EVENING SITTING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6075, 19 September 1881, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30.

representation bill.

Mr Sheehan resumed the debate on the amendments to the Representation Bill recommended by the Acting-Governor, and moved as an amendment : " That this House respectfully regrets it cannot agree with his Excellency's message for the reasons following : (1) that the bill is one exclusively affecting the powers and functions of this House. (2.) That the bill has parsed this House after a long and conscientious discuasien without comment, and has also passed the Legislative Council, and been returned to this House by the Council without comment. (3.) That this House passed the said bill upon the full faith and assurance that the bill would not bo altered, but would become law substantially as it passed this House. (4) That all measures dealing with the rights or privileges of this House should originate in the House, and Ministers, by the adoption of this course, have betrayed their trust, and have made it plain that in their opinion this estate of the realm is the Lower House in more senses than one."

Mr Stewart contended that the Governor had taken his departure from the colony in the sense of a final departure, and not having appointed a deputy, and as such he had no status as Governor, even although he returned, and that the Chief Justice retained office until the pleasure of her Majesty was signified to the contrary. Mr Reeves spoke for an hour and a half, winding up at the 10 o'clock adjournment hour. On resuming Mr Gibbs spoke for some time, and then the motion for adopting the amendments recommended by tho Governor was carried on the voices. BILLS COMMITTED. The following bills were considered in committee : — Supreme Court Procedure Bill, Employment of Females and Others Bill, Special Powers and Contracts Bill. With respect to the latter, Mr Rolleston said that he meant to omit the clause in the schedule referring to Onehunga. Sir Maurice O'Rorke complained bitterly that this course was proposed in deference to the wishes of one or two individuals, and that the opposition was most unfair and unreasoning so far as his constituency was concerned. On a division the clause was retained

by 30 to 12. On the question that the clause pass, Mr Swanson moved that the Chairman leave the chair— Ayea, 19 ; noes, 29. A motion for reporting progress was then, agreed to.

1 BILLS PASSED. The Supremo Court Procedure Bill and the Employment of Females and Others Bill were reported and read a third time and passed. The House rose at midnight till Monday at ll a.m.