PROVINCIAL COUNCILS BILL.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 472, 23 October 1850, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCILS BILL.

An Ordinance to provide fi.r the Establishment of Provincial Legislative Councils, and for the Election, &c, of Members to serve therein. Preamble, Reciting Hie Division of the Colony into

Provinces. Whereas, in pursuance of the provisic ns of nn 4cfc made and enacted in the l'arliumcnt, holdcn in ihe. Oth and lOlh years of the Reign of Her M ijesty Queen Victoria, intituled "An Ait to make fin tlier provision for the Government of the New Zealand Island*," I f er^ Majesty by ceiUiti Letters Patent under the Great Seul of the United Kingdom, bearing date on the 2Jrd day of December, 18IG. tiid ordain and appoint that the said Islands of Nw Zeal.md should be divided into two seperate Provinces, to be called respectively the " Province of New Uls'er and the Province of New Minister." And whereas by an Act made and enacted in the Pirliament holden in the 11th year of the Rvigu of Her Majesty, intituled "An Act to suspend for Five Years the operation of certain parts of an Act of the 10th year ol Her present Ma|Ci,ty for Hinkms; fui tin r provisions for the Governinsnt of the New Zealand Islands and to make other provisions in lieu thereof,'' it is amon»st oilier things enacted, th-it it shall be lawful for the Governor in Chief of Ntw Zealand, by and with the advice and consent ol llie Legislative Council thereof, by Ordinance to constitute within and lor any of the Provinces into which the Islands ol * New Zealand were then or might there ifter be divided, - a Provincial Legislative Council to be appointed or elected, or appointed and elected, in such nun tier by such person or pcisons ps by such Ordinance shall be provided in tint behalf, and that the Provincial Legislative Council or Councils so constituted shall have all such rights, provisions, jutisdictiom, and authority as shall be granted m that behalf to the Enid Provincial Lsgislative Council or Councils or cither of them by sack Ordinance and none oilier. Ami 10/teieus by an Ordinance enacted by the Governor-in-Clnef of New Ztiahnd, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, Sip'cinber D, No. 1, intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the Establishment of Provincial Legislittive Councils in the Colony of New Zealand, it is amongst other thing* enacted, that for each of the Provinces into which the Islands of New Zealand then weie or might theieafler be divided there shall be ix Legislative Council of not less then nine Members, to consist of the Member^ of ihe Executive Council of the Piovince, and of such other persons as the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor might summon and appoint to be numbers of such L°gilative Council. And whereas it is expedient that in Ihe Province of New Ulster and in the Piovincc of New Munster a portion of the Members of the said Council be elected by the Inhabitants of the taid Provinces respectively. And in any province which may hereafter be constituted that a portion of the Members of such Council should also be elected so soon as Elcctoial Districts can be defined therein for the purposes of such Elcctionjand other nccei'ary provisions can conveniently be made in that behall noio therefore be it enacted by the Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand, with, the advice and onient of the L n gisbitive Council thereof, that the said recited Ordinance so far ns relates to the the Piovinces of New Ulster and New Munster, he repealed on this passing hereof, And so far as relates lo any new Province as aforesaid, that the said recited Ordinance shall be repealed, at such time as the Governor-in Chief by proclamation in the Now Zealand Government Gazette shall for that purpose direct and appoint.

I.— •CONSTI'IUTIOM OV THE COUNCIL AND THE ELECTION, &G\, 01' MEMBERS. A Legislative Council to be established in every Pio~ vjnee. 1. For each of the Piovmces into which the Islands of New Zealand now are, or may hereafter be, divided, there shall he u Legislative Council, to consist of such number of Members— not lew than rune— as the Oov-enior-m Chief bhiill hy Proclumtioii in th.it behalf from time to lime diitct and appoint. And every such Legislative Council hhall have such power and authouty, and bo *übjeol to such limitations and restrictionb, us are heieinalter provided. One Ihirtl of Members In he anointed, and two thnti l<> be elected. 2. One thiid of the Member!, of every such Council shall be appointed by the Governor ol the Province, and two thirds of the Member* of every such Council sluill be elected by the Inhabitants of the Province, as hcreiuahur provided.

