HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 819, 15 September 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Thursday, September 18.) The House, met ait 7.30 p.m. Mr Hodgkinson moved the second reading of the Deoeased Wife's Bi*ter Marriage Bill. He quoted from Archbishop Tait, . the Bishop of Ripon, Cardinal "Wiseman, and others, to show it was not opposed to the Bible ; aad Mr Bright and Mr Gladstone that it would not prove socially injurious. Only prurient sentimentality gave weight to the objection. that the bill would destroy freedom of intercourse in families. He urged the House to let reason, justice, and humanity prevail against ignorance and prejud ; oe. Who was likely to make a better mother to children or the head of a household than the aunt ? Dr Wallia opposed the bill as a mischievoun proposal, tending ati 1 further to increase the diff-reoce bet we n the English and New Zealand law. This bill proposed to declare legal here what in England was illegal and immoral. It would tend t» estrangement between the colony, and the mother country, and destroy one of the dearest sochl relation ahips without any compensating advantage resulting. It would place aunts in a false position, and have an injurious moral effect on the first wife's cnildien. It would make wives jealous of nisters, and lead to imparity of thought and deed, and provoke domestic disunion. It would put wives and sisters throughout the colony iu a oruslly false portion to gratify a few lewd wantons. Why not legalise marriage with a husband's brother ? Mr Barff thought the agitation here was due principally to a number of pam. phlets constantly sent to members of society^ at home where a few wealthy people interested in having such mar- iagcs legalised spared no effort to attain the object. On a division, the second reading was carried by 40 to 25. LOCAL OPT/ION BILL: The Local Option Bill was futher con. sidered in Committee. Iu olauae 12. the word * majority' was stuck out. by a division of 22 co 21, aud the word 'two. thirds ' inserted, Progress was reported aud further consideration a■ j >arued for a week. AUCKLAND DEFBNCK POECE. Mr Luak's motion * That the claims of the members of the Auckland Defence Force to grants of land, in recognition of the services rendered by them to the colony, should be recognise J by Government,' was, at Major A'-kiuaou's suggestion, altered to, 'have the matter referred to the Public Petition Couimiuee,' and so agree I. KR OSMOND WITHDRAWS. Mr Ortnond as a inai,ter of personal explanation, desired to say he fouud he was under a misapprehenuion w/>en he made his speech on Mr R ea'a mo iou as to Sir George Grey having been a partner in theTaupo Land Company. He lound Sir George Grey was not a partner when the letters were written about grouad-bait, &0., consequently his remarks were so far unfounded, and he desired to withdraw them. In refreuoe to ' scattering of ground-bait, K Mr Orm >»d now read^*. telegaains between him and Mr Cox on Che subject, while Mr Cox was down South. Mr Cos saya: — 'As to Sir U- Grey, putting obstacle* in the way, what I desire to say is this : At the time of the secon i interview, when Sir G Grey desired to be a partner, he was cold and pre-occupied, but* not putting obstacles in the way. On getting an answer to question that he would be a partner, he at once entered hearc soul into it.' That was Mr i.'ox's opinion. Whether Mr Thomas Buasell was of the same opinion he could not. Bay. i ■