting for School Committees under the principal Act. 27. The Administration Acts Amendment Act amends the law as to deceased married women's estates, and as to power of sale of an estate for debts, &c. 28. The Railway Construction and Land Act authorises the taking of additional land (with consent of the Governor), if required for railway, after construction thereof. 29. The Midland Eailway Contract Act authorises the company constructing the railway to make a deviation thereof round Lake Brunner on certain terms and conditions. 30. The Westport-Ngakawau Eailway Extension Act authorises an extension of the line to the Mokihinui Eiver for opening up the coal-mines there, and enables the work to be constructed by the Westport Harbour Board, out of their funds, as a harbour-work. 31. The Oaths Act consolidates the provisions relating to the making of affirmations in lieu of oaths ; it is an adoption of the Imperial Statute 51 and 52 Vict., c. 46, on the same subject. 32. The Native Land Laws Amendment Act confers upon the Native Land Court the powers of the Supreme Court in probate and administration of the estates of deceased Natives, and makes technical amendments in previous Acts relating to the procedure of the Court. 33. The Native Schools Sites Act Extension Act authorises Natives to cede to Her Majesty any of their own inalienable lands for school purposes, and authorises the Public Trustee to sell portion of any Native reserve for the same purpose if Native beneficiaries do not object. 34. The Kumara Sludge-channel Act 1889 Amendment Act authorises the vesting in trustees of so much of the sludge-channel as was not authorised to be so vested by the principal Act. 35. The Gold Duty Abolition Act and Mining Property Eating Act abolishes the export duty on gold produced in any part of the colony except the North Island, and substitutes a rate to be levied on the capital value of all mining property within the aforesaid parts. 36. The Public Eevenues Acts Amendment Act amends technically two of the previous Acts relating to the public revenues. 37. The Property-tax Act fixes the amount of the property-tax to be collected for the current year, and the mode of collecting the same. 38. The Primage Duty Act authorises the collection until the 30th September, 1890, of the primage duty of 1 per cent., originally imposed until the 30th June, 1890, by section 4 of "The Customs and Excise Duties Act, 1888." 39. The Public Works Appropriation Act appropriates out of the unexpended balance of loan, and from other sources, a total sum of £525,959 for the construction of public works for the year ending 31st March, 1891. 40. The Appropriation Act.—The annual Appropriation Act: amounts appropriated, total £2,076,799. The Local and Personal Acta. 1. The Auckland Hospital Eeserves Act authorises the annexation of part of the Auckland Domain to the hospital for purposes of isolation. 2. The Omaha Eecreation Eeserve Sale Act authorises the sale of an unsuitable recreationground, and the purchase of other ground out of the proceeds. 3. The Otago School Commissioners' Empowering Act authorises them to sell a piece of their endowment lands for a cemetery. 4. The Patea Harbour Board Act authorises a further loan of £5,000 for harbour-works, and regulates the priority of former creditors of the Board. 5. The Wellington School of Design and Exchange Act authorises the exchange of the site for a school of design to a more central position. 6. The Borough of Devonport Empowering and Endowment Act vests in the borough certain lands as endowments for roads, and authorises an exchange of part of a school reserve taken for the latter purpose. 7. The Kihikihi Cemetery Eeserve Leasing Act authorises the leasing of an unused cemetery reserve, the proceeds to be applied for improvement of the remainder. 8. The Timaru Charitable Aid Institution Vesting Act transfers to the Charitable Aid Board the title to the land and buildings used by them for a home for the aged poor. 9. The Waiapu County Act creates a new county out of portion of the Cook County adjoining the East Gape of the North Island. 10. The Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Act authorises the Board to carry out certain agreements entered into respecting the reclamation of lands and the formation of roads thereon. 11. The Tuakitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Act authorises the drainage of the lakes, the reclamation of lands, subject to the conservation of all existing lights of way. 12. The Timaru Harbour Board Empowering Act authorises the Board to transfer their powers of rating within the harbour district to the local authorities within such district, so as to render the harbour rate more easily collected ; preserves the remedies of debenture-holders in case of default. 13. The Palmerston North Eeserves Act specifies and amends the powers of the Borough Council with respect to the reserves belonging to the borough. 14. The Gimmerburn Forest Eeserve Act vests in the Council of the County of Maniototo portion of a forest reserve, subject to its being planted with forest trees. 15. The Hokitika High School Act 1883 Amendment Act authorises the Board to apply any of their funds for promoting secondary education and technical knowledge in any other school in the Westlaud Education District.

