GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1812, 11 December 1879, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Wednesday, Decbmbee 10. A large number of notices for leave of absence were withdrawn, on the understanding that the session was soon to end. Colonel Whitmore’s motion to appoint Agents • General for short terms lapsed, through the mover’s absence. Dr. Menzies’ motion—“ That persons taking railway seats should bold the same scats all through the journey,” was carried. The Jackson and Kinross cases again came up for discussion, and were finally disposed o F the first by the Committee’s report being adopted by 18 to 17, and the second by being shelved, with the proviso that the councillors or officers might appear as witnesses in any future action against Mr Kinross. The Registration of Electors Bill was read a third time. The Council adjourned from 5 till 7.30. EVENING SITTING. Second readings—Ashburton County Council Waterworks Bill and Kaitangata and Wangaloa Athei mum Reserves Bill. Third readings—Rating Act, 1876, Amendment Bill, Awatero Shearing Reserve Bill, Onewhero Grants Empowering Bill, Land Tax Collection Bill, Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Bill. The Council adjourned at 10 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, Deckmbee 9. PBOBBETY ASSESSMENT Bill. The following were the amendments made in the Property Assessment Bill. The clause relating to the tax on shipping was struck out. All property is to be valued at the price it would bring at auction for cash. The Governor is empowered by an Order in Council to suspend the operation of the Land Tax Act. Major Atkinson promised, -before the third reading, to state the amount of the tax proposed to be imposed. The remaining clauses of the Bill were passed through committee without any substantial alteration. The House rose at 2.10 a.m. Wednesday, Decbmbee 10. The House met at 2.30. EE POETS. Mr DeLautoue brought up a report from the Reporting Debates Committee, to the effect that the cost of translating “Hansard ” into the Maori language, so as to be available for the information of the Native race, would be £750, with a recommendation that the Government should make provision therefore if they see fit to do so. The report of the Native Petitions Committee, on the petition of George Davey, making certain imputations upon the character and dealings of Mr Sutton, M.H.R., in the acquisition of Native lands, was brought up and real. The report recommended that no action be taken on the petition. Sir Q. Obey moved—“ That the report be referred back to the committee.” There were persons on the committee who had not heard the evidence, and who.had never been present until the vo& on the report was taken. As a member of the committee he had moved a resolution that these members be not allowed to record their votes on that motion. An amendment was moved by Mr Ormond which had the effect of burking all further discussion. That amendment was carried, which, under the circumstances, was most unfair, and prevented him from putting his views before those members who had not been present when when the evidence was taken. What ho now desired was that the report should be sent back so as to afford him an opportunity for placing his views on record. Mr Oemond explained the action he had taken in the matter. After sitting for about a month, a determination was came to, the effect of which was embodied in the report. Upon that Sir Q. Grey proceeded to move a number of resolutions embodying his particular views on the subject. All that he (Mr Ormond) did was to move a resolution that these views of Sir George’s which, in his opinion and in the opinion of other members, were erroneous and calculated to mislead the House, should not be embodied in the report. , „ Mr Rolleston, a member of the Committee, also made an explanation of the facts of the case as they transpired in Committee, defending the report as made. Sir G. Gbbt in reply stated that his resolutions could not have come before the House and thereby have, as alleged, produced an erroneous opinion, unless these resolutions had been adopted by a majority of the Committee. It was monstrous that a member of Committee, who had attended all the meetings and listened closely to the evidence, should not be allowed to bring bis viewe before the Committee.

•MV Rolleston denied that such was the vase, the accusation being reiterated by Sir ‘motion for the recommittal of the report was lost by 31 to 36. On the motion of Mr De Lautoub, it was agreed that the minutes of evidence should be printed. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr George, Mr Haul said the Government were unable to comply with the request that instructions be given to the Post Office department to open a Money Order and Post Office Savings Bank at the Post Office at Little Omaha, iu Auckland provincial district. Mr Gisbobnb asked the Colonial Secretary whether he will place on the supplementary estimates a gratuity in the case of the deceased Dr. Dsrmott, surgeon of the Gaol and Lunatic Asylum at Hokitika, as a contribution towards the support of his widowed mother and unmarried sister, aged respectively eighty-nine and sixty years, who were dependent on him and were now left in very straightened circumstances. Mr Halii replied that the Government had no evidence that the ladies referred to were dependent on deceased. On the contrary, they had been led to believe they had other relatives. In reply to Mr Hutchison, Mr Eoixebton said that no representation had been made to the Government relative to a decision of the Resident Magistrate given at Fielding, Manawatu, by which an information charging a person there with arson, in ■o far as on some day in Inst month he set fire to a house and burnt it down, the charge not been denied, had been d.smissed on the ground that the person so acting alleged that he was the owner of the land on which the house was erected, and that be had no malicious intention, nor purpose of perpetrating a fraud in burning the said house. Mr Thompson asked whether the Government intend placing any sum on the estimates for roads in