A.—4

18

No. 44. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Otago. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 17th August, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of July last, enclosing ten Bills passed at the last session of the Provincial Council of Otago, which your Honor had reserved for the signification of the Governor's pleasure thereon. His Excellency will be advised to assent to, — " The Riverton Athenaeum Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Oamaru Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Invercargill Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Education Reserves Management and Leasing Ordinance, 1875;" " The Roads Diversion Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Cromwell Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Queenstown Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Port Molyneux Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875." and "The Roxburgh Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875." I must, however, draw your Honor's attention to a misprint in the Schedule to " The Education Reserves Management and Leasing Ordinance, 1875," " Block VIII., Coast District," having been printed, in the first line of the tabular list, in lieu of " Block V 11.," in which the section affected is contained. I shall do myself the honor of addressing a separate communication to you upon the subject of " The Gaol Street Diversion Ordinance, 1875." I have, Sue., His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Daniel Pollen.

No. 45. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey to His Honor the Supeeintendent, Otago. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 23rd August, 1875. Adverting to my letter of the 17th instant, in which I stated that I should address a separate communication to you on the subject of " The Gaol Street Diversion Ordinance, 1875," I have the honor to inform you that the Government have determined to advise His Excellency the Governor to withhold his assent from that Ordinance, on the ground that the closing of Gaol Street would involve an interference with the public property, by depriving the Supreme Court of its access on that side. Moreover, if the site of the street were sold, it might bring private property to abut on the prison wall, and so take away from the security of the gaol. I enclose for your Honor's information a copy of the New Zealand Gazette of the 19th instant, notifying His Excellency's assent to the following Ordinances, viz.,— "The Riverton Athenaeum Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875;" " The Oamaru Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" "The Invercargill Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Education Reserves Management and Leasing Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Roads Diversion Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Cromwell Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" " The Queenstown Reserves Management Ordinace, 1875 ;" " The Port Molyneux Reserves Management Ordinance, 1875 ;" and " The Roxburgh Reserve Management Ordinance, 1875." I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Daniel Pollen.

No. 46. His Honor the Supeeintendent, Otago, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — Wellington, 6th September, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the following letters, viz. of the 18th August, No. 464 ; 18th August, No. 466 ; 17th August, No. 465 ; 20th August, No. 474 ; and the 23rd August, No. 476, stating that certain Ordinances had been allowed, certain left to their operation, and others disallowed. I have to state that it seems to me that the reasons given for the disallowance of the Ordinances, when compared with the provisions of the Ordinances, are of a peculiar nature, and the grounds urged of a very weak character. The Town and Country Police Ordinance was passed at the request of the Colonial Secretary, as expressed in a letter addressed to myself in September last year, and if any provision in it or in any of the Ordinances disallowed was ultra vires of the Superintendent and Provincial Council, such provision did not necessarily invalidate the Ordinance. Seeing, however, that the Ordinances have been disallowed, and the Government possess the power to do so, it is unnecessary to discuss tbe various grounds alleged for the action of the Government. If defects had been discovered and stated to me before disallowance, I think I might have pointed out that they were more imaginary than real. This opportunity was not afforded me; and however weak and unsatisfactory the reasons urged are, my comments will be unavailing to give the Ordinances the force of law. I have, &c, J. Macandrew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent of Otago. By Authority : George Didsburt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7s. Price Is. 6d.]