A.—No. U

22

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OE NEW

lands so purchased for and to the extent of such proceeds, and regulates the manner of the repayment of the money borrowed. No. 41. The Bonded Warehouses Duty Act, 1866, imposes the payment of certain annual duties in respect of Bonded Warehouses. No. 42. The Stamp Duties Act, 1866, is an Act following Imperial legislation on the same subject, imposing duties by means of Stamps upon Deeds or Instruments, Probate and Administration, Legacies and Besidues, and successions to Eeal and Personal Estate, and provides means for enforcing the payment thereof. No. 43. The Customs Tariff Act, 1866, specifies the objects over which the Customs Duties are spread, and provides for the adjustment of prices between buyer and seller of goods upon which new duties arc imposed. No. 44. The Provincial Audit Act, 1866. —The Act of 1861 having expired at the end of the session of the General Assembly held next after the 31st December, 1865, the present Act was passed to provide for the audit of Provincial Government Accounts. It vests in tho Governor the appointment of Provincial Auditors and Deputy Auditors, and makes their salaries payable by the Colonial Treasurer. No. 45. The Supreme Court and Registration Offices (Fees) Act, 1866, provides for the collection, by means of stamps, of the fees of the Supreme Court and Begistration Offices. No. 46. The Justices of the Peace Acts Eepeal Act, 1866, was passed in furtherance of the consolidation and amendment of the Laws relating to Justices of the Peace. No. 47. The Justices of the Peace Act, 1866, simplifies and sets in order numerous provisions relating to the duties of Justices of tho Peace, for which, previously to its passing, reference was required to the Acts repealed by Act No. 46. No. 48. The Justices Protection Act, 1866, adapts the provisions of the Imperial Statute 11 and 12 Victoria, chapter 44, to the circumstances of the Colony. No. 49. The Carriers' Act, 1866, was passed to prevent carriers from exempting themselves from liability in cases of neglect or default, except under conditions which should be adjudged by tho Court or Judge trying any question concerning them, to be reasonable, and to limit the liability of carriers. No. 50. The Innkeepers'1 Liability Act, 1566, limits the liability of innkeepers, and the like, for the loss of, or injury to, property of their guests. No. 51. The Steam Navigation Act, 1866, repeals and amends the provisions of the Act of 1862, by giving more efficient control over tho navigation of Steam Vessels. No. 52. The Marine Act, 1866, "The Marine Board Act, 1863," and "Tho Marine Board Act, 1865," the passing which Acts authorized the creation of a Marine Board as a body corporate for licensing pilots, managing lighthouses, and exercising other functions connected with navigation having been found inconvenient in practice, this Act was passed to repeal those Acts, and to vest in the Governor within the Colony such powers as are given to the British Board of Trade by certain Acts of the Imperial Parliament relative to merchant shipping; makes provision for appointment, examination, and employment of pilots, for management of lighthouses, for authorizing marine surveys, for the issue of quarantine and harbour regulations, for licensing of watermen, and for the regulation of port charges and other matters relating to navigation, and varies the powers of Superintendents of Provinces in relation thereto. The Act contains full powers of delegation of the powers created by it. No. 53. The New Zealand Post Office Act Amendment Act, 1866, regulates the proceedings concerning letters and papers opened under " The New Zealand Post Office Act, 1858 ;" appropriates to the public service money and property illegally posted; readjusts inland postal charges of letters and papers ; and imposes penalties for injuries to Post Office property. No. 54. The New Zealand Post Office Act Amendment Act, 1866 (No. 2), imposes certain obligations on masters of vessels as to carriage of mails, and removes doubts as to the power of the Governor to make rules for regulating Post Office services not provided for by the next previously cited Act. No. 55. The Adulteration of Food Act, 1866, provides for the punishment of persons selling or offering for sale adulterated or deleterious provisions ; and incidentally thereto enables the Governor to appoint a Colonial Analyst, and Superintendents of Provinces to appoint Provincial Analysts. No. 56. The Protection of Certain Animals Act Amendment Act, 1866, defines what shall be included in the word " game," and (with certain exceptions) requires persons desirous of killing or selling game to take an annual license ; and imposes restrictions on the killing, pursuing, and selling of game. It is not to come into force in any Province until proclaimed by the Governor in the Neio Zealand Gazette and in the Gazette of the Province. No. 57. The Oyster Fisheries Act, 1866, was passed to encourage the formation of oyster fisheries, for which many parts of the coast of this Colony are suitable; and provides for the protection of oyster beds artificially formed, and for the regulation and occasional closing of oyster fisheries on natural oyster beds. No. 58. The Superintendents Election Disallowance Signification Act, 1866, varies the mode provided by the New Zealand Constitution Act for the signification by the Governor of his disallowance of any election of Superintendent; and provides for the signification of such disallowance by proclamation in the Neio Zealand Gazette. No. 59. The Civil Service Act, 1866, was passed to organize and regulate the Civil Service of New Zealand, by the classification of officers, the abolition and consolidation of offices, and as to appointments, promotion, and discipline in the service, superannuation allowances, and compen-