THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3931, 30 September 1875, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, September 30. The House met at 2..50 yesterday. Mr Beeves gave nolice that he would ask if the Government were aware of a false declaration having been made to the Land Registrar in order to obtain a title to certain land at Fiako ; and, if so, whether it was intended to take proceedings against tho person who made a false daolaration. tdr Donald MVcau gave notice he would move, at the ri-ing of (he House on Friday, that the House sit on Monday at 2.30 for tho remainder of (he session. Mr Reeves, referring to the debate on Friday night, show, d that Mr Stafford had. as he (Mr Beeves) asserted, voted with the noer* on his amendment idative to apportioning 2o per cent, of the fund to each district, although ho professed to approve of the principle of tho amendment. Ho was sorry the hon. member’s memory failed him on that point. Mr Stafford remarked that too much stress had been placed by the member for Belwyn ou iris (Mr Stafford’s) denial. What lie stated at the time was that Ire had believed he had not voted with the noes. He conscientiously believed he had not voted, and was sorry for tho mistake he had made. f he following Bills were introduced and read a first time Bill to Amend Gohlmining Dig. 1 rets Act, f 873 (Grey); Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, and Representation Amend, ment Bill (Bowen). Upon fur George Grey moving for leave to introduce a Bill to abolish import duties now e\ied on ten, coffee, sugar, and flour, Sir Donald .M Lean announced that it waa the intention of the Government to oppose the Bill at a further stage, It waa not the province of a private number to introduce a Bill such as that which affected tho taxation of the country. The Bill was read a fust time, and will bo further considered iu committee, • ’ kheehan ank-d the Troasu cr if it was intended that the new clause should have a retrospective effect. _ i he 1 reasurer said there was no such intion. Mr Sheehan was glad to hoar it; but, notwithstanding what the Treasurer had been advised, this clause had a i\ trospectivo effect, and was not iu accordance with the spirit of tho arrangement come to between the Opposition

