PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4222, 7 September 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[By Teleoraph.] THE HOUSE OF BEPRESENTATIVES. THE AQEHT-BENERALSHIP. The following is the.division list on Mr Stout’s amendment of the previous question which the Government accepted:— Ayes, 24: Andrew, Baigent, Bums, De J tautoar, Dignan, Fisher, Fitzroy, Grey, Joyce, Montgomery, O’Borke, Bees (teller), Bolleston, Seaton, Sharp, Stevens, Swanson, Thomson, Tole. Tonks, Wakefield, Wason, Wood B. G. (teller). Wood ‘V. Noes, 41: Atkinson, Ballonce, Barif, Bastings, Bowen, Brown J. E., Brown J, C., Bryce, Bnuny, Button, Carrington, Cox. Douglas, Gibbs, Harper, Henry, Hunter, Horsthouse, Kelly (toller), Kenaedy, Kenny, Lumsden, Macfarlane, M’Lean Sir D., M'Lean G., Moorhouse, Mnrray-Aynsley, Ormond, Pearce, Pyke, Beid D., Biehmond, Rowe, Bussell, Sbrimsld, Stafford, Stout (teller), Tawiti, Tribe, Whitaker, Woolcock. At the afternoon sitting^ In answer to questions, Ministers stated (1) That on Wednesday the Government would be prepared to say whether they woold place on the Estimates L6,oooand interest to he paid to the Native owners of the Princes street reserve, being rents due up to the issue of the Crown Grant. (2) The Government did not see their way to take legislative action to prevent ballast trucks, in which workmen were riding, being driven in front of the engine. The practice might be dangerous, but was not always avoidable. (3) It was expected that the railway to Lawrence would be opened for traffic, in four months. It was intimated by the Premier that the Government would probably ask the Horuse to ait on Mondays for the remainder of the Session. The Attorney-General’s Repeal Act ivas read a second time. On Mr Stout’s motion that copies of tb« ‘Jurist’ should be supplied to Resident Magistrates’ Courts, the Minister for Justice said, if it were withdrawn, to make inquiries during the recess with a view to ascertaining if the publication was likely to be permanent. The motion was amended so as to include all other reports of liew Zealand decisions, and agreed to. On the motion of Mr Taiaroa that the request made by Tawhiao fora restoration of portion of the Waikato should be given efleet to, the Native Minister said When he bad an interview with Tawhiao, he distinctly pointed out to him that it was quite impossible for him to get any portion of the Waikato. They would not dispossess the Emropeans who bought their land. He thought the Government would not object, if Tiawhiao would apply for some portion of the unsold confiscated land still in posse&sio ti of the Government, when they would bring the matter before the House, because he thought it was highly desirable there should be a friendly understanding between the two races. The motion was negativedl on the voices.

The motion of 'Mr Wakefield, ' that -the position of Government whip is incomps vtible with that of Chairman of the Public • Petitions Committee was, after some discussion, withdrawn. At the evening sitting, A message from the Legislative Council was received notifying their agreement in the amendments made by the House in the Local Elections Bill. The Otepopo Athenseum Reserve, *che Oaniaru Tramways, and the Waiuku Native Grants, the Otago Educational Preserves Management, the Lawrence Recreation Reserves, the Dunedin Reserves Exchanges Act Amendment Bills wers* read a second time without discussion. The Lyttelton Public Reserves Vesting Bill was committed and passed without amendment. The adjourned debate re the messages from the Governor introducing Harbor ' ,Beard Bills was, on the motion of the Premier, postponed till next Monday, when the whole of the Harbor Bills will bo sub- •- iaitte.il to the House. J ■ In the resumed debate on the Canterbury Pastoral Leasing Bill,

1 Mr Rolleston 'hoped the hon. member in charge of the Bill would consent to its being read that day six months. Mr Wason defended, and Messrs Montgomery, Wood, Stafford, and Sharp opposed the Bill. Sir George Grey was entirely opposed to any legislation at present with regard to the wast lands of the Colony, such as that indicated by the Government, at this late period of the session, but would support the Bill now before the House, as in his opinion it was a movement in the right direction, so that the present pastoral leases might be submitted to public auction, with a view to the subdivision of the enormous tracts of country now in the hands of a few individuals.

Mr Bastings would vote fer the second reading, but hoped to make certain alterations in Committee.

On a division for the second reading twenty voted therefor and thirty-six against. It was thereupon carried that the Bill be read this day six months. In Committee on the Dunedin Municipal Bill clauses 1 to 21 were passed without amendments. Clause 22 was postponed, and clauses 23 to 26 having been passed, progress was reported. The Lawrence Athenaeum Reserves Bill was committed and passed without amendment.

The House then went into Committee to consider certain messages from the Governor. The first was a recommendation to raise money for immigration and public works, the second in reference to the consolidation and inscription of New Zealand stock, and to make arrangements with the Bank .in England in reference thereto; the third, to five Treasury bills extended currency, übsequently, in the House, Bills were introduced, and read a first time, to give effect to the resolutions passed in accordance with the above messages. The Law Practitioners Acts Amendment Bill, having special reference to the petition of Mr Smythies, was introduced. The Attorney-General considered that Mr Smythies having given a receipt in full of all demands in consideration of having received LI,OOO from the Colony’he was not entitled to any further consideration from the House. The debate was adjourned till Wednesday. Mr Smythies’s receipts are to be printed and distributed. The Goldfields Act Amendment Bill was read a second time with the understanding that the discussion thereon comes off on the motion for its committal.

The Napier Municipal Endowment Bill was read a third time aud passed. The House adjourned at 1 a.m.

ABOUT THE LOBBIES,

(From our ovm Correspondent) Wellington, September 7. The Gold Duties Amendment Bill passed its second reading, and the debate is to be taken on going into Committee to-night. The Opposition caucus was a failure, resulting in a general burst up of Sir George Grey’s party. Mr Montgomery has given notice of a Bill to prevent members of the Assembly being appointtd to offices of emolument under the Government.