A.—No. 4.

The best course would, I suggest, be that your Honor should apply for grants of the lands in question under the Public Eeserves Act, and then the Provincial Legislature could deal with those lands as they think fit. I have, &c, William Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, "Wellington. ___________^__ l^__ No. 5. IHE HONORABLE COLONIAL SECRETABT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WELLINGTON. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 27th October, 1864. Sib — "With reference to my letter of the 17th instant, No. 320,1 have now the honor to transmit to you the accompanying New Zealand Gazette, noted in the margin, containing a Proclamation by His Excellency the Governor, disallowing the " Wairarapa Eacecourse Act," and the " Hutt Park and Eacecourse Act." I have, &c, "William Fox. His Honor the Superintendent, "Wellington. CANTERBURY. No. 1. SUPERINTENDENT CANTERBURY TO THE HONORABLE COLONIAL SECBETAET. Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z. 7th October, 1863. Sir,— I have the honor to transmit copies of four OrdL.»^nces viz.: — " The Christehurch Hospital Ordinance." " The Fencing Ordinance" " The Bush Fires Ordinance." and " The Sheep Ordinance." "Which I have assented to on behalf of His Excellency the Governor. Paper copy of the " Sheep Ordinance" will be forwarded by the next opportunity. I have, &c, S. Bealey, Superintend ent. The Honorable The Colonial Secretary, Auckland. No. 2. THE HONORABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT CANTERBURY. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 23rd December, 1863. Sir,— I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter No. S9, of the 27th October last, transmitting copies of four Ordinances, namely: — " The Christchurch Hospital Ordinance, 1863." " The Fencing Ordinance, 1863" "The Bush Fires Ordinance, 1863" and " The Sheep Ordinance, 1863" Passed by the Provincial Council of Canterbury and assented to by your Honor on behalf of the Governor. With reference to these Ordinances generally, I would draw your Honor's attention to the form (at the foot of them) of the certificate of the Speaker, which is inconvenient, inasmuch as it mixes up the passing of each Bill by the Provincial Council together with the giving of the assent to it by the Superintendent, the certificate of that assent should be signed by the Superintendent, and should appear on the face of the Ordinance transmitted for the Governor's consideration. I enclose forms of certificates respectively used in such cases by the Superintendents and Speakers of Provincial Councils in other Provinces, and I would suggest the desirability of using the same forms in the Province of Canterbury. I also notice that there is no title to any of these Ordinances, and I am not aware whether this omission is intentional or accidental, but I draw your Honor's attention to it, as there does not appear to be any reason why the usual form is not adhered to. There is no legal objection to the " Christchurch Hospital Ordinance, 1863" as it is believed that the land dealt with namely " Hagley Park" has been granted to the Superintendent under the " Public Eeserves Act, 1854;" it would be more convenient' if in similar casea the recital of the issue of the grant

No. 40. 22nd October, 1864.

7

DISALLOWANCE OF PROVINCIAL BILLS.