and the Government. He could not see why the elected heads of the people should bo placed under the control end made practically servants of the General Government. Mr Rolleston said that, if he understood Uie clause aright, it was introduced merely to prevent any difficulty arising fiom (he passing of the clause prohibiting any further meeting o! Councils. Ho disagiced with that c’auso in the first instance, but now (hat it was passed lie believed Ih.eic were circumstances under which great inconvenien# to the public might arise, unless there was some mode provided for mooting exceptional caexs. Ho understood there was no desire to interfere in any way with the Superintendents of Provinces. Major Atkinson said the view taken by the hon. member was the conect one. He disagreed entirely with what fell from Air Sheehan. The «1 ause was simply intended to prevent legislative obstruction by enabling Superintendents to meet certain emergencies without being compelled to IVoviucial Councils together. Mr T. Kelly considered that the clause was absolutely necessary. The Speaker explained now, under the c:rcumstancea, it was imperative that Siiueiintendenta should bo enabled to meet contingencies likely to arise. Air Maeandrew consider.-d the new danse gave unprecedented power into the hands of the Governor, which might lead to the most serious abuses ; besides, he could see nonecessitv whatever for such a clause. Certainly, it would not be wanted in Otago. Mr (.arrington said that after the Government prohibited the nuetiag of Provincial Councils, this clause became a necessity. Mr Reid also thought some stick clause necessary. Sir Donald Al'Lcan pointed out that, not wishing to boast to the House, of the Government having gained a great victory over the Opposition, he made his remarks as bihf as possible The member for Avon immediately followed him, and gave a full and fair explanation of the different points conceded. ’Air Murray hoped Government would amend the clause so as to destroy its retrospective operation. The clause was then read a second time on the voices. Air Rolleston made a personal explanation, to the effect that ins recollection ot the agreement was the sarre as the view given hy the Government, and if they misunderstood it he did also. The clause was added to the Bill, which was reported with run-.miments. _ On a proposal that the Bill be read a third time, Air 0 Iforke opposed it. After some discussion, Mr Sheehan hoped he would withdraw his opposition, as a distinct Ui.derstamlhig had been come to that, if the new clau.su was postponed till that day, the Bill would bo al owed to go to a third reading. This statement was corroborated by Mr Fit?, herbert. .Mr OTforko was not aware of any such uuderstan iing, but if the leader of his party agr ed to ruch an arrang ment. he would withdraw any technical objection to tho reading, Mr Maeandrew hoped they would go on with the third reading at orjee. Upon the mofon that the Bill he read a third time, Mr Reid said the Bill had been greatly improved while in committee, but all the improvements were due to the Oppo.dtvou members. He announced that he would oppose the third reading, in tie full belief that ill 3 next Him c would rescind a great deal of what had been done by that House in the Bill. Mr Bradshaw opposed Hie third reading. Mr Sheehan was speaking at 5.30, when th.* House adjourned. Upon the House re-assembling at 7.30, Mr Wakeiield proceeded to speak to the third reading of the Abolition Bill, and occupied an hour and a-half. The bunion of Ids remarks was that Sir George Grey had no claim to credit for establishing Provincial institutions —that for seven years he steadily repelled tho efforts of the people to obtain local self government. The hon. member suggested tha*-, having got rid of Provincialism, tho name ofthe Colony should be changed to “ Freeland.” tiir Geoigo Grey followed hy formally recording his protest against the course taken, ns being unlawful unconstitutional, and beyond the power of tho / ssembly, and intimating that he reserved to himself, the Province he represented, those Colonists who were of his opinion, and poster!!.), the right to maintain by all lav ful and justifiable means those rights and privileges assured to them, and the continuance of which was guaranteed to them by jhe Lords and Commons of Grc.it Britain. Fitzherbert said the success which atternlcd the efforts of tho Opposition in securing to the people the opportunity of expressing their opinion on the measu.e before it became Jaw was an encouragement to posterity to light to the last for what Urey deemed was sound and just in principle, and ho was sali.W.ed that they had been successful in defending Urt right a of the people to have air opportunity of expressing their opinion upon so great an organic change, and otre which, from tho nimmo t it took effect, could load only to dissension and disruption, ins’earl of to a united Colony, Mr Maeandrew a’so recorded his protest—on behalf of tire constituents he represented and of ime’Urgu majority of tho people cf Otago, of whom iro wae clmicd h.oad —agiinst the Bill, which was pas-cd without any just gs far RS Ota-U concerned, and decidedly agaii 0 t their wishes'. The whole proceeding was unreasonable. tyrannical, riffl unworthy of any Legislative Asminbly. Hir Donald AELean made a hri f and energetic reply, maintaining that the sympathy and feeling of the great irwjority of the people voro favorable to the change, and, notwithstanding all the charges levelled at the administration of the General Government, he held that the administration of the last (ive years had been most successful and pros’,.cious, and equal In »olid progress to what hnd been done for twenty years before. They must all admit that the country had enjoyed a state of peace and unexampled prosperity, without which the prosperity of Otago or of any Province would have been eimply impossible. What con'd they have dono had the Colony continued to he afflicted with turmoil and disturbance ? He thought tho people generally would accept the successful administration of tho ii.'St I as an assurance of tho future, and that notwithstanding all_ that might be said in favor of Provincialism any appeals for a restoration of it would fall flat upon the ears of the people at the next elections. It had its day and did its _work, and they mu-t look to a now order of things to put an end to the disintegration and confusion which had attended Provincialism latterly. Whatever victory was claimed by the member for the Hutt on behalf of the Opposition was solely due to the forbearance and goodwill of thoio who supported the Governmnrt.

A division was taken on the third reading, which resulted in forty voting for the Bill) twenty one against. Ayes ; Messrs Andrew’, Major Atkinson, Bidlanoe, Basstian, Bowen’ Brown (Ashley), Bryce, Bnckland, Carrington. Curtis, Cuthherlson, Inglia, Johnston, Katene, J Kelly, Kenny, Luckie, May, M'Gitlivray, M'Gh.shan, Kir Dona'd M Lean, Georgo M'Lean, Mervyn, Munroe, O’Oonor, Ormond. Parata, C. Parker, Pearce, Pyke, Reynolds, Richards n, Richmond, Joseph Shephard, T. L. She;.herd, Stafford, Steward, Wakefield, Webb, and Williams. Noes; Messrs Bradshaw, J. 0. Brown (Tuapeka), Bunny, Dignan, Pitzherb?rt,Gibbs, Sir George Grey, Hunter, Macaudrew, Montgomery, 0 llorhe, l«eeve«, Eolßston, Sheehan, Swr.n--aitl’1 ’ T’akamoaua, Thomson, Von der Heyde Ward, White, and Wood. Pairs : For. Messrs (t, B. Parker, Wilson, Wales, and W Kelly Messrs Murray, Brandon, Stout, and Reid. iheßill was read a third time and passed and the House adjourned at *».40 p.m.

We all know that semetinu s even Jupiter nods. Amongst the true benefactois of the human race is a Meibom no butcher justly o.lebrated for the excellence of his Gi; ps Land beef, and the peif'ct tlavor of his Kppiirsansages. Now, the other day a customer (who isa’t ashamed to cany home an obviously yuMiug_ iiia«B in oiumpled new?qaper) protested against a late rise in prices, “ How is it,” he enquired, “‘ that your pork sausages are now a rinding per lb?" “ Well, you see,” was tbs unguarded ‘‘sheep have gone up so much 1”