A.—l

15

35. Otago Heads Native Reserve Road Act, 1908 : Vesting certain land, being part of the Otago Heads Native Reserve in His Majesty the King for purposes of a road ; fixing the survey of the said Nktive Reserve ; validating certain agreements entered into by Natives and providing compensation for lands taken v 36. Palmerston North Dairy School Reserve Act, 1908 : Authorising the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association to transfer certain lands vested in it to the Crown as a reserve for the purposes of a dairy school and dairy experimental station ; and in consideration of such transfer empowering the Governor to discharge from trusts certain land already vested in the said Association. 37. Ross Goldfields Electric Power Transmission Act, 1908 : Authorising the Ross Goldfields (Limited) to construct, maintain and work an electric installation within the County of Westland for working and lighting the Company's Mines at Ross. 38. Waimate West County Act, 1908 : Constituting the Waimate West County and altering the boundaries of the Hawera County accordingly. 39. Wellington City Empowering Act, 1908 : Empowering the Wellington City Council to improve streets under its control, and for that purpose to acquire lands and to sell or lease surplus lands ; also to extend the Melrose District Drainage system to other parts of the City ; and authorising the said Council to acquire the Athletic Park at Wellington for the exclusive purposes of a sports ground. 40. Wellington Harbour Board Reclamation and Empowering Act, 1908 : Conferring certain powers upon the Wellington Harbour Board and the Corporation of the Borough of Miramar ; and enabling the Wellington Harbour Board to acquire certain lands, reclaim lands from the sea, execute certain works and borrow money. 41. Whakatane Foreshore Reclamation Act, 1908 : Empowering the Whakatane County Council to reclaim a certain portion of the Whakatane Harbour. 42. Whangarei Abattoirs Site Act, 1908 : Empowering the Whangarei Borough Council to acquire a portion of the Whangarei Public Cemetery in order to establish an abattoir thereon. 43. Hutt Valley Tramway District Act, 1908 : This Act is for the purpose of facilitating the construction, administration, and working of tramways in and for the boroughs of Lower Hutt and Petone and portions of the Hutt County. 44. Ohakune Town Board Election Validation Act, 1908 : Validating the election of the members of the Ohakune Town Board. 45. Wellington (City) Town Bolt Reserves Act, 1908 : Authorising the Wellington City Council to lease not more than one hundred acres of the Town Belt Reserves for recreation purposes. No. 24. No. 85. My Lord, Government House, Wellington, 21st November 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's despatch, No. 151, of i the 3rd September last, on the subject of Merchant Shipping Legislation, which I T duly forwarded to my Government for consideration. 2. In reply I have now received from my Prime Minister, for transmission to your Lordship, the following minute written by the Minister for Marine : — " I do not think that it would be wise for the Government of the Dominion " to promise that at any future time no restrictions beyond those imposed by the " Imperial Merchant Shipping Act will be imposed upon British ships registered " outside the Dominion and not engaged in the New Zealand coastal trade. Such " vessels may engage in the intercolonial trade, and that is a trade regarding which, " in my opinion, the Dominion should at any rate have the right to legislate." I have etc., The Right Honble PLUNKET, The Secretary of State for the Colonies. Governor.

A.-2, 1909, No. 22.

No. 25. No. 86. My Lord, Government House, Wellington, 22nd Nov. 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's despatch, No. 113, of a the 20th June last, enclosing copies of an Order of His Majesty in Council assenting N to the Reserved Bill entitled "An Act to amend the Chinese Immigrants Act, 1881". 2. The Act came into operation three months after the publication of the Proclamation in the New Zealand, Gazette dated 23rd July 1908 announcing the Royal Assent to the Act.

i.-2, 1909, STo. 18.