GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 58, 6 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

{T>cr Anglo- Australian Press Telegraph Agency.) Wellington, August sth. In the Legislative Council, to-day, The Hon Colonel Brett moved— 11 That in accordance with the recommendation of the report of the Select Committee on the; Canterbury Public Domains’ Act Amendment Bill,, it be not proceeded with during the present session,”

This motion was opposed by the Hon Mr Campbell, who had charge of the Bill, who suggested that a clause be inserted that it should not come into operation until the Provincial Council had an opportunity of reconsidering the matter. The Hon Mr Robinson had voted with Colonel Brett on the former occasion under a misapprehension that the site was in the reserve. He should now vote with Mr Campbell. The Hon Mr Waterhouse objected to the course proposed by Mr Campbell, as the Provincial Council would proceed to the consideration of the subject with their hands tied. The Hon Mr Paterson said he should support the motion, as it was the recommendation of a committee appointed by the House. The Hon Mr Hart suggested that they should wait for another year. The Hon Mr Menzxes thought the passing of the Bill would tie the Provincial Council to that particular site. The Hon Mr Mantell thought with regard to the petitions for or against, the one might be considered of as much weight as the other. The Hon Mr Williamson would vote for the motion, as it was the wish of the people. The motion was carried by the casting vote of the Speaker. The Hon Mr Mantell moved, that copies of all communications received by the Government from the Chief and other Judges in the Native Lands Court, expressing a favorable opinion upon the provisions and operation of the Native Lands Act 1873, be laid on the table. The motion was carried. The Hon Mr Waterhouse moved that the Real Estate Descent Bill be committed to a committee of the whole Council on Thursday. I The motion was carried. The Hon Dr Pollen moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Oyster Fisheries Act, 1866. ' The motion was carried. The Goldfields Act, 1866, Amendment Bill, second reading, was carried. The Provincial Fencing Laws Empowering Bill, second reading, was carried. The Presbyterian Church of Otago Lands Act Amendment Bill, second reading, was carried. In the House of Representatives to-day, Mr F. W. Kelly asked whether the Government intended to educate the sons of native chiefs, as indicated by his Excellency in an address, at the Auckland Grammar School ? Mr Maclean said the Government intended to take every means for the education of the whole native race. When his Excellency made that remark, he was unaware that there was an excellent boarding school at Auckland, where the sons of chiefs could be educated. Mr Murray moved.for a return of the civil service officers who have resigned during the past year. The 'motion ' was agreed to. Mr Fitzherbert. moved —“ That the House consider the report of the Speaker on the Manawatit Rangitikei claim, with a view of carrying out the recommendation of the Council, and placing a sum on the supplementary estimates to meet what must be considered an equitable claim.” It will be considered on Tuesday. Mr Murray moved for a return of the number and amount of the Port Chalmers railway debentures taken over by the colony, together with the yearly charge for interest on those outstanding. The motion was agreed to. Mr T. B. Gillies moved fora return showing the respective amounts of all loans authorised by the Legislature and the respective amounts raised under them. The motion was agreed to. The adjourned debate regarding the working of the Native Lands Act, 1873, was resumed by Mr T. B. .Gillies. He said he had seen the proposed Amending Act, but could see that it failed, to remedy the defects complained of in the. old Act. They could not possibly be expected to frame a suitable Act without availing themselves of all information obtainable, and above all of the valuable suggestions of the judges, who knew most about the matter. Messrs Rolleston and WILLIAMSON concurred in the vie vs of the preceding member. Mr McLean said a great deal of misapprehension existed regarding the Act, It had not been shown to be unworkable, and had never in fact been tried, and the only real hostility to the Act proceeded from interested Europeans, but had no objection to lay before the Committee all papers and information the Government possessed. THE WARD-CHAPMAN CASE. On the motion of the Hon Mr Acland, in the Upper House, a Select Committee was appointed to enquire . into' the breach of privilege committed by the “ Tribune ” by publishing an Auckland telegram, purporting to give an account of the examination of Judge Ward before the Ward-Chapman committee. M.r J. L. Gillies moved a similar motion in tbe Lower House, ;> Mr Tribe asked why they did not attack the paper in ■which the telegram first appeared. ~ , , ; The Speaker said they must proceed against the first paper which they saw the matter in. . ! Committee was ordered to be appointed. WELLINGTON, August 6. In the House of Representatives yesterday, The Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. On the committal of the Wellington Lands Payment Bill, The Premier said he considered some limitation should be placed in the Bid, to prevent what might lead to an enormous waste of land. _ t ! Mr Bunny said the Bill was just a copy of the Marlborough Bill, which had been passed without a word of opposition. They! had roads and bridges to make, with no money ■to make them. The House would not lend them any. and the House ought not to try and prevent them availing themselves of such means as they had at their disposal, Mr Pearce protested against making any difference between one province and another, as was evidently done in this case. Only a few hours ago they had passed a ■ Bill, setting apart one-fourth of all the laid in Taranaki,

The Premier explained that the case of Taranaki was quite different and denied the charge of -favoring unduly any particular province.

Mr Fitzherbert denounced the practice of the Government making fish of one province and flesh of another, notwithstanding the statements of the Premier to the contrary. The Premier appealed to the sympathy of the House as an injured individual, when he detailed the large amount of favors showered upon Wellington. Was it because the Taranaki votes were safe, and those of Wellington were as be was happy to say not always in support of Governmeut, that this was the case.

The Premier adhered to every statement made regarding Wellington, He scorned the imputation of purchasing votes. If they had wanted, they need not have gone far for them, as they had previously been in the market at very low terms. He certainly would not go to the smallest province in the colony for them. No Government in this colony had ever been less in need of that kind support. He did not think that the House would permit such a practice, in any case, it was always bad policy for the Government to traffic in that way. Mr Fitzherbert took the opportunity of replying to the Premier, and in concluding observed that he made the bold prediction that the Premier was hurrying the policy of the colony to a speedy failure, and that he well knew it. There was not a tittle of truth in the financial statements regarding the Province of Wellington. The Premier left it to the House to say whether he ever wilfully attempted to deceive it ; but he would refer hon members to the correspondence regarding the Audit Act. and leave them to judge between them.

Mr Fitzherbert reiterated for the third time that the Premier’s statement regarding the Province of Wellington was utterly repugnant to truth, and that the Premier ought to be ashamed to refer to the audit correspondence, Mr Luckie was about to refer to the judgment of the Supreme Court, when the House cut short the altercation with cries of “ Question,” and progress was reported.

The committal of the Auckland Waste Lauds Bill caused a good deal of discussion. The Premier opposed the clause for parting with land for homesteads, as contrary to the spirit of the sixth section of the Public Works Act, which never contemplated giving away land. Messrs Sheehan and T. Gillies defended the clause on the ground that the best policy was to people the laud, and not to obtain revenue from it.

The Premier was persistent, and progress was reported, i ' The Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill was passed. The Highway Boards Empowering Act Amendment, and Registration of Births Amendment Bills were discharged at the request of the Government.