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16. The Stratford County Act creates a new county within the Provincial District of Taranaki ■out of the several counties existing therein. 17. The Epsom and Mount Eden Eeserve Act transfers a lunatic asylum reserve not required for such purpose to the purposes of a blind asylum, recreation, and gravel-pit respectively. 18. The Kaimarama Land Act authorises the extension of certain leases granted to the Mercury Bay Timber Company, in consideration of their surrender of a lease held by them of the Kaimarama land, which is suitable for purposes of settlement. 19. The Horomona Paatu Land-grant Act authorises the grant of certain lands in extinguishment of Paatu's claim to the Aparima reserve, in the County of Wallace. 20. The Valpy Crown Grant Boundary Definition Act fixes a disputed boundary-line on the ■Ocean Beach at Dunedin, and validates titles issued in respect thereof. 21. The Thames Harbour Board Act defines the limits of the Port of Thames, and reconstitutes the Harbour Board thereof. 22. The Gisborne Harbour Act 1884 Amendment Act, to afford relief to the Harbour Board, releases to the Board a portion of loan set aside for sinking fund and interest on the loans of the Board. The Private Acts. 1. The Eornan Catholic Lands Act Extension Act defines the legal status of Soman Catholic Archbishops in relation to Church lands, and their position as " office-bearers " of the said Church. 2. The Church Property Trustees (Canterbury) Indemnity Act indemnifies the trustees for paying property-tax upon the Church Fund property, and authorises such and all similar payments in future.

No. 18. (No. 54.) My Lobd,— 31st October, 1890. With, reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 26th August, 1890, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that " The Escheat Act, 1868," with " The Escheat Act Amendment Act, 1870," repealing section 4 of the first named, and substituting other provisions in lieu thereof, contain the whole law of escheat in New Zealand. I have the honour to enclose copies of the above-mentioned Acts. [32 Vict., No. 24 ; 33 and 34 Vict., No. 31.] Section 12 of the Act of 1868 authorises, under sanction of the Imperial Act quoted by your Lordship, the appropriation by the General Assembly of all Crown casual revenues arising in New Zealand other than droits of the Crown and droits of the Admiralty as part of the consolidated revenue of the colony. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

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No. 19. (No. 55.) My Loed,— Wellington, 31st October, 1890. I have the honour to inform you that I received the following memorandum from the Premier on the 25th instant. I insert memorandum advising appointment of Mr. Moss : —■ Memobandum for His Excellency the Govebnob. Premier's Office, Wellington, 26th October, 1890. Parliament having last session provided a salary for a Eesident at Earotonga, on the understanding that the Government of the colony should nominate a suitable person for the appointment, the Premier has the honour to inform His Excellency that the Government has decided to nominate Mr. Frederick Joseph Moss, of Auckland, late member of the House of Eepresentatives for Parnell. The Premier respectfully requests that the Secretary of State for the Colonies may be informed of this nomination, so that Mr. Moss may be appointed and enter upon his duties at as early a date as possible. H. A. Atkinson. Mr. Moss was some time member for Parnell, one of the suburbs of Auckland, and prior to that filled the office of Provincial Treasurer of Otago. The character of Mr. Moss has always stood high in the estimation of his fellowcolonists, and I consider that the Government of New Zealand have been fortunate in securing the services of so well qualified an individual for a post the emoluments of which are but small. I have already informed your Lordship by telegraph of the recommendation of my Advisers, and have requested your Lordship to take steps to fufil the wishes of my Government at the earliest possible date.

