PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1006, 27 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, July 26. ' BILLS. The School Committees Election Bill was received from the Lower House and read a first tiipe. The Property Law Consolidation Bill was read a third time. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES. On a motion by the Hon Mr Nurse to print the suggestions of the conference of the Acclimatisation Societies at Dunedin in April last. The Hon Mr Menzies urged upon the Government to grant subsidies to Acclimatisation Societies, to enable them to do without the license fees, and so to stop fishing until the rivers are properly stocked. EDUCATION ACT. On the motion of the Hon Mr Menzies, a return was ordered of the numbers of petitions and the signatures presented to the Council in favor of Bible reading in schools. The Hon Colonel Brett moved that all Catholic petitions ra education should be referred from the Public Petitions Committee to the Committee .specially appointed by ballot for the purpose. The motiop was carried. BILLS. The St. Peter’s Church (Caversham) Bill was read a third time, and the Dunedin Southern Market Reserve Leasing Act, 1882, Amendment Bill, was passed through Committee. The Council rose at 3.45 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 26. The House met at 2.30. questions.

Replying to questions, Ministers said:— That where the 401 b rails were replaced by heavier ones on railways, only the excess in weight was charged to the construction account. That the Kawhia Harbor had bean surveyed by Captain Fairchild in June last, and the 'depth of water was found to be 17ft at low water, or 3ft more than that given in the “ New Zealand Pilot,” and early steps would be taken to have beacons erected.—That the Government was not aware of any Auckland Gaol officers being required to do fifteen hours’ duty per day, no complaint of the kind having even reached them.— That in the Town Districts Bill about to be brought forward provision would be made to give town districts which had been established on Crown lands reserves similar to those provided by the Plans of Towns Regulation Act, whore there were Crown lands within their bounds available for the purpose. Town districts, like Linwood, where the towns had been laid out on private property, and which {had no Crown lauds within their limits, would not, however, benefit by this, and Government could not assist them in any way to obtain endowments,—That the question as to whether or not the Government was in a position to establish at the Thames an office where mining agreements and transfers might be stamped and registered would be looked into.—That under the Auctioneers’ Bill notice had been given of amendments which would involve a repeal of the Shareholders’ Act if they were carried.— That Government would look into the question, and if the Government had power dairy factories companies would be exempted from the payment of annual license fees under the Stamp Act.—That tenders for erecting Rotorua Hospital had not yet been decided. The hospital would consist cf a central establishment for cooking, etc., with a number of cottages for patients. Provisions would be made for poor patients unable to pay, as the cost would be charged to the Charitable Aid to districts from which they were sent. The propriety of adding additional members to the Thermal Springs Act would be considered, and probably in due time be done. BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time ;—Native Land Laws Amendment (Mr Bryce). Law Practitioners Act Amendment (Mr Shaw). The following local Fills were read a second time :—Massey Frauds Indemnity, Westland High School, Invercargill Reserves Exchange. The following were committed, read a third time, and passed : Hokitika High School, New River Harbor Endowment, Waitara Harbor Board Loan. THE ANNEXATION QUESTION. The Hon Major Atkinson moved—- “ That the steps taken up to this time by the Government in conjunction with others of the Australasian Colonies to promote the establishment of British rule in certain islands in the Pacific be approved. ” Carried. He next moved—“ That the British Government should, under existing circumstances, take steps for the establishment of its rule over all islands in the Pacific which are not already occupie by or under the protection of a foreig power ; and that on the annexation of any island taking place, care should be taken that provision be made for preserving the individual "rights of the inhabitants.”

Mr Steward moved, as an amendment —“ That the British Government should, under existing circumstances, take steps for the establishment of its rule over such islands in the Pacific as are not already occupied by or under the nroCectorate of a foreign power, and the occupation of which by any foreign power would be detrimental to the interests of Australasia.”

The House divided on the amendment —Ayes, 49 ; noes, 19. The amendment was carried. On the resolution— “ That in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of establishing its authority over any islands in the Pacific, New Zealand, jointly with the colonies of Australia, should contribute its fair proportion of the necessary expense, calculated on the basis of the European populations of the British colonies now comprised in Australasia ; provided that the amount of such proportionate expenditure, when ascertained, does not exceed the means at the disposal of New Zealand.” Mr Wynn-Williams moved as an amendment—“ That in the event of its being made an absolute condition of annexation that the colonies of Australasia shall each contribute a fair proportion of the cost, it will bo necessary that a statement of the amount to be contributed by this colony should be furnished by the Imperial Government before Parliament is called upon to concur in a course which may involve serious additional taxation on this country.”—Agreed to.

It was also moved—“ That the Confederation and Annexation Bill, with the amendment proposed by the Committee, be passed by the House, and that the papers named in the schedule laid by the Colonial Treasurer before the Committee, relating to the annexation of the islands in the Pacific, together with such other papers relating to the subject as the Government can supply, bo printed for the information of Parliament.”—Carried. On the motion of Sir George Grbv it was agreed—“ That all the above resolutions should be embodied in the Annexation Bill, and made a first order of the day for to-morrow.” FUGITIVE OFFENDERS. On the motion of the Hon Mr Conolly, the Pugutive Offenders Bill was read a second time. NATIVE BILLS. On the motion of the Hon Mr Bryce, Murihika Native Reserves Grant and the Taumutu Native Commonage Bills were read a second time.

During the sitting Mr Fish took the opportunity to deny the statement published in certain newspapers that he had stonewalled the Estimates on Friday night. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. TRUSTEES LILL. On the motion of the Hon Mr. Conolly the Trustees Bill was read a second time, BANKRUPTCY BILL. On the motion of the Hon Mr Conolly the Bankruptcy Bill was recommitted. Clause 14 was amended by omitting the intermediate appeal to two Judges, and making the appeal directly from the local Court to the Supreme Court, and from thence to the Court of Appeal, if necessary. ; ■ Clause 37 amended so as to- enable the assignee to take possession of the bankrupt’s books, papers and documents; also providing for the bankrupt being examined as to the mode in which he kept his books, his last stock taking, etc.; and also to take prompt action with regard to the perishable goods belonging to the bankrupt’s eetaie. Clause 38 was amended so as to compel the bankrupt to account for the manner in which he had kept his accounts. Clause 41 wasjjstruck out, and the following substituted ;—“ The supervisors shall, subject to the approval of the Court, appoint an auditor to audit the official assignee’s account of bankrupts’ estates. In the exercise of this power the supervisors shall, as far as may be practicable, avail themselves of the services of a public accountant or of a person who is an auditor of accounts of the Government of the colony, or of any municipal body or trading corporate body.” Clause 82, the phrase “ bill of sale executed and registered,” was amended so as to leave out the words “ and registered.” Clause 139.

Mr Barron proposed—“ That wages and salaries should take precedence of all other claims, not exceeding three months’ arrears, no single claims to exceed LIOO. ” Carried by a vote of 33 to 32. The Hon Mr Conollv moved to report progress, as the result of this vote would be so materal that it would bo better to take time to consider its effect upon the Bill as a whole. Progress was reported, BILLS OF EXCHANGE BILL. This Sill was considered in Committee. On clause 57, Sub section B, Mr Seddon proposed that the section be altered to read “ interest thereon at the rate of 8 per cent.” The Committee divided. Ayes, 16 ; noas, 35. Clause 76 was objected to as obscure. The Hon Mr Conollt admitted that there was ground for thinking so, and consented, to progress being* reported in order that the clause might be remodelled. The House adjourned at 12.30.