A.—9

4

Selection and Reprint of Imperial Statutes apparently affecting the Colony, 33. The Commissioners under the Act of 1878 having made preparations for the purpose of selecting and reprinting Imperial Acts of general interest and importance, we have been able to commence this portion of our labours and make considerable progress in it; but the pressure on the Government Printing Department has rendered it impossible for us to complete the work before the commencement of the session. There is a considerable amount of the matter now in the hands of the printers. 34. The few sheets already printed, and attached hereto, will afford a fair specimen of the mode in which we purpose to carry out the selection and reprint. 35. It is, of course, to be understood that the whole of the Imperial statutes still in force in the colony are not to be reprinted; and we have followed the directions of the statute by omitting such Acts as do not seem to us of interest or importance to the general community. 36. Although we have tried to avoid the introduction of any Acts about the applicability of which to the colony there could be any serious doubt, it is to be remembered that the insertion of any Act in this selection cannot be treated as involving an authoritative decision that it is applicable. We expect to be able to include the whole of the selected Imperial Acts in one moderatesized volume, the subjects being arranged alphabetically; and we shall be ready to carry it through the Press as soon as the printers can undertake it. All of which we humbly submit to your Excellency's gracious consideration. As witness our hands this twenty-seventh day of May, one thousand eight hundred and eighty. Alexander J. Johnston, W. S. Reid, Commissioners.

By Authority i Gbobgb DiDgßtrßT, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBo. Price 3d.]