A.—No. la,

80

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

No. 78. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 51.) Sir, — Downing Street, 9th August, 1872. I have to acknowledge your Despatch No. 45, of 13th May, in which you enclose a copy of a Proclamation you had issued, appointing the 9th of May as a general holiday and day for a public thanksgiving, on the occasion of the recovery of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. KIMBERLEY.

No. 79. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (Circular.) Sin, — Downing Street, sth August, 1872. With reference to my Circular Despatch, dated 27th Aiigust, 1870, transmitting a copy of an Order in Council declaring the making of a Convention with the United States of America under "The Naturalization Act, 1870," I now enclose, for your information and guidance, a copy of an Act recently passed for the removal of certain doubts which have arisen with respect to some of the provisions of the Act of 1870. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government KIMBERLEY. of New Zealand.

Enclosure in No, 79. CHAPTER 39. An Act for amending the Law in certain cases in relation to Naturalization. [25th July, 1872.] Whekeas by a Convention between Her Majesty and the United States of America, supplementary to the Convention of the thirteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy, respecting naturalization, and signed at Washington on the twenty-third day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, and a copy of which is contained in the Schedule to this Act, provision is made in relation to the renunciation by the citizens and subjects therein mentioned of naturalization or nationality in the presence of the officers therein mentioned : And whereas doubts are entertained whether such provisions are altogether in accordance with " The Naturalization Act, 1870 : " And whereas other doubts have arisen with respect to the effect of " The Naturalization Act, 1870," on the rights of women married before the passing of that Act; and it is expedient to remove such doubts : 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 : 1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as " The Naturalization Act, 1872;" and this Act and " The Naturalization Act, 1870," may be cited together as " The Naturalization Acts, 1870 and 1872." 2. Any renunciation of naturalization or of nationality made in manner provided by the said supplementary Convention by the persons and under the circumstances in the said Convention in that behalf mentioned shall be valid to all intents, and shall be deemed to be authorized by the said "Naturalization Act, 1870." This section shall be deemed to take effect from the date at which the said supplementary Convention took effect. 3. Nothing contained in " The Naturalization Act, 1870," shall deprive any married woman of any estate or interest in real or personal property to which she may have become entitled previously to the passing of that Act, or affect such estate or interest to her prejudice.

SCHEDULE. Contention between Her Majesty and the United States of America, supplementary to the Convention of 13th May, 1870, respecting Naturalization. Signed at Washington, 23rd February, 1871. (Ratifications exchanged at Washington, 4th May, 1871.) WiiEEEAsby the second article of the Convention between Her Majesty the Queen of thellnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the "United States of America for regulating the citizenship of subjects and citizens of the contracting parties who have emigrated or may emigrate from the dominions of the one to those of the other party, signed at London, on the 13th of May, 1870, it was stipulated that the