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Fees to be paid to Registrars. & s. d. For every notice given of an intended marriage ... ... ... 026 For every inspection of a marriage notice-book ... ... ... 010 For every caveat entered ... ... ~. ... ...050 For Eegistrar's certificate under section 26* ... ... ... 100 For Eegistrar's certificate under section 271 ... ■•• ... 050 For every marriage solemnised by a Registrar ... ... ... 100 For a search in a Eegistrar's marriage-book extending over a period of not more than one year ... ... ... ... ...026 For every additional year ... ... ... ... ...010 For every single certified copy of an entry therein ... ... ...026 For the same, under the seal of the Eegistrar ... ... ... 050 For every search in any index or marriage records in the office of the Eegistrar-General ... ... ... ... ... ...050 For every single certified copy of any marriage entry in the records of the Eegistrar-General's office ... ... ... ... 026 For the same, under the seal of the Eegistrar-General ... ... 0 5 0 Limitation of Age for Marrying. There is not any statutory limitation of age at which a Eegistrar may refuse to issue a certificate to authorise a marriage. The statute does not limit or control the Eegistrar's functions in this respect beyond imposing certain conditions as to consent of parents or guardians in the case of persons under age; but the common law of England applies in New Zealand with respect to the age of matrimonial consent. Prohibitions. It will be seen by the foregoing outline of the Marriage Act that every Eegistrar has discretionary power to withhold the issue of a marriage certificate, if lawful impediment be shown, or if certificate be forbidden by caveat, &c. The lawful impediments are the legal affinities named in the book of common prayer of the Church of England (except that marriage with a deceased wife's sister is now legalised in New Zealand), and such impediments as that of a previous union (wife or husband known to be alive) or the absence of a written consent of parent or guardian in case of a minor. Divorce in New Zealand. The divorce-law of New Zealand is contained in " The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867," and a small amending Act passed in 1881 giving to one Judge all the powers and jurisdiction vested in three or more Judges by the principal Act. A copy of each of these Acts is enclosed, from which it will be seen that they contain very similar provisions to those of the English Acts. The grounds on which divorce can be obtained in New Zealand are the same as in England— viz.:— By the husband—on the ground of adultery alone (section .17). By the wife —on the ground of incestuous adultery, or of bigamy with adultery, or of rape, or of sodomy, or of bestiality, or of adultery coupled with such cruelty as without adultery would have entitled her to a divorce a mansa et thoro under the law heretofore existing in England, or of adultery coupled with desertion without reasonable excuse for two years or upwards (section 18). A copy of every petition has to be delivered to the Attorney-General or Solicitor-General on the same day as the petition is presented, and he may intervene, within fourteen days from service, to oppose petition. The rules of pleading and procedure in force in New Zealand were adopted, mutatis mutandis, from the English procedure under the Act of 1857 (20 and 21 Vict. cap. 85). They have not been changed in any material point since first issued. As to the cost of obtaining a divorce in this colony, see the schedule " fees " contained in the Eules and Eegulations under " The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867." (Copy herewith.) E. J. yon Dadelszen, Eegistrar- General.

No. 18. (No. 58.) My Lobd, — Government House, Wellington, 22nd December, 1893. With reference to the request in your despatch (New Zealand, No. 48) of the 3rd October, 1893, for a report from my Government as to present state of the graves of British seamen and soldiers at Eangiriri, I have the honour to enclose a copy of the reply I have received from my Premier, which I trust your Lordship will consider satisfactory. I have, &c, GLASGOW. The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., &c.

A.-2, 1894, No. 27.

• Immediate certificate of marriage. t For marriage of minor, fourteen days' notice when no person in colony to give consent.

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