PROROGATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

West Coast Times, Issue 650, 24 October 1867, Page 3

PROROGATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(fEOM THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES, OCT. 11.)

'The second session of the fourth Parliament of New Zealand was brought to a close yesterday afternoon. The House of Representatives met at half-past eleven o'clock, and the Legislative Council at twelve o'clock. After the transaction of some formal business, both Chambers adjourned until one o'clock, the hour fixed for the prorogation, when the Speakers resumed their seats. The body of the Legislative Council Hall was comfortably fitted up with seats, which were set apart for the use of ladies. Shortly after twelve o'clock the ladies began to arrive, and for some time previous to his Excellency's arrival all the available space was occupied by a brilliant and fashionable assembly. A number of gentlemen holding high official positions also found standingroom behind the Speaker's chair. When the door of Jthe public gallery was opened there was a tremendous rush made for seats, and many were unable to find even, standing room. The Reporters' gallery was also crowded. A few minutes before the time fixed for his Excellency's arrival the guard of honor, furnished by the Wellington Artillery Volunteers, consist--ing of twenty-eight rank and file under command of , Captain and Adjutant Cleland and Captain Buckley, and preceded by the Hutt "Volunteer Band, marched up to the front of the principal entrance of the House and halted, the front lank taking six paces to the front and facing inwards. As His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., accompanied by Major Gray, A.D.C., the Rev. Mr Thatcher, Private Secretary, and A. M. Smith, Esq., Assistant Secretary, entered the gates, the band struckupthe "National Anthem," and as his Excellency passed between their ranks the Volunteers presented arms. His Excellency wore the very handsome Colonial Governor's uniform and insignia of the Bath. Entering the Council Chamber, he was received by the Hon. T. H. Bartley, the Speaker, all present standing until he had taken his seat in the Speaker's Chair. A message being sent to the House of Representatives to summon the faithful Commons to attend his Excellency, the Speaker (Sir David Munro) in his official robes, preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms (Dr Greenwood) bearing the mace, andattendedby Major Campbell, Clerk of the Parliaments, entered the Chambers, followed by the Hon. E. W. Stafford,. Colonial Secretary ; the Hon. John Hall, Postmaster-General; the Hon. J. C. Richmond, Commissioner of Customs ; the Hon. Colonel Haultain, Minister of * Defence ; and twenty-five members of the Lower House. The Hon. Major Richardson, and the Hon. John Hyde Harris, members of the Executive. Council, occupied seats at the table as members of the Legislative Council. His Excellency having acknowledged the presence of the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives, the Premier advanced and handed him a copy of the speech. ■ Leonard Stowe, Esq., Clerk of the Legislative Council, then read out the tftles of the following bill passed during the session : — PUBLIC BILLS. Provident and Industrial Societies Act. Coroner's Act. Naturalization Act 1861 Amendment Act. Coinage offences Act. Resident Magistrates Act. Offences against the Person Act. Accessories Act. Forgery Act. Larceny Act. Volunteer Act Amendment Act. British Australian Mail Service Act. Appeals from Justice's of the Peace Act. Steam Navigation Act Amendment Act. Old Metal and Marine Store Dealers Act. Malicious Injuries to Property Act. Her Majesty's Naval and Victualling Stores Act. Municipal Corporations Act. Introduction of Criminals Prevention Act. Goldfields Act Amendment Act. Westland Representation Act.

