GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2623, 2 September 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(raxes association telkgbam.J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Fbidat, Bbmembhb 1. The Council met at 2. SO. A BBTUBN. On the motion of the Hon. Dr. Mbnzibs it was agreed that a return be laid on the table showing the area of all the lands sold in the counties and boroughs of Westland and Nelson south-west goldfields before the 29th September, 1873. CANTERBURY AGBIOtTLTUBAL OOLLBGH. The Hon. Colonel Bbbtt said he had received a letter from the Agricultural College of Canterbury answering several questions, which he road to the Council, BUM. The Public Offenders Disqualification Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Ohofca and Eyreton Domain Board Empowering Bill and the riheep Aot Amendoent Bill were both read a second time. LAND AOT AMENDMENT BIIiL. The Hon. Mr Btjokxby's motion that the Bill be read a second time that day six months was negatived, and the Bill passed its second reading and was referred to the waste lands committee. BUM ADJOURNED. The Napier High Sahool and the Land Boards Bills were adjourned until Monday.

OTAGO HABBOB BOARD Bill,, The Bill was committed, and the Council re S 3 at 5 until 7.30.

EVSNING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30. OTAGO HABBOB BOABD BILL.

This Bill was considered in Committee. The Hon. Mr Bbynolds moved that the Chairman leave the chair. The motion was lost. After further discussion, The Hon. Dr. Pollbn moved a similar motion. The Oounoil divided.

Ayofl, 11; noes, 11. The Chairman gave his vote with the noes. The following new clause was moved:— " Nothing in this Act contained ihall in any way affect the Crown or the Government of the Colony of New Zealand, or give any right, title, olaim, or demand whatsoever to or for any turn of money ai compensation to any perion or corporation on any account whatever against the Crown or the Government of the colony." The Bill was then reported with amendments, and made an Order for Monday next. VTHIIINGTOir HABBOB BILE. la Committee, clause 4 underwent several alterations, when The Hon. Mr Bbynolds moved that progress be reported, with leave to sit again, but eventually withdrew it. The clause was then passed as amended. The Counoil adjourned. HOUSE OF BEPBESENTATIVES. Fbiday, Sbpthmbeb 1. The House met at noon. THB BHODHB ESTATB. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that an arrangement had been come to between Bhodes* exeoutors and the Government whereby a fair amount of duty would be paid. He therefore moved the discharge of the Bhodes Estate Bill, with a view of introducing an amended Bill in conformity with the arrangement. POLICY BIIIS. Mr Bathoatk tabled a motion to the effect that, with the view of facilitating business, the Folioy Bills in future be prepared and oiroulated among looal bodies interested at least two months before the convening of the session; that the estimates be placed on the table the first day of the session ; and that the practice of voting large supplementary estimates at a late period of the session be henceforward discontinued. QUESTIONS. Beplying to Mr Butherford, The Hod. Mr Dick said the Government would take an early opportunity of ascertaining from the law officers as to which looal body, the Town Board or County Counoil, was entitled to lioensing fees and dog tax under seotion 35 of the Town Districts Act, 1881, and section 109 of the Lioensing Aot, 1881, and would communicate the result at an early date. His own opinion was that there oould be no doubt but that town districts were entitled to the fees.

Beplying to Mr Levestam, The Hon. Major Atkinson said the Government would inquire into the allegation that Dunedin firms were importing boiled fruit, duty free, and as to what steps ought to be taken to prevent suoh importations acting injuriously to colonial jam factories.

In reply to Mr Petrie, The Hon. Mr Bbtob said, a capitation allowance to volunteers would be proposed on the supplementary estimates. In reply to Mr Te Wheoro, The Hon. Mr Bbtob said stops would be taken to fenoe the Maori burial ground at Taupiri. Replying to Mr Steward, The Hon. Mr Dice said it was intended to proceed thii session with the Lioensing Aot Amendment Bill. Bins. In committee the following were considered and passed through: —Special Powers and Oontraots, Borough of Hamilton Boundaries, Auckland Museum Endowment, Auckland Improvement Amendment, Auckland Bail way Station, Explosive and Dangerous Goods, Patea Harbor Land, Te Aroha Township. LAW PBAOTITIONHB3 BILL. In oommittee Mr Seddon moved—" That the qualification ' goneral knowledge,' be struck out." It was one of those indefinite terma which left it in the power of the judges to make the examination so arbitrary that if they wished to refuse a candidate or class of candidates admission they could do 80. Mr M. W. Gbbhn proposed the substitution of " constitutional history" instead of general knowledge. The amendment was lost on the voices. Mr Seddon objected to clause 14, as it would prevent anyone but a barrister from appearing in Court. He argued that this would be placing a restriction on solicitors whioh had not hitherto existed. Interrupted by the 5 30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30, and the debate on the Law Praotitioners Bill was resumed in oommittee. Mr Beddon proposed that olause 55, providirg that the Judges may make rules dividing the two branches of the profession, be struck out. The oommittee divided on the question that the olause stand as printed. Ayes, 35 ; noes, 38. Clause 66 was struck out on the voices. Mr Seddon moved that the fee for admission be reduoed from £2l to £lO 10s. The committee divided on the question that the sum stand as printed. Ayes, 42 ; noes, 32. The remainder of the olauses were then put and carried. THE OEUHTBRIBO BILL. This Bill was passed with amendments. MINING COMPANIES AOT 1872 AMBNDMKNT BILL. Mr Seddon stigmatised clause 3 as an innovation on the free trade system. It would ba monstrous that persons selling scrip should remain liable for twelve months after the date of the sale. He moved the olause be struck out. Mr Peacock thought it was a wise provision, but that the time be limited to six months. Mr Bhebhan expressed the opinion that the time should be throe instead of twelve months. After a lengthy discussion, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr Mitnbo, to report progress. BATING BILL. Major Habbis moved that olause 2 be altered to read " that the land without the buildings and improvements alone should be rated." The question was put that the olause remain as printed. Ayes, 50 ; noei, 17. Clause 9 was struok out. At clause 20, The Hon. Major Atkinson moved that progress be reported, with leave to sit again to-morrow. Agreed to. The House rose at 1 a.m. until 11 a.m t