LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Yesterday's Afternoon Sitting.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 52, 30 August 1894, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Yesterday's Afternoon Sitting.

IN COHJIITTKB. The Ocean Beach Public Domain Act Amondmont Bill was committed, but progress was reported after a few clauses had been agroed to. Tbo Legitimation Bill was further amonded in Committee. Tha Hon. Mr. MacGregor moved a now olauso to enable an illegitimate cbild to participate in its deceased parents' estate After discussion this was agreod to. Verbal amendments wero agreed to in olauso 5, and the Bill as araondod was reported. SECOND HEADINGS. The Inveroargill Baoecourso Trustees Empowering Bill, the Animals Protection Aot Amondmont Bill, and the Oaths Act Amendment Bill were read the second time. The Hon. Messrs. Bonar, Shrimski, and Maogregor spoke in high praise of tho Oaths Bill. Mr. Shrimaki said that it had frequently made his blood curdle to hear the flippant way in which officers of the law Courts administered the oath. Mr. MacGregor thought tho oath, as in Scotland, should be administered by tbo Magistrate or the Judge, if it was contiderod necessary to swear witnesses. Personally, ho should like to soo the swearing of witnossea in Courts abolished, making it perjury to bear false testimony even though not sworn. The Bill was referred to the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. FINAL STAGES. The Wellington City Drainage Empowering Bill passed all stages, as also did the Timaru Harbour Beolamation Bill. TUB DIVOBCE BILL. This Bill was further oonuiderod in Committee. On olause 2, sub-seotion 3 (providing for divoroo after throo yoars' desertion) the Hon. Mr. Bowen moved that the sub-section be struck out. The Hon. Mr. M'Cullough would liko to see five years substituted for three years. The Hon. Mr. Macgregor said, in order to avoid the possibility of collision, he would acoopt Mr. M'Cullough's suggestion, but he thought four years, ai in tho Scotch law, would be sufficient. The Colonial Secretary moved that progross be repoitod. The Hon. Mr. Macgregor opposed the motion* Evening Sitting. The Colonial Seoretary withdrew his ■ motion. Sir George Whitmore proposed that five years be inserted in the subsection of clause 3. „ Tho Hon. Mr. M'Lean moved that the term of desertion be four years. The Colonial Seoretary moved that the term be four yoars and nine months. He thought the nine months necessary for various reasons. The amendment was lost by 16 to 10. The Hon. Mr. M'Lean moved tbo insertion of " four --' instead of "three." This wag agreed to. The Colonial Seoretary moved that the word " weeks " be inserted after " four," instead of " years." This amendment he afterwards withdrew. The Hon. Mr. Bowen moved to strike oat the sub-seotion which provides that habitual drunkenness forthreo yoars shall be cause for divorce. He thought if the seotion was agreed to, it would possibly provent a wife from endeavouring to reclaim her husband. Sir George Whitmore opposed the amendment, as he considered drunkennoss to be a disease. It woe tho duty of mamod people, nocording to their promises at the altar, to bear with, eaoh othor, for better or for worse, till death parted them. The Hon. Mr. Bowen said the clause was a most dangerous one. The subsection was struok out by 15 to 11. The Hon. Mr. Bowen moved to strike out sub-section 4, providing that a divorce may be obtained on the ground that a husband or wife has been imprisoned for three years. This was lost by 15 to 13. The Hon. Mr. Stewart moved that the term be two yeara. This was lost on the voioes. An amendment on sub-seotion 5, that repeated assaults should be oauao of divorce, was lost on the casting vote of the Chairman. Progress was reported, and the Counoil adjourned to next day.