LAST NIGHTS SITTING.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 735, 27 October 1876, Page 3

LAST NIGHTS SITTING.

THE PROROGATION. In the House of Representatives last evening, the Premier stated that the Government expected that the whole of the business would be got through by Saturday evening. Perhaps all the measures would not be absolutely passed by the Legislative Council, but it would be known in what state the Bills would be passed. Hon members might therefore leave on Saturday evening, and to that end the Government would detain the two steamers sailing North and South until twelve o’clock, if necessary. TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS. Sir G. Grey briefly moved the second reading of the Triennial Parliaments Bill, and, after a short discussion, it was thrown out by 32 to 22, CIVIL LIST ACT. A good deal of discussion ensued on the Civil List Act Amendment Bill. It provided for the salary of a Minister for Education. Messrs Sheehan and Brandon took exception to any more Ministers being appointed, at any rate just then. Messrs Henry, Woolcock, and Barff thought that if another Minister was to be appointed he should be Minister of Mines. • Hon Major Atkinson and Hon F. Whitaker pointed out that, in consequence of the abolition changes, the work on Ministers would be increased one-third, and thej were afraid it would not be carried out satisfactorily without another Minister was appointed. Other members having spoken against it, the Premier asked that progress be reported, with the view of not proceeding further with the Bill. Progress was reported. BILL PASSED. The Consolidated Ftock Bill passed, and the House adjourned at 12,45. POLITICAL NEWS. Sir G. Grey played the last card in the game of provincial opposition within the House to-day, when he moved the second reading of the Abolition Permissive Bill, and did not win the trick. He spoke of the Boyal race of the Stuarts, of the Legislative Council, the Knights of St Michael and St George, the testimonial to Sir JVogel, and equally irrelevant subjects, but said scarcely aught of the advantages of abolition being permissive. He was followed, evidently to his chagrin, by no more prominent a member than Mr Handers, who rather strained Sir G. Grey’s remarks about discontent into a threat of open rebellion, and the Premier only condescended to make the briefest cf replies. Dr Hodgkinson spat venom indiscriminately, Mr Tolo aired his acquaintance with Brougham, Bright; and others, Mr Be»a gave, what came appropriately at the close of provincial history, a sketch of what provincialism had done. He and the others addressed almost empty benches, but the desire was apparently to speak through Hansard, fair G. Grey, in replying, made a ridiculous charge of the Government placing Mr Mandera and Mr Pyke in the rear as a source of annoyance to him and his party, and the Speaker was rather brusque in ordering Mr Handers not to interrupt when both he and the Premier had some fair reason to do so. Members breathed freely when the miserable discussion ended, and when the bell rang the absentees lounged lazily in till the number made up to fiftynine, when twenty-three voted for the Bill, and thirty-sis against it, Mr Rolleston and Mr Fisher being in the minority. The intermediate correspondence between himself and the Governor’s Secretary, which Sir G. Grey called for, proves to be merely letters drawing Sir G. Grey’s attention to the rule for three copies of such correspondence as his being sent to the Governor. Being in committee there is no record of the discussion on the Canterbury clauses of the Land Bill, and the only local report, on the authority of a member, is to this effect. On reaching the clause providing for a ten years’ extension of the leases of the runs on their expiry in 1880, at an annual rental to be determined by duly authorised Government assessors,JMr Bhsehan suggested that t’ao division taker, thereon should bo regarded so a test question, and decide the fall. of the subGcqkcnt or aubeidiory cbvosa. This wan, after r- brief discussion, agreed Hoasre Bdlocfcoc,. Stafford, Ptovcne. and Storey spoke in favor of tho dr-uoa the latter specially pointing out that the exceptional circumstances in which many of the runholders were placed, having, in their desire to extend an industry of great value to the colony, incurred heavy liabilities on the security of their runs, gave them a fair claim to consideration. Mr Laraach was favorable to the proposal, and considered that a similar provision should be made for Southland.