GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 47, 24 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

{Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency .) ; , r Wellington, July 23, In the House to-day, The Minister op Public Works announced that he will bring down his Works statement to-morrow.

Mr Parker asked the Minister of Worjis whether the representations regarding thd Ashburton bridge from the inhabitants of Ashburton had reached him, and whether the suggestions were likely to be complied with, ; r ‘

Mr Richardson said the representation had been made, and the chief engineer had visited the spot, but said to carry out the recommendation would entail a heavy cost. The embankment was quite high enough tu protect the town. Besides that it would be properly protected. In reply to Mr Parker, Mr Richardson said the post and telegraph office at Geraldine had been delayed, in consequence of the department not having been able to obtain a site, but now its erection would be gone on with at once. The Lyttelton Gas, Coal, and Coke Company Bill was read a first time. Mr Stewart asked the Minister of Works whether his attention had been called to the desirability of taking steps to secure that the rolling stock employed on the provincial branch railways should be of such pattern as to enable them to be used on the main lines, and whether it was intended to make such provision. Mr Richardson was understood to say that the stock on the branch fines would be so available. . , , r The second reading of the Plans of Town Regulation Bill was moved by Mr O’Neil, who referred to the previous history of the measure in Parliament since it was first introduced by himself. The measure was one which ought to go hand in hand with' the public works policy. By neglecting to pass such a measure the colony would eventually incur very serious loss, without taking into consideration the health of townspeople, which was far more : important. . • Mr Swanston supported the second reading. He said the question involved a great deal deserving the serious attention of the' Government. A little foresight in laying out plans of towns would often save the Government untold gold, and untold misery to the people. Mr Richardson had given the subject a. good deal of attention, and had partially, drawn up a Bill, but found it would be hedged round with so many difficulties that he was assured nothing less than a Bill of 1 200 clauses would meet the requirements. However strict they might be in framing the Acts, they could not stop the purchasers of land creating lanes afterwards, and often these' lanes, as in Melbourne, became most important streets. Mr Buckland considered the Bill utterly impracticable. The size of the streets was altogether too large. He hoped the Bill would be withdrawn.

Mr Murray thought such a Bill much required, and hoped it would be so amended in committee as to make the Bill generally acceptable. _ . Mr Thompson supported the Bill. They ought to take a lesson from the great towns of the world and provide that their thoroughfares were wide enough to plant trees on each side. The beach in Wellington was an instance of the necessity for a street. The Bill was read a second time, Mr Mogul said the Government were confident that the Bill in its present shape would retard the progress of the country. However sound in principle, the Bill was, theoretically, one of those measures that was likely to lead to a great deal of embarrassment, He hope! the lion member would not press the Bill beyond its present stage. The Camaru Hospital Reserves Bill was reported with amendments. The Deceased Wife’s Sisters Bill was reported without amendment. ; ’• ; 1 ITpon the motion fur the third reading of the Deceased Wife’s Sisters Bill, the Pee-

MIEE gave it as his private opinion that the population of the colony would bo injured by such a measure. It was quite true that a similar Bill had passed in the other colonics, but it was chiefly owing to the large amount of pressure in individual cases. There ought to be only one lawfor marriage, and it would be quite time enough to alter the present law when the Imperial Parliament did so. A groat deal of misery arose Horn an irregular marriage law such as the Scotch. He would dissuade members from disturbing the social relations of the colony. Ho would (not?) like to see New Zealand attractive to all those persons who desired to marry their deceased wife’s sister.

Mr Fox 'looked at the question from a different point of view to the Premier. What they had to do was to look to the requirements of the people, unt at any religious aspect of the case. The question was one that could not be subjected to individual interference, and the State had no right to interfere with the liberty of the subject. The House could not have a better example than the House of Commons and the other Australian colonies. It was only the preponderance of the Ecclesiastical elements in the House of Lords which kept such a Bill from becoming the law of England. . ]yi r O’Neill moved that the Bill be read a third time that day six months. A. division was then called for, the result being—For the Bill 24, against 17. The Bill was then passed. The Electric Telegraph Bill was committed and amended, so that the sender of a message could, by order in writing, and without the intervention of the Telegraph Commissioner, order the production of the telegram. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—A Bill to allow the Corporation of Wellington to borrow £25,000 for Waterworks, the Wellington Public Works Bill, and a Bill providing for the Election of the Mayor of Wellington, and a Bill to Amend the Southland Waste Lands Act 1873.

Wellington, July 24

In the House , last night, the Government, at the request of Mr Sheehan, agreed to furnish a return showing the receipts and expenditure upon the Onehunga Branch Bailway. In to Mr O’Neill, Mr Reynolds said it was impossible to furnish a return-of the duties collected for the past year on Australian wines, as they treated all kinds of wines alike in the customs. i>.’’ -

Mr Curtis moved the second reading Of the; Goldfields Act, 1806, Amendment Bill. Mr Buckland said that if this Act was beneficial' to Nelson, and was a good measure, it ought to be made applicable to the whole colony, which could be done by the alteration of a few words.

The Bill was read a second Rime, and then referred to the goldfields committee. The Nelson Waterworks Loan Bill was readia second time.

Sir J. Cracroft Wilson moved the second reading of the Provincial Fencing Law Empowering Bill. Read accordingly. A very long discussion ensued upon the Regulation of Mines Bill while in committee; but it was chiefly confined to the Goldfields member, who urged various objections to details in the Bill.

The Bill was ultimately reported with some slight amendment. A division ensued on an amendment in clause 40, proposed by Mr Reid, to the effect that the expenses in carrying out the provisions of the Act be by the General Assembly, instead of being defrayed by the provinces in which it was in operation. The result was a tie of 20 votes each. The chairman gave his casting vote in favor of the original clause. /; The Conveyancing Ordinance' Bill and Offences Against Persons Act were read a third time and. yYOOUI’m" In the Municipal Corporations Gas Works Bill, Mr Cnthbertson .obtained leave to introduce a new clause, authorising the Bill to apply,to Invercargill on a proclamation by*the Governor. At the request .of the Superintendent of Otago, /-■' : ' The Premier introduced a new clause in the Telegraph Bill, with the object of indemnifying any witness against penalties, for any evidencohn may give regarding a person, who has improperly divulged the contents of telegrams,)'l; ; .‘i, (I ■ This was agreed to, and the Bill reported with amendments. ■ * •

Tbei Conveyancing Ordinance and Offences Against Persons Act Amendment Bill were then read a third time and passed.

The House adjourned at 10 o’clock p.m.