THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, 20th October, 1865. REPRESENTATION BILL.

The House went into Committee on this Bill. The Premier (Hon. Mr Stafford) said the Government would have wished to have tested the mind of the House on the number of members to be returned to the House. Tbeyweio, however, to accept the Bill piefcty much as it stood, the only difference he would suggest being, that the boundary of Westland should be removed a little further north. If the Government accept the Bill, it must, however, be understood that it is not to be altered. With the one single alreiation he had mentioned, he would receive the Bill as it stood. He would osli the House to recommit the Bill, to make some alteration w ltli regard to the district called Cobden. Mr Sewell said he would not agree to the additional member, ns his hon. friend lately at the head of the Government was under a pledge on the subject. The Premier (Hon. Mr Stafford) said he thought the hon gentleman the member for Collingwood would release the hon. member for Cheviot fiom the pledge he had exacted lespecting this new member. Mr Kichmond agreed to do so. Mr Reynolds said he thought the Committee would agree to the amended schedule as it stood as regarded Dunedin, as the hon. member for "Wallace agreed that it was a better ono than he had brought in. i It uas then agreed that the City of Dunedin should hare two members, tho boundaries as described in the schedule. K03I) n, 1 member, agreed to. Port Chalmers, 1 member, agreed to. Tnieri, 1 member, agreed to. Bruce, Clutha, Oamaru, "Waikouaiti, Manuherikia, Hampden, and Goldfield Towns, 1 member each, were agreed to. Invercargill, 1 member; Mataura, 1 member; Hiverton, 1 member ; Wallace, 1 member. Agreed to. The Bill was then reported with amendments, nnd the report was ordered to be considered on next sitting day. The following Bills were advanced a stage : — Grants of Land to Militia and Volunteers Bill, Revision of Jury List Bill, Bailois' and Mortgagees' Protection Bill, Master and Apprentice Bill, Post Office Savings Bank Bill, Piovincial Constabulary Bill, Provincial Corporations Bill, Electric Telegraph Bill, Goldfields Act Amendment Bill, Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Bill.

Monday, 23kd October, 1865. The following Bills were lead a third time and passed : —Canterbury Waste Lands Bill, Representation Bill, Miners' Representation Act Amendment Bill, Electric Telegraph Bill, Criants of Land to Militia and Volunteers Bill.

Tuesday, 24th October, 18G5. The following Bills were passed : — Debtors and Creditois' Bill, Loan Allocation Bill, Piovincial Council l'owcrs Exteusion Bill, Piovision.il Jury List Bill, Masters and Apprentice Bill, Post Office {-Livings Bank Bill, Piovincial Corporations Bill, Distillation Prohibition Oidinance Amendment Bill, New Zealand Loan Bill.

PROVINCIAL LOANS CONSOLIDATION BILL. This Bill was further consideied in Committee. Mr Russell proposed clauses to the effect that the Geiieial Government should enter into possession of the lands of the Province of Southland, and pay off the hibihties of that Province, not in cash, but by debentures. Mi Sewell said a similar pioposal had been made by the late Government, except that they had only proposed that blocks of land should be set apart, instead of the whole territorial revenue. He should wish to know if the Government accepted this Bill. The Hon. Mr Stafford (the Premier) said the Government accepted entirely the responsibility of this Bill. Mr Sewell said, in that case he would divest himself of any responsibility, and offer no further opposition to it. He trusted, however, that so much of the original measure would be adhered to, as prevented loans from being laised by any province whatever, except under the sinction of the General Assembly. [Mr Stafford — Hear, hear ] After some further discussion, the additional clauses were agreed to, and the title of the Bill was altered to the Southland Debt ConsoHdation and Provincial Loan Regulation Act. The Bill was then reported to the House.