Parliamentary.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1657, 5 August 1873, Page 3

Parliamentary.

FRIDAY, ATOusr 1. In the House, in Committee on the Provincial Council Powers Bill, Mr. GillibS thought all objects would be gained by a declatory Bill defining the term "Court of Civil or Criminal Judicature." The whole dio|oo,Uy was due to the ambiguity of the term. He would give notice of amendments accordingly, and proposed reporting progress to take the AttorneyGeneral's opinion thereon. Mr. Bunny moved an amendment leaving the Provinces to deal with all matters outside those prohibited in the Constitution Act. Mr. Fitzhgbqbbi? condemned the Bill as narrow, pettifogging, and technical. The Bill should have been better framed, but was evidently drawn by a subaltern ; and as Govornment could make neither head nor tail of it they brought it before the House to amend it in Committee. Mr. Voasii, after speaking in defence of the Bill, eaid if the House and Government d,esjred the same end, he would not object to report progress, and in the meantime a better Bill for the purpose than the present one might be framed.

The Post-offioe Act: Amendment, the Washdyke and Pleasant Point Kail way, and the Bank Holiday Bills were read a second time, The Canterbury Width or Tires, and. the Canterbury Waste Lands Bills were committed. The Native Councils, the Insolvency, Education, and Miners' Franchise Bills were postponed.