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5. The Board will not hold themselves responsible for any accident occurring to a vessel whilst docking, undocking, or in dock. G. The officers, crews, and workmen of any vessel, whilst in dock, will be required strictly to adhere to the regulations of the establishment. 7. The captain, master, or pilot of a vessel, after making fast to any buoy or bollard off the mouth of the dock, for the purpose of entering, will thenceforth be required to attend to the directions of the officer of the dockyard superintending the docking or undocking of the vessel. 8. Applications for the use of the dock or machinery will be registered in order of their receipt; but the Board reserves to itself the right to determine the order of priority in especial cases, such as men-of-war or mail steamers. 9. Vessels registered, and not arriving at the dock at the appointed time to enter, will be liable to the forfeiture of their turn on the register, and will also be held responsible for any expenditure that may have been incurred to dock them. 10. Vessels will be admitted into the dock on the application of the owner or master, who will be held responsible for payment of all dues and charges. 11. No vessel will be permitted to enter the dock with gunpowder or combustible matter on board. Eegulations and rates approved in terms of " The Otago Dock Ordinance, 1865," Session XV. J. Macandbew, Ist September, 1871. Superintendent of Otago.

No. 7. Copt of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimbekley. (No. 83.) Government House, Wellington, My Lord, — New Zealand, 2nd September, 1871. With reference to the questions propounded in your Lordship's Circular Despatches of the 31st December and 21st February ultimo, I am requested by my Responsible Advisers to transmit the accompanying Ministerial Memorandum, with copies of letters from Chief Justice Sir George Arney, from Mr. Justice Johnston (the senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court), and from the AttorneyGeneral of New Zealand. I have, &c., The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley. G. P. BOWEN.

Memo, by Mr. G-isborne, Ist. Sept., 1871, with 4 sub-enclosures.

Enclosure in No. 7. Memobandijm by Mr. Gisboene. Ministees beg to inform His Excellency that the draft Bill for the more effectual Prosecution of Offenders in Her Majesty's Foreign Dominions, forwarded as an enclosure to Lord Kimberley's Circular Despatch of the 21st February, 1871, having been remitted by them to the Judges of the Supreme Court of this Colony for their remarks thereon, they now do themselves the honor of forwarding to His Excellency copies of the letters received by them in reply, and noted in the margin, together with copy of the opinion of the Attorney-General of the Colony on the subject. Ministers respectfully recommend His Excellency to forward copies of these enclosures to the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and to inform Lord Kimberloy that Ministers are disposed to agree in the opinions given by the Chief Justice in his letter. Wellington, Ist September, 1871. W. Gisboene.

Letter from Sir G-. A. Arney, Chief Justice, 12th June, 1871. Letter from Mr. Justice Johnston, 7th June, 1871. Letter from Mr. Justice Johnston, 4th Aug., 1871.

Sub-Enclosure 1 to Enclosure in No. 7. Sir G-. A. Aeney to the Colonial Seceetaey. Sib, — Supreme Court, Auckland, 12th Tune, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ultimo, enclosing a draft Bill for the more effectual Prosecution of Offenders in Her Majesty's Foreign Possessions, as the Bill is proposed to be introduced into the Parliament of the United Kingdom ; also requesting that I will express an opinion upon the provisions of the Bill, and in particular whether it ought to be extended to other offences besides those specified in it. Assuming, as I do, that it is not intended that the presiding Judge of a Court (say in New Zealand) shall, in all cases, take judicial notice of what in England may constitute the particular felony charged, but that proof thereof will, when required, form part of the evidence in support of the prosecution, I think that the provisions of this Bill are adapted to effect the object of its framers ; and perhaps the instances will be rare in which it will inflict a hardship upon the convict. The second and third section already reach beyond the scope of the preamble, and I think the Bill may well be extended to all more serious felonies and indictable misdemeanours, including misdemeanours committed in contravention of the Bankruptcy Act; but 1 think it may be well, in the first instance, to test the working of this limited enactment. Practically, I believe the measure will seldom be found available wherever the felony has been committed in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Geoege Alfeed Aeitey, (Judicial Branch). Chief Justice.

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NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECBETARY OF STATE