GENERAL ASSEMEBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 976, 11 August 1877, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMEBLY.

[by telegraph. PER PRESS AGENCY.I LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, August 10. Replying to Dr. Menzies, Dr. Pollen said he could give no answer at present as to' whether the Government would, during the present session, bring in a Bill to amend the Counties Act, 1876. As soon as he had any information on the subject he would gladly give it to his friend privately. The only other business was the reading of several Bills for the third time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 10. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES. Mr Curtis gave notice to ask the Government whether they intended to introduce a Bill dealing with reserves for higher education. THE SHIP QUEEN BEE. In reply to a question by Mr Rees, Mr f McLean said that if the man-of-war in ;• harbour had not gone in search of the missing boats of the Queen Bee, she would go immei diateiy. ; THE PIAKO SWAMP. ] In reply to Mr Murray, Mr Ormond said | that none of the money voted for the con- { struction of roads in Auckland Province last i session had been spent upon roads leading to the Piako Swamp Company’s property, i WAIMATE. J Mr Bowen said, in reply to Mr Teschc- ■ maker, that the Government proposed to ask I for power to remove the Resident Magistrate’s ■ Court and Police Station at Waimate to the j adjoining reserve. f 1 RAILWAY' EXTENSION. ! Mr Ormond said that the railway between 1 Cave and Albury stations would be opened in i a fortnight. ; APOLOGY*. ! In a break in the proceedings, Mr Tesche- ■ maker expressed his regret for certain ex- ' pressious he made use of towards the member i for Geraldine, in connection with the debate i on the Local Option Bill. ; NATIVE LAND COURT BILL, j On the debate on the Native Land Court Bill being come to, the Premier asked that it be made an order of the day for Tuesday next, when he would inform the House what ; the Government proposed to do with regard to it. Messrs Ballance, Sheehan, and Rees demanded that the Government should let the House know there and then what they proposed to do ; but Mr Brown (Ashley) and Mr Fox said it w*as only a reasonable ref quest, and that the House ought to agree to it. This was agreed to, cries of “adjourn” being raised. Mr Brown (Ashley) formally moved the adjournment. The Premier got up and said it appeared that a number of bon members quite mistook the position of affairs. The Bill was only a social Bill, and bad been stated to be such, and, therefore, there was no reason why they should not proceed with ordinary business. If members on the other side wanted to treat the question as a party one, let them move that they had no confidence in the Government, then they would find the Government ready to take '«]) the challenge. They should remember that the amendment came from the Government side, from one of their supporters. Some discussion here ensued between Mr Stout and Mr Whitaker. The former maintained that practically what the Government asked was for time to consider their position. That was I he only constitutional interpretation of the position, Mr Whitaker spoke at some length to show that what was asked was perfectly regular and not unusual. The amendment, though coming from one of their supporters, meant a revival of the former Jaw es tl« tjusstiou of JJatire Lauds Courts,

and, though he was force to confess that the Government as a whole had a great deal of sympathy with the amendment, there were so many points of importance involved that the matter required no little consideration. Mr Rees twitted Mr Whitaker with being abandoned by his colleagues, he being the author of the .Bill; and added that, were he (Mr Rees) occupying the place of the present Attorney-General he would contrive to be more in accord with Ids colleagues. Mr Reader Wood said it was unfair and unreasonable to ask the House to make speeches on education when an important political principle was under consideration. It was quite clear that an Opposition had arisen amongst the Government’s own supporters, and that the party they had once was entirely collapsed. Mr Button said what the Opposition wished was to drive the Government into a position they declined to take up. There was no necessity for this. If any member of the House wished to test the position of the Government it was quite open for him to do so in an open and straightforward manner. They would know then what they were dealing with. They washed to place the Government on the horns of a dilemma. Mr Gisborne pointed out that the Premier’s words could not bo construed as meaning to consider their position, because, according to constitutional usage the Government were not required to consider their position until the amendment was passed. After some remarks from Mr Thompson, Mr Fox said if their constituents could sec them playing at legislation and indulging in logomachy, they would feel inclined to take them by the scruff of the neck and knock their heads together. The present discussion was pure waste of time. Let