A.—No. 2.

No. 3. The Hon. E. W. Staffobd to His Honor W. H. Eyes. (No. 470.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir, — Wellington, 21st November, 1866. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Honor's letter No. 1176, of the 13th August last; transmitting a Bill passed by the Provincial Council of Marlborough, intituled " The Drainage Act, 1866." The Government is advised that sections 16, 29, 30, and 31 of this Bill are ultra vires, being in contravention of sub-section 2 of section 19 of the Constitution Act, and I regret therefore that I have been unable to advise His Excellency to assent to this Bill. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. E. W. Staffoed.

No. 4. His Honor W. H. Eyes to the Hon. E. W. Staffobd. (No. 49-99.) Superintendent's Office, Sib,— Blenheim, sth July, 1867. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of five Acts which have been passed by the Provincial Council of Marlborough, intituled respectively— " The Drainage Act, 1807 ; " " The Charitable Trusts Act, 1867 ; " " The Picton Improvement Act Amendment Act, 1867 ; " " The Licensing Act Amendment Act 1866 Amendment Act, 1867 ; " " The Appropriation Act, 1867-S ; " and to request that you will advise His Excellency the Governor to assent to the same. I have, &c, W. H. Eyes. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 5. The Hon. E. W. Stafford to His Honor W. H. Eyes. (No. 382.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib, — Wellington, 7th September, 1867. Adverting to the reserved Bill intituled " The Drainage Act, 18G7," enclosed in your Honor's letter No. 49-99, of the sth July last, I have to state that the Government is advised that the thirteenth section of that Bill is ultra vires, as constituting a Court of Appeal, and falls within the recent judgment in " Sinclair v. Bagge " ; and that section fifteen is also ultra vires, being to the same effect as the sixteenth section of the similar Bill disallowed in 1866. His Excellency cannot therefore be advised to assent to this Bill. I have, <&c, His Honor the Superintendent, Marlborough. E. W. Staffobd.

PROVINCE OF WELLINGTON. No. 1. His Honor I. E. FEiTiiERSTON to His Excellency Sir Gr. Grey. Sik, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 17th June, 1867. I do myself the honor to forward to your Excellency authenticated copies of the following Acts, passed in the last Session of the Provincial Council of this Province, and to which I have given my assent on behalf of your Excellency, viz.: — 1. "An Act to appropriate the Eevenue of the Province of Wellington for a term commencing the first day of April, 1807, and ending the thirtieth day of June, 18G7." 2. " An Act to provide for the Protection of certain imported Birds and other Animals in the Province of Wellington." 3. "An Act to enable the Superintendent of the Province of Wellington to issue to Volunteers and Militiamen Remission Certificates for the Purchase of Land." 4. "An Act to Indemnify the Superintendent of the Province of Wellington for the Expenditure of certain Moneys for the Civil Government and Public Works and iindertakings of the said Province." 5. "An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to the Sale of Spirituous and Fermented Liquors." 6. " An Act to amend ' An Act to authorize the construction of a Bridge over the Wanganui River, and levying of Toils on traffic over the same.' " 7. "An Act to enable the Superintendent of the Province of Wellington to sell certain Reclaimed Land for the purposes of a Telegraph office." 8. "An Act to appropriate the Revenue of the Province of Wellington for the year commencing the first day of April, 1867, and ending the thirty-firat day of March, 1868."

11

DISALLOWANCE OF PROVINCIAL BILLS.