THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3283, 28 August 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric TelkgeapS.] Wellington, August 27. Mr Fox laid on the table of the House a report from a Select Committee of the Legislature of Canada, recommending the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic liquors in Canada. Tai&roa gave notice to ask the Government if they intended to call any Thames Natives to the Legislative Council. In reply to Mr Kelly, Mr M‘Lean said the Government would consider the question of giving a small bonus for the first 10,000 gallons of rectified oil produced from any springs in the Colony. The following Bills were read a first time ; —Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt ; to Amend Oiago Waste Lands Act, 1872 j to vest Grey River Coal Reserve in Corporation of Grcymouth. In reply, to Mr Andrews, Mr Vogel said the Government would inquire into the case of the Resident Magistrate at Wairarapa, who was said to have postponed the hearing of a case to enable the Provincial Council to pass an Act affecting the question at issue. Mr Seymour’s notice that the House should go into Committee to-morrow respecting the loan for public works in Marlborough was carried. —Mr Vogel said the Government had already stated in the Provincial Loans Bill what they proposed,—Mr Seymour replied that his notice was put upon the paper before the Bill was brought down, and when the House did not even know when the Bill would be brought down. Besides, he had heard whispers in the lobbies to the effect that the Government intended to withdraw their Bills, and among them the Provincial Loans Bill. Mr Macandrew’s motion that the House should go into Committee to-morrow to consider the placing of L 2,500 on the Fsti mates as a subsidy for steam communication between the Fast and West Coasts, was carried on a division by 40 against 16.—Mr Vogel opposed the motion, and said it was opposed to the principle that subsidies should only be given for mail services. He mentioned incidentally that the Government intended to propose a subsidy for steam communication with the Waikato River, bat that would be in the interests of peace. —Mr O’Neill supported the motion.—The Nelson members opposed it, saying it would be unjust to give a subsidy to divert the trade now carried on between Nelson and the West Coast.—Mr O’Oonor supported the motion.—Mr Macendrew, in reply, said that he had been very moderate in asking only L 2,500, which would not nearly pay the expense ; bat the Otago Government would supplement the amount. He proposed to have a steamer to take the circuit of the Middle Island.— When the motion was carried, the Premier said the amouutjfshould be placed on the Supplementary Estimates. In reply to Mr Kelly, the Government said they had already taken steps to obtain possession of lands on the East Coast whore petroleum springs exist On the pledge of Mr O’Rorke being given that suitable accommodation should be provided at Invercargill for immigrants, and that steps should be taken to obtain immigrants for Invercargill, two motions by Mr Cuthbertsou were withdrawn.

August 28. In the House last night, Mr Bryce moved the second reading of the Wanganui-Rangi-tikei and Patea > hires Bill. He said it was the largest question before the House, involving as it did provincialism and centralism. He argued that all the work done by the Provincial Governments could be as well done by municipalities. The revenue spent during the last few years by Wellington had been derived from sources no longer available, such as laud sales, wharves, bridges, and reclaimed land ; and unless fresh land cpuld be acquired or loans obtained, the Government would have no funds to disburse. He argued that the proposed change would decrease legislation. He would have preferred the Bill being brought in by Government, but their promises of constitutional reform had been too often broken to be relied on. The petition he had presented had been pigned by a very large majority of the male inhabitants of tiie district. Tho district had repeatedly endeavored to obtain local government, but failed. It had not received financial justice, and if the loan were obtained, would not receive its fair share of it. The Premier considered that if a change took place, it should be in the direction of the unity of Wellington with Taranaki. He would not move that the Bill be read that day six months, but would support such an amendment if moved, —Mr Fitzberbert showed that the fact of road boards beiug useful was due to the present Provincial Government, which had found them impotent, quarrelling, and litigious. Wanganui owed its Municipality to the Provincial Government, So far from having cause of complaint on the score of expenditure, the money raised on the East Coast had been spent on the West.—Mr Fox, while criticising the action of the Provincial Council, opposed the Bill, which Mr Collins supported. —Mr Shepherd moved that the Bill be read that day six months. —The Native Minister opposed the Bill.—Mr Bunny answered Mr Fox’s remarks, and supported the amendment.—The amendment was carried, and the Bill thrown out by 24 to 12. Mr Bradshaw has given notice of a motion for an address to the Governor to recommend to Earl Kimberly the granting of a royal charter to the Otago University. . The Wellington Burial Ground Bill was read a second, time. A motion that it be referred to a Select Committee was lost by 25 to 17. The Westland Waste Lands Bill and the Rosstown Lands Bill were also read a second time.

The Steam Navigation Act Amendment Act is to be read and constructed with the Steam Navigation Act of 1856 and the Amendment Act of IBG7. The machinery of vessels is included under Part 11. of Schedule A of said Acts, and is to be surveyed twice yearly. The fees for surveys are to be paid under Schedule B. The provisions that certificates are to be issued in duplicate, and that duplicate certificates are to be attached to ships’ papers, are repealed. All the other provisions in the previous Acts are to apply to certificates, and the Act is not to interfere with the inspection of steamers. The Commissioner of Customs may exempt steam vessels from the operation of former Acts, and from survey of the machinery and inspection < f the hull under this Act. A certificate may be absolute or limited, but only to be granted in respect of cargo steamers. The owner or master carrying passengers in a steam vessel holding a certificate of exemption is liable to a penalty of LSO. The masters and engineers of steam vessels running on rivers must have a certificate of competency. The Commissioner of Customs is to make regulations for the examination of engineers of steam vessels. Penalties are provided for not giving up cancelled certificates. The sixth section of the Steam Navigation Act, 18Go, and the fourth and fifth sections of the same Act of 1867 are repealed.

The Bill to amend the Merchants Shipping Acts adopts sections 260, 266, and 292 to 294, and 369 of the Act of 1854; also section 5j to 12, inclusive, Merchants Shipping Act of 1864 ; also sections 7, 10, and II of the Act of 1871. A declaration under the Merchants Shipping Amendment Act of 1872 is to be made by the engineer and surveyor, under the provisions of tne Steam Navigation Act of 1867. Fees are subecribedf and the money for surveys we to

be voted by the Assembly. The Governor may appoint surveyors and fix their remuneration. Surveyors are to have the powers of inspectors as appointed by the Board of Trade. Pmaltiea are provided for obstructions of a surveyor. The Savings Bank Amendment Bill provides that trustees may appoint one-half of the yearly surplus to the use of Benevolent Institutions. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) There is considerable dissatisfaction felt both by Northern and Southern members as to the Provincial Borrowing Bill. The Northern people necessarily having a small landed estate to hypothecate, object to the Bill in toto; and the Southern members say, if works of a Provincial character are absolutely necessary, it is unfair that the money raised for such purposes should he borrowed alone in the Australian markets, as such borrowing means one per cent. more. They consider that the Government should take security for special works, obtain the money at the lowest possible rate of interest, and hand it for expenditure over to the Provinces. The probability is that the young members will combine together and initiate a new party.