The Otago and ' Wellington Tollb Bill was read a first time. The Waiuku Church of England Site Crown Grant Bill was read a second time. The Hon. Mr Bowen moved the second read ing of the Juries Act Amendment Bill. The principal objects of the Bill are to exempt rail

liquor was practised in France without any evil result, and even English navvies who were sent over there dranic with moderation after their first "burst." Mr Rowe supported the Bill. It was a mis take to call it prohibition, it was merely plac ing in the hands of the people a power that they ha 3 in many other directions, and ought to have in this. He knew the benefits of such a measure, as he had lived for seven years in a place where no liquor was, no justice of the peace, and they never needed one (in reply to a question, the hon. member stated the place was Kawau, where between 300 and 400 men I lived). | Mr Harper opposed the second reading of the Bill, which would only introduce an expensive piece of machinery that would be productive of no good whatever, when Lotice would be given that an election wa3 to take place. Respecting a house applying for a, licen&e, the pubiican would exert his utmost influence to secure the support of those whom he could prevail upon to vote for him, and to prevent those from voting who might be opposed to granting a license. Mr Hodgkinson supported the Bill. There were features connected with the liquor irafHc that were anything but creditable to the Colony, and every means should be taken to lessen the great and growing vice of intemper ance. Mr Manders opposed the Bill. The liquor laws required consolidation more than exten sion. Mr Bryce opposed the Bill, but from very different reasons to the member for Wallace. The arguments that people should be trusted with this power as in other matters was not a fair argument. The cases were not ar-alogous. He had no objection to see people trusted in this as in other matters by placing the control of the question in the hands of a .Board — that would be an analogous cas-e. 