GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 710, 28 September 1876, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

([Ter Press Agency .) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, September 27. A good deal of debate ensued upon the Roman Catholic Lands Bill, which was lost by 18 to 6. The Canterbury Sheep Ordinance Bill was read a second time. The other business was of slight interest generally. The Council rose at 5.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, September 27, The House met at 2 30. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES, In reply to Sir R. Douglas, the Premier said it was not the intention of the Government this year to continue the usual provincial grants of money to agricultural societies and country libraries, though they might on a subsequent occasion ask for a special vote for those purposes. EVENING PAPERS. In reply to Mr Joyce, Hon F. Whitaker explained that it was proposed at the end of the session to return to the 200 words system at evening rates for evening papers. He could hold out no prospect at present that the Government could continue the present privilege of 500 words at evening rates to evening papers. It had been found that telegrams for evening papers being usually sent during the busiest hours in the day, interfered very much in delaying the telegrams of commercial people and of the general public. the manukau. In reply to Mr O’Rorke, the Hon G. McLean said they did not intend to provide a steam launch this year for the Manukau harbor. MR SMYTHIES, Mr Delatour asked if Government would support the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Act, if the £IOOO was returned which was paid to Mr H. Smythies by the last Parliament. The Premier said they could not enter into any arrangement, as it was their intention to oppose the Bill at every stage. PRESS TELEGRAMS. Mr Joyce gave notice that he would move —“ That press telegraph charges he made unifvm.”

RAILWAYS IN OTAGO; Mr Delatour moved—“ That the House tomorrow, resolve itself into committee of the whole to consider an address to the Governor, requesting that he will cause provision to be made, so that an area of the waste lands of the Crown should be set aside in Otago, the proceeds of which under the waste land laws in force, or to be put in force, should be granted as a special fund, as a guarantee for the payment of any monies hereafter to be raised for the purpose of opening up the interior of Otago by a main central railway.” As the Government localised the land revenues of each district, it behoved the Government that they were spent to the very best advantage, and it was their sacred duty to lake steps to open up the interior lands of the province, so that they might carry people instead of sheep. The hon gentleman went on to 1 show what a large area of land in the interior of the province required to be opened up, some of the lines of railway required to open up this land being as long as sixty-five miles. Instead of opening up the lands of the colony first by railways and thus doubling them in value, the practice was to allow a few people, or settlement generally, to occupy the lands, and then afterwards to buy at exorbitant “prices the land required for railways out of the public chest. The Premier said the hon gentleman had his entire sympathy when he said he wanted to see the land reserved for real settlement, but there was nothing in the resolution to show that the lands sold in the way pointed out would be sold to real settlers, and in a way to promote settlement. The question opened was a very large one, because if they did what was proposed in Otago, they would have to do so all over the colony, and it appeared to him, however desirable the object might be, that the colony was not now in a position to do what was asked. She could not reserve large areas of land already pledged for the credit of the colony. Besides Otago had a sufficiency of land to secure the construction of public works for the next couple of years at least. This proposal was therefore premature at present. He trusted the hon gentleman would be satisfied with having ventilated the matter. Mr Eeid thought a central railroad in Otagu was very desirable, but the time had not yet arrived for such a work. In any case he thought such a work should be constructed out of a loan instead of by locking up the lands. The hon gentleman argued that it was inexpedient to carry out what he proposed now, because the counties would require a large share of land to meet the wants they would call into existence. It was true that the counties would be forced to rush the land into the market to raise revenue, but would not this proposal aggravate this feeling by depriving the counties of a first instalment of the land.

The House divided, and the motion was lost by 24 against 20. NEW ZEALAND PILOT.* Mr Hunter moved—“ That the Government should take steps to issue the next edition of the New Zealand Pilot." Hon G. McLean said the department was fully alive to the importance of the work, and were taking necessary steps to procure the issue of a new edition. At present every piece of information relating to rocks and reefs on this coast was regularly sent home and noted upon their charts. IMPORTATION, OF CATTLE. It was ordered that the House would tomorrow consider of leave to introduce a Bill to rescind the importation of cattle and "other animals into the colony in certain cases. THE LATE MR ELIOTT. Mr Sharp moved for a grant of six mouths’ salary to the widow of the late Charles Eliott. The Premier pointed out that deceased belonged to the Immigration Department, and not being a civil servant, he had no claim whatever upon the Government. They could not therefore acquiesce in the request made without being guilty of an infraction of the law. Mr Curtis pointed out that this was a special case, and one in which the House might well deviate from the law, notwithstanding the opposition of the Government. The deceased was one who, it was well known, had done a great deal for the colony, both as a member of that House, and as an enterprising settler. Mr Murray said the matter ought to be referred to a committee. Mr Reid and Mr Reynolds opposed the motion. Mr Stafford and Sir G. Grey supported. The House divided, and the motion was carried by 40 against 12. TELEGRAPHIC EXTENSION. Mr Thomson moved, in the usual way, for the extension of telegraphic communication to Gatlin’s river. Hon F. Whitaker said he was sorry the Government could not accede to the motion. The district was no doubt considerable, but it was very much dispersed, and the wire would be of use to only a small portion of the people. The primary cost of the line would be £2OOO, and the subsequent maintenance £260 or £3OO a year. Mr Burns and Mr Murray strongly supported the motion. It was argued that Mr Whitaker was out in his figures, that the expense would not be so great as indicated, and the probable revenue much greater than was anticipated. The saw millers alone would contribute very largely. Mr Carrington said the best plan would be for those who wished for the line to guarantee any deficiency in the working of the line. That had been done iu several instances in the North Island. Mr Fyke said it would be unwise to sanction such an expenditure. In the immediate radius of where the station would be created there were not more than 300 people, and these were mainly employed in the saw mills. The only people there likely to use the telegraph were the owners of these mills. Hon W. H. Reynolds, who supported the motion, pointed out that the annual expense would be very little, as the resident postmaster could act as telegraphist, If they were going to act in a hard and fast way in these matters, and not grant telegraphic communication except where there would be no loss, then several of the stations in the North Island would have to be closed, Hon P. Whitaker said if the Government could be assured against any loss in the working of the line after it was up, Government would construct the line. Mr Thomson said, although he had no authority for saying so, he believed a guarantee would be given, He then withdrew the motion. Hon W, H. Reynolds then gave notice to more foy a Return of telegraphic receipts and

