GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 65, 15 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

♦ (Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency.) Wellington, August 11. In the Legislative Council, The Laud Transfer Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. The Cromwell Waterworks Bill was read a second time: and on the second reading of Naoier Harbor Hoard Hill being moved, The' Hon Mr ROBINSON moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six mouths.

The Bill, however, was read a second time after slight opposition. The Taranaki Waste Lands Bill was read a second time. In the House of Representatives, last night, Upon the House resuming, the Premier announced that Mr O'Rorke had sent in his resignation to his Excellency, which had been accepted. Mr. Sheehan moved, " That the law regarding the sale of land for the nonpayment of rates is unsatisfactory, and that the Government should draw up a measure duriner the recess to make collection of rates less difficult." It was supported by Mr J. E. Brown and Major Atkinson, who bore testimony to the effect the great expense of collecting the rates had in retarding settlement, and hoped the Government would consider the matter. Sir Donald Mclean said the Government would consider the matter. The Speaker announced that he had received a petition against the election of Mr Von der Heyde, and that the necessary bonds had been entered into to proceed against him at law. A committee will inquire into the case on Tuesday.

A long discussion took place during this afternoon on the report of the Speaker of the House on the Manawatu-Rangitikei claims, and the recommendation that a sum be placed on the estimates for the province of Wellington. The Premier strongly opposed the views of the Speaker, and denied that the province had any claims upon the colony for compensation in regard to the award of Sir Donald McLean in the Manawatu dispute, and that there was no ground whatever for any claims for constructive damages either legally or equitably ; that in fact Sir Donald McLean's award enabled the provinces to obtain possession of lands they otherwise would not have got, and that instead of the award havincr been a loss to the province, it had actually made a large profit already. He was prepared, however, if the House agreed, to bring down a resolution allowing the Weill' ngton Loan to be increased by the amount of the award, the interest and sinking fund to be paid by the province. Mr Fitziierijert admitted that legally the province had no leg to stand upon, but that equitably it had. Mr Fox went into the history of the whole (question of the Manawatu disputes to show that the province could have no possible claim upon the colony. The very reverse rather was the case. Through the exertions oj the General Government, and especially of the Native Minister, the province obtained peaceable possession of 220.000 acres, out of which they sold £IOO,OOO worth, making a splendid nest esg to keep them going ever since. Altogether the claim made was a piece of ingratitude, and indicative of the most greedy and grasping avarice he had ever seen.

Mr T. B. Gillies considered the House bound in honor to carry out the recommendation of the Speaker, although not legally bonrid to do so. Sir Cracroft Wilson and Mr Rolleston supported it. on the ground that the House was obliged in honor to give effect to a recommendation of the Speaker. Sir Donald M'Lean moved the adjournment of the debate. The Premier stated that the Excise Bill which was to be introduced would provide for abolishing distilleries altogether, in this way—the Duncdin distillery to be allowed a compensation of £20,000, and to be allowed to distil 70,000 gallons between the first of July last and the 30th of June next ; to the Auckland distillery £7500, aud to be allowed to distil a certain quantity of spirits till June next to exhaust the materials. The Government would impose a shilling a gallon differential duty during the present year, to bo increased a shilling per gallon each two successive years.

Wellington, August 15. In the House of Representatives, at the evening sitting yesterday, Sir D. McLean went into the whole history of the Manawatu difficulty, and said of all the delicate and difficult native negotiations he ever had in New Zealand, that was by far the most troublesome. He was confident that had he not succeeded in satisfying the objecting natives at that time, the Manawatu land would not have been acquired, and the prosperity of the province would have been retarded indefinitely. Tt was utterly unreasonable to make the colony responsible for his individual action in the matter, taken at the most pressing entreaty of the provincial authorities, and no amount of persuasion would ever induce him to undertake such a duty again.

Mr Fitzherbert insisted that the question had gone beyond arguing, and though he could adduce many more reasons for supporting the claim of the province than those stated by the Speaker, he would not do so, as the obligation of the Government was purely honorable. . . Mr Andrew pointed out that as the Bill gave his award on a point altogether outside of that he was asked to arbitrate upon, the House would establish a mischievous precedent to arbitrators by passing the resolution. A division was called for, and resulted in the votes being in favor of the award 29, against 25. A resolution was carried that the Governor be requested to place an amount over £IO,OOO upon the supplementary estimates. The PREMIER moved the second reading of the Provincial Public Works Advances Bill, for enabling Superintendents to obtain advances out of the consolidated revenue, for public works, in accordance with the proposals iu the financial statement. Mr Curtis said if the provisions of the Bill were adhered to considerable delay would arise in the construction of the Nelson public works, and suggested some necessary alterations to avoid that, as he would have to call the Provincial Council together. Mr T. B. Gillies said that all advances seemed to be made each upon a separate principle. As regarded the Auckland advances, the Government were reserving to themselves power to deal out the £40,000 in any way they might deem advisable. The provisions for security also differed very much, and he wanted the Bill to be framed upon some intelligible principle, making no distinction in the mode of dealing with different provinces. The Premier was prepared to consider in committee any reasonable objections to the Bill, which was then read a second time and committed for today. Iu the absence of his colleague, the Premier moved the second reading of the Immigration and Public Works Act. The Bill provides for laud purchase iu the North Island, compensation for loads in the North

Island, for railways, and aiding works on the goldfields. Mr Tribe asked if the Government proposed to make the maintenance of the road between Westland and Christchurch a colonial charge. The Premier said he thought that the maintenance of this road should be divided between the provinces of Canterbury and Westland. He expressed a hope that the Superintendents of these provinces would consult on the matter. The Bill was read a second time. In the absence of the Minister for Public Works, the Premier moved the second reading of the Railway Bill. Mr Cuthbertson took the opportunity of giving facts and figures, as to the value of the BlufE and Winton railway, which he hoped would be considered in the valuation.

In reply to Mr Sheehan the PREMIER said although the extension of the lines from Kaipara and Riverhead and Auckland, did not appear in the schedule, the Government did intend to ask for authority for that work. Mr Mervyn hoped alternative surveys would be made of the lines via Tapanui and Cheviot.

Mr T. Shepherd hoped the Government would next session take steps to form a line of railway through the centre of the province of Otago ; tapping a large area of Crown lands, and thus largely enhance the value of the public estate. In replying,the Premier intimated 1 hat the first thing the Government would consider, was the completion of the main trunk lines between Wellington and Auckland in one island, and Nelson and West Coast, and Marlborough and Canterbury in the other, so as to place the towns of the Middle Island in connection, but to leave the large provinces that have money to spend, and are in a position to enable them to complete a proper system of branch railways. If the Government assisted one province in making these line, the others immediately put in their claims for a like consideration, and they found themselves much embarrassed at times by the local jealousy, in the fulfilment of their policy. The Goverdment would as opportunity served, purchase those main Hues of railway constructed in the Middle Island by the provinces. The Bill was then read a second time. The Harbor Works Bill, providing for enabling the Superintendents and Boards to undertake harbor works, was reported with amendments. The Premier stated that the Government were not certain that they would, this session, proceed with the Polynesian Trade Bill, in consequence of the debate upon the abolition resolutions, and would postpone everything but the business absolutely necessary. The House adjourned at 11.15 p.m.