Nelson Cobden and "Westport Railway Act Amendment Act. Bills of Sale Act. Wairarapa Racecourse Act. Law Practitioners Act Amendment Act. J Presbyterian Church Lands Act. Timaru and Gladstone Local Board Act. New Plymouth Town Lands Exchanges Commission Act. Crown Lands (Nelson) Leasing' Act. Canterbury Public Eeserves Act. Land Claims Arbitration Act. Otago Land Claims Bill. Protection of Certain Animals Act. New Zealand Institute Act. Building Societies Act Amendment Act. Otago Judicial Officers Salaries Act. Bankruptcy Act. Salmon and Trout Protection Act. Public Offenders Disqualification Act. Marriage Act Amendment Act. Neglected and Criminal Children's Act. Tai'anaki Military Settlers Act. Indictable Oflences Act. Friendly Societies Act. Volunteers Land Act Amendment Act. Diseased Sheep Fines Appropriation Act. Provincial Lawsuits Act Amendment Act. Armed Constabulary Act. Lunatics Act. Medical Practitioners Act. Native Representation Act. Maori Schools Endowment Act. Execution of Judgment against Ecal Estate Act. Marine Act Amendment Act. Surplus Eevenues Adjustment Act. Land Claims Arbitration Act. Marlborough Waste Lands Act. Auckland Waste Lands Act. j Canterbury Waste Lands Act. Public Eevenues Act. Loan Consolidation Act. East Coast Land Titles Investigation Act. Auckland and Drury Railway Act. Goldfields Act Amendment Act (No 2). Land Eegistration Ordinance" Amendment Act. Tai'anaki Electoral Eolls Eevision Act. Public Stores Act. Provincial Acts Jlilidatioii Act. Distillation Act Amendment Act. Census Act Amendment Act. Public Buildings Eeserves Act. Bartley Pension ActPost Office Savings Bank Act Amendment Act. Tauranga District Lands Act. Stamp Act Amendment Act. • Indemnity Act. Southland Waste Lands Act Amendment Act. Holcitilca, G-reymouth, and Ofrarita Town Lands Act. Loan Allocation Act Eepeal Act. Customs Act Amendment Act. Private Estates Bills Act. Crown Grants Act Amendment Act. County ov Westland Act. Maori Eeal Estates Act. m^ Confiscated Lands Act. Public Debts Act. Governors' Powers Delegation Act. Customs Tariff Amendment Act. Legislative Officers, Salaiy Appropriation Act. Auckland and Onehunga (Native Hostelries) Act. Native Lands Act. Waste Land Boards Appeal Act. PEIVATE ACT. Ofcago Southern Trunk Eailway Act Amendment Act. As each Act was named, Major Campbell, Clerk of the Parliaments, said "on behalf of her Majesty, his Excellency the Governor assents to this Act." To the Governors' Salary Bill, and the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill, however, the reply was, •' his Excellency the Governor reserves this Act for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon." The Speaker'of the House of Representatives then advanced and said :—: — May it please Youb ExcELLEsey— It now only remains for me, according to usual custom, to present to you two Bills of Supply which have been passed during the present session. The first is the \isual Bill of Appropriation. Your Excellency will find that a liberal provision has been made by it for the expenses of your Government. The second is a bill to authorize the raising of a loan of seven millions. In the speech which your Excellency addressed to Parliament at the commencement of the session, you were pleased to recommend to its consideration the conversion of Provincial loans into Colonial stock. - 'The objest of this bill is to provide the means for converting the whole debts of the colony, whether colonial proper or provincial into a funded debt. It has been deemed right by the Legislature ' to accept the liabilities attaching to the colony for the large sums which have been borrowed by the provinces, and they are now constituted by law a charge upon tho revenues of the colony. The proceeding is one which may entail considerable sacrifices ; but it exhibits, at all events, a determination to shrink from no pecuniary liability, whether legally or only morally upon us. . I have now tho honor, on behalf of the House of Eepresentatives, to solicit your Excellency's assent on behalf of her Majesty to the [Acts intitled " The Consolidated Loan Act," 1867," and " Appropriation Act, 1867." The Clerk of the Parliaments replied "in her Majesty's name, his Excellency the Governor thanks her loyal subjects, accepts their benevolence, and assents to these Acts." *

A Paris paper apologises to its readers for being compelled to make an erratum, having placed four marriages under tho mercantile heading of " declarations of failure."

{For remainder of News see 4t7t Page.J