GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1467, 29 October 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

♦ [SPECIAL WISE FROM PRESS AGENCY,] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, October 28. Ixl the iCoun' il to-day, the report of the conference on the Electoral Bill was brought up. After considerable discussion it was agreed that the Council should give way on all points except the Maori vote. The report on the Disqualification Bill was also brought up a r d read, and notice given that its adoption would be moved at the evening sitting. Reports were brought up on several local Bills. Several measures having been introduced from th' other Chamber were read a first time, and the following Bills were read a third time and passed:—Now Plymouth High School, Waikato Crown Lands, Ashburton High School, Oamaru Market Hesorve. After Colonel Whitmore had shortly moved the second re nting of the Railway Construction Bill, saying that he wos advised that the Bill •was an appropriation Bill, gir Dillon Bell made a long speech, quoting numerous precedents apparently showing conclusively, as ho argued, that the measure -was not an appropriation one. The debate then proceeded, it being under-tood 'that the Speaker would give his decision in the evening. Mr Waterhouse said the Bill was still open to very seri us objections. After citing his objections, he proceeded to say that the Council should not sanction the construction of these jin; s until more definite information as to their likelihood of proving remunerative. He conmoving that this Council is of opinion that *nqimj. < -<pnrfcH ai d sumys. necessary to the construction of any ri.iiw.vy, ijjonht bo made prior to its author! ation by a special a. a At the evening sitting Sir D. Bell concluded his ftp-ccli by : 3Hyfng he would support the second ro ding of the Bill. Capt. Eraser having spoken, Mr Buckley said there was no principle in the Bill- no chuck, no mU guard, i f the Council now passed the Bill, they put the matter out of their hands ft r good. In future a sum would he placed on the estimates, and the Council would have uo to.trol whatever. In place of

constructing two main lines, it was now being proposed to make branch lines in various directions. Mr Grace chax-acterised the Bill asxxnfaxr. Its whole scope was to centre expenditure in the Middle Llaud. He spoke with great animation, concluding by saying that it was impossible for any Government to resist the temptation it would be subject to under the Bi 1. Mr Gray said the Bill was not a Bill for the construct ion of railways in Now Zealand, but for the construct! n of a line in Otago. Mr Menzies would vote for the second reading, in the hope that the Bill would be amended in com a it tee. The Acting Speaker at this stage said he could not give his decision as to whether the Bill was an appropriation one or not until next day, as ho wanted to consxxlt authorities. The adjournment of the debate waa then moved and carried by the casting vote of the Acting-Speaker. The numbers were 15 to 15. Dr Pollen moved the adoption of the report of the conference on the Disqualification Bill, which was agreed to after a short discussion. The Cemeteries Management Bill (an Auckland measure) was road a second time on division of 10 to 7. The Christchurch Reserves and Thames Water Supply Bills were read a second time. Tlxo Council then went into Committee, when the following Bills were passed through and reported :—Cemeteries Management, Chx-istclxnrch Reserves, and Thames Water Supply Bill. (Progress reported on last.) The Council adjourned at twenty minutes to one a.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, October 28. drainage bill. In reply to Mr Murray. Sir G. Grey said the Government had already a Drainage Bill printed, and would distribute it among agricultural associations and local bodies during the recess. disqualification bill. Mr Stout presented a report of tho confcrence on the Disqualification Bill, which was agreed to. ELECTORAL BILL. W ith respect to the Electoral Bill be simply announced that the managers had not agreed. BRIDGES IN WALLACE COUNTY. _ Dr Hodgkinson asked Government if they will advance a sum of £3OOO to the County of Wallace, in aid of the construction of bridges over the Aparima river, on the same terms as they propose to advance money to tbe counties on Clutha river. Mr Macandrew replied that the advance proposed to bo made to the southern counties was to aid them in repairing the damages done by floods, but Dr Hodgkinson had better raise the question in committee on the supplementary estimates. estimates. The Supplementary Estimates were brought down by message. supreme court judge. Mr Hislop asked the Government whether they will take into consideration the advisability of appointing another Judge_ of the Supreme Court, so that quarterly sittings of the Court may Ixe held at Ashburton. Timanx, Oamaru, Invercargill, Lawrence, and other places where the business may warrant it, thus obviating the necessity of havxng sittings of the Distri ;t Court at those places. Mr hheehan replied in the affirmative, saying that at the same time the Government intended to take into consideration the whole question of the organisation of the Bench of Judges. EVENING- SITTING. On the House resuming at 7.30. WELLINGTON RECLAIMED LAND. The Wellington Reclaimed Land Sale Bill came under consideration, and on the motion that it be referred to a Select Committee. Mr Wakefield spoke against the House g.ing into committee on the Bill, stating that its purpose was to give away £15,000 in ca-Jx to the Corporation, and that Wellington