Elcrtouil District*., time, place, and mode of Election. 3. Ir shall be lawful for the Governor-in-Chie f» until provision be made by lnw in that behnlf, by I'roclumalion to be published in the New Zealand Vovotnmait Gnzrlli. to constitute within every such Province convenient electoral diMrirts, and to appoint and declare the number of Members to be elected foi each such District, and to make provisions for the regUlration and division of lists of all persons qualified to vote at the Elections to be holdon within such Districts, and for the appointing; of Returning 1 Officers, and for the issuing ,executing, aud irturniiig the necessary writs for such Elections and for taking the poll thereat, and for detei mining the validity of all disputed returns, aud otherwise for insuring the orderly, effective, and impartial conduct of such Elections. Provided always that the mode of elections be by open voiiug, and thut the voiiug shall finally close at (four) of the clock in the afternoon of the day on winch the Election shall commence. And piovided also that hi determining the number and extent ol such Electoral Districts regard shall be had to the population and wealth of the same. And that in determining the number of Mem« bers to be elected for each District regard be had to the number of electors within the snmc, ho that the number of membeis to be assigned to any one District may bear to the whole number of the Elective Members of the said Council, the same proportion as the number of Electors within such District shall bear to the whole number of Electors, within the limits of the Province.

Qualification of Members. 4. Every person within the Province who shall b e legally qualified as an Elector and duly registered as such shall be qualified to be elected n Nj ember of the said Legislative Council. Provided always, that it shall not be necessary that he reside or posses the qualification in the particulai District for which ho may be elected to sei ye as a Member.

Quli/icalion of Elcctois, 5. The elective Members of cveiy such Council shall be chosen by the voles of the inhabitants of the Province who may be qualified as hereinafter mentioned, (that is to say) every man at the age of twenty-one years or (except as heieinafter mentioned) upward, and having a freuhold estate in possession Bituote within the District for which (he vote is to begiven of the clear value of£Jso above all charges and incumbrances, and of or to which he has been seized or entitled either at law or in equity for at lea-t si\ calender months next before the last registration of Electors, or being a housholder within mcli District, occupying a dwelling house wuhin the limits of a Town (io be proclaimed as such by the Governor-in-Chief for the purposes of this Ordi* nance) of the clear annual value of jCIO, or without the limits of a Town of the clear value of £5, and having lesided therein six calender months next hefore bucli registration as afoiesuid; or having a leasehold estate in possession, situate within the Districts for which the vote is to be given of the value of £10 per annum, held upon a lin.it which at the date of such registiation shall have not less than three years to run, shall, if duly registered, be entitled to vote at the election ot a member or members for the D.stnct.

Disqualification. 6. Provided always that no person shall be entitled to vote at any feuch Election who is mi alien, or who at any time therelofoie shall have been attained or convicted of any Treason, Felony, or Infamous offence within any pait of Her Majesty's dominions. Appoinmcnt cfnon-elective Members. 7. The non-elective Members, of every such Council shnll be appointed in manner hereinaficr mentioned (lhat is tosay) It shall be lawful lor the Governor of the Province by letters patent under the great seal of the Province from time to time to appoint such persons as he may think proper to be personally orbyviitueof their office »on elective Members of any such Council. Provided always that no such appointment shall be made until the return of the Writs for the Election of the Elective Members.

Duration of Office. 8. Every non-elective Member of any such Council shall hold his seat therein for Two years Irom the day of Ins appointment or, until the Council shall be souner dissolved. Resignation of Councillors. 9. It shall be lawful for any Legislative Councilor —elective or non-elective—by wiiting under his hand addressed to the Governor of the Province to resign his seat in the said Council, and upon such resignation the seat oi such Legislative Councillor shall become vacant.

