A.—4

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instructions from the Governor, may from time to time appoint by any instrument under the Public Seal of the possession. Every member shall vacate his seat at the end of six years from the date of the instrument by which he is appointed, but may be reappointed. XIV. 'Extraordinary members. —Whenever upon any special occasion the Administrator wishes to obtain the advice of any person within the possession touching any matters about to be brought before the- Legislative Council, he may by an instrument under the Public Seal of the possession appoint any such person to be for such occasion an extraordinary member of the Legislative Council. XV. Provisional appointment*. Provisional appointments to be immediately reported to Governor. Revocation of such appointments. —lf any member of the Legislative Council shall die, or become incapable, or be suspended or removed from his seat in the Council, or be absent from the possession, or be unable through residence at a distance to attend the meetings of the Council, or if he resign by writing under his hand, or if his seat become vacant, the Administrator may, by an instrument under the Public Seal of the possession, appoint in his place a fit person, to be provisionally a member of the said Council. Such person shall forthwith cease to be a member if his appointment is disallowed by us or by the Governor, or if the member in whose place he was appointed shall return to the possession, or shall be released from suspension, or shall be declared by the Administrator capable of again discharging his functions in the said Council. The Administrator shall without delay report to the Governor, for confirmation or disallowance, every provisional appointment of any person, as a member of the Legislative Council. Every such person shall hold his place in the Council during our pleasure, and the Administrator may by an instrument under the Public Seal revoke any such appointment. XVI. Council may transact business notwithstanding vacancies. Quorum. — The Legislative Council shall not be disqualified from the transaction of business on account of any vacancies among the members thereof ; but the said Council shall not be competent to act in any case unless (including the Administrator or the member presiding) there be present at and throughout the meeting of the Council three members at the least. It shall not be necessary to summon any member who is absent more than ten miles from the place of meeting. XVII. Precedence of members. —The members of the Legislative Council among themselves shall take precedence as we may specially assign, and, in default thereof, according to the priority of their respective appointments, or, if appointed by the same instrument, according to the order in which they are named therein. XVIII. Administrator to preside in Council, or in his absence the senior member. — The Administrator shall attend and preside in the Legislative Council unless prevented by illness or other grave cause, and in his absence that member shall preside who is first in precedence of those present. XIX. Questions to be decided by majority. Casting-vote. —All questions proposed for debate in the Legislative Council shall be decided by the majority of votes, and the Administrator or the member presiding shall have an original vote in common with the other members of the Council, as also a casting-vote if upon any question the votes shall be equal. XX. Standing Bales and Orders to be made. —The Legislative Council may make Standing Eules and Orders for the regulation of their own proceedings ; provided such Eules and Orders be not repugnant to our said Letters Patent, or to these our Instructions, or to any other Instructions from us under our Sign-manual and Signet. XXI. Questions, £c, for debate. —lt shall be competent for any member of the Legislative Council to propose any question for debate therein ; and such question, if seconded by any other member, shall be debated and disposed of according to the Standing Rules and Orders: Provided always that every ordinance, vote, resolution, or question the object or effect of which may be to dispose of or charge any part of our revenue arising within the possession, shall be proposed by the Administrator, unless the proposal of the same shall have been expressly allowed or directed by him. XXII. Rules and Regulations under ivhich ordinances are to be enacted. Form of enactment. Ordinances to be numbered and methodically arranged. Different subjects not to be mixed in same ordinance. No clause to be introduced foreign to what title of ordinance imports. Temporary ordinances. — In the making of laws the Administrator and the Council shall observe as far as practicable the following rules: (1.) All laws shall be styled "ordinances," and the enacting words shall be, " enacted by the Administrator of British New Guinea, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof." (2.) All ordinances shall be distinguished by titles, and shall be divided into successive clauses or paragraphs, numbered consecutively, and to every such clause there shall be annexed in the margin a short summary of its contents. The ordinances of each year shall be distinguished by consecutive numbers, commencing in each year with the number one. (3.) Each different matter shall be provided for by a different ordinance, without intermixing into one and the same ordinance such things as have no proper relation to each other ; and no clause is to be inserted in or annexed to any ordinance which shall be foreign to what the title of such ordinance imports, and no perpetual clause shall be part of any temporary ordinance. XXIII. Description of ordinances not to be assented to. Proviso in cases of emergency for immediate operation of an ordinance. — The Administrator shall not, except in the cases hereunder mentioned, assent in our name to any ordinance of any of the following classes : (1.) Any ordinance for the divorce of persons joined together in holy matrimony. (2.) Any ordinance whereby any grant of land or money, or other donation or gratuity, may be made to himself. (3.) Any ordinance Whereby any increase or diminution may be made, in the number, salary, or allowances of the public officers. (4.) Any ordinance affecting the currency of the possession or relating to the issue of bank-notes. (5^ Any ordinance establishing any banking association, or amending or altering the constitution, powers, or of any" banking association. (6.) Any ordinance imposing differentia] duties. (7.) Any ordinance the provisions of which shall