GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 718, 7 October 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

{Per Press Agency.') house; of representatives, ■pifiDAv, October Q, LAST NIGHT’S SITTING, COUNTIES BILL, The Comities Bill having gone through committee, on the motion that it be read a third time Mr Stout moved the adjournment of the debate in order to have the amendments in the Bill printed. This was lost by 29 to 18. He then began a series of formal protests against the third reading. The following members spoke in strong terms, condemnatory of the Bill, predicting confusion and widespread dissatisfaction from its operation, viz Messrs DeLatnur, Hodgkinson, Rees, Henry, Sheehan, Burns, Grey, Eolleston, K. Wood, W, Wood, Stout. Mr E. Wood moved another adjournment, and Mr W. Wood, that the Bill be read that day six months, but both these were lost. Ultimately, at 2.20 the third reading was carried by 37 against fG. ' The' Ijousd adjourned till 2.30 on Monday, for 'the Government business only. The financial statement was not delivered. POLITICAL NEWS. Mr RdlJjEston asked whether the Government proposed to make farther storeage accommodation for grain in the Province pf Canterbury, and if not whether they will give facilities for the erection of stores by private enterprise at the several railway stations, and will give the public notice of the terms on which such facilities will be given ?

Hon B. Richardson said there was no doubt that larger storage accommodation was required during the grain season, but after a good deal of consideration the Government did not think they were called upon to provide storage accommodation for the farmers of the province. The railways provided for the carriage rot the storage. Every facility however would be afforded to private enterprise to erect stores at the railway stations and sidings, Government reserving the right to move these sheds without compensation, should station extension require it.

{From a correspondent of the Press.) Political rumors can bear being bottled till Monday. At present they are insignificant. There is some secret action which will probably effervesce on Thursday next. The House at present is waiting for the supplementary financial statement, which is to be made as soon as the Counties Bill is disposed of. An influential preliminary meeting was held to-day, for the purpose of presenting Sir J. Vogel with a testimonial. An enthusiastic expression was given to the feeling in favor of a substantial testimonial, and the promoters expect sympathetic action in the other parts of the colony. The Argus this evening says—“lf the rumors of the lobby have any foundation, there is mischief brewing in the Opposition camp. The Permissive Abolition Bill, introduced by Sir George Grey, has now been twice postponed, when its turn for second reading came on, but it is not, we believe, intended to abandon it. The rumors which we allude to state that next Thursday is to witness a demonstration of the full strength of the Opposition over this Bill, and that every means possible will bs used to force the Government to modify its proposal in respect to abolition in Auckland and Otago. This is the secret of the return of Mr Stout and Mr Lusk.