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No. 23. (No. 54?) My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 2nd October, 1889. I "have the honour to inform your Lordship that on the 19th September I prorogued, by Proclamation, the Third Session of the present Parliament of New Zealand. I have the honour, for your Lordship's information, briefly to summarise the object of some of the principal measures to which 1 have, on Her Majesty's behalf, given my assent. A complete list will follow in a subsequent despatch. The Chinese Immigration Act makes no alterations in the provisions of the Act of last year, but makes that Act perpetual. The Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act assimilates our law on the subject to that of England, and embodies the main provisions of " The Imperial Merchandise Marks Act, 1887." The Representation Act gives to the country districts an increased proportion of representation in the Lower House over that hitherto enjoyed by them in comparison with the boroughs having a population of upwards of two thousand, and also provides for the amalgamation into one electorate of each of the four principal cities of the colony. The Native Lands Act and the Native Lands Frauds Act are directed towards the settlement of titles to Native land, in order, as it is hoped, to proceed more rapidly in certain districts. The Land Transfer Act renders a title once upon the Register more secure than under the present Act. The Chattels Security Act substitutes a uniform system of registration of all instruments relating to the transfer of chattels instead of the diverse laws existing at present time. The Offences Against the Person Act raises the age of consent from twelve to fourteen years. The Criminal Evidence Act permits the prisoner or his wife to give evidence, subject to the right of cross-examination. A Bill was introduced to change the constitution of the Upper Chamber, but was rejected in the Legislative Council by a large majority; and lam informed that it is doubtful if it would have passed the Lower Chamber had it reached that body. A Bill was also introduced into the House of Representatives providing for the mode of electing members of that House by a system of proportional representation. This was a tentative measure only, and was not expected to be passed. A Bill was also introduced to alter and amend the present Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act, but this Bill, not meeting with the approval of the local bodies, was not pressed. There were two amendments to motions of the Government which were treated by it as motions of wants of confidence ; both were rejected by small majorities. The proposal by a member of the Opposition to impose a tax upon the interest of the public debt payable in London was rejected by an overwhelming majority, after being commented upon in terms of the severest condemnation both by the Premier and the leader of the Opposition. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, &c. ONSLOW.

No. 24. (No. 56.) My Lord,— Government House, Wellington, IOtH October, 1689. Referring to the despatch from the Secretary of State dated the 26th A.August, 1885, in which, in reply to my predecessor's Despatch No. 54, of the a.--Bth August, 1884, it was stated that Her Majesty's - Government were not pre- la pared to advise Her Majesty to issue an Order in Council applying section 103 4—A. 1.

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