PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4174, 13 July 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[By. Teleghaph.] (From our Special Correapond'M.)

Wellington, July l& In the Legislative Council yesterday, The Hon. Mr Hall moved that, having retard to the large aggregate amount of deposits in the Post Office Savings Banks, it is expedient that the terms, upon which repayment of deposits may be demanded should be reconsidered by the Government He said that the total amount of deposits in the Colony approached three-quarters of a million, and pointed out that in the case of a panic and a general demand being made by depositors, the Government would find it difficult to find money, which would prove a blow to the Colony. He suggested a saving clause m th<j regulations such as is in force in Australia. The motion, was carried. In the House of Representatives at 2 30 p.m..

In answer to Mr Thomson, the Premier said that;oE the unsold unguaranteed bonds there had been hypothecated : -General purposes Loan bonds (worth L 210,500), for H?!iS2? L 52 700), for L 50.000 cash-both in the Bank of New Zealand. The Treasurer had also drawn on London for L 175,000 against the proceeds of bonds authorised to be sold No portion of the LBO,OOO guaranteed bonds have been sold, but L 269,000 have been hypothecated (to the ,30th April, 1876} to the Crown agents. Mr Reynolds has given notice of his intention to ask the Government if it will cause an inquiry to be made into the allegations ot Captain Waddel re the steamer City of ban I'rancisco touching at Tort Chalmers. Un Mr Wasou's motion, that a select committee r-e appointed to inquire into the expediency of nsiug brown and other Native coal as fuel for steam purposes on lines of railway m New Zealand, three to be a miorum, such committee to consist of the Hon. Mr liiclianlson, Messrs Macandrcw, Curtis, Montgomery, J{. G. Wood, Button, Larnach, and the mover, with power to call tor persons and papers, and to report within six weeks, Sir Julius Vogel made an interesting statement of inquiries he had made on the Continent and in England as to the aclaptibility of the brown coals of this Co'ony to b ■ manufactured iuto patent fuel, which, from Admiralty and other report:, he showed to be largely used at Home for steam purposes, and to be fully 20 per cent, .superior to ordinary coals. The reports he had obtained at Home showed that the In-own coals of Southland, Canterbury, and Auckland were admirably adapted for the makufacture ot

patent fuel. He had sent Home ten tons of Green Island and Saddle Hill coals, in res2>ect to which the admiralty buyers said it would make very good patent fuel for steam and household purposes. Mr Curtis, while paying a tribute to the Premier for his effort to advance the material interests of the Colony, thought it was one of those matters which should be left to private enterprise, and upon which the committee could come to no satisfactory conclusion.

Sir Julius Vogel disclaimed any idea when volunteering to tender evidence to the committee of wishing the manufacture of patent fuel to be encourged at the cost of the Colony. It was a matter that did not require such an assistance. It seemed to him quite possible that an industry might here i sufficiently developed to enable us to I suppJ\'P urse^v ' es with coal as good for steam purposes as *hat obtained from Newcastle. So far as he knew" there was no necessity for any extraneous assistance; the time would come when we should depend on our own coal, and of considering the advisability of putting a tax upon foreign coal. In answer to Mr Cox, the Minister of Public Works said the committee, if it only sat for a few days, would produce a great amount of good, as it would be the means of showing to the country that our coals were not being neglected. The evidence that would be forthcoming to the committee by the railway departments in the extreme ends of the Col«ny would show that considerable pains had been bestowed upon the matter, and that the railway authorities are fully alive to the value of our coals and the way in which they could be used. Under his directions the engine furnaces would be so altered as to use Colonial coals almost en cirely, if not altogether. Mr Lumsden strongly urged leaving the development of our coal resources to private enterprise. If the Government gave them railways to the seams, there would be plenty of good coal to be got. In Southland there was a most superior coal that did not want the water squeezed out of it. He was afraid the next proposal would be to appoint a conservation of Native coals.

Mr Wason has given notice to add to his motion, which was agreed to, the names of Messrs Burns and Kennedy.

(Per Press Agency.)

On resuming at 7.30 p.m., Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Local Option Licensing Bill; but, being generally opposed, leave was not given to withdraw the Bill with a view to introduce another.

The Auckland Waterworks Act 1872 Amendment Bill passed; the Hawkes Bay Rivers Bill was read a second time; the South Duaedin and St. Kilda Municipalities Bill was committed and passed with an amendment—ordered to be considered next Wednesday. The Coroners Act 1876 Amendment Bill was committed, and, after debating the several clauses up to clause 5, and numerous divisions being taken, the Minister for Justice at 1.20 a.m. moved that the Chairman report progress, with leave to sit again to-day. No material alterations in the Bill ; as printed were agreed to. The House then adjourned.

ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

(From, ovt Special Correspondent.)

The Counties and the Financial Arrangement Bills are to be brought down on Friday, and their second reading taken on Tuesday, when, in accordance with the arrangement with Sir George Grey, the financial proposals of the Government will be discussed.

Be the petition of Mr Smythies, the Upper House committee report that they are ef opinion that inasmuch as Henry Smythies is affected by the retrospective action of the Law Practitioners Act of 1868, relief should be granted him, and to this end they recommend that an Act should be passed this session to exempt him from such retrospective action of the law above mentioned. The petition was signed by eighteen members of the legal profession in Dunedin. On Tuesday Mr Brett moves that the Government be requested to bring in a bill to carry into effect the above resolution. The Lower House Committee will make a similar report, and there is every reason to believe the recommendation will be given effect to. Mr Pavletich is before Parliament with a third petition, this time re education. His petition re pawnbrokers will be practically shelved. Mr Macandrew, when examined before Committee, denied all knowledge of the evik referred to in the petition, and the Committee seem to regard the complaints as exaggeration.

Mr Reid asks to-day if the Government will alter the contracts with immigrant vessels, so that ships may be fitted with the Douglas boat-lowering apparatus. The 'Argus,' referring to the caucusing gomg on, says:—"Nominally Mr Macaudrew is assisted by a committee of Otago members in bis negotiations with the members from other Provinces, but his is of course the ruling spirit. In all probability, early in the debate next week resolutions boldly stating the policy of the Opposition—the policy of two Provinces-will be brought down, if not by Mr Macandrew, at least at his instigation, and, there is reason to believe that supporters will be found in quarters little expected. Fully seventeen Otago votes may be counted on for this 3cheme, and it is currently reported that Mr Macandrew has been enabled to place the matter in such alight before the Canterbury members as to secure the adhesion of a considerable number of them, including Messrs Stevens and Montgomery. We are assured that not only will there certainly be one vote in its favor among our representatives, but that the hon. Mr Waterhouse will support the scheme in the Upper House, and is entirely in accord with Mr Macandrew. Auckland will, by a large majority of its representatives, support the scheme of separation." Tne Local (■ptimi Bill comes on for its second reading to-day. The East Coast Election petition matters are further rejourned for a fortnight.