Scats in Council kovj forfeited. 10. If any Legislative Councillor shall for two luccessive Sessions of the Legislature of the Province lull to give hit attendance in the s-aid Council, or si*all become Bankrupt, or take the benefit of any Law^ielalinu to Insolvent Debtors, or become a Public Defaulter, or be attainted of Treason, or be convicted of Felony, or any Infamous offence, or shall become non compos mentis, his seat in such Council shall thereupon become vacant.

Councillors silling viitute officii, to vacate his seat ivhen out of office* 11. If any person who shall have been designated ns a non-elective Member of any such Council as the holder of a public office Bhall cease to hold such office, his seat in the said Council shall thereupon become vacant. Questions of vacancy how to be decided. 12. Any question which shall arise respecting any vacancy in the said Council on occasion of ony of the matters aforesaid, shall be heard and deiermined by such Council on such questions being referred to them for that purpose by the Governor ol ihe Piovin.ce, and not otheiwise.

Vacancies how to be filled up. 13. Whenever it s)tall be established to the satisfaction of the Governor of the Province that the scat of any Legislative Councillor hath become vacant, such Governor shall forthwith issue a wiiiforlhe diction of, or shall forthwith appoint a new Member (as the case may requiit) to serve in the plucc so vacated duiing the remuinder of the term of the continuance of such Council and no longer,

New elections how to Ie made. 11. Every such new appointment- or election Bhall be made in mimnci hereinafter provided.

Dvi at ion of Council. L>. Every such Legislative Council shall continue for the period of two yeais from the day of the luium of the writs for closing the same and nolongei, subject nevertheless to be sooner piorogucd or dissolved as hereinafter mentioned.

Council (o meet <d loasl once a year. IG. There shall be a Session of every such Courcil once at least in evciy year, bo thai a gieater period than 12 calendar rnouiliß shall not intervene between the last sitting of the council in one reksion to the <Ht sitting of the Council in the next session,

First meeting of Council. 17. The first Writs for the Election of Members of such Council for the Provinces of New Ulster ami New Munster shall be issued at some peiiod not late« than twelve calendar months after the passing of this Ordinance. And the first AVrits for the Election of Members of such Council for any such new Province as aforeiaid, shall be issued at some period not liter than twelve calendar months after this Ordinance shall be proclaimed to come into operation within the same as hereinafter provided.

Time and place of Meeting 18. It shall be lawful for the Governor of the Province for the time being, by Pioclamation. in the Govpiiimcnt Gazelle, to fix such place or places within the limits of the Province, and such times for holding the first and every other Session of the said Council ai he mny think fit, and from time to time in manner aforesaid to alter and vary thi: same aa be may judge advisable and most consistent with general convenience.

Prorogation §c, of Council. , 19 It shall also be lawful for the Governor of the Province to prorogue the said Council from time to time, and by Proclamation or otherwise to dissolve the same whenever he shall deem it expedient so to do #

Expenses of Members. 20. Every Member of the said Council who*o ordinary place of abode shall be more lhan 25 miles from the place where any Meeting of such Council may be holden shall be entitled to receive, and theie shall be paid over to him on the first day of each session by the Clerk of the Council the sum of ,£5O for and towardi defraying tlie travelling and other <x -enses incurred by such Member in attending the Meeting of the Council, and all sums so paid shall be chatgeahle upon and payable out of the General Revenue of the Province,

lI.—JURISDICTION OF THE COUNCIL. General Jurisdiction 21. It shall be lawful for the Governor of the Province, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, to make and ordain nil such Laws and Ordinance! as may be required for the Peuce, Order, and good Government of the Picvmce, subject nevertheless to the exceptions, limitations, and lestric tions hereinafter contained. Laws to be subject to disallowance of Her A/ajeJy, by the Governor in- Chief. 22. All Laws and Ordinances to be mnde by the said Council shall be subject to the confirmation or disallowance of the Governor-in-Chief on behalf of Her Majesty in such manner and iiccording lo such rPgulations as Her Majesty shall fioin time to time pi escribe in that behalf. Council to conform to Her Majesty's Instructions 23. In making of such laws and oidiiunces the said Council 6hall conform to and observe all such instructions as Her Majesty shall from time to time make for their guidance therein. Laws not to be repugnant to Laios of England, •$•<?. 24. No such Law or Ordinances shall be repugnant to the L'iw of England or to any Oidinauce to be made and enacted by the Govdrnor-in-Clnef, wilh the advire and consent of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, or by any General Assembly thereof.

