GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 423, 20 October 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.] {From a correspondent of the Press.') LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, October 18. The Council sat in the evening. OTAGO LANDS BILL. The Council, insisting upon its amendments in the Otago Land Bill, the Bill was withdrawn after a strong protest from the other branch. CANTERBURY EDUCATION BILL. The Canterbury Education Board Bill was thrown out on the second reading, the voting being— Ayes, 7—Hon Messrs Grace, Hart, J. Johnston, Miller, Richmond, Russell, Waterhouse. Noes, B—Hon Captain Baillie, Hon Col. Brett, Hon Captain Kenny, Hon Messrs Lahman, Nurse, Peacock, Peter, Scotland. It was lost by a fluke, two members, who were anxious to vote for it, being absent from the House when the division took place. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, October 18. The House resumed at 7.30. representation bill. Mr Tairoa’s motion for an additional Maori member, was negatived by 39 to 22, An amendment by Mr W. Kelly to alter the boundaries of the East Coast district, was ruled out of order, as the same matter had been decided on a previous occasion. Mr Sheehan proposed that part of the Thames district should be created a new electoral district. Hon G. C. Bowen said the proposition was, in another form, the old proposition to increase the representation of the Thames and the Government would have to resist it. In supporting the amendment, Sir G Grey appealed to the Government’s sense of justice. He expected nothing from their generosity, and said if Government persisted in its present course, they would lead the North to cast off all connection with the South Island, and any measure the North Island might take to secure its separation would be justified in the eyes of mankind. The motion was negatived. Mr O’Conou’S amendment for a new member for the Reefton portion of the Buller district was negatived by 35 to 17. Mr Sheehan proposed that the members for Taranaki be reduced by one; and in referring to its over representation, remarked that it had been urged that Taranaki had one member for its past sufferings, another for its present prosperity, and another for its future prospects. [A laugh.] This might be so, but he thought in a Bill like this, said to be brought in to remedy grave inequalities, the glaring over-representation of Taranaki should be reduced. This was negatived by 44 to 23. Several alterations of boundaries were negatived. On the Bill being reported, the number 74, in the second clause, was struck out, and 84, which includes Wanganui and Cambridge, inserted instead’

COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. On the motion to go into committee of supply, Sir George Grey made a long speech on the land purchase, See. He said Government had, by means of their majority, been able to put off an investigation of the charges he had preferred against them, but he warned them that he would persist in having them thoroughly investigated. There had been a temporary triumph on the side of evil, still most discreditable transactions had been brought to light, and a stop puc to them through the exposure that had been made. Sir D. McLean could not a’low the remarks of the lion gentleman to pass unnoticed. He appealed to the members of the committee to say whether he had on any occasion refused information that had been asked of him. He did not defend the action of the parties implicated in the Ohinemuri affair. He considered a very great wrong had been committed, but Government could not be blamed for acts of persons over whom they had no control. The agent of the Government had been acquitted of blame, but the person who was blamed had met with the punishment his conduct deserved. His services with the Government had terminated, and if further legal action could have been taken, Government would have done so; but under the advice of their legal officer it was considered no further legal action could be taken. With reference to the land transactions in the North, he had made it his duty to examine into the reports that had been circulated in reference to them, and had satisfied himself that none of the great wrongs talked about were perpetrated. The transactions of Brissenden had been clear and satisfactory, and had been spoken of in that light by the judge of the Native Lands Court. No better proof of that could be adduced than the fact that out of fifty purchases, comprising 300,000 acres, there was only one instance where the Natives had failed to carry out the original purchase,, or had attempted to repudiate advances made. In no instance h >d Government authorised or sanctioned any connivance on the part of their officers in assisting private individuals to acquire Native lands. The hon gentleman should show specific facts instead of rushing into all kinds of charges, and throwing imputations broadcast, well knowing that they were in a great measure thoroughly unfounded. BILLS PASSED. The following Bills were passed:—Supreme Court Commissioners Bill ; Disqualification Act Amendment Bill ; Confiscated Lands Administration Bill ; Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill ; Registration of Electors. At three the House adjourned. Tuesday, October 19. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr M'acan drew, Sir'D. McLean said it was the intention of the Government to get through all the business to-morrow, but it was possible the prorogation, which was merely formal, would not take place uatil Thursday. They expected the business to be practically over that day. In reply to Mr Shephard, Government said they would as soon as possible bring the streams at present being fouled by the gold mining workings, under the Fouling of Rivers Act. In reply to the same. Government said they could give no promise regarding the extension of the main line from Lawrence to Roxburgh until the coast lines were constructed. Hon E. Richardson, in replying to Mr O’Neill, said the Thames water race would be completed about the end of next month. Mr T. Kelly asked whether any attempt had been made to connect New Plymouth by telegraph with the rest of the colony 7 The Native Minister said Government had been fully alive to the necessity of the case, but they had not deemed it wise to run the risk of creating a rupture amongst the native owners by carrying the wire over their lands without their leave. Hon Mr Reynolds, in reply to Mr O’Neill, said he was not in a position to state when the Cape Maria Van Dieman and Mohokinui lighthouses would be in working order. They had been ordered a considerable time ago, but no advices had been received of their shipment. representation bill. The report upon the Representation