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No. 82. The Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1910: The purpose of this Act is to determine certain claims and disputes in relation to certain Native Lands, and to confer jurisdiction in respect of those disputes upon the Native Land Court and the Native Appellate Court. No. 83. The Law of Libel Amendment Act, 1910 : This Act makes important amendments in the law relating to libel and slander. Section 2 adopts with modifications the provisions of .sections 3 and 4 of the Law of Libel Amendment Act, 1888 (Imperial), and of section 13 of the Defamation Law of Queensland, 1889. Paragraphs («) and (6) arc declaratory of the common law; paragraphs {<■), (d), and (c) make an important extension of the privilege of reporting proceedings. Prior to this Act there was no privilege for any reports except those of proceedings in Parliament and in the law-courts. A newspaper reporting the proceedings of a local authority was liable to an action if any statement so reported was defamatory, even though the report itself was perfectly fair and accurate and was published in good faith. Sections 4, 5, and 6 deal with the abuse of suing a large number of newspapers in different actions for the publication of the same defamatory statement. These sections adopt and extend the provisions of section 5 of the Law of Libel Amendment Act, 1888 (Imperial). Section 10 enables a defendant in a prosecution for libel to defend himself in the preliminary proceedings before a Magistrate. Formerly, even though a defendant ma}' have had a good defence, he had to be committed for trial on proof of publication. Section 11 provides that the indictable offences of criminal defamation and of publishing a defamatory libel may be dealt with summarily before a Magistrate; where the defence of publication for the public benefit is raised, that defence must be established before evidence may be given, of the truth of the statements published. No. 84. The Appropriation Act, 1910 : This Act appropriates and applies certain sums of money out of the Consolidated Fund, the Public Works Fund, and other specified accounts to the service of the year ending 31st March, 1911. No. 85. The Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1910: This Act provides principally as follows :— (1.) That seamen employed on ships trading between New Zealand and Australia and between New Zealand and the Cook Islands are to be paid at a rate not less than the rate of wages received by seamen in New Zealand ; and (2.) That, where ships trading as aforesaid carry Asiatic crews, there shall be payable an additional stamp duty of 25 per cent, of the passage-money and freight-money received in respect of those ships. This Act has been reserved for the signification thereon of His Majesty's pleasure. Local and Personal Acts. No. 1. The Gisborue Harbour Amendment Act, 1910 : Authorizes the Public Trustee to pay to the Gisborne Harbour Board the sum of £26,332 I.os. 6d. (being the balance of an amount held in trust for that Board) for the purpose of extending the breakwater at the mouth of the Turanganui River, and for the purchase of a dredge for use in the said river. No. 2. The liangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910: Abolishes the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Board; and declares that its assets and liabilities become the assets and liabilities of the Crown. The Minister of Lands is authorized to construct and maintain drainage-works,, and to otherwise render the land affected suitable for settlement. For the purposes of such works the Minister is authorized to raise from the Advances Office a, sum not exceeding £50,000. For the purpose of the repayment of an}' such advance the Minister is empowered to make and levy a rate on the unimproved value of all land within the district, such rate being in accordance with a graduated scale according to the. classification of the land in respect of which it is made. An annual statement of accounts, together with a report as to the administration of the Act, is to be laid before Parliament. No. 3. The Christchurch Tramway District Amendment Act, 1910: Authorizes the Governor, on petition by a majority of the ratepayers, to incorporate in the Christchurch Tramway District any borough, road district, or county, or any portion thereof. No. 4. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington Empowering Act, 1.910 : Provides for the vesting in the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington of certain lands in the Boroughs of Napier and Wairoa, and authorizes the said Archbishop to sell those lands and to dispose of the proceeds in manner specified in the Act. No. 5. The Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Amendment Act, 1910 : Amends the Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Act, 1896, in various particulars. No. 6. The Wanganui Church Acre Act, 1910: Vests certain lands situated in the Town of AVanganui in the Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees, declares the trusts upon which those lands are held, and makes other provision with respect thereto. No. 7. The Christ's College (Canterbury) Act, 1910 : The purpose of this Act is to remove certain difficulties and to extend the powers of the governing body of Christ's College, Canterbury (Incorporated), with respect to the administration of the lands and funds of that college. No. 8. The New Zealand Portland Cement Company (Limited) Reclamation and Empowering Act, 1910 : Authorizes the New Zealand Portland Cement Company (Limited) to reclaim certain parts of the foreshore of Limestone Island, in the Auckland Land District, and further authorizes the Governor to vest such land when reclaimed in the said company. No. 9. The Oamaru Harbour Board Enabling Act, 1910 : Authorizes and empowers the Oamaru Harbour Board to effect a compromise with the holders of debentures issued under the