A.—2b

1881. NEW ZEALAND.

FURTHER DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the Souse of Bepresentatives in compliance loith an Address to His Excellency the Governor.

No. 1. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon. (New Zealand, No. 1.) Sir, — Downing Street, 12th January, 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of an Act of the New Zealand Legislature, No. 38, of 1880, entitled " An Act to amend and consolidate the Law relating to the Native Land Court," transmitted by Chief Justice Prendergast in his Despatch No. 59 of the 10th of September last, and also of a further Despatch No. 62, of the 11th September, enclosing a protest from certain members of the Legislative Council against this Act. 2. Before proceeding to tender any advice to Her Majesty with regard to the Act in question, I request that I may receive further information respecting certain points in connection with it. 3. Under "The Native Land Act, 1873," the Assessors of the Native Land Court were required to be aboriginal natives. This qualification does not appear to be expressly required by the new Act, and I should be glad to be informed whether the Assessors will continue to be Natives. 4. I also observe that, whereas the power to order a rehearing was by the Act of 1873 vested in the Governor in Council, it is by the present Act vested in the Chief Judge of the Court, and that the period within which an application for rehearing may be made is reduced from six months to three months. Even the longer of these periods is considered to be insufficient by the members of the Legislative Council who have protested against the Act. I should wish to be furnished with an explanation of the reasons for these changes. I have, &c, Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G., KIMBERLEY. &c, &c.

No. 2. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Eight Hon. the Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon. (New Zealand, No. 2.) Sir, — Downing Street, 23rd January, 1881. I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her powers of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the Legislature of New Zealand, transcripts of which accompanied Chief Justice Prendergast's Despatch No. 59, of the 10th September last:— I—A. 2b.