Appropriation of Revenue, 25 All Duties, Taxes, Rates, Toll*, anJ Assessments, imposed and made payable by virtue of any Oidinance now in force, or which mny hereafter ho imposed or made payable by viitue of any Ordinance to be made by the Goveinor-in-Chief wilh the advice and consent of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, or by any General Assembly of the Colony shall appropriated to such specific purposes ai by any such Ordinance shall be prescribed in lhat behalf, and to no other save as hereinafter excepted.

Cost of Collection. 2fi. The first application of any such Duties, Taxes, Rates, Tolls, and Assessments, shall be towards defraying all the expenses of the collecting, receiving, managing, and auditing the same.

Subject thereto, residue to be appropriated by Council. 27. Subject to such deduction as a r oresuid, and to any charge which by any Liw or Ordinance now in fnrc may have been made on the General Revenue of New Zealand or of the Piovinces into which the Co lony iiiny be divided, the proceeds of all such Duties, Taxes, Rates, Tolls and Assessments shall be paid over to the respective Treasuries of the said Provinces for the public uses thereof, and be subject to the appropriation of the respective Legislative Councils of the said Province respectively. Apportionment between the several Provinces. 28. In the apportionment of any such ultimate iur» plus between the said Provinces the part of the surplus to be nssigned to each shall bear to the whole of such mrplus the same proportion which the part of the gross proceeds raised and collected within such Pro« vince may have borne to the total amount of the gross proceede of any such Duty, Tax, Kate, or Assessment.

Subjects on which the Council are prohibited from legislating. 29. It shall not be competent for the said Council to make or enact any Law or Or Hnance for any of Ihe purposes heieinafter mentioned (ihat is to hay) Ist. For the regulation of Duties of Customs to be imposed on the Importation or Exportation of any Goods at any Porl or Place in the said Islands of New Zealand. 2nd. For the Establishment of a General Supreme Court, to be a Couit of original Jurisdiction or of Appeal from any of the Superior Courts of any such separate Province as aforesaid. 3rd. For determining the extent of the Juiiadiction or the course or manner of proceeding of such General Supreme Court or of the said Superior Courts. 4th. For regulating the Current Coin of the said Islandp, or any pat t thereof, or the issue therein of any Jiills, Notes, or other Paper Currency. sth. For determining the Weights and Miasures to be used m the stud Ishtnds or in any part thereof. 6lh. For regulating the Post oflicts within, and the carriage of Lclteis within the baid Islands. 7th. For Establishing Luvs ielating to Bankruptcy and lusjlvency. Bih. For tlie erection and maintenance of .Beacons and Li»hl-hou3cn on (he coasts of the said Islands. 9th Eor the imposition of any duty or other charges on Shinnin-', at any Poll or Harbour within the came. 10ih, Fur regulating Mairiagcs within the sune or any part thereof. 11th. For affecting Ciown Land or Lands belonging to the aboi igtiuil native owners, or lor inflic ting any disabilities or restrictions on persons ot the nauve race to which persons of liuioncan birth or descent would not also be subjected. 12t!i. For inflicting the punishment of death or trunknortation foi any ci ime or oilcuce.

13th. For regulating the course of inheritance of real or personal property or for affecting the law relating to wills. Amj 0) dinance on any such subject to be void. 30. And any Ordinance, pretended Ordinance which may be made by the said Council, for any of the pu poses hereinbefore set forth, shall be absolutely null and avoid to all intents and purposes.

