THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3300, 17 September 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Wellington, September 16. In the Legislative Council the Otago Waste Lands Bill was thrown out by 25 to 3, the Council objecting to the system of deferred payments of land. Captain Fraser, who introduced the Bill, said he knew it would not pass, as runholding capitalists were so influential in the and would use all means to prevent the poor man from obtaining land. In the House of Representatives, Mr Stafford moved that the San 'Francisco mail steamers call at Timaru, on the same plan as at Napier. He spoke strongly against the remission of Webb’s penalties, when the utter inefficiency of the service was remembered.—Mr Rolleston supported Mr Stafford’s amendment.—Mr Bunny thought the coastal pait of the Service unnecessary. Respecting the penalties a very strong case should be made out before the House was asked to remit them, as the principle was a wrong one.—Mr Telmie said half the valne of the service would be lost if the steamers did not visit the various ports.—Mr Webster would prefer to see the coastal service done by local steamers, to run down to the BluiL —Mr Macandrew thought that mere postal arrangements were a minor consideration beside the facilitation of travel. He saw no reason why the steamers should nob call at Timaru and Oamaru.—Mr T. B. Gilbes thought the present was not a convenient time for the discussion of the coastal question. He supported the resolution.—Mr O’Neill also supported the resolution.—Mr Murray did not see why the Suez Service (should not suffice the ?) Colony. Mr Fyke defended the proposal.—Mr Shepherd opposed the remission of the lines. —Mr Creighton also opposed the remission of the tines. He hoped we should have no more American contracts.—Mr White supported the amendment. He hoped Mr Webb’s tints would be remitted,—Mr M ‘Gillivray supported the Government proposal. —Mr . s heehan supported the Government. He thought the question was safe in their hands. He hoped the fines would be remitted, as Mr Webb bad worked hard and at a loss, and the remissiou would be a graceful recognition of his services.—Mr Henderson also supported the remission of the penalties, and showed Mr Webb’s losses to have been owing to the enforced coastal service,—Mr Vogel replied. He pointed out that the question before the House was not what arrangement should be made, but whether one already made should be ratified. Eventually, perhaps, arrangements would be made with Queensland for a service, and then the steamers would come by Taranaki and Nelson. The steamers calling at Napier did not increase the expenses; whereas if there was no delivery of the mails there, the cost would be about L6OO. He hoped Mr Stafford would withdraw his amendment, and content himself with having done justice to his constituents. Possibly the Fijian service would be continued ; but the Government had not yet taken the matter into consideration.—On a division, the amendment was lost by 41 to 12. Messrs White, Rhodes, Steward, Thomson, Bradshaw, W. ? Macanffrew, O’Neill, Karaitiana, Reid, Stafford, aqd Kqffeston yqteff for the amendment. The original resolution was then catned. The discussion of the remission of Mr Webb’s fines was postponed till the evening sitting. An amendment proposed by the Governor in the Telegraph Cable Subsidy Agreement Ratification Bill, giving the Government power to make other arrangements if the present one collapsed, and to provide for the cable’s being inspected by tbeirown engineers, was before the House at the hour of adjournment. September 17. It is the intention of the Government to issue a pamphlet for circulation in England, with all the authority of official sanction, describing and explaining the resources of the Colony, the various Provinces, and the opportunities which each Province affords for profitable settlement by immigrants. The circular invites the Superintendents of the various Provinces to furnish certain special information, from which a concise and connected account of the present circumstances of the Colony can be obtained. The Premier will edit the reports supplied to him, and put them into a condensed form, so as to be intelligible to the emigrant classes in England. The circular invites information on the following heads The early history of the Province; a description of the Province, stating its principal towns and districts into which it is divided, together with the distinctive features of such districts and of its ruling industries; description of the general quality of the laud the conditions of sale of public lands in the Province; to state whether there is any good land serviceable, and for what purposes, open for rale; to state whether there is land improved or unimproved, in private bands open for sale to persons of small capital; are immigrants liki jl/ to b3 aMe to rent small improved farms ? What are the chief articles of production, and their general value in the Province? To suggest what industries, in