GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 519, 5 July 1881, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Legislative Council met on lnursuuy at 2.80 p"'i. The Hon. F. Whitaker, in answer to a question, said that the Government had arrived at no final decision as to altering the constitution of the Council and would not do so until after all questions of finance had been disposed of. The same member stated it was not the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill on the model of the English one just received. The Banks and Bankers Act, 1880, Amendment Bill (Hon F. Whitaker) was read a first time, and the Gaining and Lotteries Bill a second time. At 3 p.m. the Council adjourned till Tuesday. The House of Representatives met on Thursday afternoon, when a report of the Petitions Committee was read, recommending a payment or £265 6s to Judge Yinnsford's Widow, nlso a report on the petition of the Otngo Bible-in Schools Arsoeiation, refusing to recommend its prayer. A number of questions were asked and answered by Ministers, mostly dealing with local questions of no general interest. Leave was granted to Sir Geo. Grey to introduce his Local Government Bill. The Bill was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for 13th inst. It appeared in answer to the Premier, that no such Bill was in, existence,, and the Speaker ruled that the usual course could not be departed from, viz. that the Bill be printed and put in .circulation. • The following Bills passed through Committee were read a third timo and passed.:—Port Chalmers Cemetery, Port Chalmers Drill shed, Oamaru Harbor Board. On the House reaiming in the evening, Mr Shrimski asked without notice, whether it was the intention of Government to quarantine or otherwise fumigate the members who had gone on a visit that day to Dunedin, in view of the Mimll-pox outbreak reported from that locality. The Hon W. Johnston said the question was one for the Board of Health to deal with. Afterwards a number of unimportant notices of motion were given, and Mr Montgomery moved " for a return showing the number of messages sent from Telegraph stations at which the extra charge of sixpence per message Was imposed, during the time the extra charge was enforced, together with the amount of revenue derived from such messages." The House afterwards adjourned at 8.40 p.m. The Council did not nieet on "Friday. The House of Representatives met at the usual hour, whsn.Mr Stevens moved the second rending of the Church of England in New Zealand Trustees Incorporation, and St Paul's Presbyterian Chuich (Christchurch) Bills. Carried. Sir George Grey gave notice he would introduce a Bill to regulate the admission of parties to the practice of the law. Mr Stevens brought up the report of the Public Accounts Committee on Dr Pollen's pension of £418 15s per annum. The report recommended the pension to be cancelled on Thursdaj', and that al! future cases of the sort Unit are surrounded with legal difficulties should tie submitted to Parliament for decision. The House then went into committee on the Regulation ol E eotiuns Bill. Clause 0 giving power to Governor to appoint polling places was amended so as to read •' provided such change be notified in one or other of the newspapers circulating in the district at least -even clear days before the day of polling." Clause 9.—Dr.VYallis moved that the provision for taking all polls on one day be struck out. The House divided on the question that the clause remain as piinted :—Ayes, 28 ; Noes, 22. Clause 10.—Mr Wood moved that insterid of ten days l>eing allowed between the date of nomination and the poll, the number of days' Lβ iiot more than five and not less than three. The amendment was negatived. Clause 11.—Nominations enabling candidate to nominate himself. Mr Saunders moved that it be struck out. The House divided on the question that it stand as printed :—Ayes, 23 ; Noes, 24. The amendment was carried, and the Hove adjourned;at 5.30 p"m. On the House resuming in the evening, clauses 12, 13, 14, and 15 were struck out in consequence of the amendment of clause 11. Clause 16—An amendment by Mr Bastings, that the poll open at 6 a.m. instead of 9, was lost on the voices. A further amendment was jnoved that the poll close at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. The House divided on the question that the clause as printed be passed—Ayes, 33 : Noes, 18. Clause 28—Mr Montgomery moved an amendment, affirming the principle of allowing no person to exercise more than one vote. After considerable further discussion, the Committee divided, and tlie amendment was negatived by 28 to 23. Clause 29. numbering voting pnpers— Mr Hutchison moved that the clause be struck out. The amendment was negatived on the voices. Clause 34—Mr Montgomery moved that the clause be altered so as to strike out the proviso preventing anyone voting for more than two candidates in districts returning three members. The amendment was negatived on the voices, and the clause passed as printed. Clauses 35 to 58 passed, with verbal amendments in one or two caf-es. Progress was then reported, and the House adjourned at 12.15 a m.