them settle it by a division at once. Mr Montgomery and Mr Macandkew supported the adjournment of the House. After the position had been explained according to Mr Bowen’s view r , which agreed with that of Mr Gisborne, Sir George Grey proceeded to refer to the point in dispute, and supported adjournment. In the course of his remarks he accused the Government of impeding the most important business and of malting statements with regard to the financial position of the country calculated to deceive the country. The Premier had not told the country that they would have to raise about five millions in eighteen months or two years to carry on public works. This was deceiving the home creditor. There were three questions hanging over the heads of the Government which must seriously affect the position they occupied in the eyes of the House, namely, the question of incidental taxation, amendment on the Native Land Court Bill, and the motion regarding the “ Waka Maori.” Mr Stafford did not agree with the view taken by some members that the Government were in any humiliating position. He agreed w r ith the view taken of the position by the | member for Hokitika. So long as Govern - j ment remained on benches they were to decide how the business was to be conducted. The I Opposition had no right to decide what was a j vote of w r ant of confidence. Why, in the British Parliament when Mr Wood, now Lord Halifax, was the Chancellor of the | Exchequer, the House made the Goj vernment take back their budget and i remodel it. That was not regarded as a vote of want of confidence, and the same Government kept office three sessions after. He thought, however, that Government would be unwise to come down that evening with the Public Works Statement. But, as to feeling over-sensitiveness in regard to tbc motion for adjournment, and allowing themselves to be forced into a false position, the country would not thank them for it. He thought, however, the Government woidd have acted better for themselves if they had brought Mr Woolcock’s motion to an issue as soon as possible, because they could not go into Committee of Supply before that was decided. Under all the circumstances he ! would counsel Government to accede to the j adjournment. | Mr Reid explained that an understanding ! had been come to that Mr Woolcock’s motion j should not bo discussed before the Public | Works Statement was brought down. If it j had not been for the meaning which must | attach (o the adjournment by (lie country \ they might have acceded to it, but they did not regard it in that light, and therefore opposed it. Referring to Sir George Grey’s statements regarding the financial statement, he said that they ought to be accompanied by proof. lie would soon, however, be given opportunity to prove wdiat be must call vague general statements. Mr Rees proceeded to prove from the financial statement that Sir G. Grey’s assertions were quite true. It was clear the Government did not want the truth to be; known. Within the last two years there had been over £400,000 in Treasury Bills raised. They had to pay the Banks back the borrowed million in twenty months, and they were now with eight hundred thousand Treasury Bills out, for which no provision was made. He would take upon himself to draw up a small financial statement. If he could not make up a truer one than the Treasurer he would give it up. The Premier said he felt compassion for t he lion, gentleman. He had the misfortune to have written a book and made a prophecy that ruin was overtaking the colony. Well, live years bad passed, and ruin was still coming, and the bon. gentleman kept still floundering in the finances of the colony. He scarcely ought to be expected to treat the hon, gentleman in any other way than was done to persons who habitually used profane language, and not notice him. The Premier went on to show that Mr Rees was entirely astray in his figures. He clearly had no knowledge whatever of the statute law on the matter, and when he criticised the financial statement, the Government had a right to expect from him some knowledge of the law upon the subject. It seemed quite hopeless to argue with him. He tried to surprise the House by telling them that five millions would have lo be burrowed in five years, but be coidd tell him they would have to borrow more, and very properly so. There was no deficit beyond a mere book-keeping deficit. The Premier gave full detailed answers to Mr Rees’s charges to show that his statements wore unjustified. The discussion was continued by Mr Sheehan, who kept it up till 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In continuation of the debate on the motion to adjourn till Tuesday, Mr Sheehan resumed bis argument to show that the Ministers would liavo acted more manly, it, when they found that tho House was not with them, in not at onco taking issue upon the point. When Stafford and Fox led the House, the one on Government benches the other leading the Opposition, they tried the

