§ LORD J. RUSSELLstated that he proposed to postpone this Bill; in the first place, because be thought it desirable, as there was to be a question whether there were to be two houses of legislature, or 1288 one, in the Australian colonies, that the House should have before it all the information they could possibly give up to the latest time, and that the papers which they had received should be laid before Parliament, and should be put in a shape that should bring that question especially before the House. He had received despatches that morning from our Australian colonies which it was important the House should be in possession of. He should like, as he was about to postpone the measure, that the hon. and learned Gentleman who was to move an Amendment for the purpose of taking the opinion of the House as to whether the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria should have two houses of legislature, that before the time came the hon. and learned Gentleman should lay before the House, so that it might be printed, what it was that he specifically proposed, what body was to be elected, and what qualifications the members of it were to possess. To give sufficient time for consideration, he proposed to postpone the Committee to that day fortnight.
§ Committee deferred from Monday next till Friday 8th March.