GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 693, 30 July 1875, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

0 (From our Exchanges.) His Excellency the Governor opened Parliament on the 20th instant, with the usual ■ceremonies, and deliver-ad his inaugural address. Mr Richmond, C.8., was appointed 'Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council; and Mr O’Rorke Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives. On the motion for appointing a Goldfields Committee, Mr O’Conor called attention to the unwise practice of the Government in making the Committees up of so few members. The result had been and must necessarily continue to ho that very little business was done. Mr T. L. Shepherd denied the truth of the remarks by the last speaker. He would be happy to vacate his position in favor of the last speaker if he wished it, because his experience of that Committee convinced him it was no use to the country.

Mr Ingles moved tho address in reply, and Mr May seconded. .There appears to bo no misunderstanding as to tho moaning of tno Governor’s speech re. abolition of Provinces. Tho Government will ask the House to go further than last year’s resolution. Tho Government Bill provides for total abolition of tho Provinces ; that Road Boards and Municipalities aro substantially endowed, and that the land fund will bo left to open up tho country and introduce population. Papers and correspondence were laid before tho House and read, relative to the Homo Agency, Mr Vogel’s detention in England, and tho four million loan. Tho Pollution of Rivers Hill was introduced by Mr T. L. Shepherd, and road a first time. Mi Pyko asked the Colonial Treasurer what amount of money was at present lying ing in the Bank of New Zealand and its agencies, to tho credit of tho Government, and what rates of interest was being paid by tho Bank of Now Zealand thereupon. Mr Morvyn obtained leave to introduce a Bill entitled The Gold Fields Act Amendment Bill, No. 2. The object of the Bill was, he said, to fix tho amount of compensation to bo paid to pastoral tenants when deprived of their holdings for goldfields purposes. The Bill was rea l a first time, and the second reading was fixed for next Wednesday. In the Legislative Council the Address was carried nem con. In tho Assembly discussion lasted fin it till the 23rd, when Mr M’Glashan said the only object of the Opposition opposing tho Address was merely delay. They were anxious to wait another Parliament, but could assure them the fcelingagainst Provincialism (those nasty, dirty, petty Parliaments) was gaining ground every day, and that, if relegated to another Parliament, tho majority would bo still greater. On the evening of the 23rd tho Daily Times Wellington correspondent telegraphs to that paper and says : -The debate on tho Address will be prolonged over this week to allow of tho arrival of Messrs Macandrew, Reid, and Reader Wood, when a canons will be held to decide on the tactics of the Opposition. Sir Georgo Grey will speak after dinner. It is expected that ho will make a long and important speech. The Loan papers seem to have created a strong impression decidedly unfavorable to Sir Julius Vogel, even amongst Government supporters. On the resumption of Jd'o debate on Friday night, the 25th inst., Sir George Grey reminded the House this was the momentous period in the history of the Colony, and measures were about to he introduced affecting the welfare of tho whole of New Zealand. Therefore, he demanded as a right that they should have time to consider those questions, and look into the Address before its adoption. It was clear an alteration of the Constitution was intended, and he thought a new Representation Act was to he introduced. Was that so ? Sir Donald M ‘Lean : The Government intend to do so. Sir George Grey then spoke at great length, followed by Sir D. M‘Lcan, Mr Fitzherbert, Mr Stafford, Mr Bowen, and Mr Rolleston,. after which the Address was carried on the voices. Sir D. M‘Le..n announced that the Financial Statement would be brought down next week, and on that Tuesday, to which day the House was adjourned, he would name tho dav.