PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 805, 21 September 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

—o ' ’ (Condensed from our Exchanges.) Wellington, Sept. 11. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, Mr Holmes asked (1) why the leases of Runs 1, 2x, 6, 7, 22, and' 23, Wakatipu, were allowed to be surrendered by solvent holders and resold to the same parties at i mudii reduced rental. (2) Why the rents of the Wdkatipu runs haVo been Allowed to become so'much in arrear. (3) 'What stops are being taken to recover such arrears of rent. (4) Are the members Of the Waste Lands Board personally responsible for any losses that may bo sustained by the State through their not enforcing the provisions of the Waste “Land Act, 1862. At present ’ ho was not able 'to answer the question whether members of the Waste Lands Board were personally responsible for any loss sustained by the State through their not enforcing the provisions of the Waste Lands Act, 1862. Messrs Ballance and Bryce voting with the Government last night, caused some surprise—‘Carrington, Joyce, Murray, and Rowe, did not vote at *ll Williams, by some '-mistake, voted with the Ayes. The Government are very jubilant over their victory, and say they will have a larger majority, in case of a direct attack. They are evidently prepared to bid high for support. 0a the Education Bill there was a long talk in Committee regarding the deduc- ■ tioa of proceeds of reserves from capitation. Stout, Maoandrew, Holiest on, and a' few ‘Otago and Canterbury members,'and Gisborne, fought hard against. it, hut the Northern members supported the Government. Mr Stout moved an amendment which would have localised all existing reserves and endowments, without any deduction on their account, but his case was hopeless. Reid, M‘Lean, and Lnmaden, were the only Otago men who voted against him, the Canterbury men were more equally divided, and Mr Macaadrew has strongly urged Mr Bowen to withdraw the Education Bill altogether, and simply provide funds for continuing the existing Provincial systems. Mr Larnaoh has given notice of a Bill to abolish the Otago Harbour Board, and transfer all its powers and property to the Dnnedin County Council. Sir G. Grey and Mr Res* spoke very temperately last night, and it is said they have solemnly promised to avoid all violent, rash, and ex-, travagant speeches for the. future. September 12. A meeting of the Otago members of both Houses, called by thq Hon, Mr Reynolds,, was held to-day to consider what action should be taken with regard to the education reserves. The greatest nnanimityptevailed. Messrs Richardson, Bell, Laraach, Macandrew, and Reynolds were appointed a Committee to negotiate with, the Government, and to report to, a.future meeting. . The want of confidence motion will probably be tabled this week. The division will be very close. One of the middle party will move it, and one of; the Grey party second it. Messrs Ballance and Bryce practically hold the issue in their hands, as their votes will give a majority either way. The Waste Lands Committee has.agreed to alter the’Waste Lauds Bin so far aS to secure 2o par cent, of, thp land fund in.each district, to'.the .rlooal ..goyesnihg-body for roadworks. Efforts arebeilig,made.to,in< duce Mr Reid to agree ■ to thi»."being. increased to 30 per cent,, and also that where; land is solid on deferred payment? this sum shall be a first charge, instead of being spread over the whole term of years. A meeting of the Otago members of both Houses was held to-day. and was largely attended. Its object was to -secure 25 per cent, of the ’Education .reserves being set apart for the endowment of secondary education. A resolution to this effect, seconded by Mr Stout, was unanimously agreed to. The discussion on the Education’ Bill last night was well described by Mr Minders as a kind of educational duel between Messrs Lusk and Stout. ’ They spoke unceasingly. It is very doubtful if ■ the Bill will ever get through. , September 13. In the House last evening, Mr Hoilgkinton fueved the seedhd reading of the Deceased Wif*VSister Marriage Bill. He quoted from Archbishop Tait, Bishop'of Ripon, Cardinal Wiseman, and others, to show that it was not opposed to the Bible ; and Bright and Gladstone to show that it would net prove socially injurious. Only prurient sentimentality gave weight to the objection that the Bill would destroy freedom ef intercourse ■ in families. He '

urged the House to let reason, justice, and humanity prevail against ignorance and prejudice Who was likely to inaku a hotter mother to children, or the bead of thovihousehold, than their aunt ? . Mr Wallis opposed tho Bill as a mischievous proposal, tending still turther to increase differences between English and New Zealand law. The (Bill proposed declared legal here what in England was illegal and immoral. ,It would tend to estrangement between tbe Colony and tho Mother Country, and destroy one of tho dearest Social relationships without-any compensating advantage resulting. It would place aunts in a false position, and have an injurious moral effect on the first wife's children ; would make wives Jjealous of sisters, and lead to impurity of thought and deed, and provoke domestic dissension ; and would pdt wives and sisters throughout tbe Colony in a cruelly false position to gratify a 'few lewd wantons. Why not legalise marriage with a husband’s brother ? thought the agitation here was duo principally to a number of pamphlets constantly sent l to-members'by{a{Sooiety at Homo, where a few wealthy people, interested in having such marriages legalised, spared no effort to attain tho object. On. a division, the second reading was carried by 41 to 23. The want-of-confidencc motion is postponed till Monday. East night was principally occupied in Committee on various motions. Mr Ormond 'made a very ungrateful partial apology to Sir George Grey to-day. The House resumed the debate on Mr Fyke’s motion for continuing long service pay to the Police, formerly granted by the Provincial Government. Mr Atkinson said an amount would be placed on the Supplementary Estimates. t The motion was withdrawn. To-day has been spent over the Education Bill, the progress of which through Committee is painfully slow. Messrs. Lusk, Stout, Gisborne, Rolloston, and Bowen, had almost all tbe talk to themselves. Nothing l definite has yet been settled regarding the'want of confidence motion, as several'members of the middle party are absenlj The Committee are, however, in daily communication with the Committee of Grey’s party, and probably, by Monday matters will have arranged themselves so as to allow action to be taken. Messrs Barff, J. E. Brown, -and Carrington had a narrow escape last night. The House did not adjourn till 1.10, and the night was fearfully squally and stormy. This morning’it was found that one of the large sheets ot plate glass, about 4ft square, and quarter of an inch thick, which form the lantern of the House had fallen right where these members sit. Had it fallen while-the House was sitting, it would certainly have killed somebody. To-day attention was drawn to tho matter, and some strong wire prelection is to be put up to prevent recurrence of euch an accident.