TEE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 8

TEE COUNCIL.

A BUSY AFTERNOON. FIELD DIVORCE BILL DROPPED. Tho Legislative Council met at 2.30 yesterday afternoon. Tho Auckland University College Amendment Bill, the University of Otago Council Bill, tho Methodist Church of New Zealand Bill, the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill, Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill, Rating Amendment Bill, Land Tax and Incomo Tax Bill, Death Duties Amendment Bill, and tlie Public Works Amendment Bill were received from tho House of Representatives and read a first tdme. The amendment made by his Excellency the Governor in tho Friendly Societies Amendment Bill was agreed to, thus leaving tho Bill in the form in which it originally reached tho Council. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved tho second reading of tho Kaikoura Hospital Sits Bill. The Bill was put through all stages and passed. Tho Administration Amendment Bill was put through its Committee stage- without amendment, and subsequently passed. Tho Patents Designs and Trade Marks Bill was also read a third time and passed. Tho Wansanui Harbour Board Vesting Bill, City of Cliristchiirch Empowering Bill, Aslile.v Subdivision, and the Wni-niakariri-As'hley Water Supply Board Bill, Mosgicl Borough Empowering Bill, Franklin and Maimkau Counties Bill, Heathcote County Boundary Bill, and Awatere County Bill were reported from tho various Local Bills Committee, and put throuprli all stages, a.nd passed without amendment.

THE NEW CABLE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL' asked for leave to movo without notico a confirmatory motion similar to thai already passed by the House of Representatives in reference to the new cablo between Australia and New Zealand. The Hon. J. E. JEXKINSON (Wellington) seconded the motion. In view of tlie outlook for wireless telegraphy, he hoped economy would bo studied in tko future in this direction. Tho Hon. H. F WIGRAM (Canterbury) asked that (he motion should bo postponed. There had been objections raised in Duneclin, where another route tha.il that proposed was suggested. He thought they should be givtti an opportunity to lodge their objections. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought that t'n? request eoukl hardly be granted at this stage of the session. _ If timo was given to receive any Dunedin objection it would practically mea.n delaying tho matter for a year. At length the Attorney-Gcaeral agreed to postpone moving the motion until today, to enable fho Hon. Mr. Wigram to communicate with the south. GUARDIAN TRUSTS AND EXECUTORS.

Tho report of the Special Committee on the Guardian Trust and Executors Co. Amendment Bill was considered. In addition to a verbal amendment in Clause 8, the Committee added four new clauses, providing for, a proper audit by the Audi-tor-General, giving estates of deceased persons a priority in certain cases, rendering the Act stibjoct to existing legislation, and providing for a judgment of tho Supreme Court as to the legal suits of the company. A lengthy discussion onsuwl as to whether or not tho Council should agree to thf> report without first having seen the evidence* taken by tho Committee. Eventually the report was adopted, after a ruolion for the adjournment of tho debate, moved by the Hon. J. E. Jcnkiu6on, had !>een defeated. On the motion of the Horn. 0. Samuel, the ovidonce taken before the committee was laid on tho tablo. FIELD DIVORCE BILL. The Hon. Goo. JONES, speaking to tho

The Hon. Goo. JONES, speaking to tho motion moved by the Hon. 0. Saniuol, that (.Ire cvidenco taken before tho Private Bills Committco on the Field Divorco Bill bo laid on tlio fcablo of tho Council, said lie agreed with t.liis, but ho regretted that it had been found de-sirable-to abandon tho Bill this eessinu. The evidence, however, would enable members to know tho position next session.