111. PROCEEDINGS, &C, OK THE COUNCIL. Speaker to be elected. 31. Every <uch Legislative Council shall immediately .on their first meeting and before proceeding to the despatch of any other business elect one of their members to be the Speaker thereof, which election being confirmed hy the Governor of the Province shall be valid and effectual during the continuance of such I Council, except in cass of vacuncy in the said office by death, resignation, or otherwise, in wbich caie the election shall be repeated and confiru ci as hereinbefore piovided.

Speaker to preside. 32. The speaker bo to be elected as aforesaid shall preside at -ill meetings of the '•aid Counci 1 .

Majority of Council a quorum. 33. The said Council shall not be competent to the despatch of siny business,, ualcsi n niajoiity of the whole number of members be present.

Majority yn'e&eiit la decide 31. All questions winch shall arise in the said Council shall be decide 1 by the mnjority of votes of Uiosl' members of the Council who shall be present other tlittu the Speaker, but in all casei wherein the vjtes shall be equal the speaker bhull have a casting vote.

Standing Rules to be made. 35. The said Council at tlieii fust Meeting, nnd from time to time afterwards, as occasion may require shall piepare and adopt such Standing Rules nnd Oiders as may be best adapted for the orderly conduct of the business of such Council, which Rules and Orders shall he laid before the Governor of the Province, and being by him approved shall become binding and in lorcc-

And ' Minutes' be ltcpt 3G. " Minutes" shall be kept of ull the proceedings of the said Council by the Clerk thereof, and such Council ehall not proceed to the despatch of business until the "Minutes" of the last Meeting have been read over and confirmed or corrected as may be ulcc;ssary.

Laws to be Ht/Jcd Ordinances 37. All Liwsto be enacted by the aaid Council shall be styled " Ordinmces enacted by the Govoinor (or the Lieutenant-Governor as the case may be) of the Province of •

Ordinances ivhen to take effect. 38. Every such Ordinance shall take effect from a time to be therein for that purpose appointed. Fines, Penalties, §c. } to be reserved to Her Majesty 39. All Ordtnanc-8 made for levying monies and lor imposing Fines, Penalties, or Foifeilmes shall grant or reserve the Mime to Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, for the public uses of the Piovince and the support of the Government thereof in such manner us by sucli ordinances may be di rooted. And no such money shall by any such Ordinance be mule issuable save only by Warrants to be granted in pursuance theieof by the Governor of the Province.

Governor may propose laws. 40. It shall be lawful for the Governor of the Province to transmit to the said Council for their consi deration, the draft of any such law as may appear to such Governor desirable to introduce, and any amendment! which he shall desire to be made in any Bill* presented to him for the assent of rhe Govenior-in" Chief, and such proposed law shall thereupon be considered by the Council in like manner as if the same were a Bill which hud originated therein. And it shall be liwful for the Council to return any Bill to which the Governor shall have so made any amendments, with a message signifying to which of the amend merits the Council agree and those to which they disagiee, and thereupon the Governor of the Province shall give or withhold his asicnt to, or reserve such Bill at his discretion as hereinafter provided.

Ordinances lo bepresented to Governor. 41. Every Ordinance which may have been passed by the said Council, and also evety law proposed by the Governor of the Province, wh.ch shall have been passed by the said Council, whether with or without amendments, shall be presented to the Governor of tlic Province for the a>sent of the Governor-in-Chijf.

Power to Governor of Province to assent io } disallow, or reserve Oidmances. 42. It shall be lawful for the Governor of the .Province at his discretion to declare that he assents to such Billion behalf of the Gjveruor-i» Chief, or that he witholds the assent of the Governor«in Chief, or thai he re-serves such Bill for the signification of the Gov ernor-in-Chief's pleasure thereon. Prodded that all Bills altering and a Hue! ing the division and extent of the several districts and towns, which ahull be represented in the suid Council, or establishing new or other divisions of the same, or ulteiing the number of the memoeis of the Council to be chosen by the said districts and towns respectively, or altering the num« ber of the members of Mich Council shall in every such case be so reserved as aforesaid.

