GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 755, 6 October 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From our Exchanges.) Wrllisotok, September 26. All that was done last night on going into Ci'iihmittee was purely formal, being merely the substitution of the amended Counties Bill for the original one. To-day, however, the House has got fairly at work at the Bill, but no great progress has yetbeen made. Yhe Financial Arrangements Bill will not be ready till about Friday.

The Provincial Appropriations Extension Bill will extend the present appropriations to some time in December, so that the Counties may. get to work, but tbo date of Abolition coming into effect will not, it is now said, be postponed at all. Even amongst Government supporters the Counties Bill is regarded with disappointment, and no-great favor. 7he Boundaries Schedule is not yet published.

September 27.

The Provincial Appropriations Extension Bill is a very short one, ski*.ply providing that, subject to any legislation during the present session, the provisions of the Provincial Appropriations Extension Act, 1875, shall continue in force until the Ist December. It comes on for reading a second time to-night, and will probably occasion a good deal of discussion. Probably an effort will will be mule to extend the existence of the Provinces to the end of the year also. The following are the two new clauses introduced into this ‘bill : All revenues nocruing in any Provincial district, which, if the Abolition of Provinces Act, 1875, had not been passed, would have been Provincial revenues, shall be issued ami applied until the 31st day of December riext, as provided by an Act or Ordinance, the operation Of which is extended by this Act from and after the date on which the Abolition of Provinces Act, 1875, takes effect, and until the 31st day of December. The Governor may continue and carry on in any Provincial district the services, or such parts thereof as he may see fit, of the Provincial Government existing in the Province at thedate of its Abolition, For the purpose of giving eff-ct to'this enactment, the Governor may by warrant undrr his hand from time to time empower such person as he may think lit to issue any instrument, warrant, or authority that may be necessary under any law or ordinance which may be affected by the creation of this Act.

Some 34 clauses of the County Bill were got through last night, one nr two being ■pos p-med. A great number of amendments wore proposed, and there were several divisions, hut the only important, amendments made were in clause 14, where the number of electors required to petition to bo created a new county was altered from one-third to one-half.

The Government announced, in reply to a question, that they would oppose, the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, intended for Sraythics’ relief, in all its stages. Mr Pyke is introducing a Bill to repeal tho Act passed at Shepherd's instance last year to deal with the question of river pollution by gold mining operations. The Rill will bo opposed by several goldfields members.

Sir George Grey’s Triennial Parliaments Bill simply provides that unless previously dissolved, each House of Representatives shall exist for three years and no longer.

September 28. Mr Pyke to-day gave notice of motion for a vote of L2OG for a flying survey of tho Clutha nver, with the view of improving tho navigation.

There is great excitement amongst members over an article in tho Timaru Herald, supposed to have been written by Mr Wako -

field, on the payment of members question. Boma suggested expelling Mr Wakefield from the House, others that he should be horsewhipped, while some thought the matter unworthy of serious notice. " Ultimately, it was decided to take the advice of the Speakers, and the meeting adjourned till to-morrow, to enable this to bo done. The majo-ity of the Harbour Board Bills are pronounced by the Private Bills Committee to contain clauses bringing them within the definition 'of private Bills. If these clauses are excised, the Bills . can be proceeded with. Notice to introduce them in an amended form its accordingly been given by moat of the members interested, and the Government has promised to give facilities for getting them in a good position on the Order Paper. Mr Pyke is to-morrow going to give notice of motion that members who voted against the honorarium should not receive it. Sir _J. Vogel is too ill to leave to-morrow. ■lf possible, he will leave for Sydnsy next week, and go on via San Francisco instead of via Suez.

The Hon. Mr Fox has a majority over Mr Morgan in tho different polling places. According to the returns in, Mr Fox has 232 votes and Mr Morgan 154. Mr Fox is certain of return by a large majority. September 29. The whole afternoon was occupied with the privilege case. The feeling amongst members! is very strong, and is aggravated by an article in the Titnaru Herald, of the 27th, about Mr Joyce. A large number of members attended the meeting to-day. The resolution to bring it before tho House was moved by Sir -'Robert Douglas. Mr J. C. Brown "moved an amendment, expressing contempt for the writer, and an opinion that it he was a member he should be expelled ; but this was withdrawn. The matter is not, however, likely to drop. It was stated at the meeting that -Mr Wakefield had admitted writing the article, and was willing to make a kind of apology. The Counties Bill is to be pressed on tonight.

The Financial A’rangements Bill is not to come down till the ‘Counties Bill is through. September 30. The House continued nearly all night upon the Counties Bill. The miner's right franchise was carried by 51 against 14.

ft was agreed by 54 to 18 that the county chairman should be elected by the ratepayers.

Sir George Grey made ap attempt for manhood suffrage, but avis defeated by 42 against 11.

At clause 53 progress was reported. Before the adjournment of the House last night, Mr Wakefield asked permission to make a statement. Ho accepted the responsibility of the articles which appeared in the Timaru Herald, and expressed regret for them. He had himself suffered' from most unfair accusations from the J?rftss, and he trusted the present occurrence would tend to prevent a treatment of members of the House by the PiWa that' a’raoofa amounted to intimidation. For himself, he withdrew all imputations in the articles without qualification. He bitterly regretted them, and threw himself on the generosity of the House. After some discussion, Mr Joyce, the member who might have felt most aggrieved at the article in the Timaru Herald, said that in view of the manner in which the House had taken up the case and expressed itself, the apology of Mr Wakefield quite satisfied him. Except as regarded the honor of the House, he had no feelings of irritation to soothe.

Mr Whitaker proposed that the apology be accepted, and that the order made in reference to the matter he discharged. Mr Rees seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.

The Speaker said the way the House had had accepted Mr Wakefield’s apology did infinite credit to the members.

The House adjourned at 2.15 am. October 2. To-day all the Harbour Board Bills were read a second time.

The rest of the sitting was spent over the Counties Bill, which will he proceeded with to-night. The boundary maps and descriptions are not yet circulated. The following is, however, a correct list of the Otago and and Canterbury Counties Fiord, Wallace, Southland, Clutha, Tuapeka, Bruce, Lakeland, Molyneux, Maniototo. Taieri, Waitaki Waikouaiti, and Peninsula. Canterbury Counties - Waimate, Geraldine, Ashburton, Courtenay, Akaroa, and Ashley.