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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4529, 25 September 1875, Page 2

An lillin'onUug ffimnmtmm took place on the UHU'rlago quoathm last evening, during the iianaaov through oomiuittoo of tho Maruage Aot Aim'uduwnt Hill. A question aroso as to tho ehmgofi for performance of tho coroinouy o( mon ingi’i and Mr. Luckio, possibly thinking that compilation is tho life of business, desired to vodnoo tho too charged by tho registrar to Mint generally given to clergymen, or from Ad to ,C’l. A few members were disposed to have it laugh at Mr. Luokio’a expense, and Mr. Williams very gravely asked tho Colonial Troamiror it ho wordd tako steps to have these f s.™ localised. Mr. Andrew, as one of tire cloth, was rather opposed to tho reduction, though it might bo justified on tho score that tho paltry affair at tho registrar’s office was not worth movo than a pound. Tho reduction was eventually made, but during tho discussion the lion. Mr. Uowou delivered a very strong opinion respecting tho civil and religious ceremonies. Ho expressed a wish that the marriage law should bo thoroughly revised, and that all persons about tobemarriod should be compelled to go through tho civil ceremony, leaving it to themselves to determine whether they would also go through any religious coremouy they might consider to bo binding on their consciences. Hut this religious ceremony should bo altogether apart aud independent from the civil contract, whicli should bo compulsory. Ho said there was a strong feeling springing up in this direction in the mother countrj, owing to the diversity of the marriage law in different parts of the United Kingdom ; a feeling he believed to be in the right direction. Not that he desired to depreciate the religious ceremony, for personally he had a strong religious feeling on the subject. Mr. Wood followed in a similar strain, remarking that he viewed marriage merely as a civil contract.

We understand that a communication was received by Mr. Swanson, M.H.8., from Mr. Jakins, secretary of the Ponsonby Chess Club, requesting him to make arrangement for the use of the telegraph wire, for a proposed interprovincial chess tournament, on a date to be fixed. Mr. Swanson accordingly put himself in communication with the proper authorities, aud obtained a concession, to the effect, that after the close of the session the telegraph department would give the use of a wire, charging only the extra expense of clerks and messengers when on special duty. We may therefore anticipate an interprovincial chess match, jnst as we have had interprovincial cricket and-football matches. In this case also the Auckland players will be the challengers. Mr. Wm. Aitken, one of their number, offers a silver cup as the prize, tho cup to be held by the province winning it three years consecutively. The proposed matcli would be arranged somewhat in this way : twelve players to be selected on either side ; each Auckland player to play one game with one of the opposite side, the, side scoring the highest total to be winners an umpire, ‘to be appointed by each side to be present at the play, to prevent consultation. We have given publicity to this matter in the hope that a match may be arranged between Wellington and Auckland chess players. Chess is a game of skill of the very highest kind, and should be encouraged in every possible way. We think advantage should be taken of Mr. Aitken’s liberal offer.

The following important clauses were added to the Municipal Corporations Bill while passing through committee yesterday:—“ The section numbered 299 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, is hereby repealed, and the following provisions in lieu thereof shall be deemed to be and form part of the said Act (that is to aay) If the roadway or side paths of any private street or of any part of any private street in any borough, whether heretofore made or hereafter to be made, shall not have been or be made good to the satisfaction of the council of such, borough, such council may cause the same to be made good to their satisfaction, and the expenses which shall bo incurred by the council in effecting the same shall be charged upon the owners of land abutting on such private street or upon such part of a private street, as the'case may be, as shall have been so made good, in the ■proportion which the frontage to such street or part of such street, as the case jmay be,'of tbe ‘land -, owned by each of them bears to the whole frontage of the land I chargeable hereunder, and the proportion charged upon each such owner shall be paid by him to the council within oue calendar month after an advertisement requiring payment of the same’shall have been published in some newspaper circulating within the borough, and if not so paid shall be recoverable by the council from:such owner in any court of competent jurisdiction, and the production by or on the part of the council of a copy of the newspaper containing such advertisement shall be deemed to be conclusive evidence in any action brought for the recovery of such expenses of the liability- of the owner mentioned therein to the payment the monies sought to be recovered ; and it is hereby declared that it shall be sufficient in such advertisement, and in any action brought as aforesaid, in case the name of any such owner shall not be known to the council, to describe such owner as “the owner of the parcel of land forming or being part of section [naming it by its number on some public record map ], in the'Borough of [naming the borough], abutting upon “Hie Wellington Mayors Act, 1874, The Wanganui , Mayors Act, 1874, and The Hokitika Mayors Act, 1874, shall be, and the same are hereby repealed ; but the persons who shall be in office as Mayors under any of the said Acts shall remain in office until such persons shall cease to hold such office either by effluxion of time or from or by any other cause or means, when a new election shall bo held os by this Act provided.” : 1 , 1 ! ; '