PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4241, 29 September 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[By Telegraph.]

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.

September 29. At the evening sitting Mr Macfarlane moved the second reading of the Forest Act Repeal Bill, with a view to stopping present expenditure on forestry. The Premier did not oppose it, but announced that, in Committee, he would convert it into merely an amending Act by re pealing the money clauses of the present Act, and leaving the useful portion to be availed of at a future time.

While every speaker agreed in condemning the Forest Act as wild and inapplicable to the wants of all parts of the Colony, and unnecessary, the majority appeared to be of the same opinion as the Premier. The Bill was read a Eecond time.

Mr Laknach moved for L 2.000 being placed on the Estimates for the Otago Museum, but withdrew his motion on the assurance of the Premier that he would in the meantime provide for the support of the Museum out of the Land Fund of the Province, and would next session bring down proposals of general application. The Rabbit Nuisance Bill was read a second time.

A long discussion ensued upon the second reading of the Diseased Sheep Bill, the penalties imposed in the first part of the Bill being considered monstrous by some members, while those interested in woolraising said that stringent measures were absolutely necessary in the interests of the country.

The Harbor Bill will be taken this after noon.

The House adjourned at 1 a.m.

ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Of the Counties Bill in committee thirty-three clauses passed with little alteration. Mr Stout's absence is beneficially felt, members working honestly to make the measure a useful one. Mr Reynolds's objection to miners having votes was set down by the goldfields members in plain language. The boundaries of Counties will be amicably arranged and the business probably be got through in a fortnight. There was no business yesterday in the Legislative Council, owing to Dr Pollen's illness. Forty-two members met this morning to consider an article in the * Timaru Herald * reflecting on the House generally, and particularly on those members who voted for increased honorarium. Mr LarnaA was chairman. Au unanimous condemnation of the article was passed. There was a stron" feeling that the writer was a member ot the House, and that he should be punished On the motion of Mr Harper, the chairman was instructed to consult the Speaker and to report to an adjourned meeting to-morrow. The Speaker expresses the opinion that the article is an exceedingly gross offence. Members will proceed, even those who voted against the increase are in favor of punishing the culprits. Mr Pyke gave notice to place a sum on the estimates to make a survey of the Clutha Biver to ascertain the practicability of steam navigation to Lake Wauaka.

Mr J. C. Brown moves to change the name el Havelock to Waitahuna.

Mr Larnach wants to know in what offices the liovernment insurances ore made. The Premier moves that Government business take precedence four days in the week. Business ui progressing very well, and in the absence of Mr stout there is more harmony and less talk.

SftTt fiPTn Tiat* 29 The meeting to-day re the "Timaro Herald* was largely attended, and it was resolved almost unanimously to proceed against the publisher for a breach of privilege. An amendment moved by Mr J. C. Brown, that Mr Wakefield should be asked to apologise was contemptuously rejected. Feeling on the matter is very strong, the whole House havmg been attacked. The « Post/ which repeated thei offence to-day, wiU be dealt with hereafter tT.T?w? y 5 epl i e^. to h . is constituents through 2Eo W Tlmes - .. He caar g« s the twelve resolutioners with presumption for speaking in the name of the 370 electors who voted for him Messrs Reynolds, Pyke, and Hislop were the onlv Otago members who spoke and voted against the i£?w* f *&*%^. d Q™** KeserTesto the Harbor Board. Mr Reid's alterations in the BUI were earned by 42 against 10,