A.—No. 3A.

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Stafford to His Honor S. Bealey (No. 121.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sib,— Wellington, 9tli March, 1866. In reference to your Honor's letter No. 42, of the 28th ultimo, on the subject of the Bill entitled " The Provincial Council Extension Ordinance, ISCC," I am advised that, although " The Eegistration of Electors Act, 1858," provides that the Electoral Eolls for the House of Eepresentatives shall be conclusive evidence of the right of persons whose names are thereon as electors, to vote at Provincial elections, it does not make them evidence of the Provincial Electoral District in respect of which the elector is to vote. The duty of the Eeturning officer, under the 12th section of " The Regulation of Elections Act, 1858," is to furnish copies of the Electoral Eolls prepared by the Provincial Eegistration Officer. It would therefore be preferable that a short clause should be added to " The Provincial Council Extension Ordinance, 1866," as suggested in my letter of the 23rd ultimo. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. E. W. Stafford. No. 6. Copy of a Letter from His Honor S. Bealet to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. (No. 54.) Superintendent's Office, Sir— Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z., 16th March, 1866. The Provincial Council having met for the purpose of inserting additional clauses in " The Provincial Council Extension Bill," passed last Session, providing for the formation of the Eolls for the new districts thereby created, I have the honor to forward herewith copies of that Bill as now passed with the additional clauses, for the signification of the Governor's pleasure thereon ; and I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to advise His Excellency to disallow the Bill previously transmitted. I have, &c, S. Bealey, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent. No. 7. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Stafford to His Honor S. Bealey. (No. 211.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Wellington, 25th April, 1866. , I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th ultimo, No. 54, forwarding " The Provincial Council Extension Ordinance, 1866," which you had reserved for the signification of the Governor's pleasure thereon. In reply I have to inform your Honor, that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to assent to that Ordinance, and I herewith return to you the duplicate with His Excellency's assent duly noted thereon. When this Ordinance was forwarded to the Governor, a proclamation dissolving the Provincial Council of Canterbury, and warrants for the appointment of polling-places, and writs for the new Elections, were also sent for His Excellency's signature, but have not yet been returned; the Government is consequently unable at present to move further in this matter. In the meantime it is advisable that the usual notification by your Honor of the Governor's assent to the enclosed Act should be published in the Provincial Gazette of Canterbury as soon as possible. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. E. W. Stafford. No. 8. Copy of a Letter from His Honor S. Bealey to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. (No. 85.) Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z., Sir,— 27th April, 1866. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, No. 211, in which you inform me that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to assent to " The Provincial Council Extension Ordinance, 1866," a copy of which is returned with His Excellency's assent duly noted thereon. You further inform me that when that Ordinance was forwarded to the Governor, a proclamation dissolving the Provincial Council, and warrants for the appointment of polling-places, and writs for the new elections, were also sent for His Excellency's signature, but that they had not been returned, and that consequently the Government is unable at present to move further in the matter. I have, &c, S. Bealey, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

9

DISALLOWANCE OF PROVINCIAL BILLS.