CONSTITUTION AND LA WS. 23 



origin, some of these having been directly adopted, whilst others have 

 been embodied with modifications in Acts of the colonial Legislature. 

 Much colonial legislation, however, is of an original character, having 

 been framed to meet the peculiar conditions and re([uirements of the 

 Colony. Amongst other things, a system of registration of titles to 

 land has been established,* as well as a system of registration of 

 deeds;" whilst the old distinction between the devolution of real and 

 personal property in intestacy has been abolished." 



Naturalization — Chinese. 

 The subject of naturalization is governed by the local Naturalization 

 Act of 1875, under which any alien who has resided in the Colony for 

 five years and intends to continue such residence, may on complying 

 with certain conditions and paying a small fee obtain from the Gover- 

 nor through the Chief Secretary a certificate of naturalization.'' Ho 

 will then become entitled (although only within the Colony) to all 

 the rights, and will be subject to all the obligations of a natural born 

 English subject.' Naturalization in the United Kingdom or in iuiy 

 other Colony does not extend to New South Wales, but special facili- 

 ties are afforded to persons who have been so naturalized of obtaining 

 naturalization certificates in New South Wales.' Aliens, whether 

 domiciled within the Colony or not, are virtually entitled to all civil 

 rights except (1) political or public rights, and (2) the right of being 

 registered as owners of British vessels.^ The immigration of Chi- 

 nese, however, is subject to certain restrictions imposed by the Chinese 

 Restriction and Regulation Act of 1888. By this Act a poll-tax of 

 £100 is imposed on every Chinese entering the Colony ; vessels arriv- 

 ing in the Colony are prohibited from bringing more than one Chinese 

 for every 300 tons of tonnage ; no Chinese even after entering may 

 engage in mining without the consent of the Minister for Mines ; 

 whilst the naturalization of the Chinese in the Colony is altogether 

 prohibited. *" 



Miscellaneous Points. 



The principle of religious equality has long prevailed in the Colony. 

 There is no established church, and all religious denominations remain 

 on the footing of voluntary associations.' Notwithstanding the 

 desire of the Imperial Government to maintain, as far as possible, a 

 uniform marriage law, the facilities for divorce have of late been 

 considerably increased by local legislation. Under the present divorce 

 law a wife may obtain a dissolution of marriage by reason of adultery 

 only on the part of the husband,^ whilst wilful desertion for three 

 years and upwards, habitual drunkenness coupled with cruelty or 

 neglect, or conviction for certain offences will, also, under certain 



=* The Real Property Act, 1882, and Amending Acts. 



^ 7 Vic, No. 16 ; 20 Vic, No. 27 ; 24 Vic, No. 7. 



" Probate Act, 1880, sec. 32. '' Naturalization Act, 1875, sees. 4 and 5. 



*■ lb., sec 6. ^ lb., sec. 8. " lb., sec. 3. 



'■ Chinese Restriction Regulation Act of 1888, sub-sec 3 to 8 and 11 ; but for exemp- 

 tions, see sees. 12, 13, and 15. 



' As to the position of the Anglican Church in the Colony, see Todd, cli. xiii. 



J 44 Vic, No. 31, sec. 1 ; subject to the husband being domiciled in the Colony at the 

 time of the suit. 



