A.—2a,

2

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 14th day of August, 1878. Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, His Eoyal Highness Peince Leopold, Lord Chancelloe, Lord Peivy Seal, Loed Peesident, Mr. Eoebuck. Wheeeas by an Act passed in the Session held in the 15th and 16th years of Her Majesty's reign, entitled "An Act to grant a Eepresentative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is, amongst other things, declared that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said colony shall signify, either by Speech or Message to the Legislative Council and House of Eepresentatives of the said colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same : And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Eepresentatives of the said colony, entitled "An Act to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to Shipping and Seamen," was presented to the Officer Administering the Government of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent: And whereas the said Bill was reserved by the said Officer for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: And whereas the said Bill so reserved as aforesaid has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said Bill should be assented to by Her Majesty: Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in pursuance of the said Act, and in exercise of the power thereby reserved to Her Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present order, by and with the advice and consent of Her Majesty's Privy Council, declare her assent to the said Bill. C. L. Peel.

No. 2. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Bight Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach to Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby. (No. 33.) My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist September, 1878. 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 Crown Bedress Act, 1871,'" a transcript of which accompanied your Despatch No. 4, of the 4th of January last. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your Despatch No. 20, of the 22nd of June. I have, &c.j M. E. Hicks Beach. Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G., &c, &c. By Authority: Geokgb Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington. —1878. Price 3d.]