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There has been a slight disturbance in one of the islands of the group, and a gentleman claiming the rights of a British subject states that he has been compelled to leave the islands. Mr. Moss has already considerable experience of the Pacific Islands, and his work " Through the Atolls " is doubtless known to your Lordship. As some time must elapse before the appointment of Mr. Moss can be received, Mr. Moss proposes, with my sanction and at the expense of the Government of the colony, to pay a visit to the Hervey Group and report to me on his return as to the state of affairs there, when I shall give him the necessary instructions for his guidance, after taking the advice of my Ministers thereon. I have given Mr. Moss clearly to understand that his present visit is purely unofficial, and that he is not empowered in any way to act for or advise on behalf of Her Majesty, and I have heard from Mr. Moss that his action will be entirely guided by those considerations. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &o. ONSLOW.

No. 20. (No. 5G.) My Loed,— Wellington, 12th November, 1890. The regulations, issued with Army Orders Ist April, 1890, under which commissions in the British army may be obtained by officers of colonial local military forces, have been found somewhat difficult of fulfilment, owing to the peculiar organization of the Defence Forces of this colony. By the second of these regulations " a candidate will be required to have served at least fifteen months as an officer in the local military force of the colony from which he is nominated, and must have attended two annual trainings, or have seen activeservice in the field." There are two branches of the local military forces-—the Militia and the Volunteers. The former is practically non-existent, not having been called out since the Maori wars, though a large number of officers continue to hold commissions, and the Government still have the power of granting commissions therein. In the Volunteers, commissions are not given on the nomination of the Government, but to the gentlemen whom the men may choose to elect to command them. Various considerations actuate the men in these elections, and their choice usually falls on comrades with whose disposition, manners, and address they are already well acquainted, but would not be likely to be given in favour of a youth of the prescribed age of 19 to 22. The only manner, therefore,. in which the regulation can be complied with is by nominating a candidate to the Militia, a force which has no annual training, and no real existence other than on paper. The regulations were no doubt drawn up with special regard to the system existing in Australia and Canada, and it may have escaped the observation of the War Office that such a system as the election of officers by the men still existed in any part of Her Majesty's dominions. I have lately appointed a gentleman to a commission in the Militia with a view to his becoming a candidate for one in the Imperial army. It is the intention of the Defence Minister to order him to be attached for duty to a Volunteer corps, and to attend the camps annually held at Easter, and other times, in the hope that his case may be considered by the War Office as coining within the terms of the regulations to which I have referred. The privilege of obtaining commissions in the Imperial army is highly esteemed by many young men in New Zealand, and I shall be glad to hear from your Lordship in what way candidates from New Zealand may best comply with these regulations until some steps have been taken to bring the organization of the Defence Forces more in harmony with that which exists in Australia and elsewhere. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

N.Z. Gazette, 3rd July, 1890.

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No. 21. (No. 58.) My Lord,— Wellington, 28th November, 1890. With reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 31st July, 1890, I have the honour, by the advice of my Ministry, to reply to your Lordship's queries as follows :— 1. The only legislation in the colony prohibiting Sunday labour is that contained in section 16 of " The Police Offences Act, 1884." This section is generally prohibitive of working at any trade or calling, transacting business, or exposing goods for sale, &c, Init there are exceptions as to works of necessity or charity, and of certain specified trades and occupations. " The Police Offences Act, 1884," repealed the statute of Charles I. and Charles 11. as to Sunday observance which had previously been in force in New Zealand. 2. As a matter of fact, there is no labour on Sundays in the docks or on the wharves of the ports in this colony. The only exception to the rule is that sometimes vessels carrying the English mail may discharge a few packages. Even this is usually done either in the evening or late at night. 3. Sunday labour is practically stopped, both by rules and regulations of public bodies, whose rules do not allow it, and by combination of workmen by providing for an increased rate per hour for Sunday labour. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

