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Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 2nd October, 1847.

HIS Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor
has been pleased to appoint
GEORGE PONSONBY HUME, ESQ.,
(A Captain in H. M. 58th Regiment of Foot,)
to be a Justice of the Peace for the Territory
of New Zealand.
By His Excellency's command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SATURDAY, 25th SEPTEMBER, 1847.
PRESENT:—
His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor, the hon.
Colonial Secretary, the hon. Colonial Trea-
surer, the hon. Attorney General, and Mr.
Brown,—absent, Mr. Domett, and Mr. Mer-
riman.
Council met pursuant to adjournment.
Minutes of last meeting read and confirmed.
The Colonial Treasurer presented a petition
from the members of the Presbyterian Church
at Auckland, praying that the 'Education
Bill' now before the Council might not be
allowed to pass into law.
Petition withdrawn.
The Attorney General moved the order of
the day for the further consideration in com-
mittee of the 'Registration Bill.'
Council in committee, and further consider-
ation of said bill postponed until Tuesday
next.
On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer
council in committee on the 'Debenture Bill.'
Bill amended, and committee adjourned
until Tuesday next.
The Attorney General moved the order of
the day for the 2nd reading of the 'Fencing
Bill.'
Bill read a second time, and notice given
for the consideration in committee of the
said bill on Tuesday next.
The Colonial Secretary moved the order of
the day for the second reading of the 'Edu-
cation Bill.'
Bill read a second time, and notice given
for the consideration in committee on Tuesday
next.
The Governor laid on the table the draft of
a bill entitled 'An Ordinance for the Natural-
ization of certain persons in the colony of
New Zealand.'
Ordered to be printed.
The Attorney General gave notice that he
should move the third reading of the 'Mar-
riage Bill' on Tuesday next.
Council adjourned at half past 4, until 2
o'clock on Tuesday, the 28th inst.

TUESDAY, 28th SEPTEMBER.
Present—His Excellency and five members,
absent, Mr. Domett.
Council met pursuant to adjournment.

Minutes of last meeting read and confirmed.
The Lieut.-Governor laid on the table a
letter addressed to his Excellency, from cer-
tain Merchants and others residing in Wel-
lington, on the subject of the 'Paper Cur-
rency Bill.'
Letter ordered to lie on the table.
The Attorney General moved the order of
the day for the further consideration in com-
mittee of the 'Registration Bill.'
Bill further considered, and committee ad-
journed until Thursday next.
The notice of motion for further consider-
ation in committee of the 'Debenture Bill'
postponed until Thursday next.
The Attorney General moved the order of
the day for consideration in committee of the
'Fencing Bill.'
Bill considered and amended, and com-
mittee adjourned until Thursday next.
The Colonial Secretary moved the order of
the day for consideration in committee of the
'Education Bill.'
Bill considered and amended, and com-
mittee adjourned until Thursday next.
The Attorney General moved the order of
the day for the third reading of the 'Mar-
riage Bill.'
Bill read a third time.
Mr. Brown presented the following Protest
against the said bill, which was read, and or-
dered to be entered on the minutes.

PROTEST AGAINST THE MARRIAGE BILL.

I protest against the passing of the Marriage Bill
now before the Council, upon the following grounds:—

1. Because it violates the principle of religious to-
   leration, by giving to a few religious sects, (named in
   the bill) the privilege of performing marriage cere-
   monies, which is denied to all other sects; thus creating
   invidious distinctions, and arrogating a right of judge-
   ment in matters of religious belief, which does not pro-
   perly fall within the province of the Legislative Council,
   and cannot be exercised without injury to the commu-
   nity.
2. Because the bill takes away from certain sects,
   privileges which have already been conferred upon them
   by a former local ordinance (sess. 2, No. 11—1842),
   whereby marriages are permitted to be solemnized by
   "any minister of any Christian denomination."
3. Because marriage—so far at least as the State is
   concerned—is merely a civil contract—and ought not to
   be interfered with, beyond the requiring of proper evi-
   dence of the existence of such a contract—and the en-
   suring of due deliberation and public notification before
   marriage is entered into—requirements which never
   have been, and can be objected to by any person or
   class of persons;—whereas the present bill, without
   attaining or seeking additional security or advantages
   in these respects, is calculated to stir up religious
   animosities, without any good purpose to be served
   thereby.
   I further protest against the passing of this bill, in so
   far as it prohibits all persons from marrying under 21
   years of age, unless with the previous consent of pa-
   rents or guardians.
4. Because the liberty of marrying, without such
   consent, now exists in this colony without any bad
   effects arising therefrom, and therefore ought not to be
   interfered with.
5. Because such a liberty is the recognised legal
   right of a large portion of this community—(Scotch-
   men)—it is not found productive of bad consequences
   in their country—and ought not to be denied
   to them here, without some evidence of a necessity or
   propriety for so doing.
6. Such a restraint on marriage (if useful in Eng-