GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 750, 1 September 1876, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From our Exchanges. ) Wellington, August 22. The collapse of the Counties Bill debate was rather a surprise. No doubt it was a good deal owing to the Auckland row. Mr Macandrew made an excellent speech from a purely Otago point of view. The question now is whether the boundaries shall bo referred to Committees of each Island, or to Committees of each Province, It is said that the Government has been considering the Agency General, that Sir J. Vogel will take the office, Mr Stafford already having been communicated with as to the Premiership. Aug. 23. A good deal of discussion took place as to how the committee to define the county boundaries for the South Island should bo formed. It was proposed that nine select committees should be appointed to decide upon the subdivision into counties of the nine different provincial divisions of the Colony, but this was opposed by the Government, who were afraid, under this arrangement small sections of country would be out-voted by larger ones, and probably made to join their districts to others against their wish. The question was eventually adjourned till this day week.

The House went into Committee upon the Municipal Bill, and went through the remaining clauses when progress was reported. The schedules are to be considered on Friday. The Rating Bill was similarly dealt with.

The rest of the sitting was in Committee upon the Building Societies Bill. All the clauses were gone through, the only alterations being that in clause 3, the Registrars of Joint Stock Companies are to be Registrars of Building Societies.

Aug. 24. The caucus of the Otago Members to-day was attended by all who were here, except the honorable Mr G. M'Lean. It was convened by Mr Donald Reid to consider the proposed new County boundaries. Mr Reid was desirous to have the province divided into two great Counties. Mr Maoandrew thought it should be one County with a Board of Works. Mr Hodgkinson refused to entertain the County idea at all. Others wanted three Counties. Mr Pyke and a few wanted five Counties, but ultimately offered to agree to four. Northern, Eastern, Southern and Interior. No definite decision, however, was arrived at, but probably another meeting will be held, and either three or four Counties will be agreed to. Aug. 26. Mr Haughton has resigned his appointment of Under-Secretary for Goldfields, and left for England per Arawata yesterday. The Eating Bill has passed its final stage. Mines and mining property are exempted until gold duty is reduced below eighteen-pence. Mrf Stout opposed strongly the exemption of churches, ministers’ residences, and religious institutions, but was defeated on all.

The whole of Friday’s evening sitting was occupied in discussing the postponed and new clauses of the Eating Bill. A number of divisions were taken on amendments proposed, but few of them were carried. The recommittal of the Bill was obtained in order to strike out from the exemption clauses the dwellings of officiating ministers of religion. An attempt was also made to exempt libraries, athenaeums, museums, mechanics institutes, Masonic, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars’ halls, but it was defeated on Mr Stout’s motion. Colleges and universities were exempted from rating. Sir Julius Vogel announces his ministerial arrangemer ts on Tuesday. Mr Stafford will not take office. He would not get a majority. Mr Ormond is in the same position. The new proposal is to let Mr Fitzherbert form a Ministry, with Mr Kolleston as Speaker.

Aug. 26. Mr Fitzherbert declines the Premiership.

Mr Stafford is being tried again. Sir J. Vogel is in difficulty as 20 Government supporters, and about 25 Oppositionists oppose coalition. If Otago remains firm, she may yet get a Board of Works. Great efforts are being made to detach some of the Oppositionists, but without avail. Aug. 28.

Stafford again declines the Premiership. Sir J. Vogel leaves, and the Ministry will be constructed as last session, with either Pollen or Atkinson as Premier. The Ministry will not stand. The session is to be over very soon.

Mozart’s Skull.—lt is said that the skull of Mozart has been discovered in possession of Professor Hartyl, at Vienna. This gentleman, indeed, knew very well what kind of a treasure he kept under a glass case in his study ; but the public had supposed the musician’s head to be resting with his body in that grave which will never be identified in the cemetery of St. Marx. M. Hartyl, who is an Aulice Councillor, received the legacy from his brother, who had bought it from the sexton. Mozart was buried in the common fosse—" the third of the first layer," as the man used to say. After some years, according to custom, the grave was opened. The sexton, meanwhile, had learned how illustrious was the corpse so carelessly interred and he stole the head. It has passed only through three hands.

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