GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 533, 23 August 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

On Tuesday, in the Legislative Council, the Hon W. H. Reynolds moved that the members of tho Council should boar some relative proportion to the number of representatives of .the various districts o£ the Colony. After some debate the motion was rejected by 15 to 14. . . In the House of Representatives, Mr Macandrew gave notice of his motion for dividing the Colony into two Provinces, as referred to in our Wellington telegram which appeared in our last issue. Replying to Mr Bain, Major Atkinson said a measure was in course of preparation providing that penny postage and receipt stamps be assimilated, as is now the case in the United Kingdom. Dr Wallis moved the second reading of the Annual Parliaments Bill, nt the same time "aying that he had now ascertained that the House was not yet sufficiently advanced in Liberalism to accept this measure. The motion for the second reading was lost on a division of 41 to 8, and the Bill was withdrawn. The House wont into Committee on the Parliamentary Oaths Bill, which was passed, and reported with amendments. It was read a third time and passed. The Sfkjeet of this Bill is to allo,v members en!§led to Parliament to make an in lieu of taking an oath if they bo desire. The House went into Committee on the Kakanui Harbour Hoard Borrowing , Bill. The Hon. J. Hall opposed the Bill, insisting that the House was bound to exercise vigilance over these applications, and in this case the security was not sufficent. Sir G;Grey said they should either give these struggling districts Leal government or else receive their applications fur borrowing powers with more consideration. . The Bill passed through Committee and was read a third time and passed on a division by 31 to 24. Mr Shrimski moved that the Pensions Bill be read a third time. The Government opposed the liill. Messrs Hall and Rollcston, and Major Atkinson speaking against it. After nu amendment in one of the clauses it wa»i however, read a third lime and passed. The Adoption of Children Bill was rtecommitted "and reported' with amendments. The Married Woine'ns Property Protection Bill was read a second timo. On the motion for going into committee in the Gold Duty Abolition Bill a long dpbate ensued and the House did not get into Committee, till 2 a.m. The Bill was reported with an amendment, and the House adjourned at 3.20 a.m. The effect of tft* Bill, as passed through Committee, is to reduce the duty from two sliillings to one, shilling per ounce, after January 1 nexi; year, and to abolish it entirely after January 1, 1883. A new clause has been added, providing that the measure bhall not come into operation in any district, except upon the app ieation of the local body to whom the duty is now payable.

On Friday the Council made a further attempt to get the Licensing Bill into such a shape as would please honorable members, nnd that unhappy measure was onco more recommitted. The Council also insisted on its Amendment in the Gaming and Lotteries Bills, and managers were appointed to draw op reasons.

The second reading of the Timarti Harbor Board Endowment Bill was moved by the Hon N. Wilson. Several Councillors spoke strongly against the Bill on the ground that the Titnaru harbor is certain to fill with shingle, as predicted by Sir J. Coode and two Government engineers, and which is now happening.

On the Hon F. \V hi taker's motion the debate was adjourned.

In the House of Representatives, a little scene occurred between Mr Pyke and the Speaker. The former had given notice of a motion affirming the desirableness of a prorogation to enable the Governor to visit the Western Pacific, and also " for enabling members to recruit their wasted energies of body and mind." The Speaker had cut the notice down before allowing it to appear on the Order paper, describing the motion as it originally appeared as a burlesque one. Mr Pyke en lied attention to this as a breach of privilege, but the Speaker declined to allow his action to be called in question, and ordered Mr Pyke to sit down. The latter persisting in addressing the House, the Hon J. Hall moved l>e adjudged guilty of contempt of tliifc House.

The Speaker «aid that he would afford Mr Pyke an opportunity for tabling a motion to bring his conduct in this matter under consideration of the House. If he would be satisfied with that course and to the . authority of the. House, 4ben he would ::ot allow the motion read by the Premier to be put. ; Mr Pyke accepted the concession, and gave notice of a motion reviewing the the action of the Speaker, and for the time the matter dropped.

The House then proceeded to the consideration of tho rvporfc of the Select Committee on the New Plymouth harbor works The report recommended the cessation of all ..ex cmliturc on the works Mr Wright moved its adoption. Tho lion -J. Hall moved as "an amendment that, a Bill hliouUl be brought in providing for the appointment of a Itoyal ■ Commission to enquire into the whole matter. The Premier's motion being further amended by Mr De .Lnulour, was .carried after a long dcb;il f. The Ed neat i v \ Amendment Bill was received i y r. - - " i 1 the Legislative Council. < ' ih' i :•. Ui.it it be road a

first time, the voices were given in the negative. The Bill, which provides for Bihlo reicliiifr in schools, elicited nlmoßfc unanimous opposition, but it wan urged that, out of courlosy to tho oilier Chamber, it Khnnld bo rend a lirst time.

Ultimately Mr Fulton gnvo noti'-e that ho would move the first reading of the Bill on Tuesday.