When assented lo by Goverror. to be sent to Governorin Chief, 43. Whenever any Ordinance which shall have been presented to the G veinor of the Province for the assent of the Governor«in-Chicf shall by snob Governor have been assented to in behalf of tin* Governor-in-Chief, the Governor of the Province shall by the first convenient opportunity transmit to the Governor inChief an authentic copy of such Ordinance so assented to.

Power to Governor-in Chief on lehalf of Crown lo d sallow Oxluutnccs. 41-. It shall be lawful for the Govemorin-Chicf at any time within (twelve calender months) after any such Ordinance shall hove been received by him, by I roclamation in the Government Gazette to declare his disallowance ol su;h Ordinance, and such disallowance shall make void and annul the same fiom anl after a day to be named in such proclamation as afore-

eaid. Reserved Oidinanre. A"). The Oidmance winch shall l)c reseived for the signification of the Govcrnoi-m-Cluef thereon shall not have any force or uu'liority within the Pjoviiiccm until the Governor of the Piovi.ico shall sgnify either by speech or message to the mi id Council or l>y proclamation as atou'cuid, that such Oidmunce lus been laid be'orc the Governor-in-Chief and that the Gov-ernor-iu-Chiei has ab»en'ed to the s>aine. AsiCnl of Govanor-in-Chicf to be entered on Juiimal. i(>. Aii entry thai I bo made in the journals of the

said Council, of ovcry such speech, message, or proclamation a* aforesaid, and a duplicate thereof, duly attested, shall be delivered to the Registrar of the Su* prenie Court or other proper officer, to be kept amongthe records of the Province.

Assent on reserved Ordinance to he given within ( year). 47. The Ordinance which shall be go reserved Ja* aforesaid shall not have any force or authority in the Province unless the auent of the Governor in Chief thereto shall have been so signified ai aforeaid within the space of (twelve calender months) from the day on which such Bill shall have been presented to the Governor of the Province for the assent of the Governor in Chief at hereinbefore provided.

Also if to take effect from time to be fixed by Governor in Chief. 48. If any such Ordinance shall be made to take effect from the time of the signification of the plcusure of the Governor in Chief therein, then unless such confirmation (hereof shall have been signified within (twelve calender mouths) next afterdate thereof, every such Ordinance shall from and afier the expiration of that time be considered as being disallowed. Reserved Ordinances when deemed to be disallowed. 49. If any such Ordinance shall be reserved by the Governor of the Province for the signification of the pleasure of the Goveinor-in-Chief, as hereinbefor pro vi'led, then in like manner 6uch Ordinance shall be considered to he disallowed, unless tlic coufnmation thereof shall have been signed as hereinbefore provided within (twelve calendar monthi) next after the date of the tame.

Effect of disallowance, 50. If any such ordinance shall he, or be deemed to be, disallowed by the Governor-in-Chief the said Ordinance shall cease to have any operation or effect either upon und fiom such lapse ol time as aforesaid, or from a day to be named in the Pioclamation signifying such disallowance, but no such disallowance shall have any retroipeaiive opeiation or shall render invalid or void any act done under the authority or in pursuimce of any Ordinance before such signification of the disallowance thereof as aforesaid.

Construction of Ordinances to be passed by Ptovincial Councils. 51. In the construction of all such Ordinances so to be made as aforesaid, the word "Givernor," shall he taken to include the Lieutenant Governor and any woid or words importing the singular number or the masculine gender only shall respectively be understood to include several persons, maltcis and things, as well as one person, n>alter or thing, and females as well as males, unless there be something in. the subject or context repugnant to such construction.

Constncction of this Ordinance* 52. In the constmction of thii Ordinance the term <( Governor in Chief shall be deemed to include the person for the lime being acting in that capacity, and the term " Governor" shall be deemed to include the Lieutenant Governor.

