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1922, No. 49.—The Scaffolding and Excavation Act, 1922.—The object of this Act, which repeals the Scaffolding Inspection Act, 1908, is to make better provision for the prevention of accidents in connection with the erection and use of scaffolding and the making of excavations. It is very much wider in scope than the repealed Act. Notice of intention to commence any building-work involving a risk of a fall of 12 ft. or more, or any scaffolding or excavation, must be given to an Inspector twenty-four hours before actually commencing such work. Inspectors are given wide powers of controlling such work, and further powers of control are given by regulations. The terms "building," "building-work" "scaffolding," "crane," "gear," and "excavation" are exhaustively defined. 1922, No. 50.—The Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1922. — This Act provides for the exchange, sale, reservation, and other disposition of certain reserves, Crown lands, endowments, and other lands, validates certain transactions, and confers certain powers on certain public bodies. 1922, No. 51. —The Finance Act, 1922. —This Act is divided into parts as follows : Part I, Miscellaneous Provisions as to Public Debt; Part 11, Public Revenues and Loans ; Part 111, Local Authorities ; Part IV, Miscellaneous. Part 1 (Miscellaneous Provisions as to Public Debt) : The principal provisions of this Part are contained in section 2, which defines the moneys available for redemption of public securities ; section 4, which enables minors to be registered as holders of inscribed stock and to execute transfers thereof; and section 8, which makes provision for funding advances made by the Imperial Government. Part II (Public Revenues and Loans) : Section 11 declares public stores to be subject to audit and control as if they were public moneys. Section 13 provides for a general imprest account for the payment of interest. Section 14 extends the limit of the unauthorized expenditure of Harbour Boards. Section 15 extends the provisions as to payment of bonus on account of military service to persons domiciled out of New Zealand who served not less than six months continuously as members of the Voluntary Aid Detachments or as General Service workers, and were paid therefor by the New Zealand Government. Sections 16 and 17 confer additional powers to borrow for the purposes of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, and the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908. Section 21 makes special provisions as to computation of Government subsidy in cases where general rates include Hospital Boards' levies. Section 22 exempts from gift duty, in certain cases, reductions of purchase-money payable under agreements for the sale of land. Part 111 (Local Authorities) : Section 23 provides that local-authority debentures signed by agents need not be under the seal of the local authority. Section 30 empowers County Councils to expend money on tree-planting. Section 34 extends the authority of Hospital Boards to pay pensions to retired officers and servants. Section 35 empowers the Public Trustee to lend money to Hospital Boards on the security of debentures. Part IV (Miscellaneous) : Section 39 makes provision as to the distribution of surplus profits of the Public Trust Office. Section 40 amends section 12 of the National Provident Fund Amendment Act, 1914, to allow of a reduction of contributions by a local authority on behalf of employees in consequence of a general reduction of salaries or wages. Section 42 enables trustees to grant relief to purchasers of trust lands in respect of outstanding purchase-money. Section 43 authorizes the Valuer-General at any time, for sufficient cause, to amend any district valuation roll. Section 44 extends indefinitely Part I of the Monopoly Prevention Act, 1908. Section 46 extends to the 31st July, 1923, the duration of the law as to restriction of rents. Section 47 corrects an error in the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act, 1921-22, affecting evidence of validity of trade-marks. Section 50 makes provision for distribution of the surplus profits of the Accident Insurance Branch of the Government Life Insurance Department by way of rebates of premiums in lieu of bonus. Sections 51 to 56 contain various amendments of the law relating to the Public Service Superannuation Fund and the Teachers' Superannuation Fund. 1922, No. 52. —The Chattels Transfer Amendment Act, 1922. —This Act amends the Chattels Transfer Act, 1908, in several important particulars. Section 2 amends section 16 of the principal Act to provide that an unregistered instrument shall not affect a bona fide purchaser for value without notice, or an auctioneer or dealer selling in the ordinary course of business. Section 3 amends section 26 of the principal Act to provide that an instrument comprising stock shall be deemed to include the stock referred to in section 26, whether or not such stock may be removed from the lands or premises mentioned in the instrument. Section 4 makes further provisions as to securities given over wool. 1922, No. 53.—The Mining Amendment Act, 1922.—This Act amends the Mining Act, 1908. Section 3 provides that certain provisions of the principal Act shall continue to apply to State forests. The effect of section 4is to enable certain Native lands to be made available for mining purposes. Sections 8 and 9 increase the fees payable in respect of certain examinations and the obtaining of certain certificates. Section 10 makes more stringent provision as to fencing and marking disused mine-shafts. Section 11 makes further provision for the notification of accidents in mines. Section 12 enables certain Inspectors under the Coal-mines Act, 1908, to act as Inspectors of Mines in certain cases. . 1922, No. 54. —The Native Trustee Amendment Act, 1922. —This Act amends in various particulars the Native Trustee Act, 1920. Section 2 vests in the Native Trustee the powers vested in the Board constituted by the Native Reserves Act. 1882. Section 4 provides that the Native Trustee may act as trustee of a person under a disability until another trustee is appointed. Sectun 6 provides an additional mode of fixing the rent to be reserved on the renewal of leases of Native reserves. Section 8 extends the powers of the Native Trustee with respect to the administration of Native estates. Section 9 declares the Native Trustee to be a leasing authority.