the Town Reserves, passed last Session. A Bill for this purpose has been prepared.

Provision is necessary to obviate the disputes which are beginning to arise as to the ownership of Sheep and Cattle. In order to do this, I have prepared a Bill for regulating Cattle Brands and Branding, to which I trust you will devote your best care.

I call your attention to the warm sympathy and active assistance which we have met with during our troubles from the inhabitants and governments of the neighbouring Provinces. Nothing can more contribute to the binding together of the Colony than such generous and neighbourly conduct, and I shall feel great pleasure in joining with you to acknowledge it on the part of our community.

Before leaving you to your deliberations I may be allowed to congratulate you on the good health and cheerful spirit which animates the settlers at large under the irksome and trying circumstances which surround them. The good understanding which prevails between the Military (and especially our old friends of the 65th), the Naval Brigade, and the Civilians, is another matter for congratulation.

Where such feelings animate the community, and where all are convinced of the necessity of making these troubles the means of a final satisfactory adjustment of our relations with the Maori race;—the end may be deferred but cannot be lost. And we may look forward, at no distant period, to the dawn of a prosperity and a progress unknown hitherto in this Province and this Island.

I now declare this Council to be open for the transaction of business.

G. CUTFIELD,
Superintendent.

New Plymouth, Nov. 16, 1860.

CUSTOMS’ SALE.

THE following Goods will be sold by Public Auction at Humphries’ Bonded Warehouse on MONDAY, the 17th day of December next, for Duty and Warehouse charges under clause 89 of the Customs’ Regulation Act of 1858, unless cleared for Home Consumption or Exportation before that date :—

KC 653—1 Octave Brandy, 14 gallons 39·8 u.p., Warehoused 5th August, 1858, from Wellington, and there Warehoused 11th July, 1857.

JOSIAH FLIGHT,
Acting Collector.

Custom House,
New Plymouth,
16th November, 1860.

Crown Lands’ Office,
New Plymouth, 22nd Nov., 1860.

THE following extracts from the “Waste Lands Act, 1858,” are published for the information of Military and Naval settlers in the Province of Taranaki :—

Waste Lands Act, 1858, Clause XV.

“Whereas it is desirable to encourage the settlement of Naval and Military settlers throughout the northern island of New Zealand : Be it therefore further enacted, that Naval and Military Officers, whether on full or half-pay, and every non-commissioned officer and private, marine and seaman, whether belonging to Her Majesty’s service or to the service of the East India Company, who may retire or obtain his discharge from the service to which he may belong ; or who having retired or obtained his discharge for the purpose of settling in the Provinces of Taranaki or Wellington, has not selected land under any former law or regulation enabling Naval and Military settlers to select land free of cost, shall be entitled to land free of cost in the said Provinces respectively, in like manner and upon the same terms and conditions as Naval and Military settlers are entitled to land free of cost under the “Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1858 :” And the several powers and duties of the Commissioner appointed under the said Act in respect of land to be so granted, shall be exercised and performed by any Commissioner of Crown Lands in the said several Provinces of Taranaki and Wellington—

Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1858. Extract from Clause 80 :—

Commissioned officer ........................ 400 acres
Non-commissioned & warrant officer .... 80 "
Private soldier, marine and seaman.. 60 "

Clause 81.—“Provided always, that any such officer, non-commissioned officer, and private, and any marine and seaman, before he shall be entitled to receive any such land order, shall prove to the satisfaction of the commissioner, by certificate or otherwise, that he retired or obtained his discharge for the purpose of settling in the Province of Auckland ; and any non-commissioned officer or private, marine or seaman, shall at the same time produce to the commissioner a certificate from the officer under whom he may have served, of having during his period of service been of good character : Provided also that any such land order shall be applied for within twelve calendar months next after such retirement or discharge as aforesaid, or within three months from the passing of this Act, by those who have retired or been discharged.”

W. HALSE,
Commissioner of Crown Lands.