E.—No. 1

4

PROCEEDINGS OF SELECT COMMITTEE

Feiday, 14th August, 1868. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Peesent : Mr. Dillon Bell, Captain Kenny, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Mervyn, Mr. Fox, Mr. Eeid, Mr. Jollie, Mr. Vogel. The Chairman read the following letter : — Sic, — Legislative Council Chamber, 13th August, 1868. As Chairman of the Committee named in the enclosed extract, I am directed to propose that the said Committee should confer and sit for the purpose of hearing evidence, but not to vote, with the Road Boards Committee of which you are Chairman. I have, &c, To the Chairman of the Road Boards Committee, A. H. Russell, House of Representatives. Chairman. Extract from the Journal of Proceedings of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, Session 1868. "Wednesday, stii Auoust, 1868. On motion of the Honorable Mr. Lee, Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider all Bills that may be introduced into this Council for the purpose of endowing Local Boards, and also to take into consideration any measures that may have for their object the promotion of Local SelfGovernment, with power to confer or sit with any similar Committee which may be appointed by the House of Representatives, and to agree to a joint report. Such Committee to consist of the Honorable Dr. Pollen, the Honorable Mr. Holmes, the Honorable Colonel Russell, the Honorable Mr. Johnston, the Honorable Mr. McLean, the Honorable Mr. Seymour, and the Mover."—A true extract, (signed) L. Stowe, Clerk of the Legislative Council. On motion of Mr. Fox, Besolved, That, as it does not appear that any measures have yet been introduced into the Legislative Council on the subject of Road Districts or Local Self-Govern-ment, any communication between the two Houses would be premature, but that should the House of Representatives pass the Bill now referred to this Committee, or any other measure on either of the above subjects, or should independent action be taken thereon by the Legislative Council, this Committee would be prepared to recommend to the House of Representatives the appointment of a Joint Committee; but that, in the meantime, should any Members of the Legislative Council desire to attend to meetings of this Committee, the Committee would bo happy if they did so. On motion of Mr. Vogel, licsolved, That the Chairman cause to be printed such of the various papers prepared by the Members of the Committee as he thinks desirable. On motion of Mr. Bell, Besolved, That Mr. Vogel, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Dillon Bell be requested to go through the Bill, with a view of simplifying its construction. The following letter was addressed by the Chairman to the Hon. Colonel Russell, Chairman of the Select Committee of the Legislative Council: — Sic, — House of Representatives, 14th August, 1868. I have submitted your request, as Chairman of a Committee appointed by the Legislative Council on the subject of the proposed legislation as to Local Government, to the Committee of the House of Representatives to which has been referred the Road Boards Bill, and which met this morning ; and I now do myself the honour of enclosing to you a Resolution adopted by that Committee. I need not repeat the assurance conveyed by the Resolution itself, that our Committee would be glad to facilitate the attendance of any Members of your Committee or other Members of the Legislative Council at its meetings, and I shall take care that the papers we have to-day directed to be printed, or may hereafter direct, shall be distributed at the proper time to the Members of the Legislative Council as well as to Members of the House of Representatives. F. Jollie, The Hon. Colonel Russell, M.L.C. Chairman. Adjourned, with the understanding that the Committee meet again on Tuesday, the 18th day of August.

Tuesday, 18th August, 1868. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Peesent: Mr. Dillon Bell, Mr. Mervyn, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Eeid, Mr. Fox, Hon. Mr. Stafford. Captain Kenny, Mr. Vogel. Mr. Jollie, Chairman, The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read the following letter: — Legislative Council, Slßj— Wellington, 18th August, 1868. I am directed by the Select Committee of the Legislative Council upon Local Boards Bills to tender you their thanks for the assurance that you will take care that the papers directed to be printed, ■or which may hereafter be directed to be printed, shall be distributed at the proper time to the