PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1409, 21 August 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegraph.] [from the correspondent of thb press.] the railway festival recess. The following arrangements have been made f r the public opening' of the Christehurch atid Punjdin Railway next week The members of Parliament will leave Wellington by the Hinemoaon Friday, the Gth September, at 6 pm., arriving at LytteltoD next morning. Tt ey remain in Cbri tohurch on Sunday, and leave that city by train ns early as possible on Monday morni! g, lairing half an hour for 1 reakfast at Ashbir ton, an boor at Timaru, and an hour an a half at Oamaru, arriving at Duncdin at 7 o'clock the same evening. No definite arrangements h .ve loen mide as yet for the return journey. Parliament will s dji.urn for a sufficient time to en-ble members to get back. The wives of many of the members also will go oa this excnr ion, whi.h pr bably will occupy about ten days, the proposal being t) return on the morning of Tuesday 17ih S ptember, in time for beginning the legislative duties of the clay. There will be four sitting days during which members will bo absent from the House ADMINISTRATE N OK ESTATES. Mr Stout has introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to the administration of the estates of deceas d persons. 'I be Hill is chiefly d voted to explaining and consolid iting the present law on th« subject, and to simplifying the existing :t:achinery. The duties of executors are clearly ('elined, and they are amply protected in the performance of their functions. The Supremo Court it,ay allow a commission not exceeding 5 per cent to the executors. On the other hand executors will have to find sureties under heavy bonds for the due performance of their duties. The last portion of the Bill dea's with the succession of illegitimate children of illegitimate parents, incases where no legitimate child survives, but uoprovis'on is made for the illegitimate child'en of legitimate parents. DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. The Deceased Wife's Si ter Marriage Bill of Dr Hodgkin-on consists ot only one clause, besides the short title. This provides that all raairiigc l solemnized in the colony with a deceased wif :'s sister, after the passing of the Act, shtll be legal. The usual clause, recognising inirmges of this nature previously contra ted in other colonies, where they have been legal for some years, is not appended.