PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1373, 6 November 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [ ; Wednesday, November 5, The Council met at 2 30 p.m. i THS COCK FIGHTING CASE. : The Hon Mr Wilson called attention of the Government to a decision given by i the R. M. at Grey mouth in relation to the recent cock fighting case at Mar&den, and i moved that some inquiry should be made, or further proceedings taken. He hoped the Colonial Secretary would teach the Magistrate a very sharp lesson, because it was his duty to direct that fresh informations should be laid. After discussion the previous question was carried by 16 to 12. THE FEDERATION PROPOSALS. The adjourned debate on the federation proposals was resumed, and the resolutions were carried in the following form: “Whereas at a meeting of delegates from the following colonies, namely, Fiji, New South Wales, Nsw Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, held in Sydney during November and December, 1883, the following resolutions were agreed to:—1. That further acquisition of dominion in the Pacific south of the Equator , by any Foreign Power would be highly detrimental to the safety and well-being of British possessions in Australasia, and injurious to the interests of the Empire., 2. That this Convention refrains from suggesting any action by which effect can best be given to the foregoing resolution, in confident belief that the Imperial Government will promptly adopt the wisest and most effectual measures for securing the safety and contentment of this portion of Her Majesty’s dominions. (3. That having regard to the geographical position of the island of New Guinea and the rapid extension of British trade and enterprise in Torres Straits, and the certainty that that island Will shortly be the resort of many adventurous subjects of Great Britain and other nations, and the absence or inadequacy of any existing laws for regulating their relations with the native tribes, this Convention, whUe fully recognisiug that the responsibility of extending the boundaries of the empire belongs to the mperial Government, is emphatically of opinion that such steps should be immediately taken as will most conveniently and effectively secure the incorporation with the British Empire of so much of New Guinea and the small islands adjacent thereto as is not claimed by the government of the Netherlands. 4. That, although the understanding arrived at iu 1878 between Great Britain and France, recognising the independence of the New Hebrides, appears *o preclude this Convention from making any recommendations inconsistent with that understanding, this Convention urges upon Her Majesty’s Government that itjis extremely desirable that such uuderstauding should give place to some more definite engagement which shall secure those islands from falling under any foreign dominion. At the same time the Convention trusts that Her Majesty’s Government will. avail itself of any opportunity that may arise for negotiating with the Government of France, with the object of obtaining con- • trol of those islands in the interest of Australasia. 5. That the Governments represented at this Convention undertake tosabmitand recommend to their (respective Legislature measures of permanent appropriation for defraying, in proportion to their population, such share of the cost incurred in giving eff-ct to the foregoing resolutions as Her Majesty’s Government, having regard to the reledve importance of (Imperial and Australasian interests, may deem fair and reasonable. 6. That the Convention protests in the strongest manner against the declared intention of the Government of France to transport large numbers of relap :ed criminals to French possessions in l he Pacific, and urges Her Majesty’s Government to use every means in its power to prevent the adoption of a course so disastrous to the iuterests of Australasia and the Pacific Islands. 7. That this Convention expresses its confident hope that no penal settlements for the reception of European criminals will long continue to exist in I the Pacifio, and invites Her Majesty’s Government to make to the Government i of France such serious representations on i this subject as may be deemed expedient. I And whereas at the said Convention 1 a draft Bill to constitute a Federal 1 Council of Australasia was also agreed to; s and whereas in pursuance of the under- i taking given Jby the delegates from the colony of Now Zealand, it is desirable that this Council agrees generally with the re- £ solutions of the said Convention, but in r order that its views may be specifically expressed, resolves as follows :—-That this il Council approves of the steps taken by the o British Government fur the establishment (i of its rule over New Guinea, and hopes f< that like measures may be taken for a o

