DESPATCHES EBOM THE SECEETABY OE STATE

A.—No. Ia

2

4. My present impression is, therefore, that it will be best to adhere to the proposed adoption of a station in New Zealand, preferring Canterbury, but accepting Auckland if political reasons should be held sufficient for the change ; but I should be glad to see Hobart Town occupied by a party of observers, its value for the astronomical purposes being not very much below that of the New Zealand stations. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of the Colonial Office. G-. B. Aiet.

No. 2. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G-.C.M.G-. (Circular.) Sir, — Downing Street, 25th September, 1871. "With reference to my Circular Despatch of tho 17th of October last, I transmit to you a copy of an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament "to " amend the Vaccination Act, 1867." This Act (which adds very considerably to the efficacy of the law on the subject) embodies the recommendations of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, with the exception of the recommendation that whenever in any case two penalties or one full penalty have been imposed upon a parent for neglecting to have his child vaccinated, no further penalty should be imposed in respect of the same child, which was not adopted by Parliament. I also annex a copy of that Report and the Minutes of Evidence taken by the Committee. The evidence will repay perusal. You will see that the persons who oppose the practice of vaccination were given a full opportunity of putting forward their views; but that the result of the whole is strongly to confirm the opinions of those who maintain that nothing has been adduced to impair confidence in vaccination as a protection against small-pox; and that the advantages derived from vaccination amply justify the adoption of coercive measures against those who, by refusing to participate in its benefits, endanger the health of the community at large. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLET. of New Zealand.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2. Vaccination- Act (18G7) Amendment. [Ch. 98.] An Act to amend " The Vaccination Act, 1867." [2,lst August, 1871.] Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :— Preliminary. 1. This Act may be cited as " The Vaccination Act, 1871." 2. This Act, except as hereinafter expressly provided, and except so far as relates to the formation of any districts, or the making of any rules, orders, or regulations, shall come into operation on the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, which day is in this Act referred to as the commencement of this Act. 3. This Act shall be construed as one with the Vaccination Act of 18G7, in this Act referred to as the principal Act, and those Acts and this Act may be cited together as " The Vaccination Acts, 1867 and 1871." 4. In this Act the term " parent" includes any person having the custody of a child. Vaccination Officer. 5. "Whereas tinder the principal Act the guardians of any union or parish may pay any officer appointed by them to prosecute persons charged with offences against that Act or otherwise to enforce its provisions, and it is expedient to render obligatory the appointment of such an officer : Be it enacted that the guardians of every union and parish shall appoint and pay one or more of such officers (in this Act referred to as " Vaccination Officers"). The provisions of the principal Act with respect to the division of unions and parishes into vaccination districts shall extend to authorize the division of such unions or parishes into districts for the purpose of the duties of Vaccination Officers, so however that a district of one Vaccination Officer shall (unless the Poor Law Board otherwise direct) coincide either with a vaccination district or districts under the principal Act, or with a district or districts of a Registrar of Births and Deaths.