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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1165, 28 June 1870, Page 2

The parliamentary business of last week has not been very important, and yet, considering how early it is in the session, a good deal has been done. And, first, the Ballot Bill has been read a second time and considered at length in committee. Whether it will, as before, be thrown out by the "Lords," remains to be seen ; but we trust not. Its passing is assuredly a step in the march of enlightenment. A Bill to abolish the drawing and quartering—hitherto part of the legal punishment for high treason — was passed through its various stages, in anticipation of the trial of native prisoners, which commenced yesterdaj*. A select committee was appointed, on the motion of Mr. Travers (who nude a telling speech on the occasion), to consider and report upon the best mean? of preventing sales of goods by fraudulent weights and measures, and of preventing adulteration of food and liquors. Mr. J. C. Richmond, in an able speech, moved for leave to bring in a Bill to protect the property of married women, which was granted, and the Bill read a first time. But the present session, like preceding ones, hinges greatly on finance ; and many important questions have been necessarily postponed till after the financial statement, which will be made this evening, and which will be accompanied by details of the Government scheme of colonization — meaning, we presume, the scheme under which the million loan will be expended.