D.—No. 12.

AT THE COURT AT WINDSOR, THE 10th DAT OF JUNE, 1864. PRESENT : The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. Lord President. Earl Russell. Duke on? Somerset. Sir George Grey, Baet. "Whereas by au Act passed iv the Session held in the 15th and lGth years of Her Majesty's Reign, entitled "An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand" it is amongst other things declared, that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon, shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify either by Speech or Message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same; And, whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, entitled "An Act to impose a Tax upon all rural lands in the Province of Otago, to be sold under 'The Otago "Waste Lands Act, 1863' and to make certain provisions respecting lands heretofore sold under conditions for the improvement thereof," was presented to the Officer administering the Government of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent; And, whereas the said Bill was reserved by the said Officer for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon; And, whereas the said Bill so reserved as aforesaid, has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and it is expedient that the said bill should be assented to by Her Majesty; Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in pursuance of the said Act, and in exercise of the power thereby reserved to Her Majesty as aforesaid, doth by this present Order, by and with the advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council, declare Her Assent to the said And the Right Honorable Edward Cardwell, one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. Arthur Helps. AT THE COURT AT WINDSOR THE 10th DAT OP JUNE, 1861. PRESENT : The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. Lord Peesident. Earl Russell. Duke op Somerset. Sir Geoeoe Geey, Baet. Whereas by an Act passed in the Session held in the 15th and 16th years of Her Majesty's Reign, entitled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it ia amongst other things declared, that no bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon, shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify either by Speech or Message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such bill has been laid

ORDERS IN COUNCIL CONFIRMING RESERVED ACTS.