strength of respective parties on the very question now in dispute, and though there was only a majority of one, resignations were handed in next day. After some further remarks hon. members said that having gained their point, they were prepared now to let the question of adjournment go and listen to the Public Works statement. The matter then dropped, and Mr Ormond proceeded to deliver his statement. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. [By Telegraph.] [pee peess agency.] At the evening sitting the Public Works Statement was delivered. The Hon. Minister for Public Works (Mr J. IX Ormond) reminded the House that he took office in January last, and he acknowledged the cordial assistance by way of information which he had received from his predecessor, the Hon. E, Eichardson. Considerable progress had been made during the year in railway works. The votes had not been fully expended, but those who were inclined to complain on that ground should remember that it was not until February that the monetary arrangements were concluded which enabled the authorised works to be vigorously proceeded with. The Kawaka line was now completed to the shipping place, and but little additional work on it was proposed at present. The Auckland and Kaipara line was being extended from Hclensville to a new and more convenient station on the Kaipara river, and from Auckland towards Eiyerhead, a section of ten miles was in progress. The course from that section to Eiverhead had to be delayed, as alternative plans were being prepared. The Auckland-Waikato lino was expected to be opened in August to Newcastle, or seventysix miles in all. The line from Newcastle to Ohaupo was proposed to he completed during the financial year, thus adding twenty-six miles. The work towards Te Awamutu was being also pushed on. The railway wharf at Onehunga was in progress, and during the year it was intended to improve the station and workshops at Auckland, and connect the present station with the Queen street Wharf. The Napicr-Manuwatu line would be extended five or six miles by October next, when it would he completed to Copua, and about sixty-five miles would be in work during the year. A few miles more would be finished and, as this would bring the Seventy-mile Bush settlements into more direct communication with Napier, the traffic would bo considerably increased. On the Wellington and Masterton line it had been found that all tunnels must be lined; this was necessarily a slow work, and the country was altogether difficult, but it was hoped that by December the line would be open to Kaitoki, twentyseven miles from Wellington, and every exertion would be made to complete the line to Featherston before June next. The formation of the works towards Masterton would be proceeded with, as would also those required for connecting the Wellington station with the wharf. The Waitara and Patea line would soon be completed to Inglewood, and a section south of Inglewood was in progress, and it was proposed to continue the work a few miles further this year. A short section to carry the southern section of the Patea-Manawatu line from the Wanganui river into Wanganui was under contract, and the whole lino from Wanganui to Foxton was expected lo be completed during the year. The Nelson and Foxhill railway would be connected with the city by June next, and it was intended to erect a workshop in Nelson. The Westport and Ngakawau line, and the works for loading coal would shortly be finished. The Picton and Blenheim railway was to he extended to Blenheim at once smd work southwards would be begun so soon as the survey had been completed. The Greymouth and Brunnerton line was working satisfactorily, and the Elver Protection works -would be proceeded with steadily. The station accommodation would be improved, and a workshop erected during _ the year. The line from Amberley to Waitaki was completed some months ago. The works proposed to ho carried out during the present year were an extension of the main trunk northwards from Amberley about fifteen miles ; the completion of the Eyreton Eailway, now under contract; the improvement of the line at the Waimakariri River ; the completion of the Opawa railway; the conversion of the broad gauge from Amberley to Lyttelton to narrow guage; the rearrangement and improvement of the railway stations at Christchurch and Lyttelton; additions to station accommodation, and a large increase of rolling stock. Between Mooraki and Dunedin the whole line was under contract, except the Waikouaiti section, the formation of which had been done by piece work. Every exertion would be used to get the works completed by January next, which was the latest contract date for any of them. Tenders had been invited for the Balclutha and Clinton sections of the Dunedin and Invercargill line, and the whole was to be completed by J tine next. Within tlie year the Invercargill and Kingston line would be completed, and the Government hoped that by that time the trunk line from Amberley to "Kingston, 527 miles in all, would he open for traffic. Additional stations and rolling stock for Ihe Marewhemui, Waireka, and Green Island railways were provided, and the Outram line was nearly completed, but required rolling slock. There was ranch yet to be done to complete the Otago