PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1252, 3 August 1872, Page 2

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

. Wellington,: Aug. 2. Last night was chiefly spent in Committee on various Billsl Fitzherbert's Wanganui Bridge and Wharf Bill was opposed on the second rcadingby Brandon, Reynolds, and Vogel. Fitzherbert spoke for upwards of two hours iv reply. On a division, the Bill was thrown but by 35 to 14. ; To-day, in reply to a question by O'Conor, the Government statedithat they would introduce a Bill for placing all the West Coast Gold Fields under uniform Government. . Curtis immediately gave notice of a motion to the effect. that the alteration of the boundaries of Provinces, the formation of new Provinces, or the intruduoiou of a hqyt form of Government, was

undesirable, except upon some system generally applicable throughout the Colony. Steward moved second reading of the Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. O'Neill moved that the Bill be read that day six months, on the gvound thati snch a Bill would lacerate the moral purity of the Colony. 'Thompson and M'Gillivray opposed tho Bill, as legalising an unscriptural practice, and as not being demanded by any expression of public opinion. » Stafford also opposed it on the latter ground. The second reading was carried oh a division by 25 to 21. • . The Public Health Bill, Drawbacks Bill, Public Trust Offices Bill, and Life . Assurance Bill, *11 passed the House. In the Legislative Council, on the second reading of the Government Bill for giving Provincial Councils power of legislation for certain objects, Waterhouse moved the following amendment, which was cairied— " That the existing den : ciencies in the legislative powers of Provincial Councils can be best supplied by enactment, of empowering ordinances containing provisions of , general applications, leaving it to Provincial Councils to adapt their legislation to the vaiying. requirements of different parts of the Colony." •■:■•':■■ The actuary's report, under Section 3 of the Civil Service Act, 1871, estimates the present value of accrued interests of civil servants under the pension provisions of previous 83ts at L286,0bp.