THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3550, 9 July 1874, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Bt Tklkoraph.]-

T> „ . WeLWNHTOIJ, July fl Mr Reynolds, in replying to 'Mr O’Neill “fcMffwg °f » light-house at the Three Kings, said inquiries had shown the sue to be unsuitable, and another ons W m w e m a more suitable place. ' Mr Vogel, in answering a question put by Mr Wakefield regarding the reduction Customs duties, and equalising the revenue hf pr °P ert * Baid « the Go! frZ f 1 had ?“ ch a ? Mention it would refram making known the fact earlier and*ln ?88lfeie ’ 80 a> t0 avoid the dangerous and injurious amount of speculation >vhioh would naturally follow. -In rop^toh ? UeßtloU ’ the Pwmibr skid an app oximate census of the whole Native popuwas then m the hands of the Government printers.- ■ •J,£ e Bijls were read a first time : • J “® Regulating of Mines bill, the Muni* cipal Reserves Bui; Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill, Eost' J Office' Savings Act Amendment Bill, and the Wellington Wtal Reserves BilL The Premier explained that the Electric Telegraph, Annwd«n*"t BUI

dealt chiefly with the production of teleSame in courts of justice and offences against e Telegraph Act Mr Vogel moved ah Address to Her Majesty offering congratulations on the auspicious occasion of the marriage of the Puke of Edinburgh, as being a matter of special interest to the people of New Zealand—His Royal Highness having twice visited this Colonyr-and expressing an earnest prayer for the welfare of the hoyal pair, and renewing the assurance of devoted affection and loyalty to Her Majests’s throne and person. Mr Gillies moved for a return in detail of the expenditure out of sums devoted to the

purchase of land in the ISerth Island.—Mr Richardson said the returns were in course of preparation. —lt was agreed, on the motion of Mr Mervyn, that a return be prepared of land sold during the last twelve months in the various Provinces, specifying the number of new settlers and quantities of land.

Mr Vogel said he hoped no needless opposition would be raised against the Imprest Supply Bill, to be brought down to morrow, as it was desirable to pass it this week. In the Legislative Council, a Bill relating to real estate was read a first time ; also a Bill amending the marriage law. Mr Waterhouse commented on the absurdity of New Zealand being different to other Colonies re the deceased wife’s sister question.

# An address ef congratulation on the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh was agreed te.

Mr Campbell, in moving the Address in reply, said it was desirable the Governor should visit every portion of the Colony of New Zealand. It was not like Australia, which had one great centre of population! He thought the public works were very well carried out during the past year. Ail available means should be applied to effect the completion of works already far advanced. Immigration should be increased rather than decreased. Fifteen thousand flouls had been brought in from July, 1873, to the end of March, 1874, at a total cost of LlO per head. The return from paid L3O te L4O per cent, on the cest. He thought in two or three years the popula tion would be a million. JH« estimated the customs at L 300.000 over the estimated revenue. The Life Assurance bonus scheme was premature. The accounts should be sent to a first-class actuary in England to ascertain the real position. New Zea lAnd would be a great manufacturing country. The Polynesian trade should be directed here, as it would supply abundant raw material. He did not anticipate any very serious differences between the two houses. The Council’s services were not sufficiently known. Ihey bad saved tbc country L 1 ,000,000 last session. They followed the example of the Australian Colonies toe much. The Government of New Zealand could teach them better than be tanght.—Mr Miller seconded.—Mr Waterhouse made a very alarmist speech on the prospects of the country, and said His Excellency’s Speech contained nothing. During the recess Mini ters had been ieted, the Premier banqueted, and important negotiations carried on with the heads of the Provinces, resulting in large sum* of money being pro mised to several Provi; ces. There would bt ft great fight this session, on a subject of which »o mention was made in the speech, the Provincial borrowing. In re Immigra tion, he considered the present policy of the Government dangerous in the extreme, and that they had broken through constitu tional limits last year. L 250.000 was voted for the introduction of 12,500 immigrants Up to the end of 1873, as soon as Mr Vogel took over the Immigration Scheme, 3,50 • immigrants were ordered, at a cost of over L 70.000, besides the introduction of immigrants, and there was not any lower price in wages. Every immigrant required te be housed, and for the first twelve months demanded labor, instead of supplying it. In a short time the crash must come, and he believed it very close. This prosperity yvas not owing solely to public works, but to three capses ; Ist, the rise in the value of the natural products; 2nd, the confidence established thereby ; 3rd, the public works policy These appearances were, however, deceptive. Back returns showed we were owing LlO per cent, par head. Tightness was already observable in the money market. There would be no fall in the revenue, but great stoppage of p; ivate enterprise of every kind, lie thought the Polynesian scheme Was probable.

Dr Pollen said the stream of immigration could not be kept up enough, if the Government had not sent for a larger number than authorised, it would have incurred censure. Pplonel Brett prajsecUne Native Minister, tad condemned the Volunteer force as inefficient and useless.

Captain Fraser urged the importance of trade with Polynesia. Mr Campbell combatted Mr Waterhouse’ remarks on immigration, and upheld the Government in their conduct o' that departineht.

