GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 757, 20 October 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From our Exchanges.) Wellington - , October 10. Tha financial debate really commenced this afternoon when, on the motion for going into Supply, Mr Montgomery made a long and very excellent speech, in which he strongly urged reductions in the Estimates. Ha was followed by Mr Stout, who Mas speaking when the dinner hour arrived. Messrs Stout, Reader Woo l, and Seaton intend to return home this week, and a great many others say they will not stay boyemd tha next week. The Council baa thrown out the Forests Act Repeal Bill, the Government promising to terminate Captain Walker’s engagement at the end ot the year, and not incur any further expenditure under the Act. In the course of the unexpected and lenghcnel debate which occurred on the •third reading of the Counties Bill, Sir O. Grey intimated that within the next few days representation should bo made to the Ho ne Government which would cause very important instructions to be issued to the Governor, very different from those he now acted under, and that within the next few months a statesman would bo sent whom posterity would applaud and subsequent history render immortal. October 11th. The debate on finance last night was dis. appointing. Mr Stevens made the best speech. The Hon. Mr M'Lean entered very fully into the effect Abolition would have on Otago.

To-day the financial discussion has been renewed, hut tho House was thin, and the debate flat.

Tho Hon. Mr Whitaker is going to move that the San Francisco contract be modified by a direct line being arranged from dan Francisco to Sydney, railing at Honolu-

lu and Auckland, tho coastal service to bo performed by tho Company with ten knot boats approved by the Government, and the New Zealand subsidy to bo reduced at least L 7500 per annum.

Tho lion. Mr George M'Loan, after quoting the printed figures as to the effect of Abolition on Otago, added additional figures regarding the railway revenue of the Province. Taking the estimated receipts and expenditure of the current year, as given by the Provincial authorities Estimated receipts for the year, L 170.400; expenditure, L 105.900; leaving a balance of LG4.500 with which to piiy interest oh • following amounts Expended on Otago railways to 30th Juno last, L 1,739,900, and liabilities in respect to same, *L423,000; total,'L2,lfi3,loo. As it might be unfairto calcu’ate theinterest on liabilities he loft them out, although LI 10,000 had been pai l since June. Interest at 6 per cent, on L 1,739,900 was L 104,394 from which deduct balance of receipts over expenditure,- L 64.500, leaving a loss of L 39.894 now chargeable against land fund, and would probably be more next year. This showed plainly that the loss on the railways was really a large one, instead of their being a profit to take away, and was a sufficient answer to tho remarks of Messrs Stout and M.acandrew in the Dunedin meeting. In roplj to some observations of Mr Stout’s, Mr M ‘Loan said that as to re letting the runs, the Counties, knowing that they would get every penny of the rent above the amounts charge,V lo against the land fund, would ho able to bring even greater pressure to bear on the Waste Lands Board to obtain the highest rent, that could not be brought to bear upon tho Provincial authorities. Not a penny of tho pastoral rents or' any of the land revenue would go into the Colonial Treasury.

The estitahtes will be fought over fiercely. There appears no chance of getting away for another month or six weeks. We may probably have another Stonewall de' ate.

The Ministry seem weak, and many Government spd&ters (sic) are wanting in allegiance.

October 12, The financial debate last night was not particularly interesting. On the Geological Department Estimates, there was a good deal of debate. Mr W. Wood suggested the removal of the department to Dunedin. A number of members urged that the Museum should be charged locally, as other Museums are, and the Government promised to consider the matter.

To-day, Mr Burn’s motion- to telegraph Home to stop the appointment ol a I’rison Inspector -was lost by a majority'of one. Several members of the Opposition were out at the back playing lawn tennis when the bell rang. Sir G. Grey went out and waved to them, but he stayed too long, and he and Messrs Rees, Hamlin, and Lusk had the door just shut in their faces. Sir G. Grey’s Noxious Animals Prohibition Bill repeals section 29 of the Protection of Animals Act, 13G7, and, in lieu thereof, provides it shall not be lawful for any person to introduce any fox, polecat, stoat, weazel, venomous reptiles, hawk, vulture, or other bird of prey, into the Colony ; or to lioerate or allow to go at large, any polecat, stoat, weazel, venomous reptiees, hawk' vulture, or other bird of prey which may have been already introduced ; or to have any fox, polecat, stoat, weazel, venomous reptile, hawk, vulture, or other bird of prey not indigenous to the Colony, in his possession. And every person offending against any of the above provisions shall be liable on conviction before any two Justices of the Peace to a penalty not exceeding LIOO ; and, in default of payment, to be imprisoned for a period of not more than six months. October 13. The House sat till 20 minutes to 5 this morning, and managed to get thrdugh and pass the 16 Harbour Board Bills. It seems now the regular custom to get up a kind of outside discussion on some-

thing or other to waste the afternoon sitting This afternoon has entirely been taken up with discussing a motion for adjournment, proposed by Sir G. Grey, in order to allow of the Governor's dispatch being considered. That dispatch is generally regarded as a terribly severe one, and Sir G. Grey seems much cut up by it. He betrayed considerable emotion when speaking on the subject to-day. The discussion will probably go on for some time longer. The reference to Mr Dargavillc and his letter are generally regarded as mistakes, and the weakest part of the despatch. The feeling between the parties is getting very bitter. Some surprise is expressed that this dispatch should have been produced at this particular time, after having been kept back so long. October 14. Strong hopes are now entertained that another fortnight will end the session. The Council seems .inclined to work, and evidently the Lower House is getting tired of mere talk and useless postponement. Last night, Sir G Grey’s appeal for further delays on the estimates elicited strong expressions of disapproval from Messrs Sheehan, Swanson, and other ‘prominent members of his own party, and he had to give wav. The latter portion olthe debate on the Governor's desp itch w;as not remarkable. Sir G. Grey made a second long speech, in which he made a forcible,appeal to the House.- to

declare its disbelief in the charges against him. Notwithstanding this, Mr Do Latour’s amendment was lost by nine. When the Speaker announce 1 the numbers he was understood to say, ayes 24, noea 25 Sir G. Grey and the Opposition thought they had won. and began to applaud, but speedily found the numbers to he 34 to 25. Sir G, Grey seems to, have really been shocked with the despatch, and he exhibited milch emotion last night. October 16. The whole afternoon was spout over tho Estimates.

Sir G. Grey is going to move that making charges against members without their

knowledge is a broach of privilege ; and also, that a sura of LSOOO chargeable against Otago, be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, to test the validity Of tho Abolition Act in a Court of Law. Over both these motions long and bitter debates may bo expected. Some members talk of the session ending next week, but tho best informed think tho first week in November the earliest probable date.

The Argus, alluding to the fact that the Hon. Mr Whitaker is to bo tho Resident Minister in Auckland, tho Hon. Mr G. M‘Lean in Otago, and the Hon. Mr Ihwen in Canterbury, strongly condemns any such proceeding. It says if Resilient Ministers are wanted in the Provinces, it is a clear proof that the country is hut ripe for Abolition ; and that if any power is wanted between the General Government as a whole and the local governing bodies, it would prefer the Superintendents, their Executives, and Provincial Councils, to individual members Of the Ministry residing during tho recess in a Province.

In the Legislative Council to day in Committee on the Counties Bill, the Hon. Mr Hall moved the excision of clauses 54 to 59, and insertion of new clauses providing that the Council shall, at its first meeting, elect one of its members as Chairman, and pro viding for his resignation, &c. The s>x clauses were struck Oht, and tho new clauses wore under discussion at adjournment.