A.—No. 1

upon. Limits the total annual contribution of New Zealand to £50,000, and provides for the cessation during the time this contribution shall be paid, of payments under " The Panama Mail Service Act, 186-1," or " The Panama Mail Service Act Amendment Act, 1865." No. 76. The Naturalization Act, 1866, Amendment Act, was passed to remedy an. error in the Act of' 1866, in the spelling of the name of Alanheim Krakour. No. 77. The Post Office Savings Bank Act, repeals "The Post Office Savings Bank Act, 1865." It defines the legal title of depositors in Post Office Savings Banks, directs the mode of receipt and withdrawal of moneys, and provides for the drawing of each depositor's account. It directs the payment of deposits into the Public Account of the Colony, and their investment, and gives to depositors the guarantee of the Government for the amounts of their claims. It enables the Governor to make regulations keeping on foot in the interim those made under the repealed Act, and provides for yearly accounts being laid before the General Assembly. No. 78. The Census Act Amendment Act, renders more minute the account to be taken under the Census Act of property in the Colony, and provides for taking an annual account of the land in cultivation, and of the agricultural produce thereof. No. 79. The Provincial Acts Validation Act. —The extent of the exceptions to the legislative powers of Provincial Councils by the nineteenth clause of the Constitution Act not being very clearly defined, a number of Acts of Provincial Councils which from a late judgment of the Court of Appeal, appear to have contained provisions ultra vires, have been left to their operation. The validity ot one of these Acts has been tested by the case of Bagge v. Sinclair, before the Court of Appeal, in in which it was found by the Court, that several clauses of the Picton Improvement Act, were ultra vires. The provisions of many of these Acts being beneficial in themselves, the present Act was passed to validate them with a saving of the right of parties in the decided case, and the force of law has been given to certain Acts or Ordinances which had been disallowed by the Governor for containing similar provisions. No. 80. The Distillation Act, 1866, Amendment Act, extends till the end of the year 1870, the power of the Governor to make regulations for licensing persons as Distillers, and for the manner in which, and conditions under which the business shall be carried on. It introduces further provisions adopted from a Victorian Act, against the dealers in illicitly distilled, spirits, and the aiders and abettors of illicit distillation, and extending the powers of search, and contains an indemnity for acts of officers within three months' past, which if the Act had been in force would have been authorized by it. No. 81. The Stamp Duties Act Amendment, imposes certain new duties, clears away some uncertainties under " The Stamp Duties Act of 1866," fixes the rates of valuation of annuities or single lives, imposes more stringent penalties in certain cases, and increases facilities for stamping instruments, the stamping of which has been delayed without intention to defraud. No. 82. The Customs Tariff' Amendment Act, increases the duty on importation of roasted coffee from 3d. to sd. per lb., and relieves from duty, blasting powder, rosin, olive oil in bulk, and palm oil. No. 83. The Public Stores Act, establishes a method of keeping an account and checking the consumption of public stores. No. 84. The Public Itevenucs AM, was passed to regulate more efficiently the receipt, custody and expenditure of the Public Revenues of New Zealand. After repealing previous Acts it provides that all moneys payable to the Government of New Zealand shall bo kept in one account called " The Public Account," of which there shall be four branches, namely, the Consolidated Fund, the Special Fund, the Land Fund, and the Public Trust Fund. It defines the moneys to be paid into the Public Account to the credit of these several funds, and makes provision for the control and issue of the public revenues, the expenditure of the public revenues; as to the revenues payable to Provinces —the receipt and expenditure of public moneys beyond the Colony; the audit of the pxiblic revenues. Creates penalties for any disobedience of its provisions, and imposes on the Auditor certain duties in the recovery of moneys outstanding in the hands of Receivers. No. 85. The Legislative Officers' Salaries Act, fixes the salaries of the Speaker, Chairman of Committees, and Clerk of the Legislative Council; and of the Speaker, Chairman of Committees, and Clerk, and Clerk Assistant, of the House of Representatives. No. 80. The Bartlei/ Pension Act. —The Honorable Thomas Bartley having been for many years Speaker of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, this Act provides a pension for him on his retirement. No. 87. The Surplus Revenue Adjustment Act, relieves the Provinces of New Zealand from the obligation to repay to the general revenue the sums which have been paid to them by way of surplus revenue, in excess of the sums distributable under " The Surplus Revenue Act, 1858," except in so far as was necessary for the purpose of effecting an equitable inter-provincial adjustment of the total sum so paid in excess. For this adjustment the Act also provides. No. 88. The Loan Allocation, Act Repeal Act, repeals " The Loan Allocation Act, 1865," from and after the 30th June, 1867, and relieves the Provinces of Auckland, Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki, from further payments in respect of the sums thereby charged upon their revenues, except as to certain sums due from them for interest and sinking fund on the 30th June, 1807, and specified in this Act. No. 89. The Public Debts Act, charges upon the revenues of the Colony the interest and sinking fund payable upon Provincial debentures issued under the authority of the Acts and Ordinances of Superintendents and Provincial. Councils mentioned in Schedule A.; charges the sums to be paid in respect thereof against the Provinces in respect whereof they shall be paid. Brings under control of the Government of the Colony the further borrowing of money under existing Provincial Acts, and authorizes the raising of a loan of £1,114,000 to meet the sums mentioned in Schedule B. No. 90. The Consolidated Loan Act, authorizes the raising of a loan of seven million pounds for the conversion, redemption, and payment of the loans of the Government of New Zealand, issued

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DESPATCHES EROM THE GOVERNOR OE NEW