PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2657, 23 August 1871, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, August IT. NORTH DUNEDIN CEMETERY.

Mr. Macandrew moved for leave to introduce a bill to appropriate a certain portion of the Town Belt of Dunedin to and for the purpose of a public cemetery ; and to empower the Council of the City of Dunedin to manage the same. The Speaker roferre I to the want of uniformity in the regulations obthc two Houses on the subject of private bids, as a matter of difficulty in connection with a bill such its that proposed Mr Macandrew contended that the bill was, in every sense, a j üblic one. Mr Reyno d thought it must be considered as a private bill, and the only question was whether the proper notices bad been given. Mr Gillies supported the view that it was a public bill. Mr Stafford viewed the motion with anxiety and suspicion, anil hoped, that it might not be - taken as a precedent. He thought the citizens of Dunedin, as well as of other cities in the colony, were open to a very grave ch irge for permitting the existence of cemeteries at their very doors, and he thought the House should be careful in doing anything thatf-would perpetuate the system. He felt so strohgly’on the question that, if the Government did not take it up, he was disposed to bring in a bill to prevent any ground for cemeteries being taken iij) within towns. He could not approve, either, of public recreation grounds being taken for cemeteries on the assumption that private property was not affected. There con’d be no greater depreciation of property than to plac * a cemetery alongside it. Sir D. Monro hesitated to support a measure which might inflict serious injury on private individuals, without their having an opportunity of representing how their interests were affected. The House ought to evidence that those persons whose property was calculator]. to be a (footer] knew that proceedings were being taken, auc] either approve 1 or disapproved • f them. Mr M'Lean believed that there was no feeling of opposition, hut recommended the lion, member intro lucing the bill to give time in passing it through its various stages in the House Mr T. L. Shepherd would determinedly oppose any alienation of such a public reserve as the Dunedin town belt Mr Macandrew said he had no desire to to push the bill through the House; aud leave was granted for its introduction. TUB CHINESE IN OTAdO Mr Haughton asked the lion the Premier whether the attention of the Government had been directed to the large immigration of Chinese in the province of Otago, aud the probable results of such immigration upon the permanent settlement of the country. Mr Fox said he enthl un.wer by a simple negative. Trie Government had received no official communication on the matter up to the present time. If they-did receive any such communication they would take some action upon it. TEIiBHIUPH UXTKNSrON. Mr Mervyn asked the Government whether there was any probability of the line of telegraph being extended at an early date from Naseby to Alexandra or Clyde? His object in asking the question was to know whether the answer given to the same question by the Hon. Mr Vogel list session was intended to be carried out. Since that time no steps had been taken to extend the line to the towmhips named, and since the opening of the line to Naseby the amount of basiue-is had so increaacd as to justify tho extension Alexandra.

Mi*. Gisborne said be was not certain should be necessary to extend the way asked for by the hon. membli? HS not aware that the Telegraph Commissioner had given any such promise as that mentioned by the hon. member. The Telegraph Manager had informed the Go* -verhment that it would not be advisable to extend the line as suggested by the hon. member, Mr Gisbu-ne read that portion of the manager’s report bearing on the subject. The expense would amount to some L2OOO, and ho thought it undesirable to incur such anexpenditure at present, but he would br.ng the matter under the notice of Mr Sewell.