A.—No. 3

No. 7. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey to the Supebintendent, Southland. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 13th April, 1805. With reference to my letter No. 104, of the 11th March last, transmitting a copy of a Memorandum by the Hon. the Attorney-General on the subject of " The Executive Council Ordinance, 1865," I have to inform your Honor that that Officer has since stated that his attention has since been drawn to the fact that an Ordinance, in similar terms with the above named, was passed by the Provincial Council of Otago, and disallowed under the advice of the late Attorney-General, upon exactly the same grounds; in consequence, an amended Ordinance was forwarded by the Provincial Council of that Province, which has been left to its operation. The Attorney-General's opinion is thus confirmed, and he is constrained by the precedent established by his predecessor to adopt a similar course in the present instance. I have, &c. His Honor the Superintendent, Southland. Feed. A. Weld. No. 8. The Supebintendent, Southland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Southland, 22nd April, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 738, 13th April, 1865, in reference to your letter No. 104, of the 11th March last, transmitting a copy of a Memorandum by the Hon. the Attorney-General on the subject of "The Executive Council Ordinance, 1865," and informing me that that Officer has since stated that his attention had been drawn to the fact that an Ordinance, similar to the above, was passed by the Provincial Council of Otago, and disallowed under the advice of the late Attorney-General, upon the same grounds; in consequence, an amended Ordinance was forwarded by the Provincial Council of that Province, which was left to its operation. Also, that the Attorney-General is constrained to adopt a similar course in the present case. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. J. P. Tayloe, Superintendent. No. 9. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey to Supebintendent, Southland. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 2nd May, 1865. The five undermentioned Bills, passed by the Provincial Council of Southland, were, I believe, left on my table by your Honor, without any covering letter: — " Appropriation Ordinance, No. 1, 1865 ;" " Appropriation Ordinance, No. 2, 1865 ;" " Tolls Ordinance, 1865 ;" " The Dog Ordinance, 1865 ;" " Debentures Ordinance, 1865." These Bills were passed by the Provincial Council before a valid election had, in the opinion of the Attorney-General, taken place of yourself as Superintendent of the Province of Southland, and therefore, in order to avoid legal difficulties, Ministers have not thought it advisable to recommend His Excellency the Governor to assent to these Bills. It will accordingly be for the Provincial Council to re-enact these Bills, if it is thought advisable to do so. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Southland. Feed. A. Weld. No 10. The Supebintendent, Southland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Southland, 10th May, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 177, 2nd May, 1865, informing me that the following Bills, viz. : — " Appropriation Ordinance, No. 1, 1865 ;" " Appropriation Ordinance, No. 2, 1865 ;" "Tolls Ordinance, 1865;" " The Dog Ordinance, 1865;" " Debentures Ordinance, 1865 ;" were passed by the Provincial Council of Southland before a valid election of Superintendent, and therefore, in order to avoid legal difficulties, Ministers had not recommended His Excellency's assent to these Bills. I have, &c. The Hon the Colonial Secretary, J. P Tayloe, Wellington. Superintendent.

5

DISALLOWANCE OF PROVINCIAL RILLS