Colonel THIMBLE disapproved of the pro posal to extend business outside the colony, and instanced several other points of detail to which he was opposed. Generally, he en tirely approved of the Bill. Mr SEDDON considered the provision that any person, whether a policyholder or not, should bo eligible for the office of director, a most baneful one, inasmuch as it was desir able that a director should have a direct in terest in the undertaking. There was no doubt the past management of the Insurance Depart ment had not been satisfactory—recent events in Wellington would show that —but he asked the Government whether it would not be better to leave this Bill over till next session. He should oppose the Bill. Mr MACANDREW thought the provision of local boards would be a most beneficial one as extending the business of tho department. He did not like the proposal to pay directors, and in regard to tho extension of business to other parts of the world, that, of course, was a wide question, and ho would not express an opinion upon it. Tho PREMIER said tho Treasurer had stated that if the House were against tho pro posal to extend the business, that part of the bill might bo omitted. He did not think it right to ask men to give their time as directors without remuneration, and he argued that it was only right that the shareholders should have the opportunity of electing to the direc torate anyone they thought lit, whether a policy-holder or not. The motion to go into committee was agreed to, westporf harbor bill. In clause 3, Harbor Board for Westport con stituted, it was moved that the amendments made by the Select Committee, providing that the whole of this board should d© nominated, be agreed to. Agreed to. Tho amendments made to clause 4, appointment of nomi nated members, were agreed to. The clauses providing for tho manner of elections were also struck out. On clause 7, endowments of board, Mr BARRON moved to make one half instead of all the moneys derived from leasing, royalties, rents, &c,, to come under the Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administra tion Act, 1877. This was lost on division. 