GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 731, 23 October 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(Per Frees Agency., HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Saturday, October 21. The House met at 2.80. ADJOURNMENT. It was resolved that the House, at its rising, adjourn to 2.30 on Monday for Go vernment business only. SAM FRANCISCO SERVICE. All correspondence relating to the San Francisco service was laid upon the table. Hon F. Whitaker pointed out that the question was getting urgent, as the service was on the eve of breaking down, as the contractors were prepared to forfeit their penalty and abandon the service, if a change were not at once made. They would not continue the coastal service on any terms. The hon gentleman read a telegram that passed between the New Zealand Government and New South Wales on the matter. The question now was, what the House would decide to do. What he proposed to do in the emergency was to ask the concurrence of the House to the following:—“ That, as a temporary arrangement pending negotiations with New South Wales Government, we consent to your proposal contained in your telegram of the 17th of October, substituting Auckland for the Bay of Islands. (Terms of telegram referred to are—the two colonies offer to the company £75,000 from San Francisco, Honolulu, Bay of Islands, Sydney; thirteen trips a year. Separate tender to be called for the coastal service, to be jointly approved, and the cost equally divided between New Zealand and New South Wales.”) The motion was agreed to. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. Sir G. Grey moved a resolution in relation to the Public Works Bill introduced into the Legislative Council, the effect of which was that the Council should expunge from its records all reference to that Bill. The Premier did not think it advisable to do anything that would lead to conflict between both Houses. They had already . asserted their privileges by ordering the Bill to be laid on one side. The Upper House was not to blame in the matter at all. He hoped the motion would be withdrawn. Sir G. Grey asked that the debate be adjourned to enable him to consider the matter. The Government asked it to be settled at once. Mr Stafford and the Speaker both urged withdrawal of the motion. Sir G. Grey declined, and went on to show that the question was one of the most important that ever occupied the attention of the House, and that they were called upon by every constitutional principle to stand up against any invasion of the rights of that House. Sir G. Grey’s resolution was put and lost by 34 against 20. NATIVE GRANTS BILL. This Bill was read a second time, the discussion to be taken when in committee. manhood suffrage. Sir G, Grey briefly moved the second reading of the Manhood Suffrage Bill. Several members spoke briefly on the question, in favour of legislating as soon as possible on the question of manhood sufrage. The Premier said it was exceedingly inexpedient to go on with such an important question at that period of the session, because it could not receive the consideration the subject was worthy of. A question of that kind ought properly to emanate from the Government, and as he believed the majority of the House agreed with his view, he would move the previous question, Mr Sheehan wanted the Bill read a second time. Then they could go on with the concluding business of the session After a good deal of discussion, the previous question was carried by 28 against 21. The Speaker left the chair at 5,35. On the House resuming at 7.30, they went into committee of the whole, and passed a resolution giving leave to bring in a Public Works Bill, and it was resolved that the second reading be taken on Monday. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BILL. The Provincial Abolition Financial Arrangements Bill was further considered in committee. Certain amendments, but not of an important nature, were carried, and reported to the House, to be considered on Monday. IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. A message was read from the Governor introducing the immigration and public works estimates. The House adjourned at 11 o’clock. POLITICAL NEWS. Wellington, October 23. In the House on Saturday night, Mr Donald Reid and Mr Delatour strongly remonstrated with Sir Gr. Grey and Mr Rees for obstructing the public business, and said they were beginning to be ashamed to belong to the Opposition, Mr Reid added he had during the session endeavoured to act loyally by his party, but had been humiliated and disgraced by the conduct of that party and its leaders. It is understood that the session will, in all probability, close this week. The Government will not recommend the House to agree with the amendments made in the ■Counties Bill by the Legislative Council, but it is hoped arrangements will be made at the ■conference of both Houses, by which the .difficulty will be overcome.