NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

Dunstan Times, Issue 373, 18 June 1869, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

( Condensed from Hansard.)

The fourth Session of the fourth Parliament of New Zealand met on Tuesday, the Ist inst. The Parliament was opened by commission, hi i Excellency the Governor not being present. The honorable the Speaker read the Governor’s speech, which treated on the Native question, financial affairs, and the goldfields in the North Island. The list of new members was read, and the following then took the usual oaths and their seats :—Mr. T. Birch, for Dunedin ; Mr. R. J. Creighton, for Newton ; Mr. N. T Edwards, for Nelson ; Mr. Farnall, for Northern Division ; Mr. Munro, for Marsden ; Mr. Rich, for Waikouaiti; and Mr. Stafford, for Timaru. The House then adjourned till the following day. Wednesday, June 2. The Speaker took the chair at 3 o’clock. A letter was read from the speaker of the House of Commons, to the effect that a copy of the Journal of the House of Commons had been handed to Mr. Morrison, the agent of the colony - Mr. Edwards moved the address in reply. Mr. Cracroft Wilson, Mr. Potts, and Mr. Fox all spoke on the speech. Ultimately, on the motion of Mr. Edwards, a Committee was appointed to draw up an address to be presented to his Excellency the Governor. Thursday, June 3. On the motion of Mr. Carleton, the following Committees were appointed. Standing Orders Committee, House Committee, Library Committee, Committee of Selection, and Private Bills Committee. Mr. Hall moved that a Solent Committee be appointed to inquire into and report upon the steam mail services, with a view of providing efficient Communication between New Zealand, the Australian Colonies and Europe. Mr. Farmer said that a subject that might very proverly come under the consideration of the House was one which he had recently seen discussed in some of the newspapers, ■ namely, the expediency of establishing steam communication between New Zealand, Queensland, and Singapore, so as to give them the advantage of the fortnightly communication now carried on by the Peninsular and Oriental Company with China and India. They would thus be connecting the colony with Singapore, and with the telegraphic communication which was sure to be established at a very early period with Europe. It was important that communication with Queensland should be increased, because it was, not a grain - producing country, and useful exchanges could be ma le between the two colonies. Mr. Vogel said the honorable [member who spoke last had made reference to a sub ject which he thought was one of the most importance to New Zealand, and he’ hoped the honorable member w-ould allow him to supplement the remarks he had made. Ho would state how* this proposal had arisen. An eminent colonist of Queensland, Mr. R. Tooth, while in Canterbury a short time back, made a suggestion that the Colonies of New Zealand and Queensland together, could establish a direct mail service with England, cheaper and more efficient than any other service, and which would also have the advantage of bringing into communication, colonies whose trade interests did not in the least conflict, and which might assist each other a great deal. Queensland grew no grain and New Zealand yields no tropical produce, Mr. Tooth left in his hands a series of notes, pointing out the ad vantages of this proposed route, and proceeded back to Queensland to bring the matter under the notice of the Queensland Government, with the view of endeavoring to induce the New Zealand Government to co-operate incarryingout thesorvice, which according to Mr. Tooth's opinion, would Cost these Colonics very little more than £1,200 a month each, less the contributions which would be received from other colonies. He might say also, he had reason to believe, from what took place in Melbourne two years ago, that the Government of Java would very willingly subscribe towards the service, and he had every reason to suppose that the Government of New Caledonia would do the same. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Creighton, and Mr. Hall spoke to the motion, and it was agreed to. Mr. Stafford, in reply to a question from Mr. Farmer, as to whether the Government intended bringing in a Bill to regulate the escort duty on gold, said that, up to the present time,- the Government had not pre- £ pared a Bill on the subject, but that they would be happy to receive any suggestions which would enable the desired result to be . arrived at.

Mr. Fanner believed that the banks in Acukland had taken up the matter, and intended to prepare a Bill, which would probably be sont down in the course of a few days.