A.—6b.

In section 41 of the same Act we have substituted " The Property Law Act, 1908," for the conveyancing Ordinance mentioned therein (section 44 of the Consolidation Act). " The Settled Land Act, 1886," overlaps to some extent the earlier Act of 1865. The Consolidation Act (which combines the two) might with advantage be reconsidered by the Legislature in connection with the Trustee Act and the Property Law Act. Shipping and Seamen. In the Third Schedule to the Act of 1903 (Firemen, Trimmers, and Greasers to be carried) there is no requirement where the horse-power is 4 ,000 tons or over. This is a defect for the Legislature to deal with (Fourth Schedule to the Consolidation Act). Similarly, in the Fourteenth Schedule (Maximum Fees for Measurement of Ships' Tonnage) the scale of fees stops at 6,000 tons (Fifteenth Schedule to the Consolidation Act). Slaughtering and Inspection. Section 12 of " The Stock Act Amendment Act, 1898 " (Special inspection of slaughterhouses) has been transferred to this Act—its proper place (section 33). Section 43 of the Act of 1900 empowers any owner or occupier to "lay an information." We have substituted " take proceedings," to cover complaints and orders, that being the manifest intention (subsection (2) of section 43 of the Consolidation Act). The proviso to section 26 of the Act of 1900, and the First Schedule thereto, are omitted as spent. Stamp Duties. The list of exemptions in the case of affidavits and declarations is brought up to date from the various statutes ; and similarly in the list of general exemptions. The form of annual license is altered to cover all the cases. State Fire Insurance. So much of sections 23 to 28 as provides for the raising of the capital sums mentioned is dropped as being superseded by " The New Zealand Loans Act, 1908," and a reference to that Act is inserted (section 23 of the Consolidation Act). Statistics. " Census " is substituted for " account " in " The Census Act, 1877," as the more appropriate term. Section 25 of the Consolidation Act (Application of the three last sections) is inserted, as those three sections apply only to the Act of 1877, and the account referred to in section 20 of the Consolidation Act is provided for by the Act of 1895. Surveyors' Institute and Board of Examiners. Section 2of the Act of 1900 defines " Australasian Colony." " Australian State " is substituted, and the definition is recast accordingly. In the same section the definition of " Certificate " refers to " Board of Examiners " in Australia: "or other legally constituted authority " is added as in some States there may not be a Board of Examiners in terms. Section 22 (Gazette list of persons registered to be evidence) is extended to, meet the case of persons whose names are not in the list. This is in accordance with similar provisions in other Acts, and remedies a defect. Thermal Springs Districts. Section 14 of the Act of 1881 limits the Act to the Counties of Tauranga and East Taupo. We have added the County of Rotorua, which was subsequently formed out of Tauranga (section 13 of the Consolidation Act). Section 14 of the Consolidation Act is inserted to save the operation of " The Rotorua Town Act, 1907."

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