THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3879, 30 July 1875, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Bx Telegraph.]

Wellington, July 29. In the Council, to day Dr Pollen introduced a Bill to amend the Marriage Act, 1854. It was read a first time, and the second reading was fixed for Tuesday.

Mr Scotland moved — n That any one member of the Council has a tight to a passage in any steamer, especially sent by the Governmeht for the conveyance of members to or from any session of Parliament passing by any port of call to which such member may belong.” in stating his reasons he said he had been requested to travel in another steamer last session.

Some discussion arose, but, on the sentation of Dr Pollen, the motion was with 1 drawn.

The Registration of Births and Deaths Bill was recommitted, and the third reading ordered for Tuesday, The New Zealand University Bill passed its third reading. In the House to-day Mr Curtis gave notice of his intention to introduce a Bill to raise a loan of LIO,OOO for gas and water works for Nelson.

Air George M'Lean asked at what rate the bank buys Government drafts on London, and if the agreement on page 25 in the papers relating to the loan is now in force. Air Atkinson said there was no arrangement with the banks as to the price of the drafts. Arrangements were from time to time altered, as convenient. As to the second question, if the honorable gentleman referred to the agreement made with the bank by Sir Julius VogeJ, he could say that was still in force. Mr Andrew asked whether the importation and acclimatisation of weasels is prohibited by any Act of the Legislature. Mr Bowen was not aware of any Act relating to the importation of weasels. Mr Swanson asked for the production of all papers relating to certain charges made against Captains Rowe and Schoolefield by Sergeant Craig and Sapper Fawcett, and what action the Government took in the matter.

The Native Minister said he would lay all correspondence on the table, and tnen state what action the Government took in the matter.

Replying to a question from Mr W. Kelly, Mr Richardson said nothing had been don* towards ths construction of bridges across the Waimate and Waipara rivers, near Gisborne, but there would be as soon as the sale of a certain block of land in the district took place.

Mr O’Connor asked for a return showing the names of persons employed in the service of the Colony as engineers. Mr Richardson thought the motion rather unfortunate, and calculated to do many worthy professional gentlemen a serious injury, though he had no objection whatever to lay a return on the table. He hoped, however, that sufficient time would be afforded those concerned to prove, by documentary evidence and otherwise, their exact status as engineers.

Mr Reid trusted the hon. member would withdraw his motion, as it was calculated to do considerable mischief. Some other mode than that proposed should be devised to attain the end sought for. Mr Fitzherbert also opposed the motion. He was quite satisfied with the supervision already exercised in the employment of engineers by the Minister of Public Works. If they were going to have an examining board, he would ask _ who were to bo the examiners. He also considered such a course would be opening the door to greater abuses than those now existing. Mr Gibbs was conscious of great evils which resulted from incompetent engineers, especially In Otago, and he trusted some honorable member would devise means for overcoming the difficulty complained of. Mr George M.‘Lean defended Otago from the charge that her public works were carried out badly. He thought the question before the House might safely be left in the hands of the Minister of Public Works. The motion was withdrawn.

Mr Wakefield moved a series of resolut ions regarding an alternative or supplementary line to Wellington and Masterton, to run along the West Coast as far as Palmerston ; also, regarding a line to run from a deep water wharf near Lowry Bay along the coast to the end of the Wairarapa Plain; also, for a Committee to consider and to report as to any means by which the Government might encourage a private company to construct such works. He thought a Committee on such a subject would at least collect a large mass of information of very great value to the South as well as to the North Island. The honorable member dwelt at considerable length on the many advantages the Colony would derive from such works, and gave a calculation to show tbas the suggested line was likely to be the best paying and cheapest line, especially for the carriage of grain, coal, and timber. °

Mr Richardson said the country had adopted the Wairarapa line, and hid enough to do with that for the present. He felt sure the House would not be disposed to make any appropriation in the direction suggested. If there were any private company prepared to go into such an undertaking, it was their business first to apply to the Government. Mr Brandon supposed the Government would oppose doing anything towards the construction of the alternate line proposed, but still he maintained that the collection of information regarding the suggested line would be found very valuable in future. The motion was negatived on the voices. Sir George Grey moved for all correspondTakun^bbola* 110 purchaso of TairHß 4111(1

The Native Minister said the strictest inquiry would be made into the transaction, and the fuliest information afforded the House. Sir George Grey also asked for all correspondence between Colonel M'Donnell and the Native Minister relating to the employment of Mr Brissenden as Land Purchase Agent in the North Island, or to the removal of Colonel M‘Donnell from a similar position. The Native Minister said he had no objection to afford the fullest information, but suggested that the papers should be laid before Committee, and not upon the table of the House, as it was inadvisable in the public interest to do so.