Bill was considered, and the alteration agreed to. Before the third reading, Mr Sheehan denounced the Bill as an unjust and unsatisfactory measure, and one calculated to bring great discredit upon the Ministry. It was, however, an appropriate ending to a Parliament that was initiated by a scramble for railways, and terminated in a scramble for seats. Mr Reid would oppose the third reading of the Bill, as increasing the injustice it waa sought to remedy. Members had been granted in the North, and refused in the South, where there were more claims. Mr Fyke would support the Bill for the same reasons as the member for Taieri opposed it. The hon member for Auckland City West said it would be the cause of separation. He wished to Heaven it would. Nothing would please the South better than to get rid of the North, with her native wars, her land swindles, gold mining swindles, Pakeha Maoris, and missionaries. It had been a millstone round theneck of the South, and the great cause of the want cf progress in the colony as a whole. He considered the Abolition Bill a great triumph for the separation party, by sweeping away the provinces as a first necessary step, and making separation of the two Islands possible, with a Federal Government to deal with national matters —such as financial, postal, and telegraph arrangements. Sir G, grey said that in passing this Bill Government laid the seeds of future woe and evil to the colony. Government had neglected a noble opportunity of doing lasting good to the colony in placing its representation upon an equitable basis. It was a gross injustice to the North Island especially. The hon gentleman proceeded to accuse Government of so moulding the Bill as to secure political support for themselves. [Derisive laughter from the Treasurer.] Hon C. C. Bowen defended the Bill as being as fair an arrangement as could well be made with a measure of a temporary character. Hon Major Atkinson replied to some the assertions of Sir George Grey regarding the Government, saying that the hon gentle? man was constantly informing the House that all the accusations he made against the Government had been substantiated, whereas, if half of them had been established as true, they would not only be driven from the Government benches, but would be sent on the roads. The only weapon he could find with which to face the hou gentleman wa(

laughter, and as long as that bon gentleman followed the course he adopted tbrou bout the session he would meet him with laughter. He denied that they had been animated by a desire to confer representation upon dis tricts from which they received support, though it would be hard to look round the colony and discover a d.strict from which Government did not receive support. The Bill was then read a third time, and passed on the voices. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. Mr Murray intends, on the going into committee of supply, to move that the Bill for conferring the power of local self-govern-ment be printed, and circulated, at least one month before the meeting of Parliament next session. The Legislative Council recommend the consolidation of the various Acts relating to the employment of females, and the introduction of such provisions from the English Acts, more especially those relating to the education of children, as may be found applicable to the circumstances of the colony. The public account committee report tomorrow. The supplementary estimates brought down last night contain some interesting items. Under the various votes charged against the consolidated revenue for 1874-5 there are items amounting in the aggregate to £36,075, amongst them being £3BOO for public buildings, £2750 for militia and volunteers in the North Island, and £7lO for the same object in the Middle Island. Provision is made for a new legal officer, to be termed Parliamentary Draughtsman, whose remuneration is to be £SOO a year. A second Examiner of Titles at a salary of £250 is to be appointed in Canterbury Laud Transfer office. £4OO is put down as a subsidy for a steam service between Wellington and Kaikora. Mr Swanson, is to get £SOO compensation for delay in stamping a deed, £3500 is voted for expenses in connection with the Philadelphia Exhibition, Votes are asked far of £20,500 for contingent defence and liabilities (in addition to sums already voted; £IO,OOO for roads in native districts, and £BOOO for roads north of Auckland. Compensation to the Hon; H. Russell is set down at £616 IBs 4d, although the waste lands committee recommend that the sum should be charged against the Hawke’s Bay land fund. The actuary and accountant of insurance office is to get an additional £IOO a year, and the AuditorGeneral, Dr Knight, on account of past year, is to have £IOO for professional advice in finally deciding on the terms on which each proposal should be accepted by the Commissioner. Altogether, the supplementary estimates tot up to £95,172 5s 2d, in addition to which, there is a further vote of £69,388 6s 8d chargeable against immigration and public works appropriation, and £75,867 10s 6d for unauthorised expenditure during the last year. Since the Bills cannot all be got ready, the prorogation is postponed till Thursday. The rules under the new Debtors Act will be submitted to the Judges and the Chambers of Commerce for approval. Mr Bowen hopes he will be able to bring them into force by the beginning of the year. The general elections are expected to take place early, as soon as the rolls can be issued. On the second reading of the Appropria : tion Bill to-m'ght they expected to have a long discussion; but Mr Fitzherbert’s illness prevents that. Mr Reader Wood is also absent. The Municioal Corporation Loan Bill was further considered in committee in the Legis lative Council yesterday, and then very nearly considered out of existence, notwithstanding that its principle was affirmed on the second reading, and that its recommittal was merely an accidental circumstance; but having been recommitted, Hon Mr Waterhouse made such amendment on the 4th clause as to render it still more acceptable. The amendment was to the effect that the sanction of ratepayers should be obtained to the borrowing of any sum of money by corporations. Hon Mr Johnston, however, could see no recommendation in the Bill which, in his opinion, gave to corporate bodies dangerous powers. He moved that progress be reported, and could not be persuaded to withdraw his motion. The motion to report progress was carried, being voted for by 9, The Speaker voted unintentionally on the wrong side, and on the chairman reporting progress, Hon Mr Waterhouse moved that the Bill be committed to-day. This was done, with no better result, for to-day the Council, by 11 to 10, threw out the Bill.