GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1795, 21 November 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thhesday, Notembeb 20. Colonel Bbett withdrew his motion re Armed Constabulary on the West Coast. Mr WATEEnotrSB’S motion “That, in -view of increased taxation, there should be better facilities for appeals against overvaluation,” was carried after a debate, Mr Whitaker agreeing to it. The Attoenet-Gbnebal said the Government would try that the new taxes to be imposed should press as lightly as possible on the community. FIB ST HEADINGS, Hamilton Volunteer Hall Bill, District Courts Act Amendment Bill, Timaru Waterworks Bill, Protection of Animals Act Amendment Bill, and Miners’ Rights Fees .Reduction Bill. SECOND BEADING. Christchurch Drill Shed Bill. The greater part of the sitting was occupied by small business and in Committee. A Committee report on the Auckland Loans Consolidation Bill recommended that the measure be thrown out. The Council rose at 5,20. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thhesday, Notembeb 20. The House met at 2.30. PETITIONS, NOTICES, ETC. Sir G. Gbey presented a petition from Marsh Brown Tawiti re coalfield at the Bay of Islands. Mr Sheehan gave notice to ask whether any of the Te Aroha lands will be open for sale on deferred payments, and when. Mr Thbnbhll gave notice to ask for a return of the land tax collected in the provincial districts. Mr Dick presented a petition from 130 -telegraph operators, praying for redress of grievances re long hours and low rate of pay. -Mr Dick gave notice to refer the same to a Select Committee of the House. Mr Shanks gave notice to ask if the Government will refuse to accept the service of any more Artillery corps until the present are equipped. Mr Moss gave notice to ask for a sum of £4OOO for building Auckland College and Grammar School. The minutes of evidence in the Auckland West election petition case were ordered to be printed.

QUESTIONS. Mr Beeves asked the Minister for Public Works if it Is his intention to place a sufficient sum of money on the estimates for the purpose of building a dray bridge to connect Qreymouth and Oobden. Mr Olitbb said the Government did not see their way at present, Mr Ebbves asked the Government if they will take into consideration the desirability of reverting to the former practice of local paymasters, in order to facilitate the payment of local contractors. Mr Oliybb said the present system worked very well, and he had heard no complaints respecting it. Mr Stbwaet asked the Minister for Public Works if he will state the area of land belonging to the Government at Addington, the amount of purchase money and through whom it was effected, the estimated cost of Addington workshops, value of available plant belonging to the old workshops, value of rolling stock ordered during last financial year, and whether such orders were provided for in last year’s appropriations, from what countries such rolling stock was obtained, and where the same was manufactured ? Mr Oliybb said, in answer to the first port, that various areas had been purchased, namely, four acres for £2870, fifteen acres for £IOOO, two roods for £BOO, etc. The value of rolling stock was £270,000, although only £21,000 was originally appropriated in order to provide for same. The rolling stock was mostly American. He would lay answers to all the questions before the House. NEW BIIX3. Leave to introduce the following Bills was givenMr Turnbull, Timaru Harbor Board Empowering Bill; Mr Thompson, Bill to provide that Borrowing Powers be granted to Olutha Harbor Board. AUCKLAND BAIL WAT WOBK3HOP3. Mr Hamlin moved that a committee be appointed to inquire into and report to this House within two weeks as to the most suitable and least expensive place for erecting railway workshops for the provincial district of Auckland. Mr O lives hoped the matter would not be pressed. There were two sites, and inquiries were being made as to the most suitable in the public interest. Mr Macandbbw hoped his name would be omitted from the committee, as he had already given his opinion, and decided the point. If they were to re-open all such questions, they would have enough to do. •MV Tolb said money had been appropriated for the site at Newmarket, and ought not to be diverted therefrom. He thought the matter should be left to the Government, and not referred to a committee. Mr Mobs could not understand why this question had been re-opened at all, as it had been decided long ago. Mr Hamlin said he intended to carry the question to a division, because he was sure the money would he thrown away. They would in the course of a few years have to remove the workshops to a site farther away. A division was taken on the motion with the following result:—Ayes, 16s ; noes, 44. The motion was consequently lost. Mr Shbimski called attention to the fact that one hon. member, Mr Hursthouse, had not recorded his vote as he was asleep. The hon. member was then called upon by the Speaker to say on which side he wished to vote. His vote was given for the ayes, SECOND BBADINOS. The following Bills were read a second time :—Alexandra Corporation Beserve Bill, to be referred to the Waste Lands Committee, Eorest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, 1871, Amendment Bill. In reference to the last-named Bill, Mr Weight pointed out that it was_ merely an extension of the Act -in operation in order to aid local bodies in planting trees. WIDTH OP BTEEBTS. Mr Thomson moved the second reading of the Width of Streets and Beads Bill, which -provided that streets should not be less than one chain in width. Mr Pulton opposed the Bill, but said he would not take up the time of the House in doing so.

, A division was called for on the second , reading, and was declared in favour of the , Ayes on the voices. COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT. | The Counties Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. MISCELLANEOUS The Maori Members Election Validation Bill was discharged. The adjourned debate on the petition of , Sydney Tawhanga was discharged from the order paper. The Registration of Dogs, Auckland Harbor Board, Canterbury Rivers Act, 1870, Amendment Sills were read a second time. PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION. Sir G. Grey moved the second reading of the Prevention of Corruption Bill. The Premier said he would not oppose the second reading, although he was not aware that such a measure was required. If the Bill was committed he would move an amendment, whish would cause falsehood, deceit, and misrepresentation to be equally punishable. The Bill was read a second time. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT. Mr Hutchison moved the second reading reading of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, Amendment Bill, which was intended to embody the recommendations of a conference on the Bill, The resolution was carried. THE TARIFF. The adjourned debate on the question—- “ That in the opinion of this House his Excellency should be moved to issue a commission to take evidence at the principal commercial centres of New Zealand and report upon the operation of the present tariff, with a view to such readjustment of Customs duties as may be considered best calculated to foster various branches of industry now established in the colony,” was then taken. The question was proposed as above. The Premier as an amendment had proposed at the end of the question to add the following words—“ If in the opinion of the Government upon consideration of the report of the Select Committee now Billing upon the promotion of native industries, it shall appear expedient to do so.” The Premier asked leave to withdraw the amendment.

Permission was granted, and the motion negatived. The House adjourned at 5 30. EVENING- SITTING. The House resumed. On the Awatero Shearing Reserve Bill. Mr DeLahtohe raised a question as to this being a money bill, but the Speaker ruled against him. After further discussion, the Bill was reported with amendments. WANGANUI ENDOWED SCHOOL. On the motion for committal of the Wanganui Endowed School Bill, another long discussion arose on the principle of the Bill, A motion to go into committee on the Bill that day six months was withdrawn in favour of a motion that the Chairman leave the chair and the House go into committee on the Bill. A division was taken with the following result: —Ayes, 37 ; Noes, 25. The House then went into committee on the Bill. Sir G. Obey moved that the Board of management should not include five representatives of the General Synod of the Church of England, but members of the Education Board. This was negatived. After some discussion, a compromise was effected, the majority consenting to allow progress to be reported on the third clause on the understanding that when other business had been disposed of the Bill should be recommitted. Progress was then reported, and leave was given to sit again. MINING LAWS. The report on the Mines Act, 1877, Amendment Bill was adopted, and the Bill read a third time and passed. The report on the Mining Companies Act. 1872, Amendment Bill was adopted, and the third reading fixed for Wednesday. WANGANUI ENDOWED SCHOOL. The Wanganui Endowed School Bill was then again committed.