Sir George Grey said he would prefer that the papers bo laid upon the table. Mr Reynolds wished to know if the papers were laid upon the table, whether they would be accessible to the Press.

The Speaker said papers w4re the property of every member of the House.

'•»* Mr W. Sally lawrid the member for Auckland Oltyvfest should acoept tha proposal of tha Native Minister.

Mr Swanson suggested that Sir George Grey and the Native Minister should confer as to what papers should not bo laid upon the table of the House, and settle the matter simply. Sir George Grey said if the Government h&d always shown such readiness to afford information, many motions tabled by him would have been unnecessary. He instanced a ease in which he, as Superintendent of Auckland, had failed to get information from the Government which it was very important he should have. They had not even condescended to reply to his letter. He would, however, accept the suggestion of the Native Minister. Mr Rolleston moved—‘’That it be an in struction to the Public Accounts Committee to enquire into and report upon the conditions under which, the banking business of the Government is conducted by the Bank of New Zealand, and whether these conditions imperatively required so large a sum that between three and four millions should be deposited with one institution; and, further, to report whether, in such case, it is not in the interest of the Colony at large that other arrangements should be made for the future. The Committee to report in three weeks,” Hejthought the country and the House felt that there was confusion in the banking arrangements between Government and the Bank of New Zealand. He had no wish, in making this motion, to raise a political consideration. He wished mei sly to deal with the question from a business point of view. Had ho wished otherwise he would have adopted a different course. Having made inquiry, he found that in Australia the banking business of the Governments was managed entirely different. Queensland was the only Colony which allowed its banking business to be conducted through one bank. v All the rest made use of the local banks. Tha bon. gentleman read a series of reasons given by the associated banks to the New South Wales Government, to show why the Government should not make large deposits in any one bank. He hoped that the establishment of the telegraph between Australia and New Zealand would do away with the last shred of such a policy as making deposits in only one local bank.

Mr Atkinson said that under the circumstances and motives with which the motion was made, and as it was done with no polical object, there would be no objection raised to the request made. Had the .Government thought at the time that better arrangements than what had been made with the Bank of New Zealand could have been made with some other bark, they would have invited public competition. The motion was agreed to. Mr W. Kelly moved—“ That in the opinion of the House, it is desirable it shou d at once put in thorough repair the Forest road between Tauranga and Uotorua.” Mr Richardson said he had aft estimate from the engineer that the road wornd cost LIO,OOO. Mr White said the question was a road board one, and ought to be fettled in the Auckland Provincial Council Not a member in the House save the mover and the Minister for Works knew anything about the matter; and yet they were asked to give. Mr Sheehan explained that the road was a great arterial work, and had nothing to do with the Auckland Council. He thought they paid L 2.000 a year for the carriage of mails and pas* eengers (along it. although it was not kept passable for horsemen. He hoped the Government would see their way to at least make the road fairly passable. At the request of Mr Atkinson, and the suggestion of several members, the motion was withdrawn until after the Financial statement was made. The House rose at 6.30.

July 30. t The House resumed at 7.30 last night, but little business was left on the order paper. Mr lleid succeeded in getting the Southland Waste Lands Act read a second time, upon the understanding that it would not be pressed any further at present, as The Native Minister said the Government were most anxious not to let any measures affecting the waste lands of the Crown to pass through the House without a most careful consideration. The chief object of the Bill is to enable the Southland Waste Land Beard, in all cases in which they consider the publio interest requires their interference, to withhold land from publio competition in order to prevent the laud falling into the hands of speculators.

The Otago Waste Lands Amending Act was read a second time, on similar arrangements.

Mr M t*lashan objected to the principle of the Bill in selling laud on ’deferred payments at less price than that sold for cash. Mr Cuthbertson testified to the extreme popularity in Southland and Otago for selling land under deferred payments. The Native Minister laid upon the table the. opinion of the -Solicitor-General as to the power of the Assembly to abolish the Provinces. The opinion was read, and is to the effect that the power of the Assembly to do so is absolute. Mr W. H. Harrison’s name was added to the Reporting of Debates Committee. filr O’-Neil moved for information relating to the rocks or breakers off Kaurangi Point, between Capo Foulwind and Cape Farewell, in consequence of a statement made bv Cantaiu M‘Lean since his last trip. 1 Mr Reynolds said the existence of breakers was well known in 1872. They were reported upon after examination by Captain Edwin, and a sketch was sent to the Admiralty. A notice to mariners regarding them was also printed, and besides the rocks were laid down in all charts since 1873. The House adjourned at 8.45 p.m.