WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 3573, 5 August 1874, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[By Telegraph.]

(From .our own Correspondent.)

August 4.

Mr M'Glashan to-day presented a petition from Mr Birch, relative to his engagement as Immigration Agent; and Mr Cuthbertson a petition from Messrs Larnach and Mudie, objecting to the Forests Bill, as interfering with private interests. The debate on the Forests Bill was resumed by Mr Murray, who, as usual, bored House, He was followed by Mr Macandrew, who said he regretted very much that he was constrained to vote against the proposal as it now stood ; but in doing so he claimed to he as desirous asany memberof preserving and extending theforests of the Colony. He could not see the necessity for removing the control of the forests from the hands of those who had hitherro administered them.

The right thing to do would be to define the limits of the various Waste Land Boards in relation to forests, rp far as those powers might be insufficient to enable them to guard against wanton and reckless destruction of timber. That was the principal thing to do. He was not looking at the matter in a nar-row-minded Provincial spirit but from a practical oommon-senso point of view. They had been treated during the debate to a little “flap-doodle;” had heard a good deal of the people of the Colony as against the popu latien of the Provinces : as if there were any antagonism between the people of the Colony and the people of the Provinces. Why, the people of the Provinces were the people of the Colony, and vice versa, and he should say tho people of the Provinces had a far greater and far more direct interest in tho question of preserving and extending , theforests than the people of the Colony had. With regard to providing for the future, it

•was not by any means clear that this was the bast way to do so. As it was, the matter might be very well left to private enterprise. At all events, if the State did anything, it should be in the direction of obtaining seeds of suitable trees, and distributing them annually by the million, at a reasonable price That experiment bad been tried for a couple of years in Otago, and was increasing year by year. He had no doubt whatever that in the coarse of a few years mere the Provinces would have many thousand acres of l»nd, now bare, which would then be cover ’d with timber. He knew several estates in Otago on which tree-planting was looked on as ono of the most profitable crops that could be put in. Looking at the principle of the thing, ho could nob see what difference there was if the State went in for growing timber and its going in for growing cern or anything else. In undertaking forest legislation, there was great danger of usurping the functions of individuals, and they were going in that direction very fast. His greatest reason for opposing the Bill was because it was adding another permanent establishment, of which there were too many already. Mr Buckland was extremely violent, and denounced the whole thing. He spoke of the State'as becoming an undertaker, charged the Press with speaking as it was paid to speak, and wound up a stupid speech by expressing the opinion that the commercial activity of Dunedin and Lyttelton was owing •to their want of timber, and Nelson’s sleepiness to its having too much. Mr Holies ton, aftershowinghow much Canterbury was doing in the way of plar*t*aid his Province was wholly opposed to the measure. He was followed by Mr Bluett, who said the people throughout the length and breadth of Canterbury would thank the Premier for the Bill if carried.

All the Wellington members have spoken against the Bill, and if the Government press it to a divii-ion the voting will be very c'ose. If the second reading is carried, the Provincialiits will oppose it tooth and nail, taking advantage of forms to defeat it. Mr Fox is determined to push his amendment on the Licensing Bill, which will take considerable time. m. . . Augusts. The Provmcialists claim a victory, but the other side say Mr Vogel could have carried the Bill through as it stood if he chose, but temporising is better, in view of the larger proposals shadowed forth iu his speech. Mr Vogel was heartily sheered on announcing that the Government were prepared to abolish the North Bland Provinces. It is believed Mr Reader Wood will bring down resolutions to that end, making one Province for the North, with Auckland as the capital and Wellington the federal city. The Government will support, and, if need, dissolve on the question. The figures quoted by Mr Vogel have astonished the Southern members.

The Waitemata election is in a strange position. Mr Von der Heyde, before being nominated, asked if he could stand, being naturalised, but forgot to state that he was naturalised iu South Australia only. It is the opinion of Messrs Whitaker and Prendergast that the election is void. Mr Macfarlane is here, determined to take his seat.

Nothing has been done re Mr Luckie’s telegrams. The Committee yesterday took evidence as to how the information was ob tained.

The Annuities Report shows that daring the year LSO >,910 worth of new policies were taken up, and L 16.005 added to the gross annual income of the department. The claims w. re for 1.6,700, during the year. Mr Gisborne has extended it to the poorer ■ lissrs, making arrangements enabling them, by weekly payments, to secure a life insurance not exceeding L2OO. For present use this table is confined to members of friendly societies, whose co-operation is invited.