GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 2, 16 July 1874, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wednesday, Bth July.

In reply to Mr. Gillies re the telegrams against 'Judge Chapman, Hearing to be from Judge Ward, Mr. Vogei said the Government had taken no steps to investigate the matter, and would not do so unless the House so desired. .

In reply to questions, Mr. Vogel eaid that if the "Government had any intention of taxing iaud and property they would refrain from making known the fact earlier than possible, so as to avoid the. injurious speculation" that would follow.

The following Bi!l3 wer-e read a first time : —The Regulating of Mines Bill, the Municipal Reserves JBill, the Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill, Post Office Savings Bank Act Amendment Bill, and the Wellington Hospital Reserves Bill. . : Mr. T. L. Shepherd obtained leave to in'roduce a Bill to amend tbe " Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872." In the Legislative Council, a Bi'l relating to real estate was read a first time ; also a Bill amending the marriage law. An address of congratul-itioa on tbe nwrriajge of the Duke of Edinburgh waa agreed "to. ■ , . Thursday, 9th July. In reply to Mr. Steward as to whether the attention of the Government had been directed to the case Borton and M'Master v. Howe and Party, and the .difficulty which had arisen as to the water question on the Maciewhenua goldfields, Mr. Vogei said it was not the intention of the Government to bring in a measure to deal with the matter during the present session. la reply to Mr. M'G-illivray, Mr. Richardson said tbe Provincial Engineer had visited tbe Riverton Harbor, and tbe Colonial Engineer was prepared to report upon'the'ffame when desired to do so. Ivi reply, to Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Yogel said thevGovernmeut did not intend this session to bring in a Bill to augend tbe Registration Act of 1871. The foiluwir.g. Bills were introduced and read a first time :—Bill to amend the Conveyancing Ordinance; Bill to amend the " Canterbury Domains Act, 1872;" Bill to extend the Time for Registration of Births ia Certain Cases; Bill amend the " Maryborough Waste Lands Act, 1867." ' On the motion of Mr..Fox, copies of all instructions issued by Resident Magistrates or Licensing Boards, and all correspondence relating to the " Licensing Act, 1873," were ordered to be Jaid on the table." On the motion of Mr. Wakefield, the Premier agreed to Ip.t on the table a return of the cost.of' the ' New ZeaUnd Hand Book.' -' ; On the motion of Mr. Gillies, tbe correspondence relating to Judgee Ward arid Chapman was ordered to bs produced. The Imprest Biii for L2so,ooo : was for-* warded a stage. ~ Drafts of the following Bills*, sent down by message from the Governor, were reported to the House: —'Bill-to amend the * l Supreme Court Judges Act, 1858 ;" Bill to. make Provision for the Establishment of State Forests, and the Application of Revenue derivable therefrom; Bill to emend the Law relating" to the Civil -Act -to amend the "IWestland" Loan Act, 1873;" Act for amending tbe '• Pustr-Office. Savings Bank, Act" r Act to repeal "New Zealand-University* Act, 1870." ... ~..., 6 ■-'■ In. the Legislative Council, , Mr. Waterhouse moved (bat, in the opimoa of the Couud', , the'mode of selling and disposing 0f..-fond -under.. Zea . land Settlements. Act .should,, b& regulated. by Act of Hhe General A-sembly, and hotas at present by regulations made at the wi.l.of the Government .of the day.,- •..,; ; ... ;' The motion was agreed to. ' , i Od, the motion of Mr; WaterhoveeV it was agreed to produce the Ward-Chapman correspondence. ,; :., . : . _;,..,;;. ~ 'ji}. • Saturday,.jUlh July. i On the second reading of the Imprest Supply'Billi*Mr yogel suggested that the' English plan of diactHsion™of the Estimates jstead of waitipg -Financial : State-" went,' Gillies agreed to friended the alteratiou": of the, Orders. .£s., i • The participation of insuranfg.in Goyerhlpqtent Life not to; teo'yeW? 1 ish'ment of 'iin€-. Jthen every ; 3: : .ff^||fi

?■■ the t Bi I I|in a; lengthy : .speech,' saying the principal objects were to!-protect the o^ejhatbXsiirp.tnfctheiconeer quenceß of pending libellous telesrratnf, and grams may. be pro.'lu§ed w inV.LVwr'Coutts. v . The debate was adj<)urned till Tyes lay. '; In reply to IVli*i said the 'Government "wefeTpTe'p'ar-ln'p'a'Biirtp" i-emedy certain defects in the " Native Act-, - -~- v ".'" -

:Mr. Wakefield.asked;whether;any 'step? were feing taken by the. Government to; bring the .murderers of SuUivanVtpjjuetice —Mr. Vogel t»a'd the whole object of the Government, and those -in Ccharge of the Native Department, was to obtain from all people of the r Colony due respect-for ita laws. Beyond that, he could,give, him no information. . . < . .

The. Municipal Corporation Qas 81l. r and tbe Bill to amend Special Settlements Act, 1371, were road a firat time. ...... .■■..' ;