PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Volume 4246, Issue 4246, 5 October 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[Br Telegraph.] LEGISLATIVE CuUNCTL. THE AGENT-GENERAL. October 4. Replying to a number <xf questions by tho Hon. Mr Waterhouse, the Colonial Shore. TART said that Sir Julius would draw salary from the date of his appointment; that the passages of his family* would bepa’.d by the Colony, but travelling allowances would not be made; that tho AgentGeneral will be required to devoto the whole of his time to the duties of the office; and that the fsovemment did not think themselves justified in making any difference in respect to security between Sir Julius and the previous oftcupant of the office. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. At the evening sitting the Schedules of THE COUNTIES BILL And all the Counties were passed until coming to the first of the Otago Counties— Waitaki. Mr Reid moven 1 as an amendment that Southland and Wallace remain as two Counties, but that aU the rest of Otago be known as the County of Otago; and that all the Counties laid out in the Schedule be called Ridings. This led to a long discussion among the Otago members. A division was taken, and the amendment negatived by 36 Against 23. On coming to Molyneux County, Mr Thomson proposed that the name be changed to Vincent County. 1 his was carried on a division by 27 to 22. Mr Stout then moved tuat it be called Vincent Pyke County. This was lost by 31 against 19. The name of Lakeland County was amended to Lake County. A discussion arose os to the Mataura water-shed, with regard to Southland County; it being added to the Clutka County, on a division, by 26 against 12, Stewart’s Island, Euapuke, and the adjacent islands, were, on the motion c f Mr Stout, constituted a new County under the title of King’s Ceunty, and it and Stewart’s Island County were added to the second schedule. Schedules 3 to 9 inclusive were agreed to. The Bill was then reported, and tie amendments ordered to be considered on SViday. THE ATTORNEY-GENERALSMIP. Mr Whitaker moved the second residing of the Attorney-General's BU, and gave a slight sketch of the tenure of office of the Attorney-General since the creation ot tie office, and said that the time had now come when a change should be made. The Bill, he explained, allowed the office to be political or non-political, as the case might be. Mr Reynolds opposed the Bill. He was bound to say, from his experience, that political Attorney-Generals gave opinions in accordance with their politics. Mr Moorhousb could understand an At-torney-General being a partisan, and a keen politician, but could not understand him risking h ; s reputation by giving bad law. The Bill was read a second time. THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

The second reading of this Bill being moved, objection was taken to going on with it this session.

Mr Stout moved it be read that day month, while Messrs Sheehan and Hunter strongly supported going on with the Bill, which, .as Mr Bowen explained, had already received a good deal of consideration in the other House, and was a measure that had been before the Honse before. After some discussion, the hill wrs read a second time, and in Committee, Tanneries were classed as offensive trades, this being the only amendment made in the whole Bui of 153 clauses. The Bill then passed.