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I have had those sections and an extract from the Schedule of the Act printed, and forward four slips. In addition to the exemptions set out in the Schedule, the Act exempts receipts given by or on behalf of the Crown. Special exemptions from duty are made in other Acts, chiefly affecting local governing bodies. I may add that the clauses herewith are adapted from the Act of the Imperial Parliament 33 and 34 Vict., c. 97. W. S. Reid, Crown Law Office, 28th November, 1879. Solicitor-General.

Sub-Enclosure 2 to Enclosure in No. 66. [Extracts from " The Stamp Act, 1875," clauses 94, 95, 96, and 97, and Schedule thereto.]

No. 67. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 79.) Government House, Wellington, Sir, — New Zealand, sth December, 1879. I have the honor to forward the Statistics of New Zealand for the year 1878, with abstracts from the Agricultural Statistics of the Colony for the year 1879. 2. Prefixed to the volume will be found a report of the contents of it by the Registrar-General, and a table giving a statistical view of the progress of New Zealand for the last twenty-five years—namely, from 1854 to 1878, inclusive. Both the report and the table might, I think, with advantage be reproduced in the Papers relating to Her Majesty's colonial possessions usually presented to Parliament. I have, &c, HERCULES ROBINSON. The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach.

Enclosure in No. 67. [The Statistics of New Zealand for 1878, with Abstracts from the Agricultural Statistics for the Year 1879.]

No. 68. Copt of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 80.) Government House, Wellington, Sir, — New Zealand, sth December, 1879. Having laid before Ministers your Despatch No. 23, of the 28th April last, covering a further letter from the Board of Trade with reference to the engagement and discharge of seamen at ports in Australia and New Zealand, I have now the honor to forward a copy of a memorandum which I have received from the Premier on the subject, from which it will be seen that the only point in which the practice in New Zealand is not in accordance with the views of the Board of Trade is being considered, with a view to having the omission rectified. I have, &c, HERCULES ROBINSON. The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach.

Enclosure in No. 68. Memorandum for His Excellency. The Premier presents his respectful compliments to the Governor, and returns herewith Despatch No. 23, from the Secretary of State, relating to alleged irregularities connected with the shipment of sailors in the Australasian Colonies. It is not desirable that there should be further general comment upon the statements made by Mr. Consul Layard, in his remarks upon the reports sent from New Zealand, and from Aus-