expenditure, giving the receipts of each sta« tion separately. AUCKLAND RAILWAYS. Mr Hamlin moved for a Select Committee to enquire into and report upon the management, charges for passengers and goods, and hours for running trains along the Auckland and Mercer, and Onehunga railway. Hon B. Richardson pointed out that it would be unfair to appoint such a committee, and set them to enquire into a matter in the absence of those most concerned. Besides, at this late period of the session, when there were such demands upon members of the House, it would be difficult for them to attend. He hoped the motion would be withdrawn. He pointed out that the fares on that line were lower than the average fares throughout the colony. Mr R. Wood said the whole secret was that the line was not managed there on the spot, but by telegraph from Wellington, which could never be done successfully; It was a remarkable fact that while Messrs Brogden had the line they made it pay very well, while since the Government took it over, month by month the receipts steadily decreased—in fact, the line had become as nearly as possible useless. ■i. .• it, ■ J Mr Macfarlane and ■ Mr Rowe said nothing could be worse managed than the railways in the Auckland province. Mr Rolleston thought this period of session was not suitable for. obtaining a satisfactory inquiry into the matter, and thought the motion might now well be withdrawn, the attention of the Government having been so markedly called to the matter. Mr O’Rorke bore testimony to the mismanagement of the railway in question. Mr Kelly pointed out the only way to satisfy the House and the colony and give fair play to all would be to hold an inquiry on the spot. The Premier said if .the hon member would withdraw the motion he would undertake, on behalf of the Government, to appoint a commission' to enquire fully into the whole matter in Auckland. The motion was withdrawn. The Speaker left the chair at 5.30 p.m. LAST NIGHT’S SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30; provincial appropriations extension. The second reading of the Provincial Appropriations Act Extension Bill led to considerable discussion, several members being under the, impression that the present services would be placed in the hands and under the control of the Superintendents and Provincial Secretaries, .when the Provincial machinery stopped. Generally, however, the members considered the Bill a wise and necessary measure, in order to prevent any hitch in the change from one system to another. ,

Sir G. Grey announced his belief that Abolition could not take place; that the Home Government had been misled in the matter, and that as far as Auckland -was concerned, he intended to contest the matter in the law courts of the colony. After a great deal of discussion the Bill passed. GRATUTIES. A gratuity of two years’ salary was granted to the widow of the late Colonel St John. An appropriation of £llO was ordered in the matter of Mr John Fuhey, and in like manner £139 to Mr Farnall, late immigration agent. LAW PRACTITIONERS’ ACT. The Law Practitioners’ Bill was read a third time by 23 to 20. POLITICAL NEWS. - (From a corresvondent of the Press.) Political gossiping has given place to practical work since Mr Maoandrew and Mr Stout left for the South. Those who still speculate on the outcome of events turn their attention in that direction and wonder what their programme from to-night's platform may prove to be. Private telegrams report their reception at Dunedin as being of the most modest description. The Wanganui election is also the subject of some speculation, generally favorable to Mr Fox's chances. A third subject occupying the columns of the papers here is Mr Coleman Phillips’s claim to the authorship of the Polynesian scheme. A long letter by Sir Julius has elicited another equally long one from Mr Phillips, and the Times has published some columns of evidence before the committee, while the evening papers comment in diametrically opposite directions. The subject is more comprehensible by the reading of details than by a telegraphic summary, but it seems scarcely worthy of all the space given to it.

In the House the Counties Bill occupied nearly all yesterday, but not more than thirty clauses were dealt with, out of the 200 of which the Bill consists, Mr Rees and Mr Wakefield speaking frequently on minute points not materially connected with the principle of the Bill. To-day the House cleared the order paper of a number of motions which have stood iu print for months, and to-night the first order is the Provincial Appropriations Act Extension Bill. It simply extends the appropriations from the 30th of September to the 31st of December, but it is questioned how this will exactly apply if abolition becomes an accomplished fact at the close of the session. The close is not expected to take place before three weeks, but the Government will force their business on by adding another day for Government business, and the House seems generally disposed for work. Many members have lately been ill, and are weary of Wellington. Mr Stout’s absence from the House has made a marked difference in the pace and progress of business. Mr Montgomery has given notice of moving in committee on the Education ‘Boards Bill a series of clauses providing for compulsory attendance of children at the public schools. The provisions are that parents and guardians of children between the ages of seven and fifteen years, shall cause them to attend school for not less than seventy-five days in each half year, unless some reasonable excuse for their non - attendance be shown, the following being specified as reasonable excuses ; that the child is under instruction otherwise; that the child has been prevented from attending by sickness, danger of infection, or any unavoidable cause ; that there is no school within a distance of two miles; or that the child has oeen educated to the satisfaction of an inspector of schools. The penalties are not to exceed 5s for the first offence, or 20s for each succeeding offence, recoverable before a Justice of the 'Peace, who may imprison for a period not exceeding seven days,