THE LEGISLATION OF LAST SESSION.

Southland Times, Issue 1138, 29 September 1869, Page 3

THE LEGISLATION OF LAST SESSION.

The following is a list of the Acts passed during last session of the General Assembly, and assented to by the Governor : — An Act to amend the Oyster Fisheries Act, 1860. An Act to amend the Registration Act, 1858. An Act to enable officers of the Government of New Zealand and others to give security to the Crown by guarantee policies with or without bonds. An Act for the better Prevention of Contagious Diseases. An Act to amend the Vagrant Act, 1866. An Act to repeal the Otago Goldfields Judicial Officers Act, 1867, and to provide for the payment of various officers employed upon Goldfields. An Act to empower the Governor to grant two thousand acres of land for the purpose of enabling the Acclimatisation Society of Southland to introduce salmon and other fish into the province of Southland. An Act to amend the Canterbury Itivers Act, 1858. An Act to amend the Building and Land Societies Act, 1866. An Act to facilitate the delivery of goods carried by sea to ports in the colony and to give shipowners a iien for freight An Act to promote the Establishment of Public Libraries. An Act to amend the law relating to Post Office Savings Bank. An Act to amend the Public Eevenues Act, 1867. An let to amend the Public Debts Sinking Funds Act, 1868. An Act to amend the Treasury Bills Begulation Act, 1868. Ati Act to establish and regulate an Institute called Botanic Garden of Wellington. An Act to Naturalize Hugo Max Bucholz. An Act to amend the Goldfields Act, 1868. An Act to amend the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Act, 1867. An Act for trying the legality of Bills passed by Provincial Councils. An Act to enable trustees to execute their Powers by Attorney in certain cases. i An Act to grant Pensions to Mary Ann Walsh and others. An Act to grant a pension to the widow and daughter of the late Rev. John Whiteley. An Act to amend the Joint Stock Companies Act, 1860. An Act to set apart a portion of land as an endowment to provide pensions for persons on whom the New Zealand Cross 1 is conferred. An Act to remove doubts as to the power of the Council of the Borough of Greymouth to levy Rates and Charges upon shipping. An Act to regulate the appointment of Commissioners of Crown Lands throughout the colony. An Act to repeal the Medical Practitioners Act, 1867, and to make other provisions in lieu thei eof. An Act to amend the Armed Constabulary Act, 1867. An Act to amend the Native Lands Act, 1865, and the Native Lands Act, 1867. An Act to extend the law now in force relating to the leasing of Crown Lands within the Province of Nelson. An Act to authorise the application of monies raised under the Consolidated Loan Act, 1867, to payment of certain Loans and Liabilities not provided for in the raid Act. An Act to enable the Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury temporarily co reserve from sale certain lands for mining purposes. An Act to amend the County of Westland Act, 1868. An Act to amend an ordinance of the Superintendent and Provincial Council of the Province of Canterbury intituled the Westland Public House Ordinance, 1867, and also the Public House Ordinance Amendment Act, 1868. An Act to amend the Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1867, relative to the sale and disposal of waste lands in the province ol Auckland. An Act to continue the Provincial Acts .Validation Act, 1867, and the Provincial Acts Validation Act continuance Act,

1868, and to valkiate certain Provincial . Acts and Ordinances. 1; An Act to amend ttte Stamp Duties Act, 1866, and the Stamp Duties Act , Amendment Act, 1867. ; An Act to authorise the appointment of Commissioners to enter into agreement with the Imperial Government for the i employment of an Imperial Force in i New Zealand and also to enter into t arrangements for organising a force for [ service under the Colonial Government and to make provision for payineut of the < • cost for such Imperial and Colonial i Forces. An Act to amend the land relating to s prisoners in confinement in Public i Gaols. An Act to amend the Arms Act, 1860. An Act to amend the Justices of the , Peace Act Eepeal Act, 1866, add the Justices of the Peace Act, 1866. An Act to amend an Act of the i General Assembly in JSTew Zealand in- ■ tituled an Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the sale, letting and occupation of Waste Lands of the Crown l within the Province of Otago. An Act to amend the law relating to i leases and Bailments of Stock and Chati tela. i An Act for the amendment of the laws i with respect to the carriage and deposit , of explosive dangerous goods. An Act to amend the Provincial Audit Act, 1866. An Act to provide for the purchase of i Government Annuities and payments on death and other payments. An Act to transfer and vest in the Corporation of the Incorporated Townjof Oamaru certain Public Reserves in trust for purposes of Public utility for the i Town of Oamaru and its inhabitants. An Act to empower the Governor to carry out certain engagements for grants of land situate at Poverty Bay. An Act to incorporate the Barristers i and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of New Zealand under the style of the New Zealand Society. An Act for raising the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds (£150,000) by Treasury Bills. An Act to apply a sum of money out of the consolidated fund and othermonies to the service of the year ending the thirteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and seventy, aud to appropriate the supplies granted in this Session of Parliament.

This expectation is not unreasonable. I believe that if the new Government should agree to form a light railway to Mataura, the stimulus thereby given to agriculture would extend even to the districts east of Mataura. The farmers obi the east lines of road would cultivate more land ; the Land Company would resume its- operations ; and the consequent expenditure would soon be beneficially felt m town and country. The produce in the- large tract of arable country opened up- by this branch would be an important item in the traffic of the railway — a large one in the exports of the province — and increased commercial activity would necessarily coincide with tbis increased production. Perhaps these indications of my views are sufficient on this occasion. I hope to have an early opportunity to explain them further to the electors. I am, Gentlemen, Tour obedient servant, J. A. It. Menzies. Messrs Mitchell, Harvey, Lumsden, and other seventy electors signing the requisition.