THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3944, 15 October 1875, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, October 15. In the Legislative Domicil yesterday after* noon, M r Waterhouse gave notice of motion that i.nv contracts auhject to ratification by the Assembly should not be passed without the concurrence of the Legislative Council. Upon the motion to read the Pinko Land Exchange Bill a third tint**, Mr Holmes do* pounced the Bill, and said the dealings of Government with the public estate, of which that Hiill furnished an instance, would lead to iusuI ar separation. I pon a division, there were twelve for, and twelve against. ’1 he Speaker gave his casting vote with the noes, and the Bill was thrown out. In the House of Representatives, at 2.30 yesterday, Mr Swanson asked : (1) Whether Brissonclep stand purchases in the North ha> anything to do with his d smissal from the Government Land Purchase Agency; (2 ) Whether these purchases had been satisfactory te Government; (3.) Whether any opinion on 1 itissenden’s land purchases had been expressed ii’y any of the Judges of the -..and Couit; (4.) I.)id Bnssenden at. any time write requesting to be allowed to terminate his contract with the Government ? SJir Donald M‘Lean replied : (1) Nothing to •flo with it; (2 ) His land purchases had been itnost satisfactory in all reap, cis, and had led uo no dispute ; (3 ) It wis the opinion of one <rf the Judges (Mr Kogan) of the Native Lands Court that Brissenden’s transa< lions with the Sadvcs appeared to be quite clear and st.aightforward; (4 ) Brisse-den did write to Govern* linent terminating his contract with them. The Coroner's Act -Amendment Bill was discharged. Mr O’Rorke gave notice to move—“ That LfiOO be placed on the t-uppUm tntary Estimates, as a gratuity to the widow of the late Superintendent of Auckland.” On the adjourned debate in committee on tho Representation Bill, Srr George Grey opposed Mr W. Kelly’s ara-vidment, “ that a member should be given to th e Southern East Coast district, instead of to Nupier,” and said the House should be first supplied with some information regarding th® area and population. In reply to comments by various members, Mr Boweu pointed out that it was clear, fr<m what had fallen from the Opposition members that the Government bad not'made these alterations in representation for political support. They were prepared to accept an of the boundaries, but they must adhere strictly to (he proposal before them as to the nmn her of members to be given to different parts of the countfy. A great d e.al of discussion ensued, the House rising at 6.30,. without doing anything to the clause. iho 1 louse resumed at 7 30. in committee on the Represents .ion Bill, and it sat until 3.40 a.m. Mr W. Kelly’n amendment for making a new electoral district of the Southern East Coast, and giving it one member, was nctratived by forty-three to twenty turn, and Napier s having another member wa*s agreed to. Mr Pyke proposed that all new electorates b# eliminated except the Thames and Ehm«din, which sheuld each have another rifember. Can ied by 43 to 22, Mr Bryce moved that another member Be given to Wanganui. The Minister of Justice opposed it, but a division showed—ayes, 2s; noes, 25, Mr Andrew moved that an additional mtmbe given to Waikato, but, a-fter a long discus* sion, the amendment was lost' by 29 to 28. Sir F. D. Bell moved tlm * the Mat aura have another member; lost by 02 to 26. Mr O’Conor moved for another member to the Buffer ; negatived by 29 to 2, T . Mr Williams proposed that aA additional member bo given to the Bay of /stands and Mongonui ; negatived on the voices. Mr Swanson tried for another member fot Newton, but it was lost by 31 to 19. Mr Wales moved tor three extra members to Dunedin, and Mr Pyke for two extra, but both were lost by 40 to 13. Sir G. Grey proposed that an extra member for I imam be struck out; lost y46to 0. .Mr Pyke moved that another member be given to Wakatipu ; lost by 34 to 21. An amendment by Mr Dignan that there should still be two electoial districts in the city of Auckland was accepted by the Government. Mr Ballance’s amendment, providing for the representation of minorities, was wilhdiawu. Several attempts were made to repot t pro* gress but were negatived. Clause sas amended passed, aud the Bill now stands at clause 6.