GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1070, 1 December 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegbaph.] [peb pbess agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Fbiday, Noyembeb 80. The Hpuse met at 2.30. native maeeiages. The Native Affairs Committee reported that they thought the Native Marriages Validation Bill entirely unnecessary, and that it had bettor bo withdrawn. MINISTEEIAL EESIDENCES. The Public Accounts Committee reported that Ministers retiring from o£s,ce during session should be allowed to retain ministerial residences for thh'ty days after leaving office, but that for present, ression lato Ministers should bo allowed to retain them till the prorogation. Mr SnEEiiAN thought the late Ministers should pay a reasonable rent for tho time thoj occupied them. Sir Q-. G-eey thought fourteen days quite enough to be allowed for removing. Mr Kolleston thought the matter one as between the outgoing and incoming Ministers, not one for the public.

Mr McLean pointed out that lie had left his official residence soon after leaving office, but none of the present Ministry had called to occupy it. Long after then he had received a circular from the Under-Secretary demanding rent, and asking him to appoint an arbitrator to fix the amount. He thought such conduct anything but creditable to thu Government. Mr Bowen said ho and his late colleagues would be very glad to pay rent from the day they vacated office rather than have any discussion over such a matter. Mr Swanson urged selling the Ministerial residences. Mr Reynolds thought this would be very unwise. The Ministers should not be required to leave their residences during the session, and it was contemptible to try and screw rent out of them. After considerable further discussion, the report was ordered to be printed, and the matter dropped. BAILWAYS. In reply to Mr Seymour, Mr Sbteehan said the Government would fulfil the promise of the late Government to complete the unfinished portion of the Picton and Blenheim railway. Inquiries would be made, and if possible a bridge over the Opawa would be made, suitable for dray as well as railway traffic. In reply to Mr Barff, Mr Macandbew said a survey of a railway from Duntroon to Kurow would be made during the recess. BILLS BEAD. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill and West Harbor Borough Mayoralty Election Validation Bill were read a second time. WASTE LANDS SALE BILL. Sir Geobge Gbey has just (8 p.m.) introduced the Waste Lands Sale Bill, embodying the Government land policy. He made no remarks. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Fbiday, Novembeb 30. The Hon. Dr. Menzies was granted leave of absence for the remainder of the session.