LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3168, 24 August 1881, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. INDEBTEDNESS OP LOCAL BODIES. Mr Hobinson gave notice to move for a return of the indebtedness in every form of every local body in New Zealand. LICENSING- BILL. The Licensing Bill was recommitted and a clause inserted that children under 16 years of age shall not be supplied with liquors unless lodging in hotels with their parents. The bill was then read a third time and sent back to the Lower House. THE INSPECTOR OP PEISONS. A memo was received from Captain I Hume, stating that the first he heard of the Council wanting a return from him was through, reading it in the newspapers. He therefore complained of the remarks in the report of the Civil Service Enquiry Commission. Mr P. Buckley objected to the memo lying on the table, as Captain Hume had not been blamed. On a division the memo was allowed to remain by 13 to 12. BILLS. The Dentiste Act Amendment Bill and the Oamaru Harbor Board Bill were read a third time and passed. The Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill was read a second time. The Fixtures Law Amendment Bill was thrown out by 18 to 8. HABBOBS. Mr Miller moved the appointment of a Eoyal Commission to enquire into the question of harbors for the west coasts of both Islands, with special reference to Taranaki. i

A debate ensued, during which several members expressed their conviction that all the artificial harbor works in New Zealand except at Oamaru had been simply money thrown away, and that it was high time tho legislature should have the courage to stop the whole affair. Captain Fraser said that £400,000 had been squandered at Dunedin, and the authorities there and at other places all thought they knew better than Sir John Coode and other eminent engineers. Mr Whitaker pointed out that carrying the motion would do no practical good, and it was withdrawn. THE CASE OF CAPTAIN BAILLIH. The Standing Orders Committee reported in the case of Captain Baillie that the receipt of forage allowance did not disqualify _ person from sitting in Parliament. The Council rose at 5 o'clock.