To omit Standing Order No. 297 and substitute the following in lieu thereof: — 297. A Bill is presented by the member, or one of the members, ordered to prepare and bring in the same, and such member is desired by Mr. Speaker to bring it up. Note. —The words in italics are necessary to bring the Standing Order into conformity with the practice of the House; and for the same reason the words " who appears at the bar for that purpose," occurring in the existing Standing Order, are proposed to be omitted. To omit Standing Order No. 311 and insert the following in licit thereof: — 311. In Committee on a Bill, the Preamble stands postponed without question put until after the clauses have been considered seriatim. Note.—This proposal corresponds with the procedure of the House of Commons, and is obviously the most convenient course. To omit Standing Order No. 329 and insert the following in lieu thereof: — 329. After the third reading, and further proceedings thereon, if any, the Title of the Bill is agreed to, or amended and agreed to, and this having been done the Bill has passed. Note. —This, as in the Legislative Council, omits the formal question " That this Bill do pass." 'To omit Standing Order No. 331 and insert the following in lieu thereof: — 331. On days on which Private Members' business has precedence, Private Members' Bills coming back with amendments from the Legislative Council shall take precedence of Bills standing for the third reading, Bills for third reading of Bills for report, Bills for report of Bills for Committal, Bills for Committal of Bills for further consideration in Committee, and Bills for further consideration in Committee of Bills for second reading. When committed together Bills for further consideration in Committee shall take precedence in Committee of Bills for the first time committed. Note. —This somewhat extends the classification under the existing order of corresponding number, which was introduced a few years ago with great advantage to the despatch of business. A somewhat similar proposal was included in Sir H. A. Atkinson's resolutions of 1888. Proposed new Standing Order, to follow No. 331 .'— 331 a. Private Members' dropped Orders shall be set down upon the Order Paper next after the Orders upon Private Members' Bills set down for the day, and shall be arranged in the following order of sequence: viz., (1) Bills for committal; (2) Bills for further consideration in Committee; (3) Second readings. Note. —The object of the foregoing is, it will be seen, to extend the rule contained in 331 to dropped. Orders, andthus give precedence to Bills the principle of which has been already affirmed by the House. Proposed new Standing Order, to follow No. 337:— 337 a. In case of the absence or illness of the Clerk of Parliaments the Clerk of the House of Bepresentatives shall perform his duties during such absence or illness. Note. — Recommended by Standing Orders Committee in Report of 9th December, 1887. To omit Standing Order No. 339 and substitute the following in lieu thereof: — 339. Amendments made by the Council in

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Public Bills are ordered to be considered on a future day, unless the House shall order them to be considered forthwith. They are then agreed to, or agreed to with amendments, or disagreed to, or the further consideration thereof is put off for three or six months. Note. —The proposed new Standing Order differs from the old Order by omitting the words " twice read and," the alteration being in conformity with the practice of the House. To substitute the following for Standing Order No. 350 :— 350. Local Bills are those which, not being Private Bills, affect only one locality or certain specified localities, that is to say, a particular borough or boroughs, county or counties, district or districts, or other part or parts of the colony: Provided that when a Bill applies to or deals with all matters ejusdem generis throughout the colony (e.g., all harbours) it shall be and be deemed to be a Public Bill. Note. —The rulings from the Chair have hitherto been that a Bill ceases to be a Local Bill if it deal with more than one locality ; and it is suggested that the foregoing specific provision is necessary. To amend Standing Order No. 351 by inserting the ivords shown in italics : — 351. No Local Bill shall be read a second time unless notice shall have been given of the said Bill in the locality Or localities to which the Bill refers; such notice shall state explicitly the object which such Bill is intended to effect, and shall have been published once at least in each of three successive weeks before the second reading in- some newspaper or newspapers published in the locality and each of the localities to tvhich the Bill relates, or, if there be no such newspaper, then in a neiuspaper or neivspapers circulating in such locality or localities. Proposed new Standing Order, to follow No. 352 :— 352 a. If there be more Eesident Magistrates' Courthouses than one situated within the district in which the Bill is to have operation, then the Bill is to be deposited at that one of such Courthouses which is nearest to the centre of such district. To omit Standing Orders 356 and 357, and insert the following in lieu thereof: — 356. There shall be appointed at the commencement of every session a Committee on Local Bills, consisting of ten members, to which all Local Bills shall stand referred after they have been read a first time. If the Standing Orders on Local Bills have been complied with, the Committee may report to the House on the merits of the Bill, and if, in their opinion, the Bill should be allowed to proceed, may make such amendments (if necessary) as they may think desirable. Every member in charge of a Local Bill shall, ipso facto, be a member of the Committee while his Bill is under consideration, whether he be nominated of the Committee or not. The procedure in such Committee shall be the same as in a Select Committee, unless the House shall otherwise order: Provided that strangers shall be admitted, except when the Committee shall order them to withdraw. Provided also that any notice of amendment relating to any Bill which may be committed to the said Committee, given by any member in the

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