GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1036, 20 October 1877, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph, per press agency.] HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, October 19. The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr Button, Mr Sheehan stated that he had received a petition in Mr Mack ay’s case, and had obtained a copy of the depositions. He had sent the petition to to the magistrates concerned, and would between that time and 5.30 p.m. advise the Governor what course to pursue. The decision would be made known at 7.30. If favorable to Mr Mackay he would be at once released. In reply to Mr Thomson, Sir G. Grey said the Government intended to enforce a penalty for the non-completion of the Balclutna lino within the contract time, unless special reasons to the contrary were shown. Ho could not say when the Clinton section would bo completed. In reply to Mr Woolcock, Sir G. GBUY said the Government had not time during tho present session to take any action in connection with the question of the franchise or representation as affecting the Lower House. In reply to Mr Woolcock, Sir G. Grey said tho Government had no intention during the present session to create a Minister of Mines. CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENT ITAGISTRATA. Mr R-o *t asked the Minister of Justice* whether ho would causa inquiry to ba made into a case heard before the Resident Magistrate, Christchurch, when a woman was sent to prison with hard labor rot stealing flowers is tlje Canterbury Hwaaia. He

that the decision struck him as being very severe, unless there were special circumstances in the case which did not appear in the newspaper reports. Several decisions of the Christchurch Resident Magistrate lately had been eccentric, and the punishment awarded in this instance appeared excessively heavy. Mr Sheehan said he had sent for a copy of the depositions, but had not yet received them. All he knew of the circumstances was gathered from the newspapers. There was some misapprehension with regard to the sentence. He was informed that it was only twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, without hard labor. BILLS. The following Bills were introduced — Waikouaiti Harbor Endowment Bill (McLean), Waikouaiti Athenaeum Land Bill (McLean), Oamaru Harbor Board Amendment Bill (Shrimski), Port Chalmers Water Works Bill (Macandrew), Grey and Buller Westport Colliery Reserves Bill (Macandrew). Mr Fox moved the second reading of the Manawatu Land Orders Bill, explaining that thirty-five years ago the New Zealand Company issued large numbers of land orders, which the holders had not been able to use because the particular land to which the orders referred had been declared native reserves or the property of individual natives. This Bill provided for scrip of equal value to be issued to all claimants who satisfied the Commissioner, with £2 compensation added for every £1 originally invested. Mr Reynolds opposed the Bill on the ground that the Public Petitions Committee, appointed to inquire into the subject, only recommended 10s per £1 compensation to be added. Mr [Gisborne, Mr Swanson, and others, also opposed it. Mr Whitaker and Mr Reid supported the Bill on the ground that the claimants would if the Bill were not passed, in the end obtain far larger compensation. Mr Sheehan suggested that in committee the amount might be reduced to £2. The Bill was read a second time. The following Bills were dealt with —Third reading—Public Health Act Amendment, Public Reserves, Public Reserves Sales, Special Contract, Confirmation Dunedin Q-aol street Contraction. The committee reported the Lyttelton Harbor Board Land Bill, Education Reserves Bill, (Ponsonby Highway District Bill. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, October 10. A Bill was introduced and read a first time for the suppression of Public Lotteries. A message from his Excellency was road, covering the copy of a letter from the Duke of Newcastle in answer to a despatch from Sir T. Gore Brown, which recommended that some mark of approbation be conferred on Sir D. McLean. Tha Council adjourned till Monday next.