had no claim to be exempted from ordinary taxation. Mr Barton said that he bad not been consulted about the Bill, and would not vote on either side. The committal of the Bill was carried on division by 35 to 32. In Committee the Bill was shelved on the nation that the Chairman leave chair, by 38 to 30. NATIVE LICENSING BILL, Mr Stout moved that the amendments of the Legislative Council in the Native Licensing Bill be agreed to, whi.dx was carried on the voices. ELECTORAL BILL. On the ques'.ioa that the amendments made by the Council in the Electoral Bill be agi'eed to, Sirß. Douglas moved that the amendments be agreed to. Maj xr Atkinson hoped that the amendments would not be pressed. It was agreed on voices that amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Electoral Bill be taken into consideration to-morrow, NATIVE BILLS. The second reading of the Native Land Act Amendment Bill, No. 2, was agreed to on the voices. . '1 ho House went into commi/tee on the Native Lawsuits Bill, when Mr Stout introduced a proviso that the judges appointed in the case of the resignation of the judges mentioned shall hold office until next session, and no longer. Mr Rolleston moved that the chauxnau leave the chair, denouncing the Bill as tending to lower the dignity of the ntprema Court, and introduced at too late a period of the session. Mr Russell expressed full confidence in the Supreme Court as a competent tribunal to deal with these cases. Mr Gisborne defended the Hill as embodying concessions cn behalf of the Government, and trusted the House would pass the Bill in its present shape. Major Atkinson said the Premier was a partisan in reference to this Bill. Mr De Latour asked the Chairman’s ruling as to whether hon. members of the House had the right to refer to the Premier in such terms. The Chairman ruled that the language did not go beyond the limits of debate. Major Atkinson went on to charge the Government with partiality, and said neither parties interested would repose confidence in a tribunal appointed by the Ministry. Mr De Latour hoped the Government would not proceed with the Bill, which could not he carried. He charged Mr Fox with stonewalling the Bill. In reply to the attack by Mr Fox, Mr Sheehan said that since he hail been in office, he had sacrificed thousands of pounds ratlxer than place himself in a position to have any charge against him. Such charges as Mr Fox made were unjust and ungeuei’ous. The Native people had never been told so much trutlx as he told them at the meeting on the East Coast. Members on the West Coast were showing ill-taste by so readily _ shrinking from ' inquiry into these Native land questions. He would withdraw the Bill i whiclx bad been introduced on the recommenda tion of their best friend, Mr Whitaker, in order that a fair tribunal might bo appointed ; but ho would have no objection to submit these ca-es to the Supremo Court, and tho.-.e very gentlemen who now resisted the Bill would be the first to come next session ami ask the House to pass such a measure. Mr STOUT moved that the Chairman leave the chair. The time would come when those who opposed tbe Bill would be most cl .morons in its favor, and might then ask for what they would not get. The main clause of the Bill wat» agreed to by Mr Whitaker before insertion in the Bill. A smart passage of arms occurred between Messrs Wakefield and De Latour. The latter indiiectly charged Mr Wakefield with making a cowardly attack on the Treasurer a tew nights ago, and Mr Wakefield appealed to the chairman whether the word “ cowardly” was in order. Mr De Latour said he referred to the retreat from the House of the member for Geraldine when attacked a few nights ago. He withdrew the word “ cowardly.” Mr Stout’s motion that the chairman leave the chair was then put, and declared carried in the affirmative on the voices. Mr Russell called for a divison, when the ayes were 48 and the nocs 21. The Bill was therefore shelved. AYES. Messrs Baigont Messrs Minders Ballance McMinn Barff Montgomery Barton Moss Er.ndon Murray Aynslcy Brown, J. C. Rohe Bryce Ollivpr Bunny Beeves Carrington Richardson CuDen Richmond DcLuxtonr Rolleston Dignan, J. Rowo Feld wick Seaton Fishe? Sheehan_ Fox f-hrimski George Stevens Sir G. Grey Stout Messrs Hamlin 'J a-area Henry Takamoana Kobbs Tole Hunter W.illis Kelly Wood Macandrew Woodcock

Major Atkinson Messrs Russell Beethara Saunders Sir R. Douglas Sharp Messrs Fitzroy Sutton Gibbs Swanson Hislop Tesehemak.r h ursthonse T urnbuli Johnson Wakefield Kenny Wason McLean Williams Morris NATIVE LANDS BILL After Ihe adjournment the House resumed on he Native Lands Bill No. 2. in Committee. Mr Sheehan moved the insert ion of a proviso making the evidence of an adult male witness necessary in all eases under the Act, which was agreed to. The following now clause was added : “ Notwithstanding anything contained in the provisions of any Act relating to Native lands now in force, it shall bo lawful for the Governor in Council within six months after the passing of this Act to order that there shall be a hearing before the Native Land Court in the order provided by the Native Land Act, 1b73 of the claim of Hori More, an aboriginal native of the district of Hauraki, in the provincial district of Auckland, to a block of native land known .as To Hapi South block, situated at Hanraki, in the provincial d strict aforesaid. Such Order in Council when made shall bo as valid and effectual to till intents and purposes as if the same had been made within the period of six months mentioned in the Native Land Act 1873, and all proceedings heretofore taken in respect of such hearing