western railways. The section from Wallacetown to the junction with the Otautau lino wae now contracted for and the completion of the •formation of that section to Riverton and of the Otautau line would be proceeded with, so as to be ready for plate laying as soon as the Wallacetown line was available for conveying the rails. There was no rolling stock for these lines, but what was requisite for their working had been ordered, and the valuation of the Canterbury and Otago railways in compliance with the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, gave these results; Canterbury, £731,759: Otago, £372,522. The total length of railway yet authorised was 1227 miles, of 412 were iu the North and 815 miles iu the South Island, and there were open for traffic 2121 miles in the former, and 6472' miles in the latter, making a total of 860 miles. An additional length of 274 miles would be completed during the financial year, about 132 being in the North and 142 in the South Island'. This would leave nearly ninety-three miles ot authorised lines to be completed, subsequent to the current financial year, something more than sixty-seven miles being in the North and t wenty-five miles in tho South Island. The mount appropriated by tho Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Act of last year for Railways was £1,309,600, the expenditure against which had been £967,425 13s 2d, including tha distribution to the several rail-

ways concerned of £29,881 15s 6d, being the balance of the advances made in previous years to the general railways account. The total expenditure up to 30th June, 1877, was £6,129,920 11s sd, and the outstanding liabilities £530,333 4s Id. This amount included the liabilities of all existing contracts, some of which extend into the year 1878 and for plant and materials ordered from home. It was intended to push on the exploration surveys during the present, year, and the main trunk lines in both islands, together with definite proposals for their completion. The House would be asked to give further aid in the direction of the special provision made last session for roads in certain districts in the .North Island, and for similar purposes in Westland and the Nelson southwest goldfields, on the grounds that these districts had urgent wants which would not be provided for by the local bodies, and that they had special claims to consideration from being so situated as not to derive the same immediate and direct advantages from the public works policy as other parts of the colony. Including revotes of balances from last year, the total asked for these road works would be £79,172, thus divided —Eoads north of Auckland, £25,206, including £15.206 balance for last year, to which amount there were liabilities — roads in Native districts, £12,000; roads in Westland, £19,164, including £9614 of balance; roads in Nelson, south-west goldfields, £17,802, including £7802 of balance. Hokitika and Christchurch road, £SOOO. Information had not been obtained as yet to enable an accurate statement to be made respecting the condition and cost of provincial roads and works in construction when the Abolition Act came into forces. Votes would be submitted as soon as the necessary information had been received. The Government recognise, said the lion, gentleman, that the distribution of the expenditure on t hese provincial works has been unequal in the different parts of the colony. We are also aware that there are some works in sparsely settled out districts, such as bridges over different rivers, which are urgently required to connect important divisions of the country, and that in some cases these works arc beyond the present means of the County Councils. We do not wish it to bo inferred that we think the colony can provide for all the works of this kind that are desirable, but we propose at the same time that we should submit votes to cover the liabilities on the provincial works in progress, and to ask provision for the more important and pressing of the works I have just described, and in so doing we shall take into consideration the claims of those districts which have not shared equally in the public works expenditure already incurred. A Bill would be introduced to enable the Government to make advances for opening up blocks of land for settlement. The Government recognised that a sum might be expended most advantageously in this way, but only £50,000 would be proposed to be so spent this year. The Bill would provide that any such expenditure should be recouped out of the proceeds of land sold in blocks thus opened up. As to water races, the expenditure had been almost wholly confined to a few races on which large sums had previously been spent. The Government had intended to hand the races over to the respective County Councils, but the counties communicated with had not been willing to undertake the charge, and considering the very large cost of the works the Government had not felt justified in handing them over until assured that proper provision was secured for their care and maintenance. The pecuniary results of completed races on the West Coast had not been very satisfactory. It