In which year was the 'Native Marriage Act' passed?

1. A

   1870

   (a) 1870. Too early. The Native Marriage Act (Special Marriage Act / Act III) is a 1872 statute, not 1870.

2. B

   1872

   (b) 1872. The Native Marriage Act, 1872 provided a civil form of marriage for persons who declared they did not belong to specified religions (later the lineage of the Special Marriage Act). That year is the official key.

3. C

   1874

   (c) 1874. No such landmark marriage statute in this series; 1872 is the date.

4. D

   1876

   (d) 1876. Again late; do not slide the Act to the mid-1870s famine years.

Summary. Official key is (b) 1872. The Native Marriage Act belongs to 1872, not 1870, 1874 or 1876. It is the civil-marriage ancestor later recast as the Special Marriage Act. Honour the stored letter (b).