A.—No. 3A.

"An Act to repeal the Fencing Act, 1862, so far as relates to districts constituted imdcr the Pastoral Districts Fencing Act, 1863." " An Act to provide for the construction and maintenance of Roads and other Public Works in certain districts." " An Act to appropriate the Ecvenue of the Province of Nelson, for the year ending the 31st day of March, 1867." I also transmit the following Acts in duplicate, passed by the Provincial Council in the same Session, which 1 have reserved for the signification of His Excellency's pleasure thereon, viz.:— "An Act to provide for the constitution of New Electoral Districts, and for the election of additional Members of the Provincial Council of the Province of Nelson." " An Act to authorize the Superintendent to lease certain Lands in the District of Motueka granted for public purposes." "An Act to repeal the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, and to make other provisions in lieu thereof." " An Act to amend the Buller Reserve Administration Act, 1863." I have, &c, Alfeed Satot)ebs, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffoed to His Honor A. Saitstdebs. (No. 353.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 15th August, 1866. With reference to my letter to your Honor of this day's date, respecting the Acts and Bills forwarded in your letter of the 23rd June last, No. 39,1 have the honor to iufonn you that there arc legal objections to several of the provisions of the Public Works Act, and I regret to state that they iire*of such a nature as to compel me reluctantly to advise His Excellency to disallow that Act, the object and general purport of which is of so useful a character. The objections in question are the following:— Section 15 gives a jurisdiction to Justices and Resident Magistrates beyond what Provincial Legislatures are, by the Constitution Act, or by " The Provincial Council Powers Act, 1856,"' empowered to give, and is therefore ultra vires. The 18th, 19th, and 20th sections are open to the same objection, as in effect they purport to establish a court of civil judicature, which by section 19, sub-section 2, of the Constitution Act, is beyond the powers of a Provincial Legislature. The 21st section is also objectionable, on similar grounds, as it purports to alter, —that is to say, svdd to the jurisdiction and regulate; the practice of the Supreme Court. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Nelson. E. W. Staffoed. PROVINCE OF MARLBOROUGH. No. 1. Copy of a Letter from His Honor W. H. Exes to the Hon. E. W. Staffoed. (No. 1156.) Superintendent's Office, Sin,— Blenheim, 20th June, 1866. I have the honor to transmit herewith three copies of an Act passed by the Provincial Council of Marlborough, on the 30th ultimo, intituled " An Act to provide for the cost of Vaccinating in the Province of Marlborough," and to request that you will be good enough to lay the same before His Excellency the Governor, and advise him to assent to the same. I have, Ac, W. H. Eves, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent. No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staffoed to His Honor W. H. Eyes. (No. 308.) Colonial Secretary's Office, SrE— Wellington, 4th July, 1860. I have to acknowledge tho receipt of your Honor's letter, No. 1156, of the 20th ultimo, transmitting a reserved Bill intituled " The Vaccination Act, 1866," passed by the Provincial Council of Marlborough. The Honorable the Attorney-General is of opinion that it is doubtful whether the Provincial Legislature is able to pass such a law ;is tlie 15111 in question. The subject of vaccination is dealt with by an Act of the General Assembly, and although that Act does not declare that no fee shall be charged, as is purported to be done by this Bill, yet it makes no provision empowering a Provincial Legislature to pass a law making a fee payable. Moreover, if the imposition of such a fee were valid, it would be impolitic, and tend to frustrate tho object of the Act of the General Assembly. The public benelit of compulsory vaccination is

5

DISALLOWANCE OF PROVINCIAL BILLS.