PARLIAMENTARY TELEGRAMS

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 250, 25 August 1874, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY TELEGRAMS

Friday, August 14

On the second reading of the Railways Bill, Mr Mervyn suggested that surveys should be made in the Clyde district to ascertain the best route for the main line. The present lines, being along the seaboard, opened up very little country. Mr T. L. Shepherd disapproved of the blindness pf the Provincial authorities in not constructing an arterial line through the Province to tap the goldfields and the large quantity of Crown land now idle.

Mr J. E. Brown suggested an extension of the schedule as regarded the Canterbury railways. ,

The Premier said that the great work the Government had in view was to carry forward the great trunk main lines from Auckland to Wellington, whether by the east or west coasts, and to connect Nelson with the West 1 Coast and Marlborough with North Canterbury. These must be first carried out, and the branch lines to Tokomairiro and Dunstan might then be dealt with. The branch lines should be a charge upon the land fund, as they so much enhanced the value of the land. Already £206,600 had been voted for railways in Otago out of a total sum of £557,600 authorised.

The Premier announced that probably the Polynesian Islands Trade Bill would not be proceeded further with this session. In any case he could not, proceed with it while the abolition debate was pending, and the result of which was so uncertain.

The whole of Monday’s sitting was taken up with the debate on the Abolition of Provinces Bill.

Tuesday, August 18

Mr Shepherd asked whether the Government would cause a case to be submitted for the decision of the Supreme Court as to the right of miners to foul rivers and streams under the existing Goldfields Acts. He explained that several suits had been commenced in Otago against miners for fouling streams, and it would be much in the interest of miners that the doubt at present existing as to their right to do so should be set at rest. The cheapest way would be for a friendly suit to be instituted, with the object of laying a case before the Supreme Court for decision. The Premier said the Government were fully alive to the importance of the question, and, having regard to the interests of the parties, would consent to pay the costs of both sides, if the litigants would consent to such a course. Mr Shepherd, in reply, said it would be easy, if necessary, to raise a friendly suit with the view of deciding the question, and the steps to be taken. He would take advantage of the offer of the Government. The Cromwell Waterworks Bill, introduced by Mr T. L. Shepherd, and authorising the Corporation to raise £6,000, for a water supply, has passed through both Houses, The debate on the North Island question was continued.

Wednesday, August 19.

In the Legislative Council, during consideration of the Burial Ground Closing Bill, the following new clause was carried on a division by 16 to 10 “It shall be lawful for any person, by will or deed, duly executed, to direct that his or her body shall after death be disposed of by burning the same to ashes, instead of by burial in the earth ; and it shall be lawful for the executors of such person to carry into effect such directions, provided that such burning shall be conducted in a manner which shall not create any public or private nuisance.”' The abolition resolutions occupied the time of the Assembly in a great measure until Thursday evening, when a division \/as taken rather hurriedly with the following result For resolutions, 41; against, 16. The following is the division list:— Pairs for resolution : Parata, Inglis, C. W, Parker, T. L. Shepherd, Carrington. Against: Takamona, Brandon, Murray, J. Gillies, Thomson. Ayes.—M‘Lean, Bradshaw, Vogel, Gibbs, Jackson, J. E. Brown, Tolmie, Luckie, Steward, Monro, Murray, Seymour, Fox, Cuthbertson, Tribe, O’Conor, Andrew, Stafford, Studholme, Katene, M'Gillivray, J. Shephard, Richmond, Kenny, O’Neill, Webb, Taiaroa, Bucklahd, Bryce, Bluett, W. Kelly, Reynolds, Creighton, Wood, G. B, Parker, Ormond, M‘Glashan, Wilson, T. Kelly, Atkinson, Richardson. Noes.—-J. 0. Brown, Curtis, Fitzherbert, Hunter, Macandrew, May, Reeves, Reid, Rolleston, Sheehan, Swanson, Williamson, Bunny, T. B. Gillies, Montgomery. Members pn precincts who did not vote : Harrison, O’Rorke, Pierce, Johnston, Wakefield, Wales, White, .Von der Heyde.

Under the heading of “ Australian News” elsewhere, the rather astonishing fact is notified of certain young ladies having deceived a legacy of £30,000, of which sum they distributed £20,000 in charities. This amount, however, was a mistake, as the actual amount distributed was £2OOO. The Thames Star's correspondent at Whclca Tiwai gives the following quantities of food distributed by the Ngatipapoe to their guests at the meeting now on 59 tons flour, 7 tons of sugar, 1000 kits of potatoes, 5000 dried sharks, 77 large pigs, 16 head of cattle, 1 dozen boxes of tea, 2 large boxes of tobacco. Besides which they presented the Ngatimaru with a largo canoe and five mc.rc pomamus. The talk at the Native meeting has pommenced, and is not likely to lead to any important result.