15

A.—l

No. 9. The Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act Amendment Act. —Altering the constitution of the Board, by making the number of directors six, of whom four are to be appointed by the Governor in Council and two to be elected by the shareholders. The Act also abolishes the office of President, with provisions for compensation or right of action for damages to the holder of that office. An Assistant Auditor is to be appointed. The President's veto is abolished, and in lieu thereof the Chief Auditor is empowered to attend meetings of the Board and suspend the operations of any act of the Board until the matter has been further considered at a subsequent meeting. The Board is empowered to accept compositions for calls, subject to the approval of the Chief Auditor, and, if the liability exceeds £250, to the sanction of a Judge of the Supreme Court. The power of voting by proxy is limited, so that no proxy-holder shall, in right of his proxies, exercise more than 250 votes. The Bank is empowered to make further provision out of profits for ascertained losses and deficiencies. The Bank's balance-sheet is made annual in lieu of halfyearly, as also is that of the Assets Board. Certain assets are transferred from the Estates Company to the Bank, and the Assets Board is empowered to transfer certain assets to the Bank, and other provisions of a general nature are enacted. No. 10. The Municipal Franchise Reform Act.—Extending the municipal franchise to residential occupants under a tenancy at the rate of not less than £10 per year for each occupant thereunder, and also to the owner of freehold property to the value of not less than £25, notwithstanding that a ratepayer is enrolled in respect thereof. The Act also provides that in case of husband and wife any qualification possessed by one of them shall be deemed to be possessed by both. The residential occupant's qualification does not entitle him to vote on any question relating to loans or rates. The Act abolishes plural voting at municipal polls, by providing that each voter shall have one vote and no more. Mo. 11. The Native Land Laws Amendment Act. —Providing that the Native land duty shall not be payable on conveyances from the Native owners to trustees, but on conveyances, &c, from the trustees to other persons than Natives. No. 12. The Water-supply Act Amendment Act. —Enlarging the powers and functions of County Councils, Water-supply Boards, and Borough Councils in relation to water-supply, and prescribing the mode of settling objections and disputes. No. 13. The Land-tax and Income-tax Act. —Imposing the annual land-tax of ld. in the pound on land and mortgages, and an income-tax of Is. in the pound on income in the case of companies (including persons engaged in shipping, and also certain agents), and in all other cases 6d. in the pound on income up to £1,000, and thereafter Is. . No. 14. The Old-age Pensions Act.—Granting to every reputable person of sixty-five years of age, who has resided in the colony for twenty-five years, a pension of £18 per year, diminished by £1 for every complete pound of income above £34, and also by £1 for every complete £15 of the net capital value of his accumulated property. The Act sets out the conditions which the pension claimant must fulfil, and the events involving forfeiture of the pension or of specified instalments. There are excluded from pensions all aliens; also aboriginal natives to whom moneys (other than pensions) are paid under "The Civil List Act, 1863"; also naturalised subjects, except such as have been naturalised for five years ; .also Chinese and other Asiatics, whether naturalised or not. The pension-moneys are payable without further appropriation than the Act, but this provision continues in operation only until the fourteenth day after the close of the second session of the now next succeeding Parliament. Every pension is granted subject to any repealing or amending Act hereafter passed. No. 15. The Shearers' Accommodation Act.—Providing for the appointment of Inspectors to inspect shearing-sheds, and requiring proper accommodation to be supplied to shearers to the Inspectors' satisfaction, with provision for appeal to the Magistrate in case of neglect or refusal on the part of the owner. The Act does not apply to shearing-sheds where the number of shearers employed is less than six, nor to shearers who live in the neighbourhood of the shed and sleep at their own homes. No. 16. The Slander of Women Act.—Providing that, words imputing unchastity or adultery to a woman shall be actionable, with provision that the plaintiff shall not recover more costs than damages unless the Court certifies that there was reasonable ground for bringing the action. The Act is founded on the Imperial Statute 54 and 55 Vict., cap. 51. No. 17. The Road Districts Validation Act. —Settling certain doubts as to the constitution of road districts. No. 18. The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act.—Extending the provisions of the existing law for Government loans to certain local authorities for irrigation, watersupply, or water-conservation; the total amount of all such loans not to exceed in any year £250,000, or in any one case £100,000; and no loan to be granted after the 31st March, 1902. The Act also makes various amendments of the existing law. No. 19. The Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment Act.—Altering the constitution of the Board of Examiners, by empowering the Minister to appoint a member to act daring the absence from Wellington of the Inspecting Engineer of the Mines Department, or the Chief Inspector of Machinery. No. 20. The Cemeteries Acts Amendment Act.—Providing for the audit of the accounts of the trustees by the Audit Office. No. 21. The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Acts Amendment Act.—Providing for the raising of £500,000, to be applied: as to £175,000, in the construction of railways; as to £200,000, in acquiring additional rolling-stock, &c, for open lines ; and as to £125,000, in the construction of roads, tracks, and bridges, for the purposes of promoting land settlement and developing the goldfields. No. 22. The Dairy Industry Act.—Repealing the existing legislation on the subject, and making fuller provision for the inspection and situation of dairies, and the inspection of dairy pro-