LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 403, 13 September 1856, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Aug. 9. PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS. Mr. Gilfillan rose to move " That a respectful address be presented to the Governor informing bis Excellency that it is the opinion of rhis Council that it is highly desirable that as early as possible the Law which prohibits direct purchases of land from the Native owners thereof should be so modified as to admit of such direct purchases being made through the agency and with the sanction of the Government." After wbat had fallen from him on this subject, on a former occasion, he had no further observations to make. The reply that had been given by his hon. friend (the Attorney-General) had given very general satisfaction. This bare prospect of a modification iv so important a matter had been hailed with the greatest joy. The motion was seconded by Major RtOHXON'D, and unanimously assented to. PURITY OF ELECTIONS ACT. Dr. Richardson ross to move " That the report of the Committee on the Purity of Elections Act be considered ; and that the Parity of Elections Act be considered in Committee. He wished that, .as a preliminary step, the report of the Committee should be read. The report having been. read, the hon. Gentleman sai 1 that when the Bill was before the Council, he thought that hon. members were not aware of its clauses. It was a Bill to purify the House of Representatives. It was a bill that affected that body themselves, and had been seat down by them ; the Council, therefore, would not be exercising nndue interference to deal with the question. It had' bnea urged that the Bill was defective ; he was afraid that that was an objection which applied to many Bills. New elections might be expected; resignations had already taken place, and others were talked of, and such a Bill the hon. member proceeded at length to show, was greatly required. The Attorney-Gexeral seconded the motion. Mr. Tancuhd said that the arguments employed were good as far as regarded the House of Representatives; but he objected to tha operations of the Bill in as far as they affected the Provincial Councils. He was willing to except the Provincial Councils, and<-go into the Bill. He would strike out anything that brought Superintendents and P.rovincial Coum-ils within the operations of the Bill. Mr. Seymour said if the Bill were confined to the Purity of Election and the House of Representatives, he should not interfere ; but the Bill took a wide range ; it embraced elections for Nelson Trust Funds (laughter) and all elective matters. The Bill was not an acceptable one. The Constituencies should beware of it and reject it. He looked upon the Bill with disgust. It was not required by any proceedings that had taken place in New Zealand. The Attorney-Gexeral said that the extension of the Bill to the Provincial Councils would come properly under observation whun those special clauses came under discussion. Mr. GiLFtLtAN was still of opinion that it would be better to defer the Bill for another session. ,It would be no slight to the House of Representatives to do so. The Bill was too wide a one to be disposed of at this lute period of the session. Major Richmond as one of tho Committee of inquiry, was opposed to proceeding with tho Bill. Dr. Richardson replied ; and on the question that the Bill be committed being put, tho Council divided—Ayos.— tho Attorney-General, Messrs. Tanered, and Richardson— Noes—Me&sra. Richmond, Gilfillanj Salmon, and Seymour. Motion negatived. LAKD ORDERS AND SCRIP ACT. The Council went into Committee on this Act, which was passed with amendments. The Attorney-General intimated that ho would move a third reading at a. later period of tt.o sittings. ADDRKSS TO THE" QUEEN. The Attorxkt-Gexerat. rose to vnovo a congratulatory Address to her Majesty on the happy restoration "f peace, and in doiug so adverted to tho Address transmitted by the Council at the period of the declaration of War. Tho address was in tho sumo words as that from the House of Representatives. Major Richmond seconded the motion, which was car

riod unanmoasly. The Addresa wa« ordered to be presnnted to the Governor for transmission to her Majesty. RESIDES? MAGISTRATE'S ACT. The Bill for extending the civil jurisdiction of the Resident Mftfji-ftrato'H Court was read a third time, pasae'i, rin'l ordered to be presented to the Honae of Representatives by Messrs. Tancred and Richmond. lOCAI. POSTAGE ACT . The Act for extending Postal Communication throngh the several provinces waa recommitted and, after a good deal of discussion, and several amendments, read a third time, passed, and ordered to be presented to the Hou*e u f Representatives by Me«ari. Riehardnon and Tancred. The Council adjourned at a quarter to 3 o'clock.