GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 33, 8 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Anglo-Australian (Press Telegraph Ayeney. ) Wellington, July 7. In the Legislative Council the usual sessional committee were appointed. Mr Robert Campbell gave notice of his intention, to-morrow, to move an address in ieply to his Excellency’s speech. The following Rills were read a first time ; Offences Against Person Amendment, Justices of Peace Amendment. Mr Waterhouse suggested that at the commencement of the session Bills should be in the bauds of members at least a week before the second reading.

This was agreed to in the case of the three Bills named. '£he Council adjourned till to-morrow at two.

In the House of Representatives, Mr Wales of Otago, took the oath and his seat. Mr J. L. Gillies gave notice to ask the Government whether they took any steps to investigate the charges made against Judge Chapman, contained in the telegrams published in the “ Otago Times,” purporting to bo copies of telegrams seat by Judge VVard to the Premier : and whether they object to laying the telegrams and correspondence rebating to the subject on the table. In reply to MrL. Shepherd, the Premier intimated that it would be inadvisable for for any postmaster to have power to compel the attendance of subordinates to deliver mails on Sundays, and generally it was not desirable to make any change in the present arrangements regarding Sunday. Replying to Mr O’Neil the PREMIER said the Government did not intend introducing such a Bill during the present session. He thought that goldfields legislation was more properly the function of the Provinces. If the hon member chose to take charge of such a Bill he hoped the session would be long enough to give him an opportunity to have the subject ventilated. Mr Reynolds, in reply to Mr O’Neil, regarding the reduction of the duty on Australian wines, said that this colony only received one definite reply from Tasmania to the circular regarding reciprocity which had been sent to all the Australian colonies. In the meantime it was impossible to take any action until the question of reciprocity had been settled. The Debt Abolition Bill was read a second time, the Government intimating that sufficient time would be given to members to consider its provisions before the third reading. The usual sessional committees were then appointed. The Address in reply was moved by Mr Wales, and seconded by Mr. Gibbs, both being well received. The Address will be considered to-morrow, Mr T. B. Gillies moved for a return of persons employed during the financial year in land-purchase operations in the North Island, and the quantity, position, and price of the land purchased by each person. Mr Vogel said the Government had no objection to afford every information, excepting that which might be likely to prejudice the very delicate operations such as land transactions were sometimes. He did not deem it desirable that the House should ask the Government for more information in these matters than they felt it was expedient to give. Mr Gillies objected to that view. He asked only for returns regarding completed transactions ; consequently they could not be detrimental to the public service It was agreed that the returns be prepared.