254
State be published for general informa-
tion.

By His Excellency's command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

Downing-street,
24th May, 1855.

SIR,—

Circumstances having led me to sup-
pose that the provisions of the Act to
amend the Law of Evidence," 14th and 15th
Vict., 0.00, have not been fully brought to
the notice of the local Governments and Au-
thorities of all Her Majesty's Colonies. I take
this opportunity of directing your attention
to them.

2. The important clause for the present
   purpose is section 11, which renders docu-
   ments, made admissible in evidence in Eng-
   land and Wales by former sections of the
   Act, equally admissible in the Colonies.

I have, &c., &c.,
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.

Governor Col. Gore Browne,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.

Clause allided to in the foregoing Despatch.

"XI. Every Document which by any Law
now in force or hereafter to be in force is or
shall be admissible in Evidence of any Par-
ticular in any Court of Justice in England or
Wales or Ireland without Proof of the Seal
or Stamp or Signature authenticating the
same, or of the judicial or official Character
of the Person appearing to have signed the
same, shall be admitted in Evidence to the
same Extent and for the same Purposes in
any Court of Justice of any of the British
Colonies, or before any person having in any
of such Colonies, by Law or by Consent
of Parties Authority to hear, receive, and
exmine Evidence, without Proof of the Seal
or Stamp, or Signature authenticating the
same, or of the judicial or official Character of
the Person appearing to have signed the
same."

Downing-street,
23rd May, 1855.

SIR,

As serious mischief may ensue from provi-
sions introduced into some Colonial enact-
ments, dering it compulsory on the Govern-
ment to surrender the property of the Crown
to Commissioners of Railways for Railway
purposes, I have to instruct you on no occa-
sion to assent to any Acts which give power
to Railway Commissioners or other authorities
to take Land appropriated for Naval or Mili-
tary purposes, without the consent of Her
Majesty, signified by a Secretary of State.

I have, &c., &c.,
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 13th Dec., 1855.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been
pleased to direct that the following Des-
patches from Her Majesty's Secretary of State,
respecting the Customs Laws, should be pub-
lished for general information.

By His Excellency's Command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

Circular.

Downing-street,
25th May, 1855.

SIR,—

I transmit to you a copy of a correspondence
which has passed between this Department
and the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council for Trade, on the subject of an omis-
sion in the Customs Consolidation Act of 16
and 17 Vict., c. 107. The question which
was raised, as the correspondence will show
you, at the Cape of Good Hope, appears to
be of general application in the Colonies.

I have, &c.. &c.,
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.

Governor
Colonel Gore Browne,
&c., &c.

No. 1.

Office of Committee of
Privy Council for Trade,
Whitehall, 7th April, 1855.

SIR,—

I am directed by the Lords of the Com-
mittee of Privy Council for Trade to transmit
to you, for the information of Her Majesty's
principal Secretary of state for the Colonies,
the accompanying letter from the Commis-
sioners of Customs, enclosing a letter recently
received by them from their Controller at the
Cape of Good Hope, together with its enclo-
sures, stating that although in the Customs
Consolidation Act of 16 and 17 Vict., c. 107,
Section 163, the prohibition contained in the
4th Section of the Navigation Act of 12 and
13 Vict, c. 29, in regard to the carriage of
passengers coastwise in Foreign ships in Bri-
tish possessions was re-enacted, yet by some
oversight in preparing the Bill for consoli-
dating the Laws, the penalty prescribed by
the 21st Section of the Customs Amendment
Act of 13 and 14 Vict., cap. 95, was omitted
and that his Excellency the Gover nor of the
Cape has, consequently, issued instructions to
the Customs Officers in that Colony not to
place any impediment in the way of passen-
gers wishing to avail themselves of pro-
ceeding coastwise in Foreign vessels to the
several ports of the Colony in question, and to
meet the apparently defective state of the Law
in this respect, the Commissioners of Customs
suggest the expediency of re-enacting the pe-
nalty prescribed by the 21st Section of the
13th and 14th Victoria, c. 95.

With reference to the foregoing suggestion,.