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into such alleged claims: Be it therefore enacted by the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof, as follows:-

1. Superintendent may issue a Commission to inquire into and report upon Claims for Compensation.—It shall be lawful for the Superintendent to issue a Commission to any number of persons, not exceeding three, to inquire into and to report to him upon certain claims for compensation, which divers persons resident in the province allege that they possess in respect of losses and damages sustained by them in respect of the non-fulfilment, by the New Zealand Company, of their contracts: such Commissioners shall obey the instructions for their guidance to be given them by the Superintendent.

2. If Commissioner resign, &c., Superintendent may appoint another.—If any Commissioner shall die, resign, or refuse to act, or become incapable of acting in the Commission, the Superintendent may appoint another in his place.

3. Record of Claims, &c., to be kept, and Report made to Superintendent.—The Commissioners shall keep a true and faithful record, in a book, of every claim brought before them, and the minutes of the evidence taken by them in each case, and of every decision to which they shall come, and shall report the same to the Superintendent.

4. Limitation of time for receiving Claims.—No claim shall be entertained by the Commissioners unless the same shall be sent in to them within six months from the publication of a notice by the Commissioners that they are ready to receive and inquire into claims under this Act.

COUNTRY ROADS AMENDMENT.

Title.—An act to amend the "Country Roads Act, 1856."

Preamble.—Whereas an act was passed by the Superintendent and Provincial Council of the Province, intituled "The Country Roads Act, 1856;" and whereas it is expedient that the said act should be amended: Be it therefore enacted by the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof, as follows:-

1. Part of Country Roads Act repealed.—So much of the said recited act as provides that the rates to be levied under the authority thereof shall be made upon the estimated value to sell of the lands and tenements in any district shall be, and the same is, hereby repealed.

2. Rates to be made on value of Land, exclusive of Buildings, &c.—All rates levied under the authority of the said recited act, in any district, shall be made upon the estimated

value to sell of the lands in such district, exclusive of the buildings and other improvements thereon.

3. Superintendent to call Meeting of Voters where no Board has been elected.—The Superintendent shall fix the time and place of the meeting of the voters in any district in which the said recited act shall have been proclaimed to come into operation, where no Board shall have been elected as required by the 4th clause of the said act.

DEBENTURE BILL.

Title.—A Bill to authorize the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson to raise a Loan not exceeding £10,000 by the issue of Debentures.

Preamble.—Whereas it is expedient to raise a temporary Loan for the Public Service of the Province of Nelson: Be it therefore enacted by the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof, as follows:-

1. Superintendent may borrow not exceeding £10,000 on Debentures.—It shall be lawful for the Superintendent of this province, with the advice and consent of his Executive Council, to borrow any sum or sums of money not exceeding in the whole the sum of £10,000, for the purpose of defraying the costs of the several public works of the province, and other purposes specified in Schedule B hereunto annexed, and to take up the same on Debentures from time to time as may be deemed expedient.

2. Debentures to be in form set forth in Schedule.—Such Debentures shall be in the form or to the effect set forth in the Schedule A hereunto annexed, and shall on the face thereof bear the signatures of the Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, and the Provincial Treasurer: Provided always, that no Debenture shall be issued for a less sum than £10, nor for any fractional part of £10.

3. To bear Interest not exceeding £10 per cent. per annum.—Every Debenture shall be dated on the day on which the same shall be issued, and shall bear interest from that day not exceeding the rate of £10 for every one hundred pounds by the year, payable half-yearly, on the first day of January and the first day of June in every year, at the Treasury of the province, or such other place as shall be therein named.

4. To be charged on Provincial Revenue.—The principal and interest of such Debentures are hereby charged upon and made payable out of the Public Revenue of the province which may be subject to the direction and appropriation of the Superintendent and Provincial Council thereof.

5. No Priority amongst Holders.—The