PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3759, 2 August 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday

The Council met at 2.30 p.in

HOKtTIKA HIGH SCHOOL BILL. The Hokitika High .School Bill was read a .second time. IrORESTl r OREST CONSERVATION. A long discussion took place on a motion by Mr Chamberlain in favor of forest conservation, but it was ultimately adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. "Wednesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS. The following , bills were introduced and read a first timo:—Otago Harbor Board Loan and Loans Consolidated Bill (M. W. Green) and the Companies Fire and Marine Insurance Bill (Dick). REPORTS OS BILLS. The reports on the Taiaroa Land Bill and (.he Trustee;-!, Guardians, and Executor's Company Bill were agreed to. QUESTIONS. Replying , to questions, Ministers said the Government would gladly give a substantial reward to any one who would invent effective means of getting rid of the rabbit nuisance; the Government already gave liberal tc-rins to insurers who desire to take up ti paid-up policy instead of continuing to pay Mio premiums, and were trying to render the terms .still moro liberal; the Government would bo prepared to liberally consider provision for the widow of Warder Adams, of Nelson, when fully informed of the circumstances ; the Government would consider the question of issuing Crown grants for the Mawhera reserves, Greymouth ;it was not true that defective weights and measures from all parts of the colony had to be sent to 'Wellington for adjustment; until the Dunediu Gaol Commissioners' report was received the Government could not say whether the evidence would be printed. VENTILATION OF TIIK HOUSE. A long discussion took place on the report of the Ventilation Committee recommending the expenditure of £500 during the recess on a plan of ventilation of the Chamber recommended by Mr Turnbull, architect, and fir Gillon. The report was ultimately adopted. COMMITTEE OF I.VQUIKY. Mr Dargaville gave notice to move for a committee to enquire into the circumstances connected with the alleged payment by the Bank of New Zeahmd'to Messrs Whi taker and Russell of .£IO,OOO in 18G7 for services in connection with Government financial operations. As Mr fiargaville brought the notice up to the table, some words in an undertone passed between him and Major Atkinson, and each publicly complained of Iho other having used insulting language. The matter dropped. BIBLE HEADING IX SCHOOLS. Mr M. W. Green moved a long resolution calling on the Government to obtain through the Education Boards a return of the number of parents of children attending schools who were in favor of Bible reading in such schools. Mr Turnbull and Mr Fulton supported the motion, and Mr Joyce, Mr Shepherd, Mr Swanson, Mr I'etric, Mr Daniel, and Mr Whitaker strongly opposed it. Mr Green asked' for leave to withdraw his motion, but this was refused, and it was negatived on the voices. PAYMHNT OK ASYLTDr ATTENDANTS. Mr O'Callaghan moved resolutions in favour of increasing the pay of attendants at lunatic asylums. Mr Dick was speaking in opposition to it when the House rose for dinner. ROADS THROUGH PRIVATE LANDS HILL. Mr Ivess moved the second reading of the Roads Through Private Lands Bill. Mr Rolleston considered the bill quite unnecessary, as the present law was sufficient. Mr Duncan, Sir George Grey, MrSutton, and Mr Joyce supported the bill, and it was read a second time. DR.UNAGE OF JUNES HILL. Mr J. C. Brown moved the second reading of the Drainage of Mines Bill, a transcript of the bill passed in the House but rejected in the Council last session. Mr Rolleston said the bill was a little more than a petition of the provisions of the Mines Act, and was quite unnecessary. Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Fergus opposed the bill, and Mr Pctrie objected to some of its provisions. Mr DuLautour and Sir OcorpfC Grey supported the measure, and it was read a second time, and referred to the Gold Fields Committee. OAM.ING AND LOTTERIES AMENDMENT HILL. Mr Shfuv moved the second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill. It proposed to prohibit papers from advertising sweeps, and to legalise private sweeps for not over 20s. when not conducted for profit. Mr Petri o, Mr Joyce, and Mr Bracken pointed out that if the New Zealand papers were not allowed to published the advertisements they would be published in the Australian papers and circulated in the colony. Mr Fulton, Mr Brycc, Mr Connolly, and Mr Hobbs objected to legalising any gambling on however small a scale. Mr Fish, Mr Pyke, atid others condemned the totalisator, and urged the repeal of the provision legalising its use. Mr Stewart supported the bill, and Mr Fergus defended the totalisator. Mr Fitzgerald opposed any alteration of the present law. On a division the bill was thrown out by 33 to 25. JUHIES AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Tolc moved the second reading of the Juries Act Amendment Bill, to abolish grand jurors and provide better pay for common jurors in civil cases. Mr Conolly opposed the State paying common jurors in civil cases, and was doubtful as to the expediency of abolishing grand juries. Mr FitzGerald, Mr Holmes, Mr Fulton, Colonel Trimble, Mr Joyce, and Mr Fish condemned the grand jury system. The bill was read a second time. RAILWAY AND OTHER EMPLOYEES BILL. Mr Scddon moved the second reading of the Railway and Other Employees Bill, explaining its provisions at length. Mr Johnston opposed it, saying, instead of providing permanently for workmen in railway shops, he would like to see the Government workshop* done away with, and the work given to private firms. Mr Joyce, Mr Bracken, Mr Levcstam, Mr White, Sir George Grey, Mr Holmes, Mr Feldwick, and Major Harris supported the bill generally, although several indicated alterations were required iv committee. On a division the second reading was carried by 22 to 14. The House rose at 1.10.