H.—6

XXV

Some of the miners who come from the Colonies of New South Wales and Queensland have complained that they are not entitled to a free pass on our railways. They say that in the colonies mentioned they can travel free if on a prospecting tour. I cannot vouch for the truth of the statement. I have, &c, E. Tregear, Esq. J. B. Greig, Agent.

Beports have also been received from Inspectors at the following places. They state that the provisions of the Factories and Shops and Shop-assistants Acts have been well observed. In a few places there have been prosecutions (see page 25) : Whangarei, Otorohanga, Mercer, Tauranga, Waipukurau, Dannevirke, Feilding, Eltham, Tenui, Picton, Beefton, Kaikoura, Akaroa, Culverden, Oxford, Timaru, Boxburgh, Green Island, Middlemarch, Pembroke, Invercargill, Wyndham, Hokianga, Onehunga, Mangonui, Port Awanui, Clive, Ormondville, Hawera, Opunake, Masterton, Upper Hutt, Westport, Bangiora, Lincoln, Malvern, Bakaia, Outram, Cromwell, Mosgiel, Milton, Otautau, Bluff, Mataura, Dargaville, Maketu and Te Puke, Thames, Gisborne, Napier, Palmerston North, Inglewood, New Plymouth, Martinborough, Otaki, Greymouth, Hokitika, Leeston, Little Biver, Ashburton, Alexandra South, Queenstown, Balclutha, Kaitangata, Waitahuna, and Winton.

LEGAL DECISIONS DUEING THE YEAR Ist APRIL, 1895, TO 31st MARCH, 1896. April, 1895. Auckland. —One case under " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894 " : For failing to close shop on afternoon of day appointed for weekly holiday. Case dismissed, as Gazette notice was informal. Havelock. —Two cases under "The Factories Act, 1894": For failing to register factories. Penalties : £5, with £2 9s. costs; and £1, with £2 13s. costs. May, 1895. Auckland. —One case under " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894 " : For failing to close shop on day appointed for weekly half-holiday. Case dismissed, on the ground that the Act does not come into force until January, 1896. Appeal entered against the decision. Gisbome. —Two cases under " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894 " : For failing to close shops on afternoon of day appointed for weekly half-holiday. One case dismissed, on ground that one week's notice of the meeting at which the special resolution was passed was not given prior to the passage of such resolution, as required by section 2 of the Act. On the other case, a penalty of 10s., and 7s. costs, was inflicted. Wellington. —On the 12th June Mr. Justice Richmond gave judgment in the shop case sent up from Greytown to be heard in the Supreme Court. In the course of this judgment the ruling was given that the phrase " January next " meant the month of January, 1895, and that therefore the Act was" in existence at present. A contrary judgment had been given by Mr. Northcroft, S.M., in Auckland, but appeal was entered against that decision. Blenheim. —One case under "The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894" : For failing to close shop on afternoon of day appointed for half-holiday. Fine of 10s. inflicted, with £1 10s. costs. Dunedin. —Five cases under " The Factories Act, 1894 " : One for refusing to register factory ; penalty, Is., with 17s. 6d. costs. Two for failing to give half-holiday on Saturday to females; penalties, 10s., with 19s. 6d. costs, on each. One for failing to pay employe for statutory holidays; penalties, £1, with £2 Is. 6d. costs. One for not keeping workroom in conformity with the Act; penalty, Is., with 17s. 6d. costs. Three cases under "The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894" : For failing to close shops on afternoon of day appointed for half-holiday ; penalties, ss. on each case, with £3 os. 6d. costs. June, 1895. Auckland. —One case under "The Factories Act, 1894": For employing boy under eighteen on Saturday afternoon : three charges. Penalties, £3, with £5 2s. costs. Wellington. —Four cases under " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894 " : For failing to close shops on afternoon of day appointed for weekly half-holiday. Penalties, £1 each in three cases, with £4 6s. costs; £2, with £1 Bs. costs, on the fourth case. Wanganui. —Three cases under " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894 " : For failing to close shops on afternoon of day appointed for weekly half-holiday. Penalties, Is. on each case, with £2 14s. 6d. costs. Christchurch. —One case under " The Factories Act, 1894 " : For employing female on statutory holiday. Penalty, 10s., with £1 Bs. costs. July, 1895. Palmerston North. —One case under the Shops and Shop-assistants Act: For failing to close shop on afternoon of day appointed for weekly half-holiday. Penalty, £2, with 17s. 6d. costs. Blenheim. —One case under " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894" : For failing to close shop on afternoon of day appointed, for weekly half-holiday. Penalty, 55., with £1 10s. costs. Dunedin. —One case under " The Shops and Shop-assistants Act, 1894 " : For failing to close shop on afternoon of day appointed for weekly half-holiday. Penalty, 55., with £1 4s. 6d. costs. One appeal entered by defendant against decision of Stipendiary Magistrate in May last was dismissed, with £6 6s. costs. iv—H, 6.