{From our own Correspondent.) July 8. In the House of Representatives, in reply to Mr Gillies’s question re Judges Ward and Chapman, Mr Vogel said the Government were taking no action to investigate the charges against Judge Chapman, and they were of opinion that they did not call for any representations on their part to the Governor. Judges Chapman and Ward had been so informed. How the telegrams got into the papers the Government could not say, but they had the assurances of Judges Ward and Chapman that nei her of them given the telegrams to the ‘ Times,’ nor had he (Mr Vogel). The telegrams were nearly correct, and showed a large knowledge of the actual telegrams. The Government would not produce the telegrams on their own responsibility, but would do ■o if the House ordered it.

Mr Shepherd moved for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Otago Waste Lands Act, but it was opposed by Mr J, L. who said he should have waited till Mr Reid’s arrival. —Mr Shepherd explained that he was acting with Mr Reid’s concurrence, and leave was granted on the voices.— After Mr Shepherd had moved for leave, Mr Gillies got up and counselled the withdrawal of the Bill, saying that Messrs Macandrew and Reid were detained in Dunedin, and therefore a Bill embodying the recommendations of the Provincial Coum.il could not be ready for presentation. If Mr Shepherd’s Bill were rejected, it would prevent the introduction ’of one by the Provincial Government.—Mr Shepherd retorted by saying that Mr’ Gillies had drawn from him ' an explanation which he had no intention of making before he left Dunedin. He had intimated to Mr Reid the steps he proposed to take in this matter, and, intending to place the Bill in such a position that there should be no ohance of its being dropped, had telegraphed to Mr Heid, asking if be intended introducing any laud Bills beyond the one mentioned in the Council, and saying that ho would delay the first reading until Roid replied. The amendment was trivial, and as he was quite as competent to prepare a Bill of land—(loud laughter)—Mr Gillies’s action showed not so mneh a desire to watch over the interests of Otago, as a desire at the same time—(reneared laughter) - to prove that he (Mr Gillies) was exercising a parental guard over Shepherd’s) political career.—On Wo vpiges tfee npesba# ii. bnftbe bpposi-

Tien was not pressed to a division, so leave was granted and the second reading fixed for Tuesday week. After Mr Curtis had moved for leave to introduce the Nelson Loan Bill, Mr Vogel said he would take the earliest opportunity of stating very decidedly the opinion of the Government on matters of that kind.— { beers.) He would do so when making his Financial ' tatement, not raore than ten days hence, and he hoped the House would assist the Government by resisting the second reading of these Bills until after the Financial Statement.—Mr Curtis agreed accordingly. In the Council, in answer te Mr Miller, Dr Pollen said the Government would furnish a report, by Mr Carruthera on the Oatnaru harbor works.

Mr Waterhouse is now moving that the disposal of lands under Settlements Acts should be regulated by Act of Assembly, not by the Regulations, at will. The Government day, as now arranged, the Government oppose, but are not likely to be successful.

Mr Vogel, in announcing the determination of the Government not to introduce a Goldfields Bill, said such diversity of opinion existed among goldfields members that there was a difficulty to know what the goldfields really desired. It is understood the Government will support Mr "hepherd in carrying his Bill over the preliminary stages ; after which it will stand over and be circulated during the recess, and come up early next session to be finally dealt with. | The Heply to the Address in the Council was moved by Mr Campbell, who said immigration should be rather increased than decreased. Twenty-five years was required to test the I ife Assurance bonus scheme ; whereas it had only been in operation three. The Polynesian trade project entirely met with his approval. There was no necessity for constitutional reform, and no serious differences between the two Houses. The chief one was about the Loan Bills, and the Council’s action, backed by the good sense of the country, had saved the Colony over L 1,000,000 The Colony was too apt to follow Victoria, when it could teach them good government.

Mr Miller, in seconding it, said the Government should concentrate their energies on the public works administration. He did not approve of the Provinces controlling the railways. They would be better under one central control, and then would pay not only working expenses but a portion of the interest. The Colony must strain every uerve to secure the Polynesian trade. There was no necessitty to alter the relations of the two Houses. Mr Waterhouse followed in a savagely bitter speech, mainly directed against Mr Vogel. He complained of the absence of great measures. The recess was most peculiar—a stream of Ministerial fating. The speaking was altogether unprecedented. It commenced in Otago, where there were many interviews between Messrs Macandrew and Vogel, which excited curiosity in all politician t, and resulted in a promise of half a million loan. Tie same thing occurred at Nelson, where L 20.000 was offered down, but was refused for a promise of L 250,000 when Parliament met. Then, at Auckland Mr Gillies, having buried the hatchet, L 40,000 is advanced, similar promises were made at Napier. The Taranaki administration of public works was entirely satisfactory, owing to the energy of Mr Hichardsou, than whom a better man 'hey were unable to get. The immigration management bad committed a breach of con stitutional principle and public policy. The present prosperity was entirely deceptive, and there would be a great crash before long.—Dr Pollen defended the immigration policy. He upheld the soundness of the present prosperity, and the present condition of the money market as compared with what was formerly the case. He completely refuted Mr Waterhouse’s arguments,—Colonel Brett again distinguished himself by attacking the Volunteers as being utterly useless. —The Address was then carried.

July 9. f’n the House meeting to-day, Mr shep herd called its attention to some telegrams in the ‘ Auckland Star 1 reflecting on him self, and said that if similar attacks were continued, members would have to provide themselves with horsewhips —Sir Dillon said the telegram referred to was offensive and insulting, and if the control of the gallery had been in his hands he would have had to exclude the author of the telegram from the House. Members should be protected from insolence and license from such persons.

Mr Vogel said the Government had no intention of introducing a new Representation Act this session.