protectorate over the islands of the Pacific Ocean not under the dominion, of any stable Government. That thiscolonjr is willing to pay in proportion to its population a share of the sum of L 15.000 proposed by the Imperial Government. That It desires respectfully to protest against the transportation of criminals to the French possessions in the Pacific. That it requests the British Government to make such representations to the European Powers as.- will prevent maintenance of penal establishments in any of the .Pacific Islands. That -the establishment of snob a Federal Connell as is proposed in the Convention's drafE i J ” ,i Bill is premature so far as New Zealand is concerned, the geographical position of of New Zealand requiring that the Federal connection between New Zealand and Australia should be less close than that between the rations Australian Ooloires. ” LAND BILL. This Bill was re-committed. ' ‘ * In Commi tee, the Hon Mr McLean moved that the Chairman leave the chair, which was negatived by 19 to 10. " The Committee adjourned at 5 till 7.30.^^| EVENING SITTING. The consideration of the Land|Bill, Committee, was resumed at the|evenicg sitting. ' 'f' * Clause 6 (new clause), referring to the conditions <>f the Sale of pastoral lands pn : the deferred payment system, was struck out. Clause 29, dealing with the homestead system in Nelson, was struck out. The Bill was reported, and the third reading fixed for next day. CONSOLIDATED STOCK BILL. The Consolidated Stock Bill was read a second time, committed, read a third time i and passed. i BILLS PASSED. The Life Assurance Policies Bill was > read a third time and passed, as was also i the Municipal Corporations Bill. BBETBOOT 600 AB. This Bill was, after discussion, read a second time, committed, read a third time and passed. OTHEB BILLS. 1 The New Zealand Loan Bill was read • ' t second and third time and passed, f The Native Land Alienation Reatric--1 tion Bill was read a first time. ■ The Property Tax Bill was rsad a second and third time without' discussion* 1 The Council rose at 11 p.m. c HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, s _____ * Wednesday, Novembeb 5. . .. 1 The House met at 2.30 p.m. ’ - QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said:— That instructions would be given to relax-. the present restrictions on the sale of ammunition, so as to allow it to be sold until 6 p.m. instead of 4 p.m., such restriction being attended with great inconvenience to country settlers.—That the Government would take into consider*- ' tion the advisableness of using coke instead of coal for locomotives whenevetthe passenger traffic through tunnels in the- -■ colony is sufficient to warrant it, for the 1 convenience of the travelling public.— * That the Minister for Public Works, seef ing that it has been admitted that broad--1 leaf, if obtainable of suitable size, is admirably adapted for railway sleepers,. 1 would direct that, in order to test the 0 question, this kind of timber should • . in future bo mentioned in calling for tenders for the supply of sleepers in,the , 'outh Island as one of those descriptions 1 for which tenders may be submitted.— That every facility would be given to delegates of the various friendly societies to 1 travel on Government railways at the ; excursion rates to their annual meetings ‘ of delegates.—That the Government 0n.... * the arrival of M. DeHarven and his party, ' 7 the pioneers of Belgian iramigation to. New Zealand, would afford them facilities 1 for visiting all parts of the colony, and 5 afford them all available information and assistance for the purpose of their mis- - siou.—That the Government would not 1 take steps for the appointment of a Com- : 1 mittee to enquire, into and report upon - , the circumstance under which the Minister ; 1 of Lands authorised the sale iof the town- ;• ship of Wallsend to the Westport Colliery Company on the sth June, 1884, as they j. did not consider it their duty to appoint . 1 a Committee at this stage of the session. 1 FIBST EEADING3. -The following Bills were introduced and 1 read afi at time:—Railways Anthojrisation - c Bill (Mr Richardson), Special Powers and r Contracts Bill (Me Ballanec). The latter ■ ’ Bill was read (a second time without discussion.’ IB KOOTT. *. In answer to a question, the Hon Mr . Ballance replied that both the late Government and the present Ministry had written to Te. Kooti, warning him not to ’ visit the Wairoa or the East Coast District. 1 NATIVE LAND 3 SETTLEMENT. . The House went into Committee on the Native Lands Bill. . . .. ' The Hon Mr Ballancb moved the addl--1 tion of the new clause (2), providing that 1 “Native” means aboriginal native and ’ half-castes and their descendants by natives. After considerable discussion, the last two words, “by natives,” were struck . out. Clause 4, prohibiting dealing with land by natives, passed with ve.bal amendments.

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. p.m. NATIVE LANDS SETTLEMENT BILL . This Bill was considered id-Committee. The Hon Mr Ballance moved to (trike out the portion of clause 7 referring^the • testamentary rights of the natives,- dot being affected by the Act.—Agreed to. The Bill was, after discussion, reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. CIVIL LIST AMENDMENT BILL. Tha Hon Mr Stout moved he second reading of the Civil List Amendment Bill. ■ He said it was intended to provide for the appointment of an extra Minister who . would have charge of the Mines Department. The motion was, after debate, lost on the voices. CONVEYANCE OF MAILS. The House went into Committee to consider the terms and conditions of a proposed contract between the PostmasterGeneral of New Zealand and the New Zealand Shipping Company for the conveyance of mails between Plymouth and New Zealand by the Company’s (direct steamers. Sir Julius Vogel moved—“ That the contract be approved.” After some discussion as to the terms of the contract the resolution for its. approval was put and agreed to. LOW RATE LOANS. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Mac andrew moved—“ That the Government be requested to prepare a » measure during the recess to enable loans through the Publj.o Trustee or otherwise to be made at a low rate of interest to local bodies for drainage works and to actual cultivators of the soil for material improvement.”—Agreed to. IN COMMITTEE OF SUPFLT.' The House went into Committee of Suppl/ for the consideration of the Supplementary Estimates. , Vote L 949, Legislative Departipent—item LSO for clerical assistance was strqok out; item LIOO for Clerk of the House (additional) was struck out; item L2QO for Clerk’s assistant (additional) was struck out,

• ' On the item Chairman of Goldfields ftnd Mines Committee, Mr Hobsthousb moved that it be struck out, arguing that if passed the Chairmen of other Committees should receive payment. Sir Julius Vogel defended the vote. Mr O’Connor explained that technical knowledge to an unusual degree was required. The item was retained. The item, Librarian, L 25, was retained, and the item, Custodian,*Lso, was reduced to L 25. The total vote under legislature! was L 774 On the voe, _ 3,419, Colonial SecreMr Dodson moved that the item L6OO, at- recommended by the Waste Lands "Committee for Captain Raymond’s services connected with phosphorised oats as rabbit poison be struck out. The item was retained. Agent General, L 394, for report on 'direct steam service was agreed to. Minister of Justice, L 6,903, was agreed to. ...• Colonial Treasurer,- L1,0f5, was agreed to. . On the item Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs, Mr Kollesxon moved to omit L 1.500 for New Zealand and Pacific Islands, but the item was retained. Commissioner Trade and Customs, L 6.207 ; Minister of Education, L 12,380 ; Minister of Mines, L2,6G0; Minister of 1 Public Works, L 10,778 ; Minister of Defence, L2;039; land fund account, L 6,512; Government insurance, L 23,190 ; were all agreed to. On Public Works fund, L 45,947, Mr Sbbimski moved that the item LIO,OOO for branch line railway from Kaipata to the Waikato main line across the Waikato river be struck out. Progress was reported, and the House j rose at 4.5 a. m.