power and authority for that purpose vested in him, doth hereby order and direct that all the powers, functions, duties, and authorities vested in or required to be performed by the Governor, or the Governor in Council, or the Colonial Secretary, by "The Lunatics Act, 1868," within the Province of Southland, shall be exercised by the Superintendent of such Province.

Henry D. Pitt, Captain, R.A.,
Private Secretary
(for Clerk of the Executive Council).

W. Gisborne.

Although this enforcement has been waived in respect of those particular lands, the Government reserve their right, in the interests of the public, to that enforcement in respect of other sales of auriferous land; and Commissioners of Crown Lands and Waste Lands Boards are cautioned against allowing such sales to be made, and the public interests thereby to be infringed.

AURIFEROUS LANDS.

The following circular and subsequent notification relating thereto is published for general information.

WILLIAM WOOD,
Superintendent.
Superintendent’s Office,
Southland, 27th Jan., 1870.

[CIRCULAR.]
Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 1st November, 1869.

Sir,—Circumstances attending the sale of certain auriferous lands in the Province of Nelson having called the attention of the Government to the general question of the sale of such lands, I have to inform your Honor that the opinion of the Attorney General has been taken, which opinion is to the effect that the precious metals do not pass by a sale of the Waste Lands of the Crown containing them, and that an injunction would be granted by the Supreme Court to prevent the gold being taken therefrom.

I have also the honor to inform you that, in order to protect the interests of the public, and prevent auriferous lands being bought up by individual purchasers, it is the intention of Government to cause the law, in this particular, to be enforced.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
WILLIAM FOX.

In the absence of the Colonial Secretary, His Honor the Superintendent, Southland.

(Re-published from New Zealand Gazette, No. 68, of date 24th November, 1869.)

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 22nd November, 1869.

In consequence of further information which the Government have received from His Honor the Superintendent of the Province of Nelson, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Nelson, on the subject of the sale of certain sections of land, supposed to be auriferous, at Wangapeka, in that Province, the Government do not consider it, under all the circumstances, conducive to the public interests to enforce the right of the Crown to the Gold in such lands, and have accordingly cancelled the letter written to the Superintendent of Nelson on the 1st instant in respect of the same.

STAMP DUTIES.

Some misapprehension appearing to exist as to the use of Impressed and Adhesive Stamps, and as to the instruments to which Adhesive Stamps may be affixed, the Public is informed that—

All instruments liable to Stamp Duty should be written on parchment or paper previously stamped by the Commissioners with an Impressed Stamp; but the Instruments undermentioned, and no others, may instead be stamped with Adhesive Stamps by the persons making or signing such Instruments; provided the Stamps are affixed at the time of making or signing the Instrument:—

• Agreements under hand only.
• Agreements comprised in letters.
• Bills of Lading.
• Cheques on Banks or Bankers.
• Drafts or Orders for the payment of money when liable to the duty of one penny only.
• Policies of Insurance.
• Receipts for Money paid.

None of the Instruments above specified can, after they are made or signed, be stamped by the persons making or signing them.

• Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes drawn out of but payable within the Colony, must be stamped by the holder with an Adhesive Stamp or Stamps; but such Stamps must be affixed before presentation of such Bill for acceptance, and before endorsement, transfer, negotiation, or payment.

All other Instruments requiring to be stamped after execution must be stamped by the Commissioners; but the Commissioners are prohibited from so stamping any Bill of Exchange, Promissory Note, or other Note, Draft, or Order for the payment of money.

• All Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Drafts and Orders drawn within the Colony, must be written upon paper previously stamped by the Commissioners with an Impressed Stamp except such Drafts or Orders as are liable to the duty of one penny only. These last, and no others, may be stamped with an Adhesive Stamp.

Impressed Stamps are obtainable at all Stamp Offices, and of all Postmasters acting as Official Distributors of Stamps.

C. T. BATKIN,
Secretary.
Office of the Commissioner of Stamp Duties,
Wellington, 1st Jan., 1870.

Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of Southland, by Craig and Co.; of Invercargill, N.Z., Printers to the said Provincial Government for the time being.