deferred payment blocks disposed of prior to let January, 1878, as was done last year. Mr Rolleston replied that £IO,OOO had been voted last year for this purpose, and he understood that there was no provision for the matter this year, although considerable provision had been made for the opening of such lands for sale. Replying to Mr M'Oanghan, Mr Rolleston said he had not made himself fully acquainted with the necessity for a reserve of 3000 acres as an endowment for Riverton Harbor. Replying to Mr Finn, Mr Rolleston said he had had no official intimation that the public gaol at Arrowtown hod been condemned by the Government Inspector. Replying to Sir Q. Grey, Mr OiiTVEB said there was no intention whatever of changing the route by which the Thamea-Waikato railway is not to strike the Waikato river at Hamilton, but near Taupiri, or any other point. ENDOWMENT TO BODNBT. _ The adjourned debate, that this House resolve itself into Committee to consider an address to the Governor, praying that 20,000 acres of land in Rodney county he set aside for the purpose of constructing roads in the said county, was called on, and the motion was carried on the voices. OTAGO HABBOB BOABD ENDOWMENT. Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Otago Harbor Board Endowment Bill. Mr Macandbbw opposed the motion as it now stood. He was prepared to give them the endowment asked, but was opposed to the extensive borrowing powers proposed. There were great differences of opinion as to the beneficial expenditure of the £250,000 already expended by the Board. His opinion was that the money had to a large extent been misapplied. They had no legal claim to the land asked for. To settle the disputes that had arisen he was willing to concede the point. He hoped the Bill would be withdrawn, What was asked was 88 acres of water to be reclaimed from the sea, and at present they had not the means for carrying on reclamation works. In fact they would be as far forward next session as they could possibly be, if the Bill passed this session. Practically speaking the Board consisted of one man, who was left to do much as he liked. Mr Olives said that originally £600,000 expenditure was contemplated, and at present not half that amount had been spent. The work already done was, practically speaking, no use until i urther expenditurehad been undertaken. The railway ran along the line of small bays proposed to be reclaimed, and the sooner that was done for the benefit of the railway the better. Mr StewAET explained that the reason the Bill had not been brought up at an earlier period of the session was the difficulty of getting the committee together to agree as to the provisions of the Bill. The grant was required in respect of land taken from tho Board for railway purposes. Tho position of affairs was this: If money was not available for carrying out tho proposed works, then money would have to be provided to bring the harbor back to its original state. To stop the work at the present stage would be most disastrous to tho district. The gentlemen who constituted the Board were all gentlemen who had devoted a large amount of time to the work. These thought it was wrong for Mr Maoandrew to cast imputations on their bona fides. Mr Fulton said a great deal of dissatisfaction existed both in Dunedin and elsewhere with the'procoedings of the Board. He had no objection to the endowment, but in common with many others he objected to the borrowing clause. Mr McLean thought the Bill would not bo carried at this late period of the session, more was the pity. Mr Maoandrew’s election for Port Chalmers depended upon the opposition he gave to the Board. It was to be regretted that he had gone the length of stating that the members of the Board were not equal to the occasion, and that the work was left in the hands of one man. These were not the true facts of the case. Mr Babbon spoke in opposition to the borrowing power. They had commenced operations at tho wrong part. The proposed reclamation operations were judicious in respect that they would enable the Port Chalmers and Dunedin railway to be improved in a variety of ways. Mr Dick replied. The motion was then put and carried on the voices, and the Bill was ordered to be referred to the Waste Lands Committee. BILLS WITHDEAWH. The Married Woman’s Pioporty Bill, and the Appeals from Justices Act, 1876, Amendment Bill were withdrawn. MINBB’ ACT. The amendments proposed by the Legislative Council in the Mines Act, 1877, Amendment Bill were not agreed to. Messrs Reeves, Finn, and De Lautour were appointed to draw up reasons for dissent. THIED BEADING. The Auckland Improvement Commissioners Transfer of Powers Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7 30. CHABLEBTON WATER BAOB. A resolution, to be reported from a Committee of the House, on tho Charleston water race, was considered. Mr McLean moved the adjournment of the discussion. The House divided, when the ayes were 27, and the noes 34. On the motion that the resolution be agreed to, the motion was carried on the voices. BLAUGHTBE-HOUBBS ACT. The Slaughter-houses Act, 1367, Amendment Bill, passed. TARANAKI lEON WORKS. On the motion to go into Committee on the Taranaki Iron Smelting Works, 1876 Amendment Bill, awarding the company 5000 acres of land, a lengthened debate took place. The House divided, when the ayes were 34, and the noes 24. The Bill passed through committee, was reported, road a third time, and passed. CIVIL LIST ACT. On the second reading of tho Civil List Act, 1873, Amendment Bill, a division was taken, when the ayes wore 25, and tho noes 35. BILLS THROWN OUT. The Land Claims Arbitration Bill, for second reading, was thrown out on tbe voices. The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Elective Legislative Council Bill was brought on. Tho House divided, when the ayes were 24 and the noes 35. The Bill was therefore thrown out. On the motion for going into committee on tbe Prevention of Corruption Bill, a division took place, the ayes being 28 and the noes 29. The BUI was consequently thrown out. The Municipal Corporation* Act 1876 Amendment Bill was alio thrown out on the motion for ite committal.