A.—l

14

No. 57. The Wairoa Harbour Board Act, 1878, like the foregoing, is for the constitution of a Harbour Board at the Wairoa. No. 58. The Nelson Harbour Board Act, 1878, is also for the constitution of a Harbour Board at Nelson, and for the endowment of the same, with power to borrow money for harbour works. No. 59. The Borough of Christchurch Reserves Act, 1878, transfers to the Corporation certain public lands for sanitary purposes. No. 60. The Oamaru Market Reserve Act, 1878, authorizes the leasing of a portion of the reserve for the erection thereon of a corn exchange. No. 61. The Dunedin Waterworks Extension Act 1875 Amendment Act, 1878, authorizes the inhabitants of any suburb of Dunedin who have been incorporated as a separate borough to construct their own waterworks, and to draw supplies of water from the Dunedin Reservoirs, &c, paying therefor a fixed sum per thousand gallons. No. 62. The Whakatane Grants Validation Act, 1878, is for removing doubts as to the validity of certain grants to Natives made under the provisions of an Act which had expired previous to the issue of the grants. No. 63. The Whangarei High School Act, 1878, incorporates a Board of Governors for the control of a High School at Whangarei, and vests certain land in the Board for the purposes of the school. Recapitulation. Public General Statutes — Assented to - .. . . .. .. 49 Reserved . . „. . . . . 1 — 50 Local and Personal Acts .. .. .. 63 Total .. .. .. .. ..113

No. 17. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Normanby to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 1.) Government House, Wellington, Sir, —■ New Zealand, 29th January, 1879. I have the honor to inform you that, in compliance Avith your directions, I have submitted your circular, dated 3rd September, 1878, together with a draft of a Bill to make further provision for the removal of prisoners from Her Majesty's possessions abroad which accompanied it, to the consideration of my Government; and I have now the honor to enclose the copy of a memorandum on the subject, which has been addressed to me by the Government. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. NORMANBY.

Enclosure in No. 17. Memorandum for His Excellency. Ministers present their respectful compliments to His Excellency, and return the circular letter from the Colonial Office, dated 3rd September, respecting a proposed Imperial Act " to make further Provision for the Removal of Prisoners from Her Majesty's Possessions Abroad." As to the scope and policy of such a measure, Ministers agree with the opinions stated by the Attorney-General, in a memorandum copies of which they have the honor to forward to His Excellency herewith. J. Ballance, (in the absence of the Premier.)

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 17. Memorandum from the Hon. the Attorney-General. The proposed Act will give power to a Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Governments of the possessions concerned, to send prisoners undergoing sentence in one possession to any other. It is true that the Bill does not provide for the transfer of prisoners from the United Kingdom to the colonies; but making the provision I have mentioned raises the question whether one country should ever be made the receptacle of the criminal class of another.