A.—l

42

25. The Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners' Trials Act is a temporary Act in exten» sion of " The Maori Prisoners'' Trials Act, 1879 " (now expired), of the last session, and reenacts the provisions of the Act last-named relating to the trials of the Maori prisoners therein referred to, and the place of their trial. This Act, however, further provides for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into any alleged grievances the Maoris may have in relation to the lands confiscated from them, and which may have produced the troubles which have resulted in the imprisonment of the Maoris now awaiting their trial. 26. The Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Act is a technical Act substituting one official title for another used in prior Act. 27. The Harbours Act Amendment Act validates the constitution of all Harbour Boards under the original Act, and otherwise more clearly explains the said Act in certain particulars. 28. The Resident Magistrates Act 1867 Amendment Act is to facilitate process in a Magistrate's Court by Corporations; provides for appeal in interpleader cases, and extends the jurisdiction of the Court in relation to actions on lost instruments. 29. The Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Act authorizes the election of more persons than one as creditors' trustees of a debtor's estate, enacts provisions to render the original Act more effective, and extends the time within which preferential claims for workmen's wages may be made. 30. The Patents Act Amendment Act provides for the reduction of the fees for patents, and for lessening the cost of advertisements in relation thereto. 31. The Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act 1865 Amendment Act empowers the Court to authorize leases containing covenants to purchase the land demised, and provides for the more easy ascertainment of the assent or dissent of parties to any application made to the Court. 32. The Building Societies Act 1876 Amendment Act is for the correction of an error in the original Act. 33. The District Law Societies Act Amendment Act remodels the provision of the original Act relating to the application of the fees arising within any judicial district under the Law Practitioners Acts. 34. The Slaughterhouses Act 1877 Amendment Act is to provide that no abattoir or slaughterhouse shall be established in any place without the consent thereto of the local governing body. 35. The Fine Arts Copyright Act 1877 Amendment Act is to extend the provisions of the Imperial Acts relating to dramatic literary property to the colony, by registration of the proprietor thereof within the same. 36. The Revision of Statutes Act, in substitution of " The Reprint of Statutes Act, 1878," enlarges the powers of the Commissioners in respect of consolidation of the existing Acts, and authorizes the preparation of draft measures to be submitted to the Legislature. 87. The Sites for Working-men's Clubs Act authorizes the grant of land as sites for workingmen's clubs, subject to forfeiture in case the same is not used continuously for the granted purpose. 38. The Intercolonial Probate Act extends within New Zealand the effect of probate and letters of administration granted in the other Australasian Colonies, on the same being scaled by the Supreme Court of New Zealand. 39. The Imbecile Passengers Act Extension Act is for the purpose of subjecting the creAVS of vessels, and all persons belonging thereto, to the provisions of the original Act; cases having arisen which render such an enactment very necessary. 40. The Qualification of Electors Act defines the qualification of electors and members of the House of Representatives as being possessed of a freehold of the value of £25, or as having been twelve months resident in the colony, and six months within the district in respect whereof the franchise is claimed. All Maoris being ratepayers, or possessed of a freehold as above, are also qualified as electors in respect of European elections; but the Act does not in any way affect or alter the special representation of Maoris as now existing. 41. The Registration of Electors Act provides a new method of forming the electoral rolls, by imposing upon the Registrar of every district the duty of placing upon the roll the name of every person whom he believes to be qualified. Claims to register are no longer required, but any person may claim to be put on the roll if not thereon; the Resident Magistrate to decide upon all such claims if not admitted by the Registrar, and also upon all objections made to the names of persons on a roll, the onus of proof being with the claimant and the person objected to respectively. Provision is also made, in case of change of residence, for the transfer of the qualification from one roll to another. 42. The Electoral Acts Repeal Act provides for the specific repeal of all enactments which have been superseded by the two last foregoing Acts. 43. The Triennial Parliaments Act provides that the present Parliament, and every future Parliament, shall continue for a period of three years and no longer, instead of five years as heretofore. 44. The Public Works Act makes further provisions in amendment of and in addition to those of the original Act, which experience has proved to be necessary, especially in relation to the working of railways. The Act authorizes the modification of certain contracts and