GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 515, 21 June 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the House of Representatives, on Thursday afternoon, Mr Barron gave notice ihat he would ask'the Government what steps tbey intended to take for the suppression or otherwise discouraging of gambling, more especially tbat form known as race consultations.

In reply to questions, Major Atkinson said the Government did not intend to introduce a Bill to amend "The Harbors Act, 1878," and that the Marine Engineer had been requested to report upon tbe necessity or oihcrwise of erecting a lightbouse on Waip-ipa Point, and that if "the report was favorable provision would be made in tho Estimate, for the same, The Hon. W. 80l lest on said tbat Government fully recognised the services of the police in the Tcrarua disaster, but did not consider any special bonus necessary beyond compensation for clothing destroyed. Ho also staled that steps were being taken towards a more complete con- | servation of the native forests. Tho Hon. J. Hall, also replying to questions, said tbat it bad been found necessary to print an important paper on Sunday. Before he allowed it to be done he had ascertained that such a course ha previously been followed. He also stated that in reference to railway accidents the Government had come to the conclusion that their liabilily was the fiame as that of a private railway company. The Hon. T. Hick i;Od Oovernment did not intend to propo-e any amendments or changes in tbe •' Education Act. 1877," or tha regulation, made thereunder. In reply to question:;. :\'~ to circvOu'.-;. issued by the j Peace, he state! thai "neb had boon Yyued j OddOgprOon YY YO giving any information to the Ji. s s. Ihe following YiY ww- introduced and rood a hYY time, a OYi !c fuoond ihe '.'."»?-n-Vi-u iiuvwr Board Grdinaneo Amendiiieiit Act, O7o(3;:r Sl:i-.o._ki) ; OObln--ton Q.K-ens Wliarf and Store Sde Bill (Mr Levin) ; Port. Chalmers Cumotry Bill (Mr Macandrew) ; Drainage Bill (Mr Murray.) The Hon J. Hall moved th. second ! resdiug of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, and explained itn provOiom as being simibir to that of last sesdon. And that an addition to the Bill bad. been made at the .(ingestion of gold field mem born of a, poll-tax on to biers. He asked rnomoeni io Ove Ujo Biii tbeir support although it iiii-dd no: fit in with the schemes in iorco iv their particular districts. Or W;dii. opposed J lie Bill h,j hoitif; oi; 100 ambi'ions a nature, am! suggested that lh; ;■•■•, ,'i'vic_; of lands a. endowments for .'.■■'j .Ytinntfed by i0b;..0 cm in our last Hoti?. '- ! r Moss Moved lh. .lecood i\;.'ioii'.g ba mYo,-.Y until Government brina; down *;. g_i<_.- I .soiieuie for loc-l adi>;irnY,uniioti. j Or ii.:!:.'.:;ic<! ooh-ct.d to the Bill, as if ! iniio'.to'ji'O. ih, thin ihO;o of yaupori.in i and while be w.s s-pcakiug the debate was j inierHipted by the 5.3'J j.>.m. adjournment. I On the ilotoe ro'inmim;-, j Sir George (Oey Yrongiy objected fo '

the Bill, and asked the Government to allow the subject to stand over until tbe question of local government was settled. Messrs Wakefield, Tuinbull, Pitt, Swanson, De Lautour, and Andrews also addressed the Houso on tbe question, but the debate never rose beyond tbe ordinary course, and nothing new was said on either side, The Premier aftowards replied, and tbe maoton for the second reah'ng was pnt and agreed to, and tbe Bill ordered to bo committed that day week, The House roso at 1.10 n.m. Tho Houso met on Friday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. Mr Ba tings, member for Waikaia, was introduced by Mr Ormond and the Hon. E. Richardson, and took bis seat. An adjournment ensued for presenting tbe Address in reply to the Governor's speech. On resuming, the Speaker reported that His Exellency had been pleased to receive tbe Addess, and read a reply, thanking them for the same. Sir W. Fox gave notice of a motion having in view the abolition of the sale of intoxicating liquors in the refreshmentroom of the House, and tbat tea and coffee bo supplied in their stead. In reply to a question, tbe Hon. T. Dipk said enquiry would be mabe into tbe ciscumstances under wbicd George Hobbs and Stephen Batcbelor were committed at the Waimate Resident Magistrate's Court on April 14, 1851, for 48 hours' imprisonment for refusing to pay a fine of £5 5s 6d to Michael Studholme, for trespass in pursuit: of game, also upon what grounds (the act complained of having taken place on a public road) tho decision of the Resident Magistrate was arrived at. Afterwards leave was granted to Mr Bryce to make a personal explanation in regard to the Governor's having sent to the Secretary of State an explanation as to the causes that led to his resignation, copied from the New Zealand Herald. He had made it a point of honor to be silent on tbe subject that led to bis resignation, and if tbe Government were aware of tbe contents of tbe despatch they were to blame, jas they were aware he was to be silent I until proper opportunity occurred. Tbe Hon J. Hall said that tbe Government bad no control over His Excellency in connection with communications sent to the Secretary of State. The' Government knew nothing about the despatch or enclosure complained of till long after. He was, however, quite sure that none would object to Mi' Bryce's version of bis resignation being given the fullest possible publicity. The Houso went into Committee on the Chinese Bill. on clause 4 it was proposed that the penalty should be increased from £10 to £50. On a division tbe sum a3 printed was passed, the votes being 24 against 23. The member for Akaroa appears in the division list amongst the Noes —that is that the penalty should be £50. At the evening sitting— On tbe motion for committing the Licensing Bill. Dr Wallis addressed the Houso at length, urging tbe granting of compensation where the licenses are abolished by local option, and freely criticising tbe provisions of the Bill. Sir W. Fox regretted that Dr Wallis had reopened tiie discussion before going into Committee. The House then went into Committee on the. Bill. Clauses 1 to 11 were passed as printed. On Clause 12, Sut-.cction 1, Sir W* Fox proposed as an amendment —"That the Licencing Committee shall consist of persons who shall be annually elected by tbe ratepayer.-, of the district." On a division, 19 voted for the clause as punted, and 34 for the amendment. Mr Montgomery', name appears amongst those voting for the amendment. The rest of the clauses were struck out, and Mr Basting proposed to strike out the c'auso for family hotel licenses ,• on a division the clause was struck out by 10 against 27. Tbe clause in regard to Club licenses was lixed to be between the hours of G a.m. and midnight only. At 12.35 a.m. progress was reported, and the Houso adjourned.