shall be cancelled, and the hearing of such claim sh >ll commence do novo as is provided by the Native Laud Act 1873.” The following new clause was also added : “If on the examination of any surveys or map of any na'ive lands in accox-danco with the provisions of tie seventy-first section of the Native Lauds Act, 1873, errors or discrepancies are discovered which cannot be amended or rectified in time for the prodxiction of such map before the Native Lauds Court, at the sitting’ of which the title to ihe lands referred to on such map would otherwise have been investigated, it shall be lawfxd for the Inspector of Surveys, or any of his deputies, in his or their discretion, provisionally to appi-ove of such survey or map, and the Coxxrt shall proceed to investigate the title to the land affected by such map or survey, and make an interlocutory order for a memorial of ownership in favour of the persons found to be interested therein, subject to such surveys or map being completed to the satisfaction of the inspector of surveys or his deputies. The Chief Judge Native Lands Court shall in his discretion, on transmission to him of any such map duly approved by the inspc tor of surveys or his deputies, bo empowered to change the interlocutory order to a final order, without further hearing or investigation by tbe court.” The Bill was reported with amendments, and passed. TEMPORARY POWERS BILL. The Attorney-General moved that the amendments made by the Governor in the Temper xx-y Powex’s Bill be agreed to. This was agreed to on the voices. financial arrangements bill. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Financial Arrangenuuts Bill, and explained its provisions, which he said contained a (danse providing for the administration of charitable institutions. Fifteen xer cent, of lands reserved in the county of Kawhia would be reserved for the construction of the railway to Opunake. The fees arising on goldfields would bo m ule local revenue. (he rejection of Ihe Wellington HecLimed Land bale Bill would cause a deficiency in the estimates of x'ovenue to the extent of <£B9,( 00, which the Government proposed to make good by taking power to sell the land described „n the schedule as reserved for the Wellington Hospital, the balance being applied to the consolidated fund. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. Mr Ballance said the Government could not bring down a Bill for tlx a management of hospitals this session, hut would introduce a general measure next session 'the Government thought that benevolent societies should be supported strictly on the voluntary principle. PAE LIAMENTARY ITEMS. [by telegraph ] [from the correspondent of the press.] PETITION FROM ELLESMERE. The Public Petitions Committee on Saturday brought d >wn their report on the petition of W. Nixon and others, of Kllesmero. The petitioners pray that the Government will take the necessary steps for alienating a portion of the tramway reserve, commencing at the western section ofcornerof section No. 13571, and terminating at the eastern cox- er of section X' o. 9511 on the Ellesmere Road Board map. The committee report simply that the p tit ion is one which should bo referred to the Government for its consideration, TIMARU HARBOR BILL. In the Timaru Harbor B >ard Endowment Bill the following new clause has been inserted by the Legislative Council: —Within six months after the passing of this Act, it shall be lawful for the Minister of Public Works to take without payment or compensation, out of the lands comprised in the schedule, so much and such parts of the said lands as he shall consider necessary to bo taken for Goveinxmcnt works, as provided by part twenty of the Public Works Act, 1876.” SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The supplementary estimates have been distributed to-night. The grand total amounts to £100,452, and amongst the items which go to make up this total are some of interest to the t’antex-bury provincial district. Under postal and telegraphic, the chief Post Office, Christchurch, is down for £GO, suburban letter carrier’s delivery, for a period of six months. The Royal Commission on the New Z aland Universities and Secondary Education gets £IOOO. Under the head of Public Domains, Canterbury is conspicuous by its absence, notwithstanding the distinct and repeated promises of the present Ministry. 3he work on “ New Zealand Grasses” is down for £319, being the unexpended balance of last year’s vote • and Mr Farnall has at last gained ,£250 xn final settlement of his claim. Under Railways, the Ambcrley-Waitaki line, for addi tiond rolling stock, will get ,£10,000; and Wax taki ti Bluff, for repairs to line damaged by floods ,£5500, and for additional x’olling stock, ,£IO.OOO. Of the lines authorised by the Railways Construction Act, the expenditure on the Canterbury interior main line, Oxford to Tomuka, L estimated®! .£15,000 ; that on the main line to Upper Ashburton at ,£ ■ 0,000; Amhorley to Cook Strait. £’60,000; iud Little River aud Akaroa, £30,000. For r-pairs to road' between Hokitika and Christchurch, damaged by recent floods, ,£IOOO is set down; and for telegraph extension, a special wire between Blenheim and Christchurch, £7OOO. The estimated expenditure amongst p >blic buildings isCourt at Ashhxxrton, £300; Lyttelton, additional £IOOO. The following items also appear: Goods Maxxagcr Canterbury Failways, componsat on for loss of office, £012; and refund of fee on inspection of steam fire, engine, Clir’stclmi’ch, £2. Fir John Coode’s total expenses are set down at £1077. The running expenses of the steamer Hmemoa during the last year were £3401.