, 1874-01-07

NOW, rs we nope TOT q Wlder. ClTCulaCl0n
of the paper than it has hitherto obtain
ed, we are somewhat anxious that this
defect should, if possible, be remedied;
but the time for the publication of the
official report not being under our control,
we have managed to obtain a short re-
sumo of the Proceedings, which plan
we consider to be the next best situation.
The first item on the order of the day,
on Monday the 5th inst, was the election
OF members, for each Of the Boards for
the 4 elective districts of the island. The
following gentlemen were elected G. F.
A Brustmeyer, @. Brandt, Fl. Mallgrave,
and B B Beech.
The second item was the election of
2 members to revise the Communal Ac-
counts for 1912. Elected were Sarauw,
and Anthem. Sarauw begged leave to
remind the President of the indemniica-
ton bills, and the President promised to
have the neediul done.
The Bird item was the 1st discussion on
the Draft of Ordinance extending to the
Danish Westindia Islands the Law of 23rd
January 1862 concerning the use of Firms
and of written instruments or powers to
sign by procuration etc. The President,
referring to the motives appended to the
Draft, observed that this bill will not
have the same importance tor st. Croix as
for st. Thomas, still the Draft treated of
matters that require to be settled also
here, and ought to have been regulated
long ago.
Sarauw suggested o technical change
in the text. The proposal of Leming
for d committee was lost. The Draft
passed to second discussion.
The 4th item was the LIST discussion Of
a Draft of Ordinance for tho Danish West
india Islands regarding moderation in the
prices of D. W. /. 3 cents postage-stamps.
After q few explanatory remarks by the
President, q Uhe II Jassed to o second
discussion. double that\
The 5th ig the IA yeaer of the day was
the first discld, as the " Draft of Ordinance
concerning Kingdom hstion of marriages
outside the rechies, q religious congrega-
lions.
The President, referring to the motives.
observed that it had been long under con-
temptation to have this law extended to
these islands. The now existing rules
had often caused disagreeableness; but
opinion had formerly been against the
reform.
The Chairman would beg to impress
upon members that the present Draft was
of a more important nature than either Of
the two that had just passed the Let dis
c%ussion. The Ordinance will influence
the most important actions in the life Of
the inhabitants. It has been said that it
is an Ordinance for introducing civil mar
rage, but it is not; that is not rendered
obligatory in all cases, so that all marriages
would have to be made before the civil
Authorities, leaving it optional to the par
ties if they will seek clerical conservation
besides. The Draft is more important:
it purposes to remove disagreeablenesses
that have met US in daily life. Civil mar
rage would not be of any very great im-
portance; the practice is not so much in
the minds Of people here, as to allow them
to do without the clerical conservation. On
ly when the couple belong to recognized
congregations. will civil marriage be Of
any import. But the Improvements is,
that by this Ordinance all the different de-
nominations will be on the same footing.
Hitherto one of the existing denominations