GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 759, 3 November 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From our Exchanges.) Wellington, October 25. Last night was taken up with the Waste Lands Bill, ami this afternoon chiefly with the Public Woiks Bill. The Coroners kill, the Lotteries Bill, and others, have been discharged from the paper. The Council’s amendments in the Counties Bill are to be considered by the House on Friday. It is said the Government will support the proposal to be made on going into Supply to give Mr Macandrew LSOOO in land as compensation for loss of office by Abolition. The Government intends to consult the Acclimatisation Societies, and if found available when the House meets next year to ask for power to commence the season for killing heres earlier, and also to extend the time. In the Dunedin Harbour Board’s Bill, the Council has introduced a clause forbidding members 6f the Board being paid. The Hon. Mr Whitaker wanted the House to agree to this, but Mr Burns moved that it be disagreed with, and a conference will take place. The report of the Public Accounts Committee oil the expenses of Sir J. Vogel’s two missions t6 Europe, was brought up. 1c showed that the cost of one mission was over LSOOO, and the other over L3OOO, exclusive of salary and other charges, wfeich would make a total cost of about Li 2,500. October 26. Sir George Grey moved the second reading df the Provincial Abolition Permissive Bill in a speech which was chiefly a repetition of what he had already sai'ti on different occasions. Mr MamWs characterised the speech as a wild declamation,—quite unworthy of the man,—and he hoped the Ministry would not reply to such a speech. The second Heading was negatived by 36 against 20. A good deal of discussion ensued Oh the Civil List Act Amendment Bill. It provides for the salary of a Minister for Education. Messrs Sheehan and Brandon took exception to any more Ministers being appointed ; at any rate just then. Dr Henry, Messrs Wflolcock, and Barff thought that if another Minister was to be appointed he should boa Minister of Mines. The Premier and the Postmaster-General pointed out that in consequence of the Abolition changes the work on Ministers would bo in increased one third, and they were afraid It would not bo carried out satisfactorily without another Minister was appointed. Other members having spoken against it, the Premier asked that progress bo reported, with a view of not proceeding farther with the Bill. Progress was accordingly reported.

i The Premier stated that tho Government expected tho whole of vho business would bo got through by Saturday evening. Perhaps i all tho measures would nob bo absolutely passed by tho Legislative Council, But it would lie known in what state the Bi is would bo passed. Members might therefore leave on Saturday oveing ; and to that end the Government would dotgiu the two steamers hailing North and South until midnight, if necessary; October 27. The appointment of Sir Julius Vogel to be Agent-General for tho Colony appears In the Gazette, the appointment dating from the 9th of September last. It really seems very doubtful whether the prorogation will be possible so soon as expected, The Council is cutting up the Waste Lanls Bill so as to reduce it merely to providing administrative machinery. The whole o{ the deferred payment clauses have already been struck out. It is considered prohal Jo that tho Canter bury run clause will bo re-introduced by the Coufteil. On this ih’ere was a row in the House to-day. ’f ire Hon. Major Atkinson moved that the House on rising should nd journ till 11 t i-morrow morning, saying he hoped to get business through to-night, s ■ that ’Conferences might be arranged to marrow-, and members go home in the even ing, the prorogation taking place as sooll at the Bills were ready. The Hon. Mi Reynolds asked a pledge that no hew business would be done after the apprdnri ation Act was passed. Mr Sheehan ex plained this to mean that a rumor was Current that it was intended to re-insert tin clauses about tile Canteibury runs in tin Waste Lands Bill. The Hon. Maj r Atkin son said the Government would take no action in the matter ; but, if the Council re inserted these clauses, the Goveimmen would, ■when the Bill came back, ask tin House to agree to them. On this a ven warm debate took place. Tho Hon. M: Reynolds said, if the Government did this’ 1 he would oppose them ou every point, and even support a vote of want of cnnfidencr. Mr Rees made a very violent speech, accus ing the Government of acting falsely aid dishonorably, saying they had agreed t abide hy the decision of the House on th clauses the other night. Ministers deniei this blank, and Mr Rees said they wouh not venture to make affidavit to the trull of theit statement as to the 1 avgain made Sir G. ■ Grey said if the Government ha' not a majority to carry the bill through tin Council they should resign. Messrs Ece-, Reynolds, Hamlin, Do Lautour, and others said they would remain here six month longer rather than allow these clai S:s to Le passed. Mr Rees said this explained t’n reason why the Canterbury members ha supported the Government during the session. Mr Rolleston said the decision tin other night had been snatched, and a grea wrong done to Canteibury. The Hon. Mi Bowen thought that a great injustice ha been done. ntimately ‘the debate was adjourned till this evening, when it will pro bably be revived with great bitterness, and a row take place. The Supplementary Estimates are not yet down. There wiU bo a row over many ol the items. The Government consented ti shelve the Civil List Act last night, which proposed to allow a new Minister holding the Portfolio of Education, as th ;y found hj would not pass. The House has disagreed to the Council’s amendments in the Counties Bill, fixing the minimum size and population of Counties, and making the Chairman elected by the Council instead of the County, and disqualifying Chairmen from sitting iu Parlia ment. Ths other amendments are being Considered now.