Mr Bluett seconded the motion pro forma, and expressed a hope that the hon member would postpone the reading of the Bill until Thursday next, so as hon members might have an opportunity of studying the Bill, as it dealt with a very important sub ject. Mr W. B. TOSSWILL moved the adjourn ment of the debate until Thursday next. Sir Ceaoroft Wilson had no objection to this course being taken; The motion was agreed to on the voices, and the second reading of the Bill ordered to be made an order of the day for Thursday. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS REVENUES BILL. In moving the second reading of this Rill, Mr Montgomery said that last session a Bill had been before the House to give certain fees to the Municipalities, but was rejected mainly on the ground that hon members did not feel themselves justified in alienating the permanent revenues for any special purpose, and also that the Road Boards did not participate in the fees and fines. The Government wished to carry out the principle that the Road Boards should participate in the Provincial funds, and therefore he had introduced into the interpre tation clause the Road Boards, so that they would participate. In bringing this Bill forward, it was necessary that he should give some figures to show the ' asis upon which the Government based their idea that the municipalities should have these fees. The amount of fees derivable from the various parts of the province during the financial year was as follows:—Munici palities—CJhristchurcb, £2117; Lyttelton,

£517 10s; Timaru, £694 10s; Kaiapoi, £248;! total, £3878. Prom Road districts they had received £5119, or a grand total of fees receivable of £8997. These figures, he thought, would show hon members that the municipalities were very large contributors to the provincial revenue by means of these fees, which he now proposed they should have the benefit of. He would call to the recollection of hon members that municipalities for many years had not received any grants from the Council, while Road Boards had received very large grants—larger indeed than they knew what to do with. 