GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 1 September 1880, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[per press association special wibe.J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 31. Tho Council met at 2.30. It was announced that the Royal assent had been given to certain Bills. The Permanent Officers’ Salaries Bill, the Public Works Appropriation Bill, and the General Appropriation Bill were passed through all their stages, and the Council adjourned at five minutes past four. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 31, The House met at 2 30. appropriation bill.

The Hon. J. Haul moved—“ That the debate on the passing of the Appropriation Bill be now resumed.” The motion was necessitated in consequence of the Opposition having last night left the ‘House without a quorum being loft. Mr Macandhew denied that ho was in any way responsible. He had gone away at a late hour simply because it was evident that a protracted sitting was contemplated by the Q-overnment. The Government were further to blame in having allowed their supporters to go away before the business had boon completed. Mr SHEEHAN complained that the members who had gone away had drawn their full honorarium. The Speakbb said that some members took five (slays grace at the beginning of the seesion, and others at the end. Sir G. Gbey said that the present episode showed the necessity for the payment of members being fixed at a pertain sum. The Hon. J. Hall said that Government was not in any way responsible for the payment of members’ honorarium. On the motion that the Appropriation Bill do now pass, Mr Hutchison reviewed at some length the work of the session. He complained bitterly that while blocks of land had been sot apart for Mr Vesey Stewart and other speculators, not an acre could be had by the colonists who had borne the heat and iburden of the day. The' motion that the Appropriation Bill should pass was then put and carried. PBBSONAL. Mr Sheehan drew attention to the fact that two petitions had been presented against him making false, and what were afterwards shown to be baseless, charges. These witnesses had all their expenses paid, whereas he had to bear all the expenses of defending himself from those charges. He called attention to the fact simply to show the injustice of the present arrangement in connection with these petitions. His contention was that they should not encourage petitioners to come here with cases of that description. The Hon. W. Qisbobne agreed that unless in very exceptional cases petitioners and their witnesses should not have their expenses paid. It created an evil which it would be well to set their faces against, biles passed. A message was received from the Legislative Council announcing that the Permanent Officers Salaries and Public Works Bills had passed without amendment. THE PEOBOQATION. The Hon. J. Hall announced that the prorogation would take place to-morrow by Commission at 2.30, and moved that the House do adjourn till 2.15. Mr Sheehan called attention to the fact that a person named Moore had produced splendid gold specimens, said to have been got not far from Wellington, but in the other island. Ho suggested that steps should be taken by the Government to ascertain the genuineness of the discovery. He also directed the attention of the Government to the alleged disqualification of Mr Taiaroa in the Upper House, and suggested that steps should be taken to have him re-seated. Mr Macandbew also apoke in favor of steps being taken in reference to Mr Moore’s alleged auriferous discoveries. The Hon. J. Hall replied that if Mr Moore would communicate with the Minister for Mines, he would go into the question, and do all that the Government could do in such a matter. With regard to the disqualification of Mr Taiaroa he was not prepared to go into that question at present. With regard to the questions raised by Mr Gisborne and Mr Brown as to the grants to public libraries, the Government would consider any exceptional cases, but he thought that private persons might by donations of books, do much to assist district libraries. The House then adjourned.