The Gernal Assembls.

Colonist, Issue 71, 25 June 1858, Page 4

The Gernal Assembls.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met on Monday, May 3. Present, the Speaker and twelve members. The District Courts Bill, one of a series of Acts, framed with the view of amending and placing all measures connected with the administration of justice under the direction of the General Government, was read a second time, and considered in committee as far as its thirtieth clause. The Militia Bill, passed by the House of Representatives, was presented by Measrs. Carleton and Hall, read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday. The Bishop of New Zealand's Bill, after fome considerable discussion, was re-com-mitted, considered clause by clause, and, after several erasures from the original schedule, 'respecting a " General Synod," read a third time, passed, and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives. .- The Private Secretary was introduced with a Message from the Governor, notifying his Excellency'! approval of an additional Standing Order, which made the seconding of motions, when in committee, uri- > necessary. On Tuesday, May 4, there were present the Speaker and ten members. Oh the motion of Mr. Menzies, a committee to consider and report on the best means of establishing a library for the Assembly was appointed; the committee to be authorised to confer with any like committee appointed by the House of Representatives to consider the same subject. The Coroners' Bill was recommitted amended in the 7th clause, reported, read a third time, passed, and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives. ........ Council went into committee on the Districts Courts Bill, which was considered from clause 31 to clause 99, when the chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to" sit again on Thursday. On Thursday, May 6, there were present the Speaker and ten members. Leave was given to the Attorney-General to bring in a bill to provide for payment of costs in proceedings instituted on behalf of the Crown. Read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. Also, to bring in a bill to' enable the Governor to sell certain Reserves in the Pensioner Villages in the Province of Auckland, and to "pay over the proceeds to her Majesty's Imperial Treasury. Read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday, Mr. Carleton brought down and presented the following bills from the House of Representatives:— The Interpretation Bill, on which a conference with Council was requested. The Unstamped Instruments Bill, in 7i wnich an amendment had been made/ tfhich amendment was ordered to be considered by Council on the morrow. The Foreign Seaman's Bill, passed by the Representative Chamber. ; Read a first time and ordered for a second reading on Tuesday. ■ ' The Boundaries of Province Bill. Read a first time, and second reading made an order for Thursday. The Coroners' Bill, in which the Representative House concurred. The Sheep and Whaling Stations Bill, which was read a first time", and made an order for the second reading on Thursday. Sir Osborne Gibbes made an application for leave of absence for one month. Leave granted. The Districts Courts Bill was re-com-mitted, and considered from the 100 th throughout its remaining clauses. The bill was then: reported with amendments, and its'third reading made an order of the day for. the morrow. ■The Militia Bill was read a second time and committed. 'And a very earnest discussion ensued on the clause by which it is proposed that the Militia may be called put for 168 hours in the year, instead of the 28 days usually prescribed in Great Britain for militia drill The bill haying been considered as far as the 16th cla«se r the Chair-.

man reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on the morrow; after which the Council adjourned at. 5 o'clock.

On Friday, May 7, the business before Council was the third reading of the Dis^ tricts Courts Bill; the consideration-of amendments made by the House'-of Representatives in the Unstamped Instruments Act; and the further consideration in committee of the Militia Bill.

On Monday, May 10,-there were present the Speaker and 8 members. On the motion of the Attorney-General^ the amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Unstamped Instruments Act, 1858, were agreed toy The Militia Bill, on the motion of the Attorney-General, was further considered in committee. Bill reported with amendments, and ordered to be read a third time on the morrow.

A bill to provide for the payment of costs in proceedings instituted on behalf of the Crown, on the motion of the AttorneyGeneral, was read a second time and committed. Bill considered through its several clauses, reported, and ordered toT be read a, third time to-morrow. :. The second reading of the Execution of Criminals Bill, after a few observations with respect to the demoralising tendency of public executions, was moved by the Attorney-General, who cited a memorial from the Auckland Provincial Council in favor of the enactment of such a measure. After some discussion, the bill was passed through committee, reported, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.

On Tuesday, May 11» there were present the Speaker and ten members. The Attorney-General moved the third reading of the Militia Bill, which was accordingly read a third time, passed, and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The Crown Costs Bill, was also read a third time, passed, and similarly disposed of. ■ . ■

The Execution of Criminals Bill, on the motion of the Attorney-General, was read a third time, passed, and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representa-

tives,

The Attorney-General moved that the Sales of Pensioner Villages Reserves Bill, be read a second time, and in so doing, read the instructions of Lord Panmure to Mr. Labouchere on that subject. The bill having been read a second time, was considered in committee, and ordered to be read a third time on Thursday. The Attorney-General, after giving a comprehensive view of the principles of the measure, moved a second reading of the Special Partnerships Bill. The bill was read a second time and committed—considered through its various clauses-—reported, and ordered to be read a.third time on Thursday.

The Foreign Seamans' bill, on the motion of the Attorney-General, was read a second time, committed, considered throughout its several clauses, reported, and ordered to be read a third time on Thursday.

The Absent Debtors and the Absent Defendants Acts, were returned, passed by the House of Representatives, without amendments. Council then adjourned.