GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 651, 20 July 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Press Agency.')

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 19. questions.

Mr Stevens asked what were the respective contributions of the provinces to the Consolidated fund during tho year ending 30th June last.

The Premier said he could not give the information asked for at once, as he did not think any treasurer could carry the figures relating to nine provinces in his head, but if the hon member would formally move for the information a return would be prepared for him. Mr Curtis asked if the Treasurer would furnish the House with an approximate estimate of the probable liabilities of each province for which it is intended to make provision by the proposed loan of £750,000. The Premier said if the hon gent would write him a letter asking for the information required, he would send it to the Treasury and have it prepared in due course: In reply to Mr W. Wood, the Premier said Government did not intend that session to endeavor to effect any changes in the constitution of the other branch of the Legislature. timaru gas bill. The Timaru Gas, Coal, and Coke Company Bill was read a third time. GRANTS TO RELIGIOUS BODIES. On the motion of *JAt Hamlin, it was agreed to furnish a return of all sections of land in the Auckland province granted to religious denominations, with all particulars as to its size and location. GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. Mr Larnach moved that a return be laid before the House, specifying the sums of money spent and being expended in the construction and repairs of Government Buildings throughout the colony since Ist July, 1870 ; the said return to state the purposes for which any building was erected, and the purpose for which it is now used ; also, to show in detail the amount spent and being expended for the above purposes in each province in each year since the date named above. Hon E. Richardson said the Government had no objection whatever, but the return would be very difficult to make out, and could not be done before six weeks. If the House desired it, it would be prepared, The motion was agreed to. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

Mr Reader Wood moved—-" That there be laid before the House copies of all correspondence and telegrams in connection with the sale or hypothecation of the million and a quarter of unguaranteed debentures." The Premier said it was not considered desirable at the present time to produce the correspondence. At the request of the loan agents this correspondence was made confidential, and in subsequent letters received from them it was particularly asked that they should be confidential, and it was probable even at a future time that they would still be considered confidential. On that information he trusted the motion would be withdrawn. A letter was received yesterday, Pending the arrival at home of the authority to hypothecate the short dated debentures, an arrangement had been made to borrow one million on unguaranteed debentures. As soon as the'authority reached home the negotiation would be carried out. He might say, for the information of the House, that the terms were favorable to the colony, inasmuch as the amount to be borrowed need not be placed in sums of lees than £50,000, at 5 per cent, to be paid twelve months from the respective dates of borrowing. Mr Macandrew said that as the information asked for might, if furnished, involve the public interest, he thought after the information given by the Treasurer that the motion should be withdrawn.

Mr Stout thought if Government did not produce this correspondence they ought to give the House such information as to ease their minds with regard to certain stories that had been in circulation at home in regard to our financial arrangements. The motion was withdrawn. BOUNDARIES OF COUNTIES.

Mr Bichardson moved—" That a Select Committee, of fifteen members, be appointed to consider the proposed boundaries of counties for the Middle Island, and to make recommendations thereon,sixto be aquorum, the committee to consist of Messrs Barff, Bastings, Curtis, Harper, Henry, Macandrew, Manders, Stafford, W. Wood, Woolcock, and the mover.

Mr Macandrew thought the motion premature. It would be time enough to do what was asked for when the second reading of the Bill came on. Government had no right to take it for granted that the House would accept their Bill at all. Mr Bolleston also objected, and predicted a great deal of opposition to the Bill from the chairmen of road boards, who would show it through their representatives. He was well aware of a great deal of dissatisfaction against the Bill. Mr DeLatour objected to the formation of the committee.

Mr D. Eeid also opposed. The proposal was premature and altogether inexpedient. It was a signal instance of the inability of Government to deal with local questions requiring local knowledge, notwithstanding all the care and attention they had bestowed upon the question. It was another illustration that people knew best how to manage their own affairs,

Mr Manders supported the formation of the committee as likely to be most useful. Sir It. Douglas objected to the composition of the committee.

Mr Thomson also objected, adding that the counties were altogether too large. Mr Hodgkinson and Mr FISHER objected.

Mr Wood considered it an unusual course to remit a Bill of this kind to a select committee before its principle was so affirmed. He would oppose any such resolutions. He understood Government were not going to go on with any political business before the motions given notice of the evening before, but what were they doing now. Theße motions were clearly political. He ventured to tell Government if they asked the House to pass a resolution approving generally of their financial policy, they could not pass such a resolution, and if they doubted him, he dared them to do it, Mr Gibbs would not oppose the formation of the committee, but still thought it would be useless. Mr Pyke was at a loss to understand the opposition to the resolution. There were only two ways to decide the matter. Either the House had to decide as a whole how boundaries should be laid out, or else they had to refer the matter to a Select Committee. It appeared to him.there were two principles

I to be taked into account in deciding a question of this kind—lst. That persons resident in the county should have a community of interest ; and 2nd, that as far as possible boundaries should be limited by watersheds. On the- motion of Mr MAC ANDREW, the debate was adjourned till after the second reading of the Counties Bill, Government offering no objection. THE STEWART SETTLEMENT. Sir G. Grey wished to know whether certain settlers in the Vesey Stewart settlement were to be allowed land for the land orders granted them by Mr Farnell while at home as immigration agent. The case of these people was one of great hardship. The Hon Major Atkinson said the case was somewhat complicated, and he would like the hon member to move in the matter in the ordinary way, and get the question discussed upon its merits. Mr Farnell had no authority from the the General Government to issue land orders, though he believed those that were issued were under the authority of the Provincial Government. Mr R. Wood said that Mr Parnell's only authority waß a telegram received from Mr Gillies. Mr Sheehan said there was a misapprehension in the case, as he believed Mr Farnell had authority to issue land orders, but that as soon as the mistake was discovered the authority was revoked. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Before going on with the orders of the day, the Premier made the following statement of the intentions of the Government with respect to the resolutions given notice of by the members for Waikato and Geraldine. He did not desire to argue the question or to raise a discussion. With respect to the resolution of the member for Geraldine, if carried, it would not give the consolidated revenue so large an amount as would be received under the Government proposals, so that the resolutions of the hon member had not even expediency to recommend them. With respect to the resolution of the member for (Vaikato, the same objection could not be urged, because it proposed that everything should be taken. With respect to both resolutions, the conclusion the Government had arrived at was that they would offer unqualified opposition to them, inasmuch as they traversed the proposals of Government. They would, however, try to give to each hon member the fullest facilities for taking a discussion on their resolutions. He hoped the tables and papers required would be on the table early next week. Although it would be quito consistent for the Government with these resolutions hanging over them to decline to go on with any business, until these resolutions were disposed of, they would study the convenience of members, and would proceed as far as possible with the ordinary business in tie mean while; BILLS ADVANCED. The Canterbury Education Reserves Leasing Bill was read a second time. The South Dunedin and St Kilda Municipalities Bill passed. PASTORAL LEASES. Mr Wason moved the second reading of the Canterbury Pastoral Leasing Bill, and expressed his diffidence in addressing the House upon a Bill which he believed would be opposed by most of the Canterbury member. The honourable member then proceeded briefly to explain the provisions of the Bill which provides for the Waste Lands Board offering for sale by auction the pastoral licenses not less than one year nor more than two years before the Ist of May, 1880, the highest bidder to be the purchaser, and shall be entitled to receive a license for yeaTS ; free selections not to be interfered with; valuation to be paid by the incoming tenant; the upset price of such lands to be fixed at sixpence per acre (for ?) back country, and the Waste Lands Board to decide before the day of sale what shall be considered front country and what back. And that on or before 1880 preemptive rights shall cease. The hon gentleman was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.