Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4163, 24 July 1874, Page 2

A VERY decided expression of opinion was given in the House of Representatives last night on the subject of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister. Tho Bill introduced by Mr. Steward had been read a second time, and was about to be committed. Mr. Vogel, speaking for himself, and not for tho Ministry, expressed a hope that the measure would not he carried farther. He thought it would be time enough to alter the law of Now Zealand on the subject when the law of Great Britain was changed. The passing of the Bill now before the House would very much disturb the social relations of the Colony. He would record. his vote against the Bill, although ho might be one in a very small minority. The hon. member for Rangitikei took a view entirely opposed to that of the Premier. He reminded the House that tho Commona, whom they most nearly resembled, had again and again voted in favor of Marriage with a Deceased Wife’s Sister, and that a Bill to legalise such marriages had only been defeated by tho influence of the Bishops in the House of Lords. Sir Craoroft Wilson spoke warmly in favor of tho Bill, and on a division, the third reading of tho Bill was agreed to by 31 to 17.

Mokihindi is the peculiar name of a peculiar place on the west coast of the Province of Nelson. At the mouth of a river so named, there arose a few years ago, a promising township ; but it foil, as it arose, after tho fashion of Jonah’s gourd. Banks, stores, and hotels, at one time numerous, disappeared almost as rapidly as they had been created, and the locality has lately been left with only a few inhabitants, who obtain subsistence as storekeepers for the few miners who have remained among tho ranges, or as tho suppliers of rough food and raw spirits to tho few travellers by tho beach. 'Latterly, however, tho place has gained some fresh importance, through tho fact of its being one of the many available, although not valuable, ports for tho shipment of coal, which is so extensively found along the west coast of tho Province. In connection with the enterprise of working this coalfield, a small steamer, the Ino, proceeded recently from Westport to tho river, and her report is satisfactory as to tho state of tho bar, and the shelter to be found there. She found nine feet of water on tho bar at a quarter flood-tide, and under ordinary circumstances tho harbor is suitable for tho reception of vessels of much greater tonnage than tho Ino. Tho trip made was

apparently an experimental one, and the knowledge which was gained by it is accepted as encouraging to the shareholders in the company by which the coalmines are being worked. In the prospecting and preliminary working of these mines, some money has been invested by men of enterprise resident in Wellington and elsewhere, and it is believed that their enterprise and the existing facilities for shipment will soon lead to a large exportation of coal from the Mokihinui.

Telegbams recently received from South Australia show that a large number of men have been discharged from the copper mines in South Australia, and that some hundreds, rnable to obtain employment in that Colony, are desirous of emigrating. The question arises whether, if facts were.submitted to them, they would not make New Zealand their future home. They are ' seasoned colonists, industrious, frugal in their habits, and pre-eminently law-abiding. The population on the Peninsula numbers over 20,000, and amongst all these, there are but four foot policemen stationed, and two mounted troopers. One foot policeman alone has charge of a district containing a population of from 8000 to 10,000. Their frugality is shown by the fact that the one stipendiary magistrate on the Peninsula rarely adjudicates annually on an amount of mmey, claimed as debts due, larger than his own salary. With such a population almost at our doors, desirous of emigrating, it certainly seems that an agent might be as well employed amongst our neighbors as recruiting amongst the people Dr. Peatherston’s employes seem to have been ; provided this could be done without interference with our intercolonial relationships.

The Plans of Towns Regulation Rill was the subj'ect of some discussion in the House last night. Mr. O’Neill, by whom it was introduced, insisted on the propriety of a regulation being laid down by which two streets at least in every township should be of a width of two chains. He pointed out the inconvenience and loss that had arisen from such a provision not having been enforced in past times ; reminded the House that narrow and crowded streets in the old country were the nurseries of disease, and spoke of the enormous sums that had been expended in buying up such properties for the amenity of the City in which they were situated. To his remarks on the subject, it was opposed that in small towns, streets of two chains -wide would be utterly destructive of business. Mr. Vogel pointed out that the theory of the measure was correct, but there might be difficulty in carrying it out, and he hoped the measure would not be pressed beyond the second reading. On that understanding, the second reading was agreed to.