was intended to ask for votes for £86,367, to complete the more important races in progress, and that amount would be thus divided : Thames, £6505 ; Wairnea, £25,828; Nelson Creek, £24,384; Four Mile, £14,000; Mikounui, £15,650. The amount named for the Mikounui Eace was the unexpended balance of last year’s vote, but as the estimated cost of that race was £BI,OOO, the Government would not propose tq. commence the work unless satisfied that the whole scheme would be completed by a private company. On public buildings £43,309 had been expended during the year, and the estimate was that £215,000 woidd be needed for the current year. This was largely owing to the charge and maintenance of all public buildings in the colony having to be provided for, many of which were formerly provincial charges. I t was found that many of these buildings were in a bad state of repair, and afforded insufficient accommodation. For schools alone it was estimated that £50,000 was requisite. The provisions needed for lunatic asylums, lighthouses, gaols, police and court houses was very considerable. With respect to coal exploration, the results of the year had included the completion of the survey on the Buller field which had been proved to contain over one hundred million tons of good coal, advantageously workable. Only one mine, that of the Wellington Company, had yet been opened at Greymouth. The Brunner Company had in three years extended their workings from twenty-two acres to thirty-eight acres, and their total output during that time had been 49,833 tons. The Coalpit Heath Company had coal in the market, and the Greymouth Company had reached coal in their new shaft, and expected to be at work shortly. In the Waikato basin it was believed to be probable that more coal existed than had yet been stated in tiro most sanguine estimate. Two new mines were sending coal to market, and one of them, the Bridgewater, had a. seam 55ft. thick, only 18ft. being at present worked. Cuming next to the question of railway management, Mr Ormond explained that when the Government took over the Otago and Canterbury railways they found that the tariffs charged on them differed from each other, and that the tariff on the General Government lines differed from both. Hence the necessity lor the railway commission, the recommendations of which, after very careful consideration, had been put into force. As to their effect, he said “ The Government believe that the tariff showed be as nearly uniform as possible, but experience has already shown that there arc cases iu which uniformity must be abandoned, or the traffic of the railways will suffer, and the Government will not hesitate in such cases to depart from the general principle ot uniform rate. In'thomeantime,! have instructed the managers of the different railways to report on the working of the tariff, and generally as to the operation of the new regulations, with flic hope that, aided by the information they can afford, and assisted by the representations that are freely made by the settlers, such alterations can be effected as will meet the public requirements.” The principal recommendations of the Auckland Railways Commission I were that charges should bo reduced, and I more power giveu to the local manager. The | Government concurred in the desirableness of ' the railway manager being allowed more

discretion than hitherto, and effect was being given to this view. The recommendation as to charges involved the whole question of the tariff, and after very carefully considering the subject, the Government purposed taking power this session to lease the Auckland and Waikato railway, with a view of practically testing the advantages of that mode of management. On the Canterbury railways the great increase of traffic caused inconvenience during the grain season. The traffic returns for March lasi- showed a total of 51,000 tons as against 07/100 in the corresponding month of 1876, and in April the return shows ‘19,000 tons as against 03,800. Such an increase could have been foreseen and provided for by the provincial authorities, and to guard against like difficulties in future the Government were procuring a large addition to the narrow-guage rolling stock, and the Amberley and Lyttelton section was being altered to the New Zealand standard guage. When the financial statement was made some departmental accounts of the southern lines had not been finally adjusted, therefore the amounts given in that statement as the earning and profit of the railways were not quite accurate. They were now found to be as follows:—Total receipts during the twelve months on lines under Public Works Department management, and during the six months on the Canterbury and Otago lines £311,187 7s lid ; expenditure, £221,800 17s 9d, leaving a balance of £80,386 10s 2d. As to the future the hon. gentleman said—“ The traffic returns for the present year will without doubt be largely in excess of last year’s. Not only have we to expect an increase on the lines now open, but it must be remembered that during the present year it is proposed to complete the works now in progress in Otago, which will