A.—l

26

Sections 100 to 106 deal with the powers of the assembled Native owners of Native land. Sections 107 to 119 extend the powers of the Crown with respect to the acquisition by purchase or lease of Native land. When any Native land, subject to a valid lease, is so acquired by the Crown by way of purchase, the lessee is entitled to receive a renewable lease under Part 111 of the Land Act, 1908, in lieu of the existing lease, or to acquire the fee-simple of the land comprised in his lease, subject to the terms and conditions specified in section 110 of the present Act. Section 113 authorizes the Minister of Finance to raise £500,000 in any year for the acquisition by the Crown of Native lands. Similar provisions were formerly contained in Part VII of the New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Act, 1909, and those provisions are repealed by the present Act. Section 115 provides for leases of Native lands to the Crown, with an option to purchase the freehold on terms to be specified in the lease. Lands so leased may, subject to the conditions expressed in section 116, be subleased in the same manner as if they were Crown lands under the Land Act. The remaining provisions of the Act relate principally to matters of administration. ' 1913, No. 59. The West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Act, 1913 : This Act is for the pur-pose of effecting an equitable settlement of certain difficulties that have arisen in connection with the administration of the West Coast Settlement Reserves. The circumstances are clearly set forth in the preamble. 1913, No. 60. The Education Amendment Act, 191.3 : This Act makes various amendments of the Education Act, 1908. Section 14 provides for an increased rate of salary to be paid to teachers in public schools. The other amendments relate to matters of administration. 1913, No. 61. The Police Force Act, 1913 : This Act repeals the Police Force Act, 1908 (which was a re-enactment of the Act of 1886), and makes better provision for the establishment, maintenance, and discipline of the Police Force. 1913, No. 62. The Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1913 : This Act amends in several important respects the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908. Section 6 provides for a biennial election of Mayors in lieu of an annual election as at present. In the case of a casual vacancy within twelve months a fresh election. is held; if at any other time, the Council appoints a Mayor to hold office until the next general election. Sections 13 and 14 make better provisions for the constitution of new boroughs and the alteration of existing boroughs. Section 27 authorizes Borough Councils to establish services for the conveyance of passengers and goods (otherwise than by railway or tramway). Section 34 authorizes Borough Councils to supply electricity to persons residing beyond the limits of the borough. Section 52 authorizes the erection and the sale or lease of workers' dwellings on land to be acquired or appropriated by a Borough Council for the purpose. The other amendments relate principally to matters of administration. 1913, No. 63. The Customs Act, 1913: This Act repeals the Customs Law Act, 1908 (which was a consolidation of the Customs Act, 1882, and its amendments), and makes more adequate provision for matters pertaining to the collection of duties of Customs. 1913, No. 64. The Tramways Amendment Act, 1913 : Section 2 of this Act provides for the construction or reconstruction of electric-tramway cars with a central passage-way in order to minimize the risk of accidents to conductors and others irsing the cars. Section 6 provides for the suspension by the Governor in Council in certain circumstances of certain of the provisions of the Tramways Act, 1908, relating to the qualifications of motormen on electric tramways. The other sections relate wholly to matters of administration. 1913, No. 65. The Stock Amendment Act, 1913 : This Act increases the amount of compensation payable to the owners of diseased stock, and also provides for the registration of brands indicating a standard of merit, to be used by stock-breeders' associations. 1913, No. 6. The Mining Amendment.Act, 1913: Section 3 authorizes the making of advances by the Government for the purpose of promoting irrigation-works in arid localities. Section 4 authorizes the Minister of Finance to raise £20,000 in any year for the purposes of Part X of the principal Act. Sections 9 and 10 relate to claims by the owners of land for compensation in respect of the auriferous or argentiferous value thereof, or in respect of minerals or precious stones, on or under land to which any claim for compensation relates. The other sections relate to matters affecting administration. 1913, No. 67. The Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies' Empowering Act, 1913 : The purpose of this Act is to authorize the exchange, sale, reservation, or other disposition of certain specified reserves, Crown lands, and other lands, and to confer certain powers on certain public bodies. Its provisions relate to matters of local interest only. 1913, No. 68. The Apiaries Amendment Act. 1913: This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Apiaries Act, 1908. 1913, No. 69. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1913: Section 3 empowers the respondent in divorce proceedings to apply for an order making absolute a decree nisi for the dissolution of a marriage, and jurisdiction is conferred on the Court to deal with such application as if it had been made by the petitioner