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or other like payment in excess of one shilling (the maximum amount of the royalty paid to the Crown) per ton on the output of all marketable coal to be raised under the lease, the Minister, as a condition precedent to his consent to such transfer, may require to be paid to him such proportion of such royalty or other consideration as he may determine. Moneys paid to the. Minister pursuant to this section are appropriated for certain specified purposes in connection with the development of the coal-mining industry in New Zealand. The object of the section is briefly to prevent speculation in coal-mining leases. 1922, No. 20. -The Fireblight Act, 1922. This Act, which is made part of the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act, 1908, makes special provision for the control of fireblight. 1922, No. 21. —The Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, 1922. —This Act amends the Post and Telegraph Act, 1908, and confers certain new powers. Section 2 authorizes the charging of a Customs clearance fee on postal packets containing dutiable goods. Section 3 authorizes the laying under streets of pneumatic tubes for the carriage of postal matter. Section 8 extends the provisions of section 176 of the principal Act as to protection of submarine cables. Section 9 extends the powers contained in section 3 of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, 1911', as to regulation of wireless telegraphy. 1922, No. 22. —The State Fire Insurance Amendment Act, 1922- This Act amends in various particulars the State Fire Insurance Act, 1908. Section 2 allows the Reserve Fund of the Office to be applied in the direction of allowing rebates to insurers in respect of premiums. Section 3 repeals the provisions of the principal Act as to a Mutual Guarantee Fund. Section 4 alters the constitution of the State Fire Insurance Board. 1922, No. 23.-The War Disabilities Removal Act, 1922.—This Act provides that Acts and War Regulations imposing disabilities on alien enemies within the meaning of such Acts and regulations shall not apply to any person who in New Zealand is a British subject by birth, naturalization, or otherwise. 1922, No. 24.—The Amusements-tax Act, 1922.—This Act consolidates and amends the law relating to amusements-tax. The following classes of entertainments are exempted : (a) Agricultural and pastoral, horticultural, or poultry shows ; (b) entertainments for charitable, philanthropic, patriotic, or educational purposes, or for purposes of any society not established for profit and where; the performers are not paid for their services ; (c) swimming-sports meetings. 1922, No. 25. -The Mercantile Law Amendment Act, 1922. - This Act amends the Mercantile Law Act, 1908. The, effect of section 2is that a bill of lading is available not only to a consignee or indorsee for valuable consideration, but also to a shipper of goods, as conclusive evidence against the master or other person signing the same of the shipment of such goods. Section 3 makes important special provisions as to " received for shipment " bills of lading. Subsection (2) of that section prescribes the conditions under which such a document may be issued. Subsection (3) requires every such document to contain a provision as to shipment of goods unavoidably shut out from the named ship. Subsection (4) declares a " received for shipment " bill to be a valid bill of lading, with the same effect, negotiability, and consequences as a bill of lading acknowledging actual shipment of goods. 1922, No. 26.—The Electric-power Boards Amendment Act, 1922. This Act amends the Electricpower Boards Act, 1918. Further provisions are made respecting the constitution and alteration of electric-power districts. The powers of Boards with respect to private lands are extended by section 17. 1922, No. 27. —The Incorporated Societies Amendment Act, 1922. —This Act amends the Incorporated Societies Act, 1908. Clause 3 provides that rules of societies may make provision for the imposition on members of reasonable fines and forfeitures, and for the consequences of nonpayment of any subscription or fine. Section 4 enables the Registrar to dissolve a society that has been registered by reason of a mistake, of fact or law. Section 5 provides a new table of fees payable to the Registrar. 1922, No. 28. The Pharmacy Amendment Act, 1922.—This Act amends the Pharmacy Act, 1908. Section 2 restricts the, registration of persons with British qualifications to those who have passed the full qualifying examinations for certificates and diplomas of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain or the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. 1922, No. 29. —The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1922.—This Act amends in various particulars the Land Act, 1908, and the several amendments thereof. Section 3 allows the conversion of settlement land into ordinary Crown land of national-endowment land. Section 6 extends the existing provisions as to the acquisition of the fee-simple of small grazing-runs. Section 8 allows purchasers of Crown or settlement land to elect to accept renewable leases. Section 13 amends section 17 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1919, with reference to payment of certain land revenues to local authorities towards the cost of loans for roads and bridges. 1922, No. 30.—The Harbours Amendment Act, 1922. -This Act amends in various particulars the Harbours Act, 1908. Section 2 enables Harbour Boards to grant leases of foreshore lands that can be made available for pastoral or agricultural purposes if reclaimed from the sea. Every such lease is to contain a condition that the lessee shall reclaim such land within a time fixed in the lease. Section 6 provides for space occupied by deck cargo to be made liable to harbour dues. Section 9 amends section 117 of the principal Act to provide that vessels exempt from dues may become liable in certain circumstances. Section 11 empowers Boards to construct, lay down, and maintain tanks and pipes for the storage and conveyance of oil, or to grant a similar right to any person, body, or authority in respect of wharves, quays, docks, or land vested in such Boards. Section 16 increases the amount that may be levied as a harbour-improvement rate. Section 20 fixes increased fees, charges, and rates.