THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5205, 23 October 1878, Page 4

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Special Wire.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, 22nd October, mils.

In the Council, to-day, several reports on;. Bills were brought up. It wa-i recommended*, that the Timaru Harbour, Norsewood. Mechanics' Institute, Newmarket Re.wrve, acd*:': Foxtoi. Bills should pass as amended, and that the Thames Harbour Bill should not be pro- - ceeded with.

The Council then proceeded to consider amendments made by the Houso of Representatives in tha Harbour Bill.

Managers were appointed to confer with the other Chamber on the Sheep Bill, and a freeconference was appointed.

The Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment was read a second time, on the motion of Mr Wilson, as was also the Law Amendment Bill and the District Railways Act. On the motion to read a second time theOtago aud Southland Education Reserves Bill., there was considerable debate, which was interrupted by tha dinner adjournment.

Evening Sitting, the electoral eill.

At the evening sitting of tho Legislative Council, the postponed clauses of tho Electoral: Bill having been finished, the ne*.*/ clause, proposing Maori interpreters at elections, was agreed to.

The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE proposed a clause, yiviug* Maoris the franchise if possessed of land under Crown grant ot the annualvalue of L 25.

Along discussion ensued, and ultimately the. clause was rejected on the voices.

In tiie course of debate, Sir DILLON BELL spo!<c in most emphaticterms of the conduct of Mr Rees in misrepresenting him in his (Mr Rees's) speech at Napier. He said if a man like that Cuuld sc • misrepresent gentlemen, then ho was onlyworthy of contempt. Sir Dillon got very * warm over the matter. The schedules of the Bill were then passed,, and the new clause to cluto Lublio-housus on. election days, introduced by Mr Waterhouse,. was agreed to on a division—ls to 13. BILLS. In tbe Revenues Bill, the sub-section of. clause 20, Disqualification Act, not to apply to - members of Executive Council or of Genera!. Assembly, was struck out on a division—ls to 10. The remaining clauses wero agreed to, and. tho Bill reported. The Hon. Mr NURSE moved for the recommittal of the Bill, for the purpose of: reconsidering the public-house cl-iuse just introduced, wheu the clause was struck out ?>y. one vote—or 15 to 14.

The Council adjourned just before 1 a.in,