LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 10. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS. The Mining Bill was read a third time and passed. The Registration of Deeds and Instruments Bill was further considered in committee, reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Hon Mr BUCKLEY in moving the second reading of the Government Life Insur ance Bill remarked that it was the outcome of a resolution passed by shareholders of the asso ciation, which had also been recommended by a select committee of the House. The bill really, with one or two exceptions, sought to place the association •almost identically in its original position. The Hon. Mr M'LEAN did not object to the second reading, as he was one of those policy holders who had voted for the association re turning to the management of the Government. He believed the late laoard had terribly buDgled in its management. Ho objected to the present management, as he believed that very bad free hold securities had nearly been smuggled into the association. He certainly favoured funds being invested in Government securities. He attributed the failure of the existing sys tem to political elements having been, permitted to enter into the management, The bill was read a second time and com mitted. On clause 11, providing how moneys shall be lent, The Hon. Mr M'LEAN was inclined to test the feeling of the Council by moving that part 2, providing that part of the association's money may be lent on freehold property, be struck out. On a division, the clause was retained as printed by 21 to 9. The bill was reported without amendments, read a third time and passed. A message was received from the House stat ing that the Council's amendments in the Counties Bill had been disagreed with. The Hon. Mr REYNOLDS moved that the amendmsnts be not insisted upon. The Hon. Dr POLLEN moved the adjourn ment of the debate till next day.—Agreed to. The disagreements of the House in the Muni cipal Corporations Bill of amendments made by the Council were ordered to be considered to morrow. The Hon. Mr REYNOLDS moved the second reading of the Local Bodies' Finance and Powers Bill, which was agreed to on the voices, and the bill was committed, reported without amend ments, read a third time, and passed. The Hon. 