COLONIAL PARLIAMENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 329, 14 August 1868, Page 3

COLONIAL PARLIAMENT.

(A bridged from Hansard.) The opening of the third Session of the fourth New Zealand Parliament took place on the 9th ult. The chair was taken by tho 5 peaker, the Honorable Major llieliardson, at 2 o’clock. Shortly afterwards his Excellency the Governor entered thhc Chamber, and delivered to numbers of both Houses the opening speech. July 10.—After the various Cora mittees had been appointed, Mr Ball, in a ong speech, moved a resolution for the address in reply. Mr. I), lleid seconded the resolution. The debate on the reply lasted the whole of the I clay and part of the next, during which | time many members spoke at length. | Ultimately the address was agreed to. i Major Ileapy asked the Colonial Secretary if ic was tho intention of the Government this Session to intro- 1 duce a measure to erase the amount | of duty ou gold to be determined in j accordance with tho respective value 1 of the metals exported .Mr. Stafford ; replied that, most, likely, a Bill in that . direction would be submitted. The Postmaster General, in reply to , a question asked by Mr. Burns as to i whether the Government had any oh- 1 jection to permit the address and signature of telegraphic messages to pass free of charge, said he was not aware why addresses and signatures were charged ; but, as the Government had not the report of the telegraph department, lie must ask the honorable member to allow the question to stand over. July 14.—A Bill, intituled an Act for the Suppression of various Offences, was brought up and read a first time. duly 15.—Mr, Ttaughton withdrew Ins motion for leave to bring in a Bill with a view to tho reduction of the gold export duty. A Bill for the purpose, of preventing the evasion of tolls at roads and ferries was read a second time. July 16.—1n Committee of Supply 100,000/. was granted on account of the Public Service. July 21.—Tho Colonial Secretary moved that the House go into Com. mitten on the Troson Felony Bill, Mr C. O'Neil moved an amendment that the House go into Committee that day six months. He considered that it was a measure entirely unnecessary and uncalled for, and a slight upon the loyalty of New Zealand. It was a measure that had been suggested by the Secretary of the Colonics, he did not consider he had any right to interfere with the action of Colonial Parliaments. Tho motion was carried. On the question “ Honorarium to members in Committee.” Mr M‘Farmoved, That the Honorarium for present session be 10/- per day and that thereafter it cease. Mr. Burns suggested, That after this session the Honorarium be discontinued. A long debate ensued, in which nearly all the members joined, eventually the matter for the time was settled by a division on the question. That the Chairman do leave the Chair.—Ayes, 29, Noes, 20. July 23.—Mr. Mervyn asked the Colonial Secretary, why a return, which had been ordered last Session, of cases tried before the Magistrates and Wardens on the Goldfields had not been laid on the table. Mr. Stafford said that, he had really forgotten the matter, but that the return should be furnished as soon as possible. July 24.—Mr. I). Bell wished he- ■ fore proceeding to tho Orders of the

day, to ask 'what course was now taken with regard to the production of the "Hansard Reports'"! The fact was, the reports that had been sent to hini contained tuch unspeakable nonsense that he was surprised they should pretend to be reports of what had been said. After an explanation by Mr. Stafford, the Chairman of the Reporting Committee, and the Speaker, the subject dropped.