addifipn to those already pursuea in the Province, might bq carded on with advantage. What timber exists in tne Province, and what are the facilities for obtaining it~. What minerals have been discovered, and what is the extent of their development! What mills and factories are in operation or in progress requiring skilled laborers ! What kind of labor is there a demand for in the Province or the various portions of it? What are the ruling rates of wages for labor! What are the usual rations allowed to laborers ? Have you any Provincial public works progressing; or lively tq be • commenced during the next few years, whion would afford employment to ordinary labor ? State generally the advantages the Province offers to laborers, mechanics, small farmers, and persons following other industries—state the price of ordinary farm with stock in a sound and good condition, such as working oxen, working horses, mixed cows and sheep? What are the prices of the ordinary necessaries of life ? What are the ecclesiastical organisations existing in the Province, and what are the provisions of religious ordinances? What is the educational system in force generally ? What are the educational facilities afforded in the Province ? What charitable or benevolent institutions are there in operation in the Province ? What are the ruling rates of rent for ordinary dwelling-houses in towns ; what is the average cost of erectjng cottages in towns and in country districts ? Give any advice you think desirable to immigrants respecting ' oiltfift route, and course to be taken on arrival in the Province, and respecting any other matters on which you think your advice would be serviceable ; a abort account of the early settlement of the Colony, its discovery by Europeans, its then condition; a short account of the Native race; a short account of the present form of Government; a short account of the topographical features of the country; a short account of the climate, industrial resources, present and future inclusive ; mineral, pastoral, agricultural, timber, including inducements to new industries ; shore accounts, statistical, commercial, and industrial; account of some of institutions (savings banks, insurance, money orders, postal and telegraphic); a summary of the emigration' reguations, and of the dietary, and bther allowances ‘daring the voyage. “ Last night the Governor’s amendments in the Telegraph Cable Subsidy Agreement

Ratification Bill were agreed to, and the Bill read a second time. The Treasury Bill Extended Currency Bill, and the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Bill were read a third time. In Committee of the whole House, a Bill to authorise a L 50,000 loan for Westland public works was agreed to, and the Bill read a first time.

The debate on the Immigrants Land Bill was resumed by Mr Rolleston, who said he intended to move a resolution that the House could not discuss the Agent-General and his action without fuller information and the complete correspondence.—Mr Vogel explained that a letter to Dr Featherston had been sent, with others, to the Governor, who had said it was not fair to lay it on the table. The letter had reprimanded the Agent-General for the tone of his last despatches. Ministers claimed the right to address any letter to Colonial officers without the intervention of the House. Ministers thought of disapproving some acts of the Agent-General. They recognised him as a valuable officer who was possibly suffering from illness. If the House decided on the production of the letter, Government would produce it. The Premier is still speaking. (fROH OUR SPBCIAL CORRESPONDENT.) It is a recognised fact that Wellington as a Province cannot go en unless she gets the money asked far under the Loan Bill, hence the support of the Wellington newspapers. Both the Wellington papers write very strongly on the immigration mismanagement. The Independent says:—“ The AgentGeneral has failed to recognise his responsibility to the Government, »nd assumed a position superior to his master. The printed papers on immigration stop at a letter where Dr Featherston tells the Government that they know nothing about the business. The letter has been, and perhaps others are, withheld from the House. The reply is couched in unmistakeable terms.” The general opinion is that the Premier acted unconstitutionally on this head, and the Independent states it is rumored that the Governor has caused its suppression. 'lhe article concludes: —“ If the House does not insist on the production of the omitted portion of the letter, it mav as well forfeit its independence altogether. ” The Upper House seems irritable and undecided. It sat till nearly midnight yesterday, and showed a thorough contempt for the Education Bill. Dr Grace moved the introduction of Catholic clauses ; so the Bill was postponed for further consideration today. I still believe the Provincial Loans Bill will be thrown out, or it is otherwise suggested that if it pass, the Council will throw out all the Provincial Loan Bills one after another.