connect the Northern and Southern districts with Dunedin, and make one continuous line from Amberley to Kingston of 527 miles, exclusive of 222 miles of branch lines in the same districts. Then the railways from Auckland to Waikato, Wellington and Wairarapa, and Wanganui to Fox ton are also to be completed within the same period, each line opening large and important districts, and although all these lines will not be completed in time to get the returns from them within the present year, yet the additional mileage that will be opened at an early date will materially add to the traffic receipts. Taking the three principal classes of works the expenditure in each island up to June 30th had been as follows :—North Island railways, £2,199,465 ; roads, £471,160 ; waterraces, £66,321 ; total, £2,736,947. South Island railways, £3,930,455 ; roads, £198,411; water-races, £288,741 ; total, £4,417,607. Aggregate for both islands, £7,154,555. The expenditure proposed for the current year for railways was £1,370,100. But that amount included liabilities which on the 30th June last were in the aggregate £350,333. In the following statement of railways and proposed appropriation the liabilities were included in each ease ; --Kawakawa, £6113 ; Kaipara and Punui, £142,830; Waitaro and Patca, £50,000; Patea and Manawatu, £141,956; Napier and Manawatu, £75,633 ; Wellington and Masterton, £162,677 ; Nelson and Foxhill, £11,083 ; Picton and Blenheim, £29,235 ; Grcymouth and Brunnerton, £35,006; Westport and Ngakawau, £38,234 ; Amberley and Waitaki, and northwards, £182,754; Waitaki, Bluff, and branches, £365,488; Winton and Kingston, j £39,296; Western railways, £37,587; surveys, £IO,OOO ; land, £42,208. The Government (said the hon. gentleman in conclusion) would have preferred to propose a smaller expenditure for the year, but taking into consideration that in the case of some of the most important railways the works are far advanced and represent in their unfinished state a large unproductive expenditure, we consider it necessary to provide for their completion at as early a date as possible. We think it requisite to push on the completion of the main line from Dunedin to Invercargill, and through to Kingston, and to advance the works on the different sections of the main trunk lines in both Islands, and to provide the rolling stock and station accommodation which is necessary to secure the efficient working of the railways throughout the colony. With the exception that we undertake the completion of those branch railways in the South Island which were in course of construction by the Provincial Government, our proposals are confined to works on the main trunk lines. We consider the colony is not in a position at present to undertake the responsibility of constructing branch lines, but must confine itself to steadily proceeding with main trunks. Wo fully recognise, however, that many important districts in the colony may ho immensely assisted in the development j of their resources by the construction of | branch or district railways, and to provide for | this a District Railway Bill has been pre- I pared, which, wo believe, will enable any dis- ( triet that is in a position to support a railway \ to secure it. I purpose submitting this Bill i to the House very shortly, and if the Parlia- j ment sanctions the work I have proposed, a I very considerable increase will be added ' during the year to the mileage of working railways, and looking at the results of the ; past year we may confidently expect a largely i increased traffic, and such returns as will j amply justify us in providing for the further j extension of our railway system. : After a few remarks by Mr Joyce, Mr j Barit and Mr Mac an drew, the House adjourned at 8.50, PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENTS. [I?KOM THE COItKKtjPONDENT Of THE CRESS.] Wellington, August 10. Last night things political were quieter than usual. In the discussion of the Local Option Bill, Mr Fox proposed the second reading in a fresh, vigorous, and eloquent speech, which was well received by the House. Mr Wakefield spoke in favor of the Bill, and related certain incidents in regard to Licensing Benches in certain districts, which caused some words in Bellamy’s after the debate, for which Mr Tcschemaker apologised. To-day there has been an angry discussion proceeding all the afternoon, which is not yet ended. On the Orders of the Day coming on, Major Atkinson asked for the postponement of the Lands Bill for the Ministry to consider Mr Ballanco’s amendment. This being carried, the Opposition suggested that the House should adjourn for the Ministry to consider their position. Major Atkinson announced definitely that the Bill was a social measure, not a parl y one, which means that the Ministry will not resign if defeated on it. The motion for adjournment has been spoken to by everyone as to the position of the Ministry generally, and has not added to their strength. The most noticeable part of the debate has been another attack on Government finance by Mr Rees, which brought the Premier to his feet with the most telling speech he has made this session.