GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1556, 31 July 1873, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[AN<JIiO- AUSTRALIAN PRESS TELEGRAPH AGENCY.] Wellington, July 30. In the House of Representatives, today, Mr Harrison moved that L 30,000 be appropriated for the construction of a water-race from Randall's Creek. He delivered an able speech in support of the motion. He referred to the extent and richness of the terraces in the district •which would be affected by the construction of the work, and contended that the district had not received a fair share of the Gold-fields Loan, compared with others. The Minister of Works said that theie was only LBO,OOO available out of the Gold-fields Loan. L 70,000 of that amount had been appropriated, and an additional LIO,OOO would be required for contingencies. Applications had been received to the amount of L 12,000. If the resolution were carried, more than the amount available would be appropriated, and he suggested that the matter should be referred to the Gold-fields Committee, whose recommendation might influence the Govorntnent. ; Mr Curtis said the matter had been before the House for three years, and quoted the fact that Nelson had more miners than Otago. The patience of the people, he said, was exhausted.

Mr O'Oonor said that the Government had all the necessary information. The Government wanted to shelve the question by referring it to. the Gold-fields Committee. The question was one which the Government should deal with in a broad liberal spirit. Mr Harrison, in replying, said he could not accept the invitation of the Minister of Public Works to refer the matter to the Gold-fields Committee. The Govern- ! ment simply wanted to shelve the question. The Minister of Works was wronw • m saying that more information was required. All the necessary information was already on the table of the House. There was ample money in the hands of the Government. If the Government granted this application, there would still be an unexpended balance. He would press the motion to a division. The motion was carried on the voices. The National Bank of New Zealand Bill was read a second time. Coster, for the Bank of New Zealand, presented a petition against the name of the Bank, but not against the bill. The petition was ruled out of order. Mr Bathgate said the Government would propose amendments to the bill in Committee. The second reading of the District Courts Bill was carried on division. The following Bills were read a first time :— A Bill to regulate the liquor traffic ; a Bill to amend the Highways Act ; and a Bill authorising mining on private property.

The following returns 1 were agreed totTravelling allowances to Ministers, and allowances to the late Governor.

In reply to Mr O'Conor, Mr Yogel said the cost of telegraph extension to. the Lyell township would be L4OOO. If the Provincial Government of Nelson would guarantee six per cent, on the cost of construction and maintenance, the Government would construct the line. In reply to Mr Murray, the Premier said instructions had been given in accordance with the recommendations of the : Intercolonial Conference, for the preparation of a Bill to render the patent laws of the Colonies uniform. " When drafts of the Bill were received matters would be considered. The following Bills were read a first time— Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill, a Gold Mining Bill in relation to Quartz Mining and applicable to Thames Gold-Fields, Bill to amend the Justice of Peace Act, introduced by Mr Gillies to render the Auckland education rate re- . coverable, a Bill to amend the Law Practitioners Act, so as to make literary and general information examinations passed in Great Britain for solicitors or barristers applicable to the Colony.