they propose to print in an appendix to the main body of the volume.

The next thing for consideration is the combination of different Ordinances upon the same subjects. Without doubt much trouble in reference, much repetition of details, much accumulation of matter, and consequent expense of printing, would be saved by the consolidation of increased the Ordinances with those which have passed for modifying and amend-

ing the same.

But as this would of course require the re-enactment by the Provincial Legislature of such Ordinances, and as several of the subjects to which they relate are beyond their legislative province as placed beyond its legislative province by the Provincial Council’s Ordinance, which would necessitate the repeating of all Ordinances upon such subjects in their original form, the Committee proposes to defer the whole subject to better opportunity and more complete consideration of the whole question. The Ordinances which have been so far considered and more complete include the repealing and amending of those which might otherwise have been effected by consolidation. The necessity for prolonging considerably the present session of Council, and the further course to be pursued upon the matter, ought both to be avoided if possible; the great need of an immediate supply of fresh copies of the Ordinances, and the possible advantage of uniformity being gained and kept, led your Committee in the adoption of this course.

Your Committee, therefore, recommend that a sum of money sufficient to defray the expense of reprinting the Ordinances in the manner indicated under an arrangement to be made by the Provincial Secretary in conjunction with the Government Printer for that purpose, and that the Colonial Secretary and Attorney General be requested to superintend the details of the work, and the manner in which the summary of a Government publication,

A. Domett, Chairman.

All the Ordinances of the Legislative Council of New Munster which have been passed up to this time, and are now in operation, have been disallowed upon those which have been repealed or expired, or those which in any way have become obsolete. That the repealing and revoking of such Ordinances be printed therein in 4, smaller and more compact type. And that each Ordinance as thus arranged shall be paged and a short abstract of its contents be printed at such appropriate marginal length.

2. That the body of Ordinances will in operation and not otherwise disposed of, shall be printed according to their subjects, and printed in a clearer type and more convenient form than those of the old volumes; and that an alphabetical index be included in the work.

3. That the amended or repealed clauses of Ordinances in operation, side-by-side, as they stand, the body of the same be printed in smaller or distinguishing type; water-references to the repealing Ordinance, or if converted with the amended or substituted clauses inserted in the margins of the page containing the original clauses.

4. That a general index of the Ordinances in the order in which they appeared, and show in alphabetical indexes be included in the work.

5. That the different Acts of Parliament, Royal Instructions, and other documents, on the authority of which the constitution of New Zealand is based, be prefixed to the Ordinances.

A. Domett, Chairman.

On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, seconded by Mr. Ludlam, report adopted by the Council.

Mr. HICKSON having read the following Report of the Sub Committee on Customs Duties, and moved that the same be adopted: —

MOTION — Seconded by Dr. Monro.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS’ DUTIES.

Your Committee beg to recommend approval of the system of levying Customs’ Duties in New Zealand, in bringing up their Report, have to express their unanimous opinion that, to a great extent, the existing system tends to be more productive to the revenue, more protective to the fair trader, and more beneficial to the public interest than the present system of ad valorem duties.

Your Committee therefore, that a very nice or elaborate system of levying fixed duties will, in the present stage of the colony, be found inconvenient and probably inexpedient, and they have therefore confined their attention to preserve important and staple articles, respecting which each as appear most easily and simply available for the application of a fixed rate of duty.

The amended schedule enumerates such articles simply, the usual amounts of the quantities on which the duties have been placed, and your Committee is of the opinion that it will be proper to apply the fixed duty principle to the widest possible extent in order to render the scale generally advantageous.

Your Committee feel bound to make some remark upon the oppressive and vexatious duty of 30 per cent, ad valorem which, under the discrimination of articles of war, has been levied only upon munitions; lead and