GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3567, 29 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph ]

. Wellington, July 28. In the Legislative Council, in reply to a question from Dr Menses, the Colonial Secretary stated that it was intended to introduce a clause in the University Bill vesting in the University of Otago the Southland University reserves. In the House of Representatives, Mr Thomson asked the Government whether they possessed aqy information as to the successful working or otherwise of the Canterbury Forest Trees Encouragement Act; and, in Otago, of the 169 th section of the Otago Waste Lands Act. The Premier was understood to state that the Government had no information on the subject. In reply to Mr White, who asked if the Government intended to extend telegraphic communication to Btafiord-town and Goldsborough, Ahaura district. Westland, the Premier said the engagements of the department were so hoary that he was unable to give any assurance that the work would be at present, but arrangements would bo made as soon as possible. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :-The Oamaru Harbor Board Land Bill; Bill to make better Provision relating to Construction of Works S.H gh 7t te l^ rk ’ BIU A” 01 "! Goldfields Act, 1806, with a view of making better provision in the Case of Fouling Rivers and Watercourses by Gold Mining j Inveroargill Gas Loan Bill

P y sm I ler i^ 0 7 ed tbe second reading of S tn e^ Z ffi a a , nd Universi ty Bill, and referred to the difficulty annually presented by the university. The question was now, he was happy to say, satisfactorily settled by the present Bill, which repeals the Act of 1870 Bead a second time.

The com iteration of the Estimates was resumed. Petty nan, L 350; crimimd F OBMUt»M U.SOli; Justices „£ the Pcoe 2SSM asj! On Postal and Telegraph, L 55.165. several questions were asked regarding the smallness of salaries at certain pfaces. B The Pienuer said he would like to see the Esti! mites framed so that each member named allowances and salaries for his own district He said the Estimates were no guide to the silanes of particular officers, afthey Ver! changed se frequently.—Mr J. L Bro^J smnlied c ? uatr y.P os t offices were miserably supplied, from the head offices with Cracroft Wilson asked wa 6 s Wk A° *o® vP Xes in the ChristohnrS was locked on Sundays.—The Premier

looking at the question generally, he considered that servants of the department must hare their Sundays, and, if the post-offices were to be opened on Sundays, they would Simply have to increase their staff, so that officers could relieve each other, and let them he paid for it. He promised, however, that some arrangement would be made on the subject. In answer to a question put by MrLuekie, the Premier explained that the Government was much indebted to Mr Lemon for his valuable services in regard to duplex telegraphs, and had signified the same by a vote of thanks from the 1 abinet. They had suggested to Mr Lemon the advisability of taking out a patent, bat, as he was not actuated by a desire for pecuniary gain, he allowed the Government to have any benefitderivable therefrom. The invention, he ex plained, was not new, as it is in work in several places, hut the details of working it out. he believed, were entirely Mr Lemon’s invention. No other special recognition of his services had been made. Mr Mervyn asked that telegraph operators at stations on the Clatha River should be instructed to notify below of floods and sudden freshes in the river, as that wou d often save property and life —The Premier thought it would be belter to keep the department, as it was, purely mechanical; let it despatch news—not collect it.—Mr Reynolds was understood to say that the matter would be considered in connection with the storm signal item.—Carried. Customs Department, L 40.597 17s 2d, passed without discussion, but considerable discussion was created on an amount under the heading of Marine Naval Training-school at Kohimarama, L 2.000. Mr .Reynolds said that it was for the purpose of buying the • ihooner Southern Cross and the old missionstation as a commencement for establishing a system of naval training in the Colony for its boys.—Mr Macandrew thought the item very unsatisfactory, and suggested it be struck out.—Mr J. E, Evans failed to see why there should be a shore establishment in connection with the training-vessel.—Mr Wakefield thought it looked like an arrangement to enable the mission lo part profitably with what they no longer had occasion for. —Messrs Sheehan, T. Kelly, W. Kelly, and Swanson supported the item.—To settle the difficulty, Mr Andrew suggested that, as all agreed a naval training-school of some sort was necessary, they should strike out the word “ Kohimarama.” , The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.