ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

17

A.—No. 1.

No. 48. The Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Act, 1868, provides for the issue of commissions to examine witnesses out of New Zealand, the return of depositions, and admission of the same in evidence. No. 49. The Juries Act, 1868, consolidates and amends the law relating to juries, provides for the formation of iury lists, the summoning of grand, special, and common jurors, juries of Maoris and mixed juries, and contains other provisions relative to this branch of the law. No. 50. The Law Amendment Act, 18(58, adopts provisions of 30 and 31 Viet., c. 35, ss. 6 to 10, as to depositions of persons dangerously ill, as to affirmations by jurors having conscientious objections to taking an oath, as to the disposal of property found on prisoners, and the bringing up by a gaoler without habeas corpus of persons indicted. No. 51. The Deeds Registration Act, 1868, consolidates and amends the law relating to registration of deeds affecting real property contained in six previous Acts. No. 52. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, 186S, declares the application of the Act of 18G7 within the County of Westland, provides for establishment of City Councils in the principal towns of the Colony, and the apportionment of rights and liabilities when a borough is constituted within the limits of a road district. No. 53. The Gold Fields Act Amendment Act, 1868, authorizes Native lands, with the consent of the owners, and land below high-water mark, to be included in proclaimed Gold Fields, provides for regulation of mining on such lands, and as to legal proceedings and jurisdiction of Courts with reference to Gold Fields. No. 54. The Constabulary Force Ordinance Amendment Act, 1868, authorizes the delegation of powers vested in the Governor by an Ordinance of the year 1847, for the establishment and regulation of a Constabulary Force. No. 55. The Native Lands Act Amendment Act, IS6S, regulates the duty on leases of Native land where the rent is of small amount, and enables Judges of Native Lands Courts to amend errors in proceedings before such Courts. No. 56. The East Coast Act, 1868, repeals the East Coast Land Titles Investigation Act of 1866, and Amendment Act of 1867, and makes other provision in that behalf as regards Aboriginal Natives owners of land in the district specified, according as such owners have or have not been guilty of acts of rebellion. No. 57. The Provincial Acts Validation Continuance Act, 1868, continues the Act of 1867, validating certain Provincial enactments, and amends certain clerical errors therein. No. 58. The Wellington and Ilawke's Bay Public Debt Apportionment Act, 1868, provides for reference to arbitration of the apportionment of the public debt of the Province of Wellington at the time of the separation from that Province of the Province of Hawke's Bay. No. 59. The Canterbury and Westland Public Debt Apportionment Act, 1868, provides for arbitration as to the proportions to be borne by the Province of Canterbury and the County of Westland respectively, of the public debt of Canterbury at the time of the separation of Westland therefrom. No. GO. The County of Westland Act, 1868, repeals the Act of 1867, and makes provision for the establishment and local government of the County, the constitution of Eoad Districts, and application of the local revenue. No. 61. The Westland Public House Act, 1868, provides for licensing and regulation of public houses in the County of Westland. No. 62 The Green and Spencer Land Claims Act, 1868, was passed to enable a claim to land of which one Green is alleged to have obtained a grant by means of fraudulent misrepresentation, to be reheard and adjusted. No. 63. The Otago Boads Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1556, Validation Act, 1868, was passed to give validity for a limited period to an Ordinance of the Provincial Legislature of Otago purporting to reserve rights of road through Waste Lands of the Crown sold or to be sold, and to regulate compensation for the same. No. 64. The Electric Telegraph Beserves Belease Act, IS6S, enables the Governor to release certain lands reserved for the purposes of the Electric Telegraph. No. 65. The University Endowment Act, 1868, provides for endowment, with lands reserved, of a Colonial University hereafter to be established. No. 66. The Government House Site Act, 1868, authorizes the sale of a Crown estate specified therein, directs the application of the proceeds, and provides for the acquisition of a site for and the erection of a new Government House. No. 67. The Public Domains Act Extension Act, 1868, brings under the operation of the laws for management of public domains certain Government property in the Town of Wellington. No. 68. The Otago Surveys Correction Act, 1868, authorizes the amendment of certain errors in the records of the Waste Lands and Survey Offices in the Province of Otago. No. 69. The Protection of Animals Act Amendment Act, 1868, amends the Act of 1867 with regard to the seasons during which native game may be killed, authorizes occupiers to kill game on land in their own occupation, and the taking of game or eggs of game birds for acclimatization purposes under certain conditions. No. 70. The Miners' Representation Act Amendment Act, 1868, provides for the scrutiny of qualification of persons claiming to vote under the Miners' Eight Franchise. No. 71. The Indemnity Act, 1868, follows the provisions of an Act of the last Session indemnifying officers of the Government and others in respect of acts unauthorized by law committed by such persons whilst engaged in the suppression of rebellion. No. 72. The Distillation Act, 1868, repeals former enactments on the subject of distillation of spirits, permits distillation under the license, supervision, and conditions specified, grants an excise duty on spirits distilled in the Colony, regulates the prevention of and punishment for illicit distillation, and contains general provisions for the regulation of the business of distillers, rectifiers, and compounders of spirits, and regulates the keeping of spirits by brewers and merchants. 5