General Assembly. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1347, 6 November 1860, Page 3

General Assembly. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MONDAY, NOV. 2. Present, — The Speaker, the Attorney-General, the Postmaster-General, the Chief Justice, Messrs Hams, Swainson, Menzies, Blackiston, Capfc. Curling, Crawford, Sir S. O. Gibbes., Bart, Major Richmond, Gilfillan, Cutfield, Capt. Salmon. The Attorney General moved the suspension of the Standing Orders, until the end of the Session, to facilitate the passing of the Bills through the Council with more despatch than permitted under those orders. •Question put and passed. ArronN*EY-G-ENEH"frL moved the second reading of the " Militia. Act \ Amendment Bill,"ibriefly pointing out the provisions in which it differed from the \>ill of 1858, as the classification of persons liable to serve, and the duties of each clnsi, the duty of Militia officers to make up the rolls/ exemption otf militia, except when on active service, frofn authority of the articles of war ; improvements chiefly adopted from the Acts in operation' m* the" British Settlements of North America. a second time, committed, reported without amendment, read a third time and passed. 'On the motion of Mr. Gilfilian, the Half-caste Disability Removal Bill, was read a third time and passed. ' / • -t^. Arrc-itNTY-GENERtii moved the second reading of the "Aims Act."\ A great deal had" been said about the repeal of the 'excellent ordinance introduced by Sir George Grey, but in fact except with regard to gun powder this Act had never been interfeietl with, but was still in operation, a person having been convicted under it only a few days since. Some time ago complaint was made of the number of persons obtaining arms and ammunition in defiance of these restrictions. Friendly Whet had asked for permission to purchase powder, and represented to the Government that they had always been loyal in their conduct— that while the purchase of weapons was going on around them, they weie not purchasers—they did not break the law. Thus the friends of the Government were unarmed, while those hostile and disaffected were possesiing themselves oi weapons. Under these circumstances some relaxation was considered necessary, but only in the sale of powder ; the law was enforced with greater stringency with regard to arms. It was considered _ desirable under the present circumstances of the "Colony, to frame an Act to put down as far as possible the traffic in arms. Although not possible entirely to suppress it, yet by menasmg the penalties, -and making the regulations more stringent, it might 'be checked to"a great extent, which was very important in the present state of affairs. v a second time, committed, reported with amendments, read .a third time and passed. > j^Mr. Swainson moved- the second reading of the '< Native Council Bill."' It was decided by the"Joint Committee that a bill should be drawn up, based upon the resolutions agreed to by that Committee ; but as it now appeared, it was not in accordance with those resolutions, — having received very important and material alterations, entirely changing its. original character. (The lion, member here pointed out the alterations referred to.} He wished now simply to raise the question whetEer the Council should or should not, on this last day of the Sessi ,i, pioceed with a bill which he might characterize a» the most important measure ever brought under their notice. He hoped that the Council would give the moBt deliberate and earnest consideration to the tall, for he 'believed that its success would depend upon its being the result of such consideration. Sir 0. Gibhes did not intend to oppose the second reading, but he looked upon the as a most feeble and inefficient measure. If intended to regulate the people of India, or of Ireland, it might be desirable, but to introduce so cumbersome a scheme, for a small population of about (50,000 people, was a most unnecessary expenditure of time and trouble. No doubt this measure was undertaken with the best possible intentions, but he believed it would prove entirely ineffectual in raactice. j5?¥ne bill was read a second time j considerable discussion took place upon its various clauses ; a general desire was evinced to restore it to its original form, in accordance with" the resolutions agreed to by the joint Committee ; several important amendments were introduced accordingly, the bill reported in its amended form, read a third time and passed. The " Auckland Harbour Debenture Bill" was further considered in Committee, reported with «everal amendments, read a third time and passed. The "Taranaki Settlers' Relief Bill," and the "Auckland Water Works Bill" were read a third time aniT passed, i v «. Mr. CuTHBtD moved the first and second reading of -the" ''* Wellington ~Ttu*an*ki, and Hawkc's Bay L*nd Regulations Bill." Read accordingly, committed, reported with amendment*, read a third time and passed., Mr. SWAIN80N moved the first and second reading of the " Naval and Military Settlers' Bill. Read accordingly, committed, reported with amendments, read a third time, and pasted. L On the motion pf Mr. Menzies, trie Report of the " Library Committee" was read' and adopted. A message was ordered to te transmitted to the House of Representatives, signifying concurrence in the bills in which no amendments were made/ and praying concurrence in any amendments made by the Council in bills received from that House. < r , n The House adjourned at half past 7. '•> .'**/,- J

