FURTHER BABERS RELATIVE TO THE

A.—No. 2.

4

The block of land in the district of Tua Marina set aside for a school is in addition to what has been already fenced in for the purpose of erecting a school thereon, and while, looking to the future, it may be of great advantage to possess this block to add to the grounds of the church and school, there is little probability of there being any use for it for the next fourteen years. I have, &c, W. IT. Eyes, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 4, His Honor H. R. Richmond to the Hon. E. W. Staffoed. Superintendent's Office, g IE New Plymouth, 31st January, 1868. I have the honor to enclose copies on parchment of the following Ordinances : — Session 16.—N0. 1. " Supplementary Appropriation Ordinance, 1867-8." No. 2. " Town Buildings Eoofing Ordinance, 1867." No. 3. " Furze Ordinance, 1867." I have, Ac, H. E. Richmond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 'Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 5. The Hon. J. C. Richmond to His Honor IT. E. Eicumond. (No 65 ) Colonial Secretary's Office, g lEj _ Wellington, 2nd March, 1868. Adverting to your Honor's letter of the 31st January last, I am advised that " The Furze Ordinance, 1867," (transmitted therein) contains provisions which are ultra vires. Section 1 provides that in default of owners, &c, removing furze, certain public officers may do so, and recover summarily the expense together with costs of suit and such sum as Court may allow, in'any Court having competent jurisdiction. This section is ultra vires, as it affects to make provision altering the jurisdiction and practice of Courts of Justice by providing that the amounts shall be recovered summarily, and that costs shall be recovered, and lastly by providing that such Courts shall allow a sum to bo paid for trouble and expense of the Commissioners. This defect appears in other parts of the Ordinance. The Governor has, therefore, been advised to disallow this Ordinance. I have, &c, J. C. RICHMOND, His Honor the Superintendent, Taranaki. (for the Colonial Secretary.)

No. 6. His Honor J. P. Taylor, to the Hon. E. W, Stafford. Superintendent's Office, g IE Southland, 21th January, 1868. I have the honor to enclose herewith copies in duplicate of an Ordinance entitled " The Licensing Ordinance, 1868," passed by the Provincial Council of Southland, and which I have reserved for the signification of His Excellency's pleasure thereon. I take advantage of this opportunity to mention a circumstance which stands in the way of obtaining two of the main objects of all Licensing Ordinances—viz., the punishment by fine or otherwise of those who sell liquor without taking out a license and the protection of those who do. The convicting magistrates have no power to award the informers any part of the fine imposed as a penalty for such transgressions, and the consequence is that none will incur the odium of informing, and the law is universally broken with impunity, the revenue is defrauded, and the publicans complain. Public opinion expects that the police should take this invidious duty, but I do not think it would tend to enhance the respect in which these men are now held were they required to act as.spies, and I am sure they would not do it. It would impair their efficiency too in other respects, and prevent their getting much necessary information regarding more serious offences. Moreover if it were both possible and desirable so to employ the police, it would be, in such a community as this, useless. Our force has been reduced from twenty-seven to nine men for the whole Province, and of course each individual is perfectly known; even when out of uniform, to all who are likely to oft'end, and would have as little chance of obtaining drink himself or seeing it served to others as the Speaker in his robes. Thus, except that the Government gets a certain amount of fees—not what it ought to get —the Ordinance is practically of no effect. I am credibly informed that as much liquor is retailed by persons not authorized so to sell, or not licensed at all, as by those who arc; and that the police know most, if not all the offenders, but can get no one to lay informations. The small rewards they are able to offer are not sufficient inducement. The office of informer is an odious and an unpopular one, and a man acting as such is generally, in a small community, obliged to clear out after once appearing in that character in Court. Indeed four or five years ago, when a number of sly grogsellers were summoned, the police had to protect the informers. Since then, say during the last four years, only three convictions have been obtained.