PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 73, 24 September 1881, Page 2

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

" What a falling off was there !" was tho exclamation involuntarily uttered on tho part of those who, remembering the pomp and ceremony which attonded the opening of the session of Parliament which has just expired—when hiq Excellency Sit Arthur Gordon distinguished himself in tho proaouoe . of an awe-etruok assemblage by lneans of hio *" celebrated mantle— witnessed at noon to-day. The ceremony was of an uninteresting and purely formal character, and the wholo of , tho proceedings conneoted therewith did ttot " last morn than a quarter of an hour. Tho Commiasioners appointed to perform tho J task were the Hon. Spoaker of tho Loffislativo Council (Sir William Fiteherbort); and ' the Honß. John Johnston and C. J. Pharazyn, belonging to the " Lorda." At noon prooisely prayers were read in both branches of the Legislature. In the House of Representative^ only tea hod. monitors, including tho ohairman (Mr. Seymour) pat in an appearance, while the oocupants of the strangers' gallery numbered exactly half a dozen persons, two of whom wore constables. A schedule of bills passed and lapsed during tho sosaion having boon laid on the table, and some business of a routiao naturo having been 'flnly gone through, hon. mem* bers remained silent, anxiously awaiting the message which was to summon them to the Upper House. This arrived in due course, and tho " chosen <sf the poople," preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms, bearing the mace, then betook themselves to the other Chamber in Indian filo. Hore they were received by the Commissioners and five other mem* bers of the Council. Between twenty and thirty spectators, including four ladies, had assembled, in., tho galleries. The Hon. Speaker, snpportod by tho other Commissioners, then read tho, warrant authoi isinf* the prorogation of the' General Assembly in his Excellency's name till Thursday, the 24th November noxt. And thus ended tho " last scene of all." 'ill') following isftlietof Acts paarfod by both House3 :— Public Aots — Adoption of Children, Animals Protection Act Amendment, Appropriation, Chatham Islands,' ' Chinese Immigrants. ■ Corrupt ' Prantioeß Prevention, Crown Suits, Customs and Ex-- " cisc Duties; Deceased Persons' Estates Duties, Dentists Act 1880 Amendmont, Diseased Cattle, Divorce and Matrimonial Cauaoa Act 1867 Amendment, Dog Resfiatra- . tion Act Amendment, Drainage, Employ* ' ment of Femaleß and others, Fencing, Gaming and Lotteries, Hawko'a Bay and- Marlborough Rivers Act 1868 Amondment, Immigration and Public Workß Appropriationv ", Imprest Supply, Imprest Supply (No. 2)' Imprest Supply (No. 3), Licensing, Native Land Acts Amendment, Native Lands Ffftttda Prevention, Native Succession, Neglected and Criminal Children Aots Amendment," ' New Zealand Consolidated Stook Act 1877 Amendment, Patents Act Amendment, Port) Office, Prisons Act Amendmont, Property Assessment Act Amendment, Property Tax, Public Domains, Public Health Act 1870 Amendment, Publio Reserves, Poblio Revenues, Kabbit Nuisance, Railways Authorisation, Railways Construction and Land, Regulation of Elections Representation, bheep Act Amendmont, Stamp Act 1875 Amendment (No. 2), Supremo Court Practice and Procedure Amendmont, - Thermal Springs Districts, Town Districts, Volunteer. Private Acts — Hororata Water Race, St. Paul's Presbyterian Churoh (Christchurch) Trustees Incorporation, Local Acts— Akaroa High School, Auckland Reserves Exchange and Change of Trust, Canterbury Rivers Act 1870 Amendment. > Geraldine Racecourse Reservo, Invercargill Gasworks Site, Maatorton and Greytown Lands Management Act 1871 Amendment, Oamaru Harbour Board, Otago University Reserve s Vesting, Pott Chalmers Cemetery, Port Chalmers Dock Trust, Chalmers Drill-shed, Rangiora High School, Roxburgh Recreation Grpnnd Management, Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Asaoo ation Re. serve, Special Powers and Contracts, Taranaki County Council Loan Act 1878 Amendment, Timaru Harbour Board Act .1876 ' i Amendment, Timarn Harbour Board Loan, Timaru Mechanics' institute Act 1877 Amendmont, Timaru Water-race Reserve, Waimak,*riri Harbour Board Loan, Waimate RaoeoonxßeJttesecve, Waimate and Temaink ~ Publio School Sites. Waitara Harbour Board Loan, Wellington Queen's Wharf and Store Sales, West Coast settlement Reserves, Wcstland and Ne'son Coal Fields Administration Amendment. All of these bills have been assented to by his Excellenoy, with the exception of two— . the Chinese Immigrants Bill and the Divorce Amendment Bill— which have been reserved for her Majesty's pleasure. Several Legislative Councillors recorded a protest against the passage of the Railway Construction and Land Bill, but that has, nevertheless, been assented to with the oth°r measures in the list above, and has therefore become law.