GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1470, 1 November 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[special wire from press agency.J

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

Thursday, October 31

In the Council to-day, before proceeding to business, Sir D. Bell warmly denied the words Sir George Grey was reported to have used in reference to him. The words were, that air Dillon Bell had in Council said that the Natives should be punished for the Land Tax Bill having been pushed. Sir D. Bell expressed his regret that at the close of their lives, Sir George, with whom ho had worked for years, and who knew his opinions on Native affairs, should have so misrepresented him. Members on every side supported Sir D. Bell.

Colonel Whitmore said most likely the report was incorrect. The Native l ands Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. On the Native Land Purchase Bill, Mr Hart moved an amendment to protect certain advances, which caused a long discussion.

The amendment was carried by eleven to ten. The. Whakatanc Grants Bill was committed, amended, and passed. The Appropriation Bill was read a first time. The Council then adjourned till eight o’clock, to admit of conferences being held in the interval. The following Is the Jiew clause over which there is a difficulty between the two Houses “ this Act shall be deemed a special Act within the meaning of the Public Works Act, 1870, authorising the construction of all or any of the railways enumerated or named in vote numbered 80 of clause 3 in the fifth schedule to this Act, provided that no contract for the construction of any of such railways so enumerated in the said vote shall exceed the appropriations in such vote for each railway.” EVENING SITTING. The Government Native Laud Purchase Bill was read a third time and passed Reports of the conference on the Eating and Municipal Corporations Bills were brought up and agreed to. .. On the report ot the conference on the Ranway Construction J3UI,

Colonel Whitmore said the compromise propo ed was a re a-enable one. Dr. Grace recited the proceedings of the conference, saying th t the matter had been complicated by the persistence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in regarding the Bill as an Appropriation Bill. It was for the Council then to say what course should be pursued.

Mr Waterhouse supported the view of Colonel Whitmore.

Mr Hall spoke on the whole in favor of an accommodation being arr ved at. Colonel Whitmore then moved for the appointment of fresh managers, and the Council adjourned that the conference might meet. On the Council re nming, Mr Hall brought up the report of the managers of the conference, and moved its adoption, which was agreed to._ The Public Works Appropriation Bill was read a second time after a short debate. The Appropriation Bill was read a second time. Both measures were then committed, read a third time, and passed. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday Oct. 31. MR BARTON AND THE JUDGES, The House met at 2.30. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Barton said his object in bringing forward his motion with regard to the Judges of the Supremo Court was merely to elicit an expression of the opinion of members. But as so many members had gone, and the period of the session was so late that the hope was futile, he begged to withdraw his motion. By consent of the House the motion was withdrawn. D. MOORE’S PETITION. The House divided on the motion that the House go into committee to-morrow with the view of giving effect to the recommendation of the goldfields committee upon the petition of Daniel Jr.mes Moore, of Otago. The motion was carried by 14 against 12. Mr Richardson asked if effect was to be given to such reaolu' ions carried in a House composed of a ba e quorum. Mr Stout sa d the motion was only one of resolving itself into Committee. The House had not affirmed the principle of the motion, because there was no saying what the House would do in Committee. OTAGO UNIVERSITY BILL. The motion, that the report of the Joint Commi tee on Private Bills on the Otago University Ordinance Amendment Bill be agreed to, was carried by 29 to 9. ORDERS DISCHARGED. The following Orders of the Day were discharged Maori Representation Acts Bill, Report of Free Conference on Electoral Bill, out h Canterbury Secondary Education Reserves Bill. BAY OP ISLANDS ELECTORAL BILL. Sir R. Douglas moved the second reading of the Mongonui and Bay of Islands Electoral Bill. He quoted from an article in the “ New Zealander” (a paper which he said was unCer the control of the Government) which said that the object of the Bill was to place the representation of t 1 e Bay of Islands in the hands of the Mission famil es of the place. He then quoted from the Bill to show that the above remarks were not justifi d. He then asked leave to withdraw the Bill. Mr 'I dle said be had been reticent a long time on this matter, but could be so no longer. He then proceeded to give a complete history of the election for Mongonui, to show that a most unhealthy state of things had been existing at the Bay of slands; in fact, there was a per ect reign of terror. It was the Res dent Magistrate on one side and the clerk of the court on the other, who was a wealthy person concerned in nearly all the enterprises, of the place. He might fay it was currently reported up there that the Court was adjourned arbitrarily in order that the clerk of the court and Resident Magistrate might attend the cattle sale. There was no doubt of all this. He could give numerous instances to show the reign of terror which existed up there. He went on to show that Mr Williams had exercised his powers in an arbitrary and tyrannical manner in striking off the roll Natives who had every right to be there, except perhaps that they were not political friends. Mr Tole then cited several instances of qualified Natives being struck off the roll, to show the very great partiality of Mr Williams as Registration Officer. CONFERENCES. Several adjournments took place during the afternoon oti account of conferences between the two Houses respecting amendments in several Bills. EVENING SITTING. Upon the House resuming at 7.30, RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BILL. Mr Stout announced that the conference on the Railway Construction Bill had had to separate without coming to any conclusion. So far as the conference was concerned, the Legislative Council managers agreed to give up the new clause, because a similar clause had been inserted in the hailway and Public Works BilD. As the Bill was an appropriation one, the House could not give up its position. It was understood that a fresh conference would be appointed. BAY OF ISLANDS ELECTORAL BILL. The debate on the Mongonui and Bay of Islands Electoral Bill was resumed by Mr Hobbs, who dissented from some statements made by members, and expressed the hope the House and public would suspend their judgment on the matter until it was thoroughly inquired into. Mr Swanson knew of two men who he considered were improperly struck off the roll, but he thought the way in which the man Williams was dismissed by the Government was rather unfortunate, as it happened at such a peculiar juncture. After a few remarks from Sir E. Douglas the order was discharged. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council iu the Public Works Act Amendment Bill were disagreed with, and managers appointed to draw up reasons. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BILL. The House and Council having disagreed on the Railway Construction Bid new managers we e appointed, and another adjournment took place. At 9 30 another adjournment was made for a quarter of an hour, as the Conference was still sitting, and at the expiration of that time the Speaker announced that he would resume the chair when the report was brought up. At 10.40 a report from the Conference was road by the Treasurer, which announced that a satisfactory arrangement bad been come to by managers of both Houses. PROROGATION. In reply to a question, Mr Stout said there was so much business, he did not think they would prorogue to-morrow, and probably not before Saturday. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. It was announced that the Council did not insist upon its amendments in the Public Works Amendment Bill and the Financial Arrangements Bill. The House adjourned at 10.45 p.m. until 11 a m. to-morrow.