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with this Act, and thereby may prescribe the forms of notices, certificates, and other proceedings, and provide for the general conduct of any reference as herein is provided for.

The Act as it now stands on the Statute-Book of the Colony.

"THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS ARBITRATION ACT, 1872."

ANALYSIS.

Title. Preamble. 1. Short Title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Disputes between Government and Contractors to be referred to decision of Judge of the Supreme Court. 4. Where dispute between Chief Engineer and Contractor, to be referred to the Minister. 5. Statement of claim and proposition of law or fact to be made and signed by parties, and filed in Supreme Court office. G. Party desiring a reference to apply to Judge to fix day and place for proceeding therein. 7. Notice to be given to the Minister. 8. Judge may direct how reference to be carried on. 9. May require the attendance of witnesses. 10. On appointed day, the parties to attend before Judge and proceed in reference. 11. Judge may hear evidence, and may require production of plans, &c. 12. Judge may direct inspection by skilled persons. 13. May obtain opinions of Engineers, &c. 14. Payment of fees, &c, to stilled witnesses and engineers, &c.

15. Parties not attending, Judge may proceed ex parie. 16. Parties may appear by counsel or solicitor. Judge may adjourn proceedings. 17. Parties may apply for leave to amend statements, &c. 18. Notices, &c, how to be served. 19. Judge to give a certificate of his decision,[and what may be stated in certificate. 20. Several certificates may be given. 21. Certificate to be filed in Court. 22. Effect of certificate. 23. Certificate not to be set aside for informality. 24. Costs. 25. Penalty for non-attendance as witness, or for neglect to obey order of Judge. 2Q. Procedure of Supreme Court to be applicable. 27. No power to parties to revoke. Death not to abate proceedings. 28. Parties not to bring action or prosecute writ of error. 29. No appeal from Judge's decision. 30. Judges to make rules, &c. 31. limitation of time within which reference may be had.

An Act for referring Disputes occurring between certain Contractors and the Government of the Colony to the decision of a Judge of the Supreme Court, and for giving Jurisdiction to such Judge in certain cases therein. [10th October, 1872.] WHEREAS certain statutes now are in force within the Colony o£ New Zealand authorizing the construction, erection, and maintenance of railways and other public works in the said colony : And whereas other statutes may from time to time hereafter be in force for such and other like purposes : And whereas certain contracts have been already and others may hereafter be entered into for the construction of such works between Her Majesty the Queen and certain? persons carrying on business in copartnership under the style of " John Brogden and Sons :" And whereas disputes may arise under such contracts, and it is expedient that provision should be made for summary and final settlement of such disputes : Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be "The Government Contractors Arbitration Act, 1872," and it shall come into operation on the passing thereof. 2. In the interpretation of this Act the following words and expressions shall be deemed to have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, unless it shall appear from the context that some other meaning should be assigned thereto: —

Title,

Preamble

Short Title.

Interpretation.