GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 201, 16 September 1873, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

We take the following telegraphic items in connection with the above from late Dunedin papers Wellington, Sept. 9. Major Atkinson moved that the Gold fields Bill be discharged. Mr Pyke seconded the motion, Saying that the Bill was utterly bad, and that the miners preferred the present law.—Mr T. L. Shepherd spoke against the discharge of the Bill. He said Mr T. B. Gillies believed there was no lawyer as good as himself. On a former occasion lie had not spoken, but had allowed the sweet music of his laughter to be heard against the Bill ; but now his snarling should not stop the Bill, The Bill had been drawn by an eminent lawyer. (Mr Gillies interjected that he had not laughed at the Bill, but at its advocate.) It was all very well for Mr Pyke to oppose the Bill. He was a now broom, and wanted to sweep clean, but all knew he was working to be Minister of Minos. The Bill had been prepared with care, and Mr Pyke need not expect a seven-days’ member to be considered an authority on the wants of his constituency. Part of the Bill was similar to the Victorian law, and there were better lawyers in Victoria than in Auckland. The reason why Mr White wanted the Bill postponed was because he felt he was only fit for a delegate, and had not ability to look after his constituents’ wants himself. It was disgraceful that the House should have tried for five years unsuccessfully to pass a good measure, and when one was brought in to reject it.—Mr Pyke said Mr Shepherd’s constituents did not want the Bill. Mr Shepherd was not a new broom on the Dunstan, where the people knew him too well. It was enough for him to have anything to do with a Bill for them to dislike it. Even if the Bill were a good one, there was no chance of passing it under the care of Mr Shepherd, for the House had no sympathy with him.—Mr White said neither he nor the House paid much attention to what Mr Shepherd said. Mr Shepherd reminded him of the Tichborne Claimant. He claimed to be the Gold-fields’ father, and to have a superior intellect, but no one else admitted it. He saw by tlic Bill that a Mining Registrar was to be appointed. Was that why Mr Shepherd supported the Bill ? Had he received pay for preparing the Bill ? He came to the House as a bleeding patriot of the miners, but he had no influence except with the Minister of Justice. That made him think the Minister had a vacancy in the upper regions.—Mr Vogel and Mr Macandrew denied that Mr Shepherd had received payment for preparing the Bill.— After further discussion, it was discharged from the Order Paper. Mr Macandrew has introduced a Bill, setting aside land in Otago as a special security under the Provincial Loans Act. The object of the Bill is to enable the Province to construct the railway from Tuapeka to Cromwell, according to recommendation of the Provincial Council. [This Bill has passed virtually according to the telegram received by the Mayor.] | Mr Tolmie strongly opposed the Provincial j Loans Bill, declaring it to be utterly unne- j cessary. As a proof of its probable effect, lie | pointed out that even before it got into Committee, Mr Macandrew, Mr Seymour, and ! Mr Fitzherbert had given notice that day of I Bills to enable their Provinces to borrow 1 under it. He thought over-legislation was ' the bane of the Colony, and unexampled ' prosperity would result if they would vote supplies for two years, and stop all legisla-1 tion for that period. The Bill was a sham, i and it was high time to stop indiscriminate | borrowing.