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No. 5. (No. 53.) My Loed, — Government House, Wellington, 18th October, 1894. In reply to your circular despatch, dated 25th August, 1894, I have the honour to forward a return from my Government, showing the number of divorces granted in this colony during the past ten years. The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., GLASGOW. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosure. Eetuen of Divoeces granted in the Colony of New Zealand during the past Ten Years, 1893 ... ... ... 25 1888 ... ... ... 32 1892 ... ... ... 18 1887 ... ... ... 16 1891 ... ... ... 20 1886 ... ... .. 24 1890 ... ... ... 21 1885 ... ... ... 19 1889 17 1884 16

No. 6. (No. 60.) My Loed,— Government House, Wellington, 12th November, 1894. In accordance with the usual practice with regard to exceptional Bills, I have the honour to report that I have consented to " The Native Lands Court Act, 1894," a copy of which I hereby enclose. As in this Bill the right of preemption of Native lands on the part of the Crown is unusual, I had at first some doubts as to whether it should not be reserved for Her Majesty's assent. My reasons were that, while in the Treaty of Waitangi the pre-emptive right was the most important part of the treaty with the Natives under which they acknowledge the sovereignty of the Crown, the Bill which abrogated that right in 1862 was so reserved, and therefore it seemed to me that any resumption of that right should in the same way be also reserved. The enclosed memoranda from the Premier and the Attorney-General will, I trust, satisfy your Lordship that I was justified in giving my assent to this Bill. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Marquis of Eipon, G.C.M.G., GLASGOW. Secretary of State for the Colonies..

Enclosure. Memobandum for His Excellency the Goveenoe. (No. 91.) 2nd November, 1894. The Premier presents his compliments and begs to inform His Excellency, in reference to inquiries as to whether the Act renouncing the pre-emptive right over Native lands was reserved for Her Majesty's assent, that the Act of 1862 renouncing the pre-emptive right was referred for Her Majesty's assent. As previously intimated to His Excellency, the Act of 1865 and the Act of 1873 were not reserved, nor have any other Acts dealing with Native lands and Native matters, since 1862, been reserved for Her Majesty's assent. The principal Act dealing with this question is the Native Land Act of 1873. The Imperial Parliament passed an Act, 26 Vict., capt. 48, in which it was enacted that under section 8 it should be lawful for the Assembly to repeal any of the provisions contained in section 73 of the Constitution Act; and under "The Native Land Act, 1873," section 4, the 73rd section of the Constitution Act was repealed. Many Acts have been passed since 1862 dealing with Native lands, and the Crown, by proclamation over particular blocks of land, practically resumed the pre-emptive right, and placed other restrictions preventing alienation by the Natives. The Premier forwards herewith a memorandum prepared by the Attorney-General on the subject of the legislation of the New Zealand Parliament on Native matters, a perusal of which, the Premier respectfully ventures to hope, will remove any doubt which His Excellency may have entertained with respect to the course he took in assenting to the Native Land Court Act of last session. . E. J. Sedpon.