THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3265, 7 August 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Wellington, August 6. Mr Yogel said that a payment of L 15,000 was expected from Colonel Fielding, when lu,ooo acres would be conveyed to him. Mr Bathgate said the ad valorem duties were collected on the total invoice, and ten per added thereto. Mr J. E. Brown gave notice of motion that no San Francisco service would be satisfactory, unless Melbourne was the port of arrival in Victoria, and Wellington in New Zealand.

In reply to Mr Sheehan, Mr Richardson said that entirely new surveys had to be taken for the extension of the Kaipara Railway.

The following Bills were read a first time : —Bill to amend the law relating to the waste lands of that portion of Otago situate in the late Province of Southland; Port Chalmers Works Bill; Canterbury Public Library Bill; Arms Act, 1860, Amendment Bill; Floatage of Timber down Tidal Creeks and Rivers Bill; Raugitikei and Manawatu Crown Grants Bill. A return was ordered of the liabilities incurred under the Water Supply vote since June last. A return was also ordered of the amount of light dues collected in the Province of A uckland, and the amount expended on lighthouses in the same Province, Also a return of the protective and pre-emptive rights granted or refused in the Patea district to Europeans or half-castes, showing the claimants, and the sums of money or acres claimed.

Major Atkinson moved for a copy of the evidence taken at the late inquiry into the grounding of the s.s. Lady Bird at the Manukau Hoads, He said he had been informed that the captain was intoxicated at the time. It was the duty of the Government to see that those holding certificates were competent. No man who had once been drunk while on duty should hold a certificate. Pity was due to the passengers and sufferers, but not to the men in fault. —Mr Reynolds said that no charge had been laid agaiust the captain, and the Government were therefore unable to hold an inquiry, so that there was uo evidence to give. —Mr Hunter said that his experience proved inquiries to be useless, because nothing further was ever done. Many accidents had recently happened, all of which were the results of sheer carelessness. The only way to check this carelessness was by making an example of some one.—Major Atkinson said the House would be glad to hear the Government promise to make an investigation. If they did not do so, he would again trouble the House with the matter.—Mr Reynolds said the Government would inquire if they had power in the matter, and perhaps would ask the House for powers. —Bir J. 0. Wilson said that either the passengers had done a great wrong in depriving the captain of bis command, or the captain had done wrong to deserve it. There was a grave matter somewnere, and it dedemanded an ii quirp.— Mr Luckie said this matter was a proof of the; necessity for a Public Prosecutor,--Mr Stafford strongly supported Mr Hunter’s remarks. The Government should obtain power te act, if they did not have it at present.—Mr Sheehan said that he knew that an inquiry was promised to the passengers of the Lady Bird. The facts relating to her grounding could easily be authenticated. A Select Committee on the Prisons Bill was appointed. The petition of the Chancellor and ViceChancellor of the University of Otago, was ordered to be printed. Mr Steward moved the second reading of the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill. Mr U’Meill moved that it be read a second time that day six months.—Mr Vogel, as a private member, opposed the Bill. —The discussion was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. The report of the Government Amplifies Commissioner shews that L 13.976 have been added to the gross income of the department, exclusive of L 2,453. The claims amount to L 2,800, excepting a disputed claim of L' 2,000. The cost of management is decreasing. L 2.000 advanced to the department at the outset have been repaid during the year. The balance to the credit of the department on 36th June last was L36,§OL The total money received was 157,100. The insurances granted amounted to LI, 085,649, the endowments granted to L 6,500, and the annuities to L 950.

Mr Vogel has written to the Chief Secretary of Victoria to the following effect, under date August 2 “ Since the receipt of your last official communication, offering to allow New Zealand to use the Suez service upon the terms agreed to at the Conference, and the reply of this Government accepting the same, t have gathered fram the negotiations that, consequent upon the withdrawal of INew South wales and Queensland from the use of the Suez service, you feel that by carrying out the proposed Suez service on the basis indicated in youi letter, Victoria would be exposed to risk. New Zealand’s contribution on a correspondence basis not even covering the coat of the branch service, not to speak of the contribution in aid of Victoria’s payment to the contractors for the Suez line, such a contingency could only arise in case New Zealand committed itself to a Californian service. As long as New Zealand’contibAds tfo Send its fetters by way of Suez, thejre would be no "risk that' tfie|e would be wanting a considerable contribution towards the main line as well as the whole cost of the branch service. 1 understand what you propose is that there should bo a double arrangement—Victoria to have the use of a Californian service subsidised by New Zealand, And New Zealand