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No. 22. (No. 61.) My Loed,— Wellington, 29th November, 1890. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that a German squadron consisting of H.I.G.M.S. " Leipsic," " Alexandrine," and " Sophie " arrived here on the 17th November, and have been in this port ever since. They have exercised their ships in naval manoeuvres within the harbour, and have engaged in torpedo practice there. On the 24th November the French warship " Volt a " arrived at Port Chalmers. She is announced to visit Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland. At the latter port she expects to meet the " Dubordieu," under Admiral Premesuil, early in the new year. Application was made to me by Admiral Valois, commanding the German squadron, for leave to land an armed party on the shores of Port Nicholson, opposite to Wellington. Having in view your Lordship's circular despatch of the 31st August, 1888, I felt bound to refuse to accede to the request. My Ministers, in reply to a previous demand made by the German. ViceConsul, intimated that such facilities as were granted in other colonies would be conceded here. Admiral Valois, relying on this, has assured me that permission to land armed men was granted to him by the Government of New South Wales, and that he had exercised an armed landing-party on the shores of Port Jervois. Upon being made acquainted with this fact I promised the Admiral that I would inquire of the Government of New South Wales whether any instructions had been received from your Lordship qualifying those laid down in the despatch to which I have already referred, or under what circumstance the permission was granted ; and, farther, that I would inquire of your Lordship whether any exception can be made to the instructions laid down by that despatch. I accordingly telegraphed to your Lordship as follows : " Eeferring to your despatch 31st August, 1888, German Admiral wishes to exercise armed landing-party. Should this point be conceded as an exceptional arrangement. It has been stated that he did so in New South Wales. Enquiring immediate reply." I have now received a reply from your Lordship to the effect that armed men should not be allowed to land (see Circular, 16th March, 1889). Under the circumstances, I have requested my Ministers to inform the German Consul that lam not authorised to make any exception in favour of Admiral Valois. I am as yet without a reply to my telegram to the Acting Governor of New South Wales.

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I may add that I telegraphed to your Lordship because there is a feeling ■of irritation among the citizens of Wellington—who express themselves as highly honoured by so unusual event as a visit during several weeks from three foreign ships of war under the command of a German Admiral, and have done their utmost to entertain them and make their stay pleasant—that they should be driven to leave Wellington and station the ships in another colony, where apparently the facilities which the Admiral desires have been granted, or where, at any rate, the Admiral has been able to land and drill armed men, which I have thought it my duty not to sanction in New Zealand. If the effect is to shorten the visit of the warships and cause them to return to Jervois Bay, New South Wales, the lucrative business which their presence in harbour affords to those who supply them with necessary stores, as well as the other expenditure occasioned by their visit, will fall into the hands of traders in another part of Her Majesty's possessions, where it is presumed that the regulation affecting foreign men-of-war are or ought to be identical with those •enforced in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ON SLOW.

No. 28. (No. 62.) My Lord,— Wellington, 18th December, 1890. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, with the advice of my Ministers, I, on the 3rd October, dissolved the tenth. Parliament of New Zealand, which would have expired by effluxion of time on the sth October. The polling-day was fixed for the sth December, and the new Parliament •summoned for the 18th. On the 17th instant I received the memorandum, copy of which I enclose, from Ministers, and, acting upon it, I prorogued Parliament on the same day to the 24th December, with a view T to further prorogation till the 23rd January, on which day it is intended that Parliament should meet for the despatch of business. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency. Premier's Office, Wellington, 17th December, 1890. Since the result of the elections lias been ascertained, your Excellency's Advisers have given careful consideration to their position in relation to the state of parties in the House of Representatives. At present it is not possible to classify all the members as either Government supporters or supporters of the leaders of the Opposition, but Ministers are of opinion that they possess the confidence ■of the largest section in the House, and, having regard to the uncertainty of the strength of parties, the necessary consequence of the election of so many new members, they feel that the most satisfactory course will be to call Parliament together at the earliest convenient opportunity, and they therefore advise your Excellency that Parliament should be called together for the despatch •of business on Friday, the 23rd January next. H. A. Atkinson.

[Approximate Cost of Paper. —Cost of x>reparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £6 155.]

By Authority : Gmoege Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1891.