MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 841, 25 July 1871, Page 3

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

The « South Australian Register " prints the despatch of the Earl of Kimberley, announcing that the Queen's assent is to be given to the Act legalizing marriage with a deceased wife's sister. The despatch states t—- " Her Majesty's Government have given this bill their careful consideration, and, looking to the fact that a bill nearly similar to this has passed the Colonial legislature five times, and that this particular bill was passed by both houses almost without opposition,and with other circumstances indicating a strong feeing in its favour, they are of opinion that it would not be right to resist further the wishes of the colony so dearly and repeatedly expressed, I have therefore felt it my duy to advise her Majesty to assent to the bill, and I enclose an order of her Majesty in Council giving effect to my recommendation." Commenting on the foregoing the "Begister" says:—" We observe, from I*rd Kimberley's communication, that the concession which it conveys is mainly due to our unanimity and persistency in JJpig. Under the circumstances, her Majesty's Government are of opinion that 'it would not be right to resist further the wishes of the colony, so dearly and repatedly expressed.' This intimation is one that it may be well to note carefully. It may yield some comfort to those who endorse the Higinhotham doctrine that our powers of selfgovernment should he supreme. While Downing street still refuses to concede ™w principle—while it still claims to exercise a veto upon hasty or party legislation—it nevertheless practically recognizes the right of the colony to have »» own way, even upon a question which ™8 astute might regard as involving repugnancy, provided that the demand » made unanimously and deliberately, oo useful a lesson as to the virtue of Pertinacity is not likely to be thrown "Way."