SATURDAY, NOV. 3rd., . t , ' Present : Tlxe Speaker, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, Postmaster General, Messrs. Swainson, Major Richmond, Crawford,' Outfield, BlakiBton, Harris, Captain Salmon, Sir S. 0. Gibbe3, Bart., Menzies. ' MESSAGE FROM HIS" EXCELLENCY, - 4 Tho Private Secretary was introduoed as the ' I l^earey pf e, jne^a^efrQin the GovwiuHy«otifying>hii'

.assent (ohbehaff of 'Her'M'ftjIs^j' W* seVeral'^Bills ', also that His Excellency had, oascnted to fhe addition < made by "the"' As^enibly'to 'the 'Standing '

MESSAGE FROM TJHE.H0TJ8E OP ItEPRESEt^TA.'HVJ& i Mr. Oakleton was introduced, and nbraiie'ct that ',the House of Representatives had passed ,» BiJJ, jntituled— "An Aot to' Odnfirm the Expenditure of £108,533 14s. 2id., part of the Loan of £120,000 raised unger-t^ New f 2!ealand Loan£<Acfr}.of 3856.',' Also :— " An Aot for Raising a Loanipf £150, 000 for the Public Service of tlie^jPony^^Bow Zeal&ud.", Also': — An Act'to' 'Apprppriat^PPsum "of £2, 500 to defray "theft expense of th»J meeting. of- ! ' Native Chiefs in 186L , , ■ , , . On motion of the Attorney General these Bills were severally read" a first and second time,'committed, reported without amendment, read a third time and passed, and a message ,w*s ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives, signifying concurrence therein.' - Also that the House of Representatives desired a further conference on the "Auokland Harbour Debentures Bill", the ,"< Arms Bill •', and the "Native Council Bill ".—A committee was appointed accordingly, consisting of Mr. Swainson, Major Richmond, Mr. Cutfield, Mr. Menzies, and the Attorney General, (the mover). The conference met at 4 o'clock — Th6 Council resumed at 8 o'clock. The reporli of the fi ee Conference on the ' " Arms Bill," and the " Auckland Harbour Debenture! Hill," w. re read and adopted. v "A f *\

MESSAGK FROM THk' HOtSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ' Mr. Cauleton was introduced, and stated that the House "hod Jpassed n bill intituled •' An Act to appropriate lumi out of tho Ordinary Revenue to the service of the year ending the 30th o 1 June, I860, and to appropriate ' sum to be laiaed by >th« '•Debenture Act, I860," and the "New Zealand Loan Act, 185C," to which they deiiro the concurrence of the Council ; also, that they had passed a bill intituled "An Act to enable the Governor of New Zealand to raise a Loan not exceeding £37,789 Ids 5d. by Debentures," to which they'desired the concurrence of this Council. On {the motionjof the Attobney-GeneiuIi, these bills was read a first and second time, committed, reported with amendments, and ordered to be trans.nutted to the House of Representatives, praying their concurrence therein. ," > •-. i I , y>i the motion of the .Postmaster- Grneual the *' Appropriation Act, 18G0," wasjjread a first and second time, committed, reported without amend"inept, read a third time and passed e #0 s Oh the motion of Mr. Blakiston, the following resolution was adopted by the Council, " Seeing that a bill for the appropiiation of the "Public Revenue for the ensuing year, a Ijill for raising, a loan of £150,000, ""bilLto confirm' the expenditure of the "sumoFU iMiSmi ahefother measures of importance have been introduced into the Council for their concurrence on the last business day of the Session ; the Council are of opinion that in future no bill should be entertained by the Council which should not have been introduced or initiated in the Council at least six days before the probable termination of the sjpji. s ?=*u.'he Attorney- Gbnehai, brought up the report of the free conference of both Houses on the " Native Council Bill, 1860," which was adopted.

MESSAGE FROM THE HOU&E OF REPRESENTATIVES). Mr. Caivlbton was introduced and notified that they had adopted the amendment made by the Council in the " Auckland Harbour Debentures Bill," in the " Arms Bill,'' (agreed to ,in free conference^ in « " New Zealand Debentures Bill," and'in the ,"New Zealand Loan Bill." > > ,. s The Home adjourned at 12 o'clock, * •' ' -^

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5th. The Council met a short time before the proroga. tion to receive the report of t) e free conference on an amendment made by the Council in the "Native Council Bill," which was brought up by Mr. Swainson and adopted, t ' (