A.—No. I,

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF

38

No. 11. The Otago Settlements Act enables the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Otago, before Ist January, 1874, to set apart sites for special settlements, and authorizes the issue of free grants to settlers thereon. No. 12. The Nelson and Gobden Railway Act Amendment Act alters the boundaries of tho district comprising the land on which payment for the construction of the railway is to be made. No. 13. The Canterbury Waste Lands Act makes provision for fixing the rental of certain runs, and for allowing the sale of sites originally reserved for towns but not sold as such. No. 14. The Naval and Military Settlers Act enables Naval and Military Settlers, in certain cases of hardships, to leave their respective Provinces without forfeiting their right to a grant of land. No. 15. The Wellington and Hawke's Bay Public Debt Apportionment Act Extension Act, 1869, extends the time for making an award under the principal Act. No. 16. The Provincial Elections Act Amendment Act provides for the formation of electoral rolls in Provinces when the electoral districts are altered, and removes doubts as to the form of writs. No. 17. The Military Con ribution Act provides for payment on account of the detention of the 18th Regiment in the Colony, pending communication with the Imperial Government. No. 18. The Mining Companies Limited Liability Act Amendment Act explains and amends the principal Act, and imposes fees on formation of new Companies. No. 19. The Railways Act removes doubts as to level crossings on several railways. No. 20. The Disturbed Districts Act (Temporary). This Act enables the Governor in Council to proclaim districts within which the powers given by the Act may be exercised. Officers in the Imperial and Colonial Forces to arrest and detain suspected persons. Special sittings of the Supreme Court are to bo held. At these sittings the procedure is simplified by dispensing with a Grand Jury, and by making the delivery of lists of jurors and witnesses, &c, in cases of treason, unnecessary, except where ordered by the Court. When a person charged with an offence is acquitted, he may bo called upon to show that he has been for twelve months a person of good behaviour, and if he fail so to do, he may be committed to prison, as a disorderly person, for a term not exceeding eighteen months, in default of finding sureties for good behaviour. Justices may commit any person in like manner as a disorderly person. Powers are given to search for arms, and to disarm. No. 21. The Intestate Estates Act Amendment Act enables the Governor to fix the amount of security to be given by Curators of Intestate Estates. No. 22. The Otago Hundreds Regulation Act provides for duo inquiry before the proclamation of a hundred, and for compensation to runholders injured by such proclamation. No. 23. The Public Revenues Act (No. 2) provides for settlement of differences between the Treasury and the Comptroller as to the amount at credit of the Public Account. No. 24. The Shortland Beach Act prohibits all dealing by subjects with a part of the sea shore below high water-mark, adjoining tho Thames Gold Fields. No. 25. The Gold Fields Act Amendment Act explains and alters, in some minor particulars, the Acts of 1866 and 1868. No. 26. The Native Lands Act alters the practice as to dating certificates of title issued by the Native Lands Court and the preparation of Crown grants thereon; as to granting a re-hearing; as to duties; and as to execution of deeds by married Maori women. No. 27. The Canterbury Temporary Mining Reserves Act enables the Superintendent of Canterbury to make reserves of supposed gold-bearing land, without waiting for the recommendation of the Provincial Council. No. 28. The Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1867, Amendment Act amends the Act of 1867 in some minor details, and forbids the withdrawal of land proclaimed as open for sale. No. 29. The Otago Waste Lands Act, 1866, Amendment Act, 1869, amends the law relating to pasturage of cattle within hundreds in Otago. No. 30. The Crown Lands (Nelson) Leasing Act enables holders of pastoral licenses to exchange them for leases. No. 31. The Poverty Bay Grants Act enables the Governor to carry out certain engagements to grant land at Poverty Bay to Natives and others. No. 32. The New Zealand Cross Endowment Act enables the Governor to reserve 5,000 acres of confiscated land, and to grant pensions out of the income arising therefrom to holders of the New Zealand Cross, instituted in March, 1869. No. 33. The Commissioners of Crown Lands Act amends the law relating to the appointment of Commissioners of Crown Lands. No. 34. The Bailments of Stock and Chattels Registration Act protects persons letting stock, &c, from the operation of order and disposition clause of " The Bankruptcy Act, 1867," if the lease is duly registered. No. 35. The Delivery of Goods and Lien for Freight Act is an adaptation of sections 66-77 of " The Merchant Shipping Act Amendment Act, 1862." No. 36. The Dangerous Goods Act regulates the keeping and carriage of dangerous kinds of petroleum and of nitro-glycerine. It is founded on the Petroleum Acts, 1862 and 1868, and " The Carriage and Deposit of Dangerous Goods Act, 1866." No. 37. The Building and Land Societies Amendment Act explains " The Building and Land Societies ,- Act, 1866." No. 38. The Joint Stock Companies Amendment Act alters the majority "necessary to pass a special resolution under " The Joint Stock Companies Act, 1860." No. 39. The Post Office Savings Bank Amendment Act provides for closing ordinary Savings Banks, and transferring the accounts to the Post Office. No. 40. The Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Act Amendment Act provides for the construction of bridges over the Rangitata and Waitangi Rivers. No. 41. The Oamaru Town Reserves Management Act vests certain public reserves in the Corporation of Oamaru for public purposes.