General Assembly.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 51, 26 June 1858, Page 3

General Assembly.

[Abridged from tho Hawke's Bay Herald.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, May 3. Present : The Speaker and twelve members. The " District Courts Bill," one of a series of acts, framed with the view of amending and placing all measures connected with the administration of justice under tho direction of the General Government, was read a second time, and considered in Committee as far as its thirtieth clause. The " Militia Bill," passed by the House of Representatives, was presented by Measr3. Carleton and Hall, read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday. The " Bishop of New Zealand's Bill," after some considerable discussion, wa3 re-committed, considered clause by clause, and, after several erasures from the original schedule, respecting a " General Synod," read a third time, passed, and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives. Tuesday, May 4. Present : The Speaker and ten members. On the motion of Mr. Menzies, a Committee to consider and report on the best means of establishing a Library for the Assembly was appointed. The " Coroners Bill" was recommitted, amended in the 7th clause, reported, read a third time, passed, and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives. Council then went into Committee on the " Districts Courts Bill." Thursday, May 6. Present : The Speaker and ten members. Leave was given to tho Attorney-General to bring in a "Bill to provide lor payment of costs in proceedings instituted on behalf of the Crown." Read a first, and ordered to bo read a second time on Monday. Also, to bring in a " Bill to enable the Governor to sell certain Reserves in the Pensioner Villages in the Province of Auckland, and to pay over the proceeds to Her Majesty's Imperial Treasury. Read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday. Mr. Carleton brought down and presented several bills from the House of Representatives :—: — The "Foreign Seamen Bill," the " Boundaries of Provinces Bill," and the " Sheep and Whaling Stations Bill," were read a first time, and ordered for a second reading on Thursday.

Sir Osborne Gibbs made application for leave of absence for one month. Leave granted. The " Districts Courts Bill" was recommitted, and its third reading made an order of the day for the morrow. The "Militia Bill" was read a second time and committed. And a very earnest discussion rnsued on the clause by which it is proposed that the Militia may bo called out for 168 hours in the year, instead of the 28 days usually prescribed in Great Britain for Militia drill. The bill having been considered as far as the 16th clause, the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on the morrow ; after which the Council adjourned at 5 o'clock. Friday, Mat 7. The business before Council was the third reading of the " Districts Courts Bill," the Consideration of amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Unstamped Instruments Act, and the further consideration in committee of the "Militia Bill." Monday, May 10. Present : The Speaker and eight members. On the motion of the Attorney-General, the amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Unstamped Instruments Act, 185S, -were agreed to. The " Militia Bill," on the motion of the AttorneyGeneral, was further considered in Committee, and ordered to be read a third time on the morrow. A " Bill to provide for the payment of costs in proceedings instituted on behalf of the Crown," on the motion of the Attorney-General, was read a second time and committed. Bill considered through its several clauses, reported, aDd ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. The second rending of the " Execution of Criminals Bill," after a few observations with respect to the demoralizing tendency of public executions, was moved by the Attorney- General, who cited a memorial from the Auckland Provincial Council in favour of the enactment of such a measure. After some discussion, the bill was passed through Committee, reported, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. Council then adjourned. Tuesday, May 11. Present : The Speaker and ten members. The "Militia Bill," the "Crown Costs BUI," and the "Execution of Criminals Bill," were read a third time, passed, and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The Attorney-General moved that " The Sales of Pensioner Tillages Reserves Bill," be read a second time, and in bo doing, read the instructions of Lord Panmuro to Mr. Labouchere on that subject. The bill having bocn read a second time, was considered in committee, and ordered to be read a third time on Thursday. The Attorney-General, after giving a comprehensive view of the principles of the measure, moved a second reading of the " Special Partnerships Bill." The bill was read a second time and committed, and ordered to be read a third time on Thursday. The " Foreign Seamen Bill," on the motion of the Attorney-General, was read a second time, committee, considered throughout its several clauses, reported, and ordered to be read a third time on Thursday. The Absent Debtors and tho Absent Defendants Acts, were returned, passed by the House of Representatives, without amendments. Council then adjourned.