GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2225, 25 September 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE ABOLITION BILL THROUGH COMMITTEE. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL SESSIONS CLOSED.

[PRESS AGENCY.]

Wellington, Sept. 24. In the House of Representatives at the evening sitting, clause 23 of the Abolition Bill passeeVa3 amended. Clause 24, which refers to the appropriation of land revenue, not. to affect public securities nor. permanent .charges, on such revenue, caused considerable discussion, many thinking that it unduly favored Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works, or, as Sir Grey put it, that it was a most unbecoming attempt to keep for the benefit of 8000 people in Timaru 400,000 acres of land. The clause was passed on the motion of Mr Bo wen that after the Act comes into operation the, endowment of land revenue to the Timaru Board cease. On an amendment being proposed by the Treasurer in clause 25, Messrs Reid and Fitzherbert asked if the Governmentintended abandoning the Local Government Bill this session. Major Atkinson replied no, but that much time had been wasted over the Abolition Bill, and he was afraid they could not get through it. : Clauses 26 and 27 were struck out. The clause proposed to repeal section 17 of the Constitution Act was then proposed. Sir George Grey, Mr Rolleston, and Mr Macandrew were aghast at such a proposal. Mr Fitzherbert also protested, and suggested the amendment, " That notwithstanding the provisions of section 17 of the Constitution Act, it shall not be incumbent on Superintendents to convene Councils unless they saw it was necessary to do ao." The Government resisted all amendments and suggestions, and were firm tb.at Provincial Councils should not meet again, and carried their point by 34 to 16. The remaining clauses were passed, and the Bill reported with amendments. The third reading was fixed for. Tuesday next. The House met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Mr Curtis presented a petition urging the completion of the Foxhill Railway. In reply to Mr Bradahaw, asking the Government if they have received the report of the Audit Commissioners on the management and working of railways, Mr Richardson said the Government had received the report, which spoke favor- \ ably of the management and working. Mr Macandrew gave notice that he should move that all correspondence relative thereto be laid on the table. In reply to Mr May, the Native Minister said the conditions of the grant of 300 acres of land at Three Kings to the Wesleyan Society for educational purposes had not been complied with, and that the Government would take steps to utilise the trust. The Westland Toll-gates Suspension Bill was withdrawn at the suggestion of Mr White, who said the Bill was no longer necessary since Provincial Councils were not to meet again. The Licensing Acts Amendment Bill was read a second time ; to be committed on Wednesday. Invercargill Municipal Council Waterworks Loan Bill was read a second time and committed on Wednesday. The amendments madeby theLegisla.

tive Council in the Oamaru Waterworks and Gas Bills were agreed to, a clerical error to be amended. Amendments in the Gold-fields Act Amendment Act was agreed to, with slight alteration and amendments. . In connection with the Nelson City Loan Bill, Messrs Mervyn, Macandrew, and Reid were appointed managers to confer with the Legislative Council thereon. On the motion of Mr Swanson a clause was ac'ded to the