Commencement of Ordinance. 53. This Ordinance shall come into operation, so far as relates to the Pioviores of New Ulster and New Munster, on the passing hereof, and so far as relates to any such new Provinces as aforesdM, at such time „s the Governor in Chief, by Proclamation in the New Zealand Government Gazette shall for that purpose direct and appoint*

The British and Foreign Bible Society — (in some aspects the noblest and most important of all the Religious Institutions), held its annual meeting on Wednesday, May 1 , — the Earl of Harrowby presiding. An affecting letter was read from the Archbishop of Canterbury, declaring his undiminished attachment to the Society, although increasing years, in addition to inci easing occupations " prevented his attendance at its meeting. The interesting fact was announced that, during the year, his Royal Highness Prince Albert had constituted himself a Life -Governor of the Institution by a donation of £50. We give a condensed epitome of the report :—: — The work of tlic society had bi'cn carried on in the face of many difficulties and obstacles, arising out ot political and ecclc iasttcal jealousy ; but nolwiihst Hiding these hnpedi.neuts, the society liadivsucdlro.ni their depot at Fans 103,338 cop ; cs of the Holy Scriptures, making an aggregate of copies distributed in that country since 1820 of 2,798, %"8 copies (cheering). T)>c Report then went on to show the number of copies distributed by the society in Belgium, Holland, Cologne, IJ.iden, Bavaria, Hesse Cassell, Hesse Darmstadt, Nassau, Bremen, Wurteinburg, and various paits ol Germany and llungaiy, in Switzerland, and in Home, Tin in, Florence, Tuscany, and most parts ot Italy. Upon Italy the committee looked sadly but hopefully; and the icsult ol two visits, by one of their agents, was a sale of 12,000 copies of the Scriptures. Jn December la-t, Pope P.us had atkhessed a letter to his aichbishops and bishops at Home repeating Ins condemnation of Bible Societies, aud upon the return of the Pope to his capital the copies ot the Italian Testament printed by the society at Koine would have been seized, but they were placed for s ife custody in the possession of the American consul there (hear, hear) The p esent obstacles in Italy the committee lcg.uding as but tenipoiaiy, and expre sed their conviction that the gospel would be spread all over the peninsula (he.ll, hear). Among the facilities granted by foreign powers to the operations ol the society, those granted by the King of feueclen were lavourably noticed in the Repot t, and the committee also rcomled their obligations to the Rmpcior ol Russia, who on one occasion had remitted Customs duties amounting to .£3OO on an import of copies ol the Bible, an I had gn c n pel mission to biing in 20,000 copies free of duty (cneits). At Malta, the distiibution ot copie-> had been 12,!)25. 'i he revision ol the Greek Seriptu es had been accomplished. The lleuoit then went on to show the success which hud attended the ellorts to spread abroad the word of God by the society in Jerusalem, Ciuerland, the not th of India, Lluna, Au-tialia, the islands ot the Pacific, the Cape oi Good Hope, Sieira Leone, and West Indies, and various others pans of the world. — "'I he entite receipts ot the yeai ending March SOth 1850, amounted to X'i)l,fc'3'l 12s. 7d. '1 be mccipls applicable to the gen*. ei.il puiposc? of thc> society liavo umuuuted to £45 44D £lls. Id., including 31/i'3 Is- 7d. free contributions from Auxiliary Societies, and £1,314 83. 2d. add'tional hiihsci lptiuus to the Special Fund 111 aid of the extended uiculation ol the Sctiptutcs on the Continent. The amount received tor Isibles and Testament} is £4(>,185 Is. (id., being an incicascol X12,8'2« 9->. 8.1. on this item. The issues ol the society for the yc«u , arc as follows : — I'l-om tbe depot at home, 73.»,20t; from depots abtoad, 3.')3,'1i)2 ; total, l,l3i>,ffi)S copies. Tl.e total issues ol the society now amounted to £3,110,050 copies- The expenditure dining tlu> past year has amounted to f<)7,'MC> 2s, being £8,415 OS- 10(1. ovei the picvious. yeai. 1 lie society is under engagements to the extent ol jLOM/jOj 18s 2u."