PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1704, 4 August 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Yesterday.

[A portion of the earlier business of the House appeared in a later edition of the Stab, lasi night.] Thames PetitionsMr O'Neill presented a petition from the Thames in favour of the Thames and Waikato railway, shewing that it would be only 58 miles between the two places, instead of 150 by the present means of communication. Also from the Thames road boards, showing the inhabitants to be 12,000, and praying adequate representation. Also, a petition from the Waiotahi Board, praying for provision for extension of road to Nolan's Candlelight. Auckland and Mercer Bail-way-Mr Luckie gave notice to-morrow for returns of tbe rates and traffic on the Auckland and Mercer railway. Expiration of ParliamentThe opinion of the Solicitor-General waslaid on the table with reference to tbe date of the expiry of the present Parliament,! to the effect that the term dates from the return of tbe writ, which makes the present Parliament expire on the 25th of February, 1876. Kiflemen for Philadelphia. Mr O'Neill gave notice to move that a sum be passed on estimates to defray the cost of representatives proceeding to the rifle match of the world at Philadelphia. Telegraph to Mongonui. In reply to Mr Williams, whether it was the intention of the Government to extend the telegraph to Whangaroa and Mongonui, a distance of forty-five miles, Mr Reynolds replied that the distance would be 90 miles, would cost £5,300, and an annual cost of £290. The receipts would not be over £50. As £18,000 had been spent during the past year in extending the line to the Bay of Islands, he hoped the member *.would not urge extension.

Bay Coal RailwayIn reply to Mr O'Neill asking the cause of delay in the construction of the Bay railway, Mr Jtiichardson said the advertisement of tenders was inserted in the Auckland papers by mistake. The estimates were complete, but the necessary engagements by the company were not signed. Mr Steward's Deceased Wife's Sister. Mr Steward's Deceased Wife's Sister Bill was read a first time, and made an order of the day for Thursday. University Bill. In moving the second reading of the University Act Amendment Bill, Mr, Bowen explained the reply to an application of charter to Earl Carnarvon. He said that the Act asked power to confer unlimited variety of undefined degrees together with Doctor in Arts, Master in Law, Medicine, and Music, Bachelor, Master and Doctor in Science. The powers were not conferred oh the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne. The present bill substituted the ordinary degrees. It was read a second time. Other Bills. Mr. Reynolds moved the second reading of the Marine Amendrrfent Act. The Inspection of Machinery Bill was deferred till Friday. Sir George Grey's Declaration. Several Bills of minor importance were postponod, and the House came to the resolution of going into Committee of Supply. This motion,* which permits the introduction of any and all subjects into debate, was availed by Sir George Grey for clearing away difficulties in future debate by asserting the right to consider the conduct of the Governor; also of the Legislative Council. He referred to his having been called to order on a former occasion when alluding to the Governor. This he did in a speech that its daring statement had a surprising effect

House. Me 8 I repeatedly to order, and so the Speaker to define the limits which! X under the pressure of bir George Grey IP were certainly made enough for all useM **.'* purposes in future debates. It In a really thrilling speech, he denounced f the Constitution about to be rivetted on the - country, especially the Upper House, detailing with great effect illustrations^ ;% 1 I ; influence on fche sale of land and settr *KKt ral in Otago. He objected to them as*rei^.^. W tatives of nobody, and to the Govei foUHHM having aUied himself to a faction, afex. §1 pression which brought the Speaker t^hi If feet, who declared that Sir Geo>ge could not I ■ bo impeach the conduct of the Governor. I Then, said .Sir George Grey, " Our position I is wretched indeed.'' Then waiving direct I reference, he denounced the action of th e | Ministry as having dragged in the represen. r tative of Her Majesty into the contention" making him send down the Abolition Bill * under disguise of appropriation. His refer. ence to the proposals of the bill as » series of bribes to the country to abandon ' its Constitution and as an appeal to the lowest feelings of the people, p to . | duced very great excitement and applan Se ' He announced the formation of the Oppoij! | tion under his lead, and its intention to I submit proposals for constitutional changes of a far more liberal character, and- giving control of far larger sums raised on ing| principles, and not like the proposals of thoge who offered nothing from their 6wn pockets ' Sir George Grey was cheered continually throughout his speech, which was of a most daring and determined character. He was succeeded by Mr Fitzherbert, in the same strain, aseerting the right to speak unequivocably regarding all partakers in the Government proposals, and elicited from the Speaker an important admission that at times it might be not only a right, but a duty for members to speak in the plainest termsof the Governor.

Sir Donald McLean expressed gratification at the formation of an Opposition, and replied generally to Sir George Grey. It was amusing to watch Mr Inglis during these two speeches. Ever siace he moved the address in reply he seems to think him. self a political unit. Zad;-z sat reclining with his face close to Stafford, and while statesmen listened with gravity becoming tho speaker and the subject, Inglip, like a big fat-headed boy, laughed a.% if in conscious superiority over the two veterans of colonization. The same idiotic aspect, blended with the round red face ami the preponderance of the animal, contrasted with the eloquent utterances that were entrancing the House at the time, and, produced a very striking effect. The House went into Committee of Supply, . i and forthwith progress was reported. t Wellington Bills. Then followed three Wellington Eesenre Bills, with the not-unusual scene of a straggle among local members over concerns of only local interest. Other members were bored and prepared to vote for any thing that would settle the question, and let the House to business. Mr. Macandrew postponed his Highway Empowering Amendment, so as to combine with others of the same ilk. Oliinemuri BightsSir D. McLean moved a select committee Ohinemuri miners' rights enquiry, consisting of Messrs Bryce, Curtie, Bradshaw, O'Neill, Ormond, Stafford, Sheehan, Shepherd, May, Sir George Grey, and the mover. This was originally Sir George Grey's motion, and it was carried without debate. The Otago Men at it Again. rr Then succeeded a struggle among'the Otago men over some confounded return of sales and leases of some outlandish block that nobody but Otago cares a pin aboHt. If such is a specimen of what the abolition of provinces will bring, in introducing!local questions of the paltriest- kind, and I suppose it will multiply them tenfold, I fancy members will sigh for the good old timea when there was never more than three Otago land bills in one session of Parliament, andnot more tban twenty or thirty free fights on Otago sales and leases. The call to dinner drew a blanket over the Public Works statement, which was the piece de resistance for the night session. t .