A.—l

8

Enclosure 2 in No. 10. Synopsis of the Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand in the Session of Parliament held in the year 1872. No. 1. The Imprest Supply Act authorizes an advance of £100,000 out of the Consolidated Fund by way of Imprest for the service of the year ending 30th June, 1873; and also a like advance of £30,000 out of the money raised under " The Defence and Other Purposes Loan Act, 1870," towards the service of the above-mentioned period. These moneys are to be charged in the manner expressed in the annual Appropriation Act of the Session appropriating these funds respectively. No. 2. The Clerk of Parliaments Act provides for the appointment of the present Clerk of the House of Representatives as Clerk of Parliaments, and regulates subsequent appointments. No. 3. The Wellington Patent Slip Act authorizes the Superintendent of the Province of AVellington to extend the time for erecting a Patent Slip in the harbour of Port Nicholson. No. 4. The Sharebrokers Act Amendment Act amends " The Sharebrokers Act, 1871," by making the fees payable on the issue of licenses to sharebrokers Provincial revenue. No. 5. The Auckland Waste Lands Act 1870 Amendment Act has been passed to amend a clerical error in the 25th and 26th sections of " The Auckland AVaste Lands Act, 1870." No. 6. The Imprest Supply Act (No. 2) authorizes an advance of £50,000 out of the Consolidated Fund towards the service of the year ending 30th June, 1873 ; and a like advance of £20,000 out of the moneys raised under "The Defence and Other Purposes Loan Act, 1870," towards tho service of the above period. These sums are in addition to the sums mentioned in " The Imprest Supply Act, 1872" (No. 1 of this Synopsis), and are to be charged iii like manner as therein mentioned. No. 7. The Greymouth Harbour Works Advance Validation Act authorizes an advance of £4,000 which the Government agreed to make to the Municipal Corporation of the Town of Greymouth in the County of Westland on the security of certain rates which the Corporation is authorized to levy. The security taken by the Government on agreeing to make the advance is validated by the Act. No. 8. The Interpretation Act Amendment Act has been passed to amend " The Interpretation Act of 1868," by requiring the Clerk of Parliaments, instead of the Clerk of the Executive Council, to insert in the Acts the day, &c, when the same shall have been assented to by the Governor in the name of Her Majesty ; or when any Act shall have been reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon, then the day, &c, that Her Majesty has assented to such Act. Such dates are to be part of the Act, and if no other date fixed, one to be the date of commencement. No. 9. The New Zealand Post Office Act Amendment Act has been passed to reduce the rate of postage on newspapers posted in the Colony for delivery there to one half-penny. No. 10. The Drawbacks Act has been passed to alter the Customs Regulations respecting drawbacks, and specifies the articles on which it is to be allowed. Provision is made as to the manner in which drawback is to be ascertained and paid ; and " The South Sea Islands Drawbacks Act, 1570," and certain provisions of the Customs Regulation Acts of 1858 and 1868, are repealed. Tho Act came into force Ist October, 1872. No. 11. The Oamaru Dock Trust Land Act authorizes tho grant and conveyance, by the Superintendent of the Province of Otago, of a piece of land therein mentioned, to the Oamaru Dock Trust, upon certain trusts. No. 12. The Telegraph Service of Notices Act provides for the service of notices and other documents by means of the Telegraph Department. The notices are to be served by Telegraph officers, and tho Governor in Council is empowered to make regulations as to the mode of service. No. 13. The Wellington City Reserves Act amends an Act passed in 1871, providing for dealing with certain reserves in the City of AVellington. The amending Act allows the Superintendent of the Province to convey or set apart certain parts of these reserves for collegiate purposes, for a signal station, and for a general hospital. Various amendments are made in the Act of 1871, and part of certain moneys derived thereunder are appropriated for other purposes than are mentioned in that Act. No. 14. The Protection of Animals Act amends the Acts for the like purpose passed in 1567 and 1868, and specifics the period of the year within which seals are to be hunted and killed. No. 15. The Gold Duties Act alters and amends the law relating to duties on gold; as from the Ist dfiy of January, 1873, the rate of duty is fixed at two shillings (25.) upon every ounce of the fineness of 20 carats and upwards, and so on in proportion for every ounce of less fineness. The duty imposed by " The Gold Duties Act, 1870," was 2s. 6d. per ounce for gold of the same degree of fineness. No. 16. The Stamp Duties Act Amendment Act amends the existing Stamp Acts. No duty is to be charged on deeds dedicating roads to public, nor when land is conveyed for a religious, charitable, or educational purpose. The duty on receipts is reduced from 2d. to Id., and on drafts, orders, and cheques a like reduction has been made. Certain incorporated companies are exempted from the annual license fee imposed by the Act of last year, and the Act contains general provisions amending the present Stamp Duties Act. No. 17. The Government Contractors Arbitration Act has been passed to provide for referring disputes occurring between Messrs. Brogden and Sons and tho Government to the arbitration of a Judge of the Supreme Court. No. 18. The Wellington Debts Act Amendment Act amends an Act passed last year. The present Act authorizes a sum of £75,000 to be raised instead of £85,000, and substitutes certain lands described in the Schedule for others mentioned in the Act of 1871. The contract made by the Government with the Emigrant and Colonists Aid Corporation is validated, and provision made for giving effect thereto. N«. 19. The Canterbury Public Domains Act provides that the Superintendent and Provincial Council may declare certain lands subject to the Act. The administration of these domains is vested in the Superintendent and Executive Council of the Province, and provision is made for the application of moneys and for making regulations and by-laws.