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No. 30. (No. 6.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, Bth February, 1898. I have the honour to forward you a synopsis of the Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand during the second session of the thirteenth Parliament. I have, &c, EANFUELY. The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosures. Premier's Office, Wellington, 21st January, 1898. The Premier begs to forward, for transmission to the Eight Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a synopsis, prepared by the Law Officers, of the Acts passed at the second session of the thirteenth Parliament of New Zealand. W. C. Walkee, For the Premier.

Hon. Colonial Secretary. Herewith is the usual synopsis of the Acts passed by the General Assembly during the recent session. It will be seen the enumeration of the public and local Acts of this session does not commence in the ordinary way, because the three Acts passed in the session held in April will also form part of this year's volume. 11th January, 1898. W. S. Bbid.

Synopsis of the Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand in the Second Session of Parliament held in the Year 1897. Public General Acts. No. 3. The Imprest Supply Act.—This Act authorises advances of, in all, £325,000 out of the Public Account and the other accounts mentioned therein for the service of the year ending the 31st March, 1898, the moneys to be charged in manner expressed in the Appropriation Act passed in the session. No. 4. The Land-tax and Income-tax Act. —■ This Act imposes the same land-tax and income-tax for the year commencing Ist April, 1897, as were imposed last year. No. 5. The Awarua Seat Inquiry Act.—This Act empowers the Court of Appeal of New Zealand to determine whether, upon the facts stated in the Act, the seat of the member for the Awarua Electoral District in the present Parliament had become vacant, the said member being a bankrupt at the time of his election. No. 6. The Imprest Supply Act (No. 2). —This Act authorises further advances of, in all, £375,000 out of the Public Account and the other accounts mentioned therein for the same purpose and to be charged in the same manner as in the case of the former Imprest Supply Act. No. 7. The Sunday Labour in Mines Prevention Act.—This Act makes it unlawful to employ manual labour in or about a gold- or coal-mine on Sunday, unless written authority to do so has been given by an Inspector of Mines in cases where he is satisfied that labour cannot be suspended on Sunday without risk of injury to the mine or its operation. A saving is made in cases of breakage or other special emergency involving danger to life or damage to property. No. 8. The Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act Amendment Act. —This Act amends the principal Act as to the form and time of sealing patents, and also in various other particulars. No. 9. The Explosives Act Amendment Act.—This Act transfers the administration of the principal Act from the Commissioner of Customs to the Minister of Defence, and provides for regulations to prohibit or regulate the importation of explosives into New Zealand. No. 10. The Imprest Supply Act (No. 3). —This Act authorises further advances of, in all, £279,000 out of the Public Account and the other accounts mentioned therein for the same purpose, and to be charged in the same manner as in the case of the former Imprest Supply Acts. No. 11. The Members of the House of Eepresentatives Disqualification Act. —This Act provides that a bankrupt who has not obtained an order of discharge shall not be eligible for election or be elected as a member of the House of Eepresentatives, the Court of Appeal of New Zealand having decided, under Act No. 5 of the present session, that a bankrupt could be elected and take his seat. No. 12. The Fisheries Encouragement Act. —This Act extends for a further period of three years the time within which a bonus will be paid under the principal Act upon canned and cured fish exported from the colony. No. 13. The Public School Teachers Incorporation and Court of Appeal Act Amendment Act. —This Act amplifies the provisions of the principal Act as to the dismissal of teachers, and provides for the registration of the New Zealand Educational Institute. No. 14. The Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Act. —This Act declares that no sinking fund created under " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886," shall be set free by reason of the conversion of any loaf raised under that Act, nor shall any stock be created or debentures issued against such sinking fund. Power is also given to create fresh debentures to pay off matured debentures.