to have the use of a Suez service subsidised by Victoria. That New Zealand should, at its own cost, provide a branch service to connect with|the Galle line, and should undertake that its contribution toward the cost of the line should not be less than L 5.000 a-year. On the other hand, I understand Victoria to be willing to contribute a rateable proportion, based upon the correspondence, of the cost of a Californian service. and to undertake fhat that proportion shall not be leas than L 15,000. I hare to say it is not probable that we shall he able to arrange a Californian service, making a connection with Victoria, on such terms as would justify our accep ing from Victoria a contribution of L 15,000. I desire therefore, not positively to decline your offer, but to consider it separate from the arrangement to be made respecting a Suez service, and as not preventing us, should we find such a course desirable, from making other arrangements with respect to a Californian service ; but as to the Suez service, I have no objection to agree that our contribution in return, for the use of the Suez service, shall be not less than is sufficient to cover the cost of the branch service, and to leave L 5,000 a-year towards the cost of the main line. The cost of the branch service should be fixed at Ls,* 00. New Zealand to pay the excess. The agreement between the two Colonies would then stand thus 1.5,000 a year for the branch service to be added to the cost of the main line ; New Zealand to share in the cost in proportion to the correspondence sent by the line ; but undertaking that its contribution be not less than LIO,OOO a year, being L 5,000 for the branch service and L 5.000 for the main line. I am inclined to think it would be better to adhere to the Conference basis, rendering it easier to make np the amounts promptly ; hut if you prefer that the number of letters out and home should be taken together as the basis, we should be happy to entertain a proposal to that effect, it being of course understood that each Colony is to retain its own postages, and receive from the Imperial Government those collected in England, as offered by Lord Kimberley; any sums received from New South Wales and Queensland to be distributed pro rata amongst all the contributing Colonies. — Julius Vogel.” August 7. Mr Eqx moved the second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill, and in doing so dwelt on the evils of drinking habits. He said 500 persons died last year from excessive drinking, and to replace them with immigrants would cost L 50,000. The hon gentleman criticised the proposals of the Government to appoint licensing commissioners, and advocated the licensing power being in the hands of the people. He did not care for an Adulteration Act. Coculus indievs never sent a man home drunk, or made him heat his wife : the alcohol did it England had been 400 years tinkering her licensing laws, and yet last year’s amounts of liquor drunk showed an enormous increase upon the previous year. The argument that the Maine liquor law had broken down in America was bad. The permissive principle had never been tried there, but wherever if was tried it had been a perfect success. He read copious extracts from various authors, which met the arguments respecting any reduction of revenue following the adoption of the permissive system. He spoke for an hour and a-half. Mr Clark, Mick land, seconded.—Mr Bathgate advocated licensing being placed in the hands of Commissioners, and very heavy licensing fees —Mr Thomson opposed the Bill. —Mr Bunny supported the Bill and its prohibitory clauses. He said, if two-thirds of the population wished to shut up public-houses, they might do so Still, he did not believe those clauses would be operative. He liked the remainder of the Bill.—Mr Cuthbertsou, Katene, and Karai tiana supported the Bill Mr Vogel supported the Bill He said the arguments fot the power of licensing being given to the people were unsound. Licensing Courts were Courts of Justice, which should be nominee and not elective. >till, he liked much in the Bill, and would support thsecond reading. Mr M'Gillivray supported the Bill, and Mr Fox replied. The second reading was carried on the voices. The discussion on the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill was resumed by Mr Steward, who replied at length. The Bill was read a second time on a division by twenty-five to fifteen. The ayes were — Major Atkinson, Messrs Bathgate, Brandon, J. C. Brown, J E, Brown, Buckland Carrington, Cuthbertson, T. B. Gillies, Jackson, Katene, T. Kelly, Kenny, Luckie, M'Lean, C. Parker, E. Kichardson, Steward, Swanson, Tribe, White, Williamson, Wood, Webb, Wilsqn. Noes—Messrs Bunny, Bradshaw, Clark, Ingles, Johnston, Macandrew, Mervyn, O’Neil, O’Rorke, Parker, Pearce, I'tafford, Thomson, Webster, Vogel. Pairs —For, Messrs Harrison and Lichmond; against, Messrs Bluett and M'Gillivray. On the motion of Mr Gillies, the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill was read a second time on the voices.

To-day petitions were presented from the Dunedin Licensed Victuallers’ Association against the Justices of Peace Act Amendment Bill and from Westland for a railway to Canterbury. The Auckland Waterworks Bill was read a first time.