PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4180, 20 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[By Tbueobaph.]

Wellington, July 20. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon.

Mr Stevens asked what were the contributions of the Provinces to the Consolidated Fund during the year ending 30th June last.

The Premier said he could not give the information asked for at once, as he did not think any Treasurer could carry the figures relating to nine Provinces in his head ; but if the non. member would formally move for the information, a return would be prepared ior him. Mr Curtis asked if the Treasurer would furnish the House with an approximate estimate of the probable liabilities of each Province for which it is intended to make provision by the proposed loan of L 750,000. The Premier said that if the hon. gentleman would write him a letter asking for the information required, he would send it to the Treasury and have it prepared in due course.

Mr Larnach moved that a return be laid before the House, specifying the sums of money spent, and being, expended, in the construction and repairs of Government buildings throughout the Colony since 13th July, 1870. Said return to state the purposes for which any building was erected, and the purposes for which it is now used ; also, to show, in detail, the amount spent and being expended for the above purposes in each Province, in each year, since the date named above. The Hon, Mr Richardson said that the Government had no objection whatever, but the return would be very difficult to make out, and could not be done before six weeks. If the House desired, it would be prepared. The motion was agreed to. Mr Reader Wood moved, “ That there be laid before the House copies of all correspondence and telegrams in connection with the sale or hypothecation of the million and quarter of unguaranteed debentures.” The Premier said it was not considered desirable at the present time to produce the correspondence. At the request < f the loan agents this correspondence was made confidential, and in subsequent letters received from them it was particularly asked that they should be confidential, and it was probable even at a future time that they would still be considered confidential. On that information be trusted the motion would be withdrawn. A letter received yesterday stated that, pending the arrival at Home of the authority to hypothecate the short-dated debentures, an arrangement had been made to borrow one million on unguaranteed . debentures, and that, as soon as the authority reached Home, the negotiation would be carried out. He might say, for the information of the House, that the terms were favorable to the Colony, inasmuch as the amount to be borrowed need not be placed in sums not less than L 50,000 at 5 per cent., to be paid twelve months from the respective dates of borrowing. Mr Macandrew said that, as the information asked for might, it furnished, involve the public interests, he thought, after the

information given by the Treasurer, that the motion should be withdrawn. " - Mr Stout thought if the Government did not produce this correspondence; they ought to give the House such information as to ease their minds with regard to certain stories that had been in ciroolation at Home in regard to our financial arinmgempnts. The motion was tyithdrawn. ~ ; The Hon. Mr Richardson moved—“ That a select committee of. fifteen members be appointed to consider tKe proposed boundaries of Counties for the -Middle Island, and to make recommendations thereon, six to be a quorum. The committee to consist of Messrs Barflf, Bastings, Curtis, Harper, Henry, Macandrew, Manders, Stafford, W. Wood, Woolcock, and the mover. Mr Macandrew thought Hiat the motion was premature. It would be. time enough to do what -was asked for when the second reading of the Bill came on. The Govern* ment had no right to take* it for "granted that the House would accept their Bill at all. Mr Rollestou also objected, and predicted a great deal of opposition to the Bill from the Chairmen of Road Boards, who would show

it through their representatives. He was well aware of a great deal of dissatisfaction against the BUI. Mr De Lautonr objected to the formation of the committee. . v , Mr D. Reid also opposed the proposal, which he considered was premature and altogether inexpedient. It was a signal instance of the inability of the Government fay deal with local questions requiring local "knowledge, notwithstanding all: the care and attention they had .bestowed upoir the question. It was another illustration that people knew best how Jto manage their own affairs. /•. Mr Manders supported the formation of the Committee, as likely to be most .useful. Mr Douglas objected to the composition of the Committee. Mr Thomson also objected, adding that the . Counties were altogether too large. . : Messrs Hodgkinson and Fisher objected. Mr R. Wood considered it an ufiusual course to remit a Bill of this kind to a' Select Committee before its principle woe affiftned. Until its principle was so affirmed he would oppose any snob resolutions. He understood that the Government were not going to go on with any political business before the motions given notice of the evening before. But what were they doing now ? These motions were clearly political. He ventured to tell the Government if they asked the House to pass a resolution approvingigenerally of their financial policy they cbtdd not pass such a resolution ; and if they doubted him he dared them to do it. ' Mr Gibbs would not oppose the foritiation of the Committee, hut still thought it vtould be useless. v

Mr Lumsden objected to the motion. Mr Fyke was at a loss to understand the opposition to the resolution. Th#re were only two ways to decide the matter. Either the House had to decide as a whole 'how their boundaries should be laid or else they bad to refer the matter to a JSelect Committee. It appeared to him therewero two principles to be.taken in account in deciding a question of this kind—first, that persons resident in the county should hsve a community of interest; and second, that, as far as possible, boundaries should be limited by water shed. On the motion of Mr Macandrew, The debate was adjourned till after the second reading of the Counties BUI, the Government offering no objection. A similar motion referring to the North Island was also adjourned in the like way. Before going on with the orders of the day,

The Premier made the following statement of the intentions of the Government with respect to the resolutions given notice of by the members for Waikato and Gbraldine (Whitaker and Wakefield). He did not desire to argue the question, or to raise a discussion with respect to the resolution of the member for Geraldine. If carried, it would not give the consolidated revenue so large an amount as would be received under the Government proposals, so that the resolution of thehon. member had not even expediency to recommend it. With respect tb the resolution of the member for Waikato the same objection could not be urged, b&kuse it proposed that everything should be taken. With respect to both resolutions, the conclusion Government arrived at was that they would offer unqualified opposition to them, inasmuch as they traversed the proposals of the Government. They would, however, try to give to each hon. member the fullest facilities for taking discussion on ther resolutions. He hoped that the tables and papers required would be on the table early next week. Although it would be quite consistent for the Government, with these resolutions hanging over them, to decline to go on with any business until these resolutions were disposed of, they would study the convenience of members, and would proceed as far as possible with ordinary business in the meanwhile. The South Dunedin and St. Eilda Municipalities Validation Bill passed. »Mr Wason moved the second reading of the Canterbury Pastoral Leasing Bill, and expressed a diffidence in addressing the House upon a Bill which he believed would be opposed by most of the C anterbury members. The hon. member then proceeded briefly to explain the provisions of the Bill, which provides for the Waste Lands Board offering for sale by auction the pastoral licenses, not less than one nor more than two years before Ist May, 1880, the highest bidder to be the purchaser, and shall be entitled to receive a license for a year ; free selections not be interfered with. Valuation to be paid by the incoming tenant. The upset price of such lands to he fixed'at sixpence per acre. . Waste Lands Board to decide what shall be considered front country and what back. And that on or before~lßßo, pre-emptive rights shall cease. The hon. gentleman was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

ABOUT THE LOBBIES. (From our Special Correspondent.) Papers re the Californian Service, circulated’today, show that since May the mails were delivered under the contract time as follows:—In May, six hoars inward, and thirty hours outward; forty-four inward; in July, fifteen hours inward. The agents make repeated applications for the remission of Ll6B, port charges for the Cyphrenes, but the Government steadfastly refuse to recognise her os a contract vessel. On May 29, the representatives of the contractors in Sydney addressed the contracting Governments, Bug. jesting that the present route be changed m favor of the direet route from Sydney to the Bay of Islands, Honolulu, and San Francisco on several grounds; the principal being the disadvantage of calling at Fiji, the risk of navigation among the Fiji group,. and the avoidance of tran* shipment at Kandavan. The latter will prove of immense convenience to passengers in enabling them to retain tl eir accommodation from their starting point to their final destination, while it will result in establishing? large interchange of commodities between California and the Colonies, for which, under the present system of tranship* ment, the service is practically useless. Although the distance by the£|Jdtrect route proposed is somewhat greater, the time occupied in the voyages from Sydney to San Francisco and vice verm would not be materially increased. In pioposing to refrain from conducting the coastal service of New Zeeland, the contractors are actuated by the knowledge that their lugs and magnificent ships are somewhat unfitted for the coasting trade contemplated. This trade can be more safely and satisfactorily carried out by the fine local Steamers New Zealand now possesses, commanded as they are by seamen thoroughly acquainted the coast, nml the contractors axe nndesirons of interfc> iug with this trade. The depth of water in some of the New Zealand ports is so limited that it will be highly dongerons, and at times qui'e impossible for vessels if fully loaded to enter end leave. On Jhly3.Sk J. Vogel telegraphed to the

Pbntmaster-Gtaneral at Sydney, " 1 be Government will bo much indebted if to-day or to-morrow you will let them know your views about changes in the Californian service. Have had no reply to repeated requests of the same kind. The captains say the service will not be continued as at present, and that the contractors will throw it up. If you wish such a result let ns know. The people here would not much regret it, they are so tired of its irregularities. If you wish it to proceed it would surely be better to state your views. If W5 know your views we shall soen bo able to say if we are willing or not to meet them. At pre-ent the service is a continued source of annoyance.” Sir J. Vogel on the Bth telegraphs advising the Sydney Government to appoint a Select Committee, ns was done here, and asks the contractors’ representatives to state what reductions in the subsidy will be allowed if the contract is modified as asked. In the Presbyterian Church Cenveyanco Validation Bill clause 3 was struck out, Mr Macandrew objecting to a trustee being paid, and saying there were plenty of men in the Province who would voluntarily perform the duties. Mr Reynolds, in defending tno clause, said trustees bad long distances to travel, and there was at present power to pay them : upon which Mr Macandrew said there was power if travelling expenses were required. On the report of tl e Committee ©n the South Dunedin Validation Bill coming up for farther consideration, Mr Beynolds urged delay till the petitions before the House and others coming np were inquired into by the Petitions Committee. This course was strongly objected to by Mr Macandrew, who said the petitions would come np every day for the next six months, and tbe Bill would not pass this session; by Mr Burns, who read a telegram from some one in his constituency, stating that the Caversharo Bond Board was con;erned in the Bill, and that the opposition from that district w"8 personal; and by Mr Stout, who stated that he had advised a Drainage Board for all the districts, and had expressed his willingness to introduce a Bill, forming one, if the bodies interested combined—but such a board was utterly unworkable without Municipalities to look after the things those bodies attended to. Mr Beynolds explained that his action resulted solely from a desire to assist the ratepayers, nod that he thought the Petitions Committee should have had an opportunity of reporting on the petitions. He read a telegram stating that what was wanted was a Board similar to that in the Taicri district to look after the drainage, and not Municipalities. Things are very quiet to-day. There will be no sitting of Parliament, to-night in consequence of the Governor’s ball.