GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1439, 26 September 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, September 25. call of the council. In the Council to-day the first business was the call of the Council, moved for by Captain Fra?er. The. absentees were Messrs Acland, Williamson, Stokes (in England), P. A. Buckley, Russell, and Sir John Richardson (sick), and Mr Robinson, who had been compelled to leave for Christchurch that morning. IMPORTED BIRDS. Mr Mantell presented a petition from 183 Natives, praying for permission to destroy imported birds, which injured their crops. IMPORTATION OF STOCK. In reply to Mr Hall, who asked what the Government proposed to do on the lapse of the present prohibition of the importation of stock, The Colonial Secretary stated that the Government did not feel justified in making any promise. SHIPPING AND SEAMENS ACT. It was promised that a despatch from the Imperial Government, referring to Shipping and Seamens Act, 1877 (reserved for the Royal assent) would shortly be produced. PIRST READINGS. The following new Bills were introduced : The Otago Schools Commissioners Bill; a Bill empowering the investigation of title to land in Ormond military settlement (Auckland) ; a Bill to amend the boundaries of the city of Wellington. WELLINGTON RESERVES. The Wellington Reserves Bill was thrown out. THIRD READINGS. The Brands Registration and Land Claims Pinal Settlement Bills were read a third time and passed. LOCAL BILLS. The following local Bills were read a second time: —Milford Harbor, Clyde Athena-urn, Mataura Resorve, and Wyndham Recreation Reserve Amendment. IN COMMITTEE. The Council th<m went into committee on various local Bills. Mataura Reserve and Wyndham Recreation Reserve were passed without amendment. Some progress was made with the Waitaki High School Bill. The first two were reported, read a third time, and passed. EVENING SITTING. CALL OF THE COUNCIL. In the Council to-night the names of those members who were absent at the call in the morning were again called over. On Mr Robinson's name a sharp discussion ensued, in the midst of which Mr Peacock tried to get up a privilege question on account of the manner in which he was spoken of by Colonel Brett in seconding the motion for a call. Colonel Brett tried to reply, but was stopped by the Acting-Speaker on the ground that there was no'motion before the chair. Colonel Brett moved—" That Mrßobinson's excuse for absence was not satisfactory, and that he be fined £50." Colonel Whitmore moved an amendment to the effect that Mr Robinson be ordered to attend in his place on Wednesday next. The last was carried. Some of the speeches were strongly worded. Mr Gray characterised Mr Robinson's conduct as the most contemptuous contempt that could be conceived ; and Mr Peacock as " a contemptuous piece of contempt." Hen. members became warm at times, and the whole scene was out of the usual style of the Council's proceedings. The matter having been settled so far as mentioned, Iho Council went into committee, and proceedod with the Oamaru Waterworks Bill and other measures. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, September 25. The Houso met at 2.30. MAOUI REPRESENTATION. Mr T/uaroa gavo notico that he would move for leave to" introduce a Bill to amend the Maori representation, on Wednesday next PRIVILEGE. Mr Fox would to-morrow call attention to a paragraph in the "Evening Post" reflecting on the humanity of the members of the House,

HABBOB BILL. In reply to Mr Curtis, The Government said they hoped to proceed with the Harbor Bill this session. BEIGIITO.V AND GUEKN ISLAND BAILWAY. Mr Obmond asked under what appropriation the contract had been entered into for the extension of the Brighton and Green Island railway ? Mr Macandeew replied that the contract had been entered into unfler section 123 of the Public Works Act, 1876. PiINAI/TIKS ON CONTEAOTS. A return of the contracts under which penalties had been incurred, and had been enforced or remitted since July, 1877, was laid on the table. FIEST HEADINGS. The Hamilton Public Hall Site Bill was read a first time. Mr Bunny asked for leave to introduce a Bill for granting a strip of land in the harbor of Port Nicholson to the corporation of Wellington. After some discussion the Bill was read a first time. The Horsewood Mechanics' Institute Bill was read a first time. TELEGBAPH OFFICES. In moving for a return of telegraph offices that had not paid expenses, Mr Fox contended that both incoming and outgoing messages should be credited to the new offices. It was not fair to guarantors of bonds that only the receipts of messages sent should be charged. The Sanson Telegraph Office had, he thought, been unfairly treated. The return was laid on the table. MAOEI " HANSAED." Mr Sutton moved that it is desirable that such portions of "Hansard" reports as refer to matters affecting the Native race, be translated and circulated among the Maoris ; that the Government be requested to have the same carried out. Mr Sheehan said the Government absolutely declined to make any selection as to what section should be published. An independent tribunal should be appointed to make the selections for translation. He moved that the question be referred to the reporting debates committee. Mr Russell moved that a translation of " Hansard" be published in Maori and distributed. He quoted Mr Sheehan's speech in which he said that the natives read " Hansard" word byword and line by line. It was rendered more necessary by the serious change made in the power of the Maori vote in the election of the House by the recent legislation. Mr Sutton said he did not intend that the Government should select, but that the Reporting Debates Committee should do so. Mr Sheehan objected to the serious expense proposed. Mr Taiaboa supported Mr Sutton's motion. Certainly all debates on Maori affairs should be translated. The question was referred to the Keporting Debates Committee. SECOND BEADING. The second reading of the Campbell Town Bill raised a long discussion. The census returns showed only ninety-six male inhabitants. The second reading was carried on the voices. EEADJUSTMENT OF BEPEESENTATION. On the adjourned debato that it is desirable to bring in a Bill to amend the representation of the House during this session, or if such a Bill cannot be prepared during this session one shall be drafted during the recess, Sir R. Douglas hoped the Government would inform the House upon what principlo such readjustment should be made, and would bring clown a series of resolutions embodying the principles of the readjustment. Mr Rolleston proposed that the Bill should be brought in at once, and the House should go to the country at once. Mr Stout thought the whole House now agreed that the representation should be based upon population only. If the resolution was carried the Government would consider that the House approved of the principle of representation wholly upon the basis of population. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. READJUSTMENT OF BEPEESENTATION. A division was taken on the question to omit the words " or is such a Bill cannot be got ready during the present session, the Government be requested to prepare one during the recess." The words wero retained by 40 to 14. The resolution was then carried on the voices. It is to this effect:—That the House considers it desirable that the Government should bring down a Bill for the readjustment of representation during the session if time permits, &c. HABBOB BILLS. The second reading of the Timaru Harbor Board Bill was carried. The Riverton Harbor and Riverton High Schools Bills were postponed for a week. TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL The Timaru High School Bill was recommended by Mr Rolleston, who thought the whole system of education should tend to place really first-class education within the reach of all classes. Mr Stout said that the House had recognised the want of this high school in the past. The second reading was carried. TARANAKI SPECIAL LOAN BILL. This Bill was not opposed, and the second reading carried. PAY OF POLICE. The debate on the question of increasing the rate of pay of the police force of the Middle Island was adjourned for a fortnight, until the report of committee comes up. TELEGBAPH EXTENSION. Mr Gibbs proposed the extension of the telegraph to Collingwood. Mr Fisheb replied that the Government could not see its way to execute the work. There would be a loss to the Department of about £SOO a year. Under these circumstances they could not recommend it. Mr Woolcock maintained that the special circumstances of the case would justify the expenditure. The district was cut off from communication with the rest of the colony. The only question in the mind of the Minister seemed to be would it pay. If this principle were adopted, all outlying districts would suffer. Mr Huesthouse maintained that the question was not whether this station wonld pay, but whother the whole department paid. Collingwood had great and special claims for a sum to bo placed on the supplementary estimates for a telegraph station there. Ho thought neither Opunake or Manukau Heads Telegraph Stations paid, but they were kept open in the interests of the public. Upon a division, the Houso went into committee to decide upon recommending a grant to be placed on the supplementary estimates for the Collingwood station. Mr Stout opposed the grant, because the whole revenue from postal services in the district was only £llO annually. Mr Huesthouse said that the grievance of the district was its present isolation. It had not been benefited by the public works policy. Mr Gibbs maintained that tho mercantile community would also benefi t by the telegraph station. Dr. Hodgkinson thought that if this station were opened numerous claims would arise in other parts. Mr Bowen said the census Bhowed that 1100 people wore cut off from communication with the rest of the colony. Mr Fon: hoped the Government would lay down some fixed principle upon which telegraph stations should bo opened. Mr Thompson was surprised to find that so gre;it a diatanco as sixty-nine miles would be required. Mr Fishee asserted that the guarantee system was a very valuable check upon applicants for telegraph stations. Ifc was not introduced by tho present Ministry. Mr M'Lean faid tho question was for the House to decide whether the settled portion of tho colony should pay to provide means of communication for outlying districts. Ho thought that in the interests of the mercantile community a station at Collingwood should be opened. Ho believed in the guarantee system. Mr Stout asked where the line was to be drawn.

Mr Russell thought the question was whether an equal land tax should be impoeed

on lands that had not benefited by public works expenditure. It was not yet under debate, but really underlay the discussion. Wore the thinly settled districts to pay for public works in populous district. Mr Saundebs thought the expenditure altogether disproportionate to the benefits to be derived. There was not room for a large population in that district, which had a smaller population now than ton years ago. Mr Gibbs said that there were 50,000 acres of really good land in the district that Mr Saunders had never sf en.

Mr Sheehan said it was not a party question. The Government only wanted to keep down unnecessary expenditure. The value of the discussion was that it showed the necessity of some principle upon which new telegraph stations should be opened. He thought the guarantee system might be somewhat modified under certain circumstances. Mr Sharp said that when communications were to be kept up, the principle of a profit being derived was not insisted upon. He quoted the case of steam communication with the West Coast of the Middle Island, and the San Francisco service. The telegraph connection with a lighthouse was a great point. Mr Pyke would oppose the grant. Mr Reeves would vote for the grant, because he knew the circumstances of the case required it. Sir R. Douglas proposed a telephone, which would do away with the necessity of a telegraphist. New inventions should be taken advantage of. The resolution was lost by 30 to 37. LYTTBLTON HABBOB BOABD ACT. Mr Stout asked why, if a part of the borrowing power given by the Act of 1876 was not exhausted, this further power was asked for. Mr Richabdson explained that the engineer's estimate would involve harbor expenditure of more than the sum allowed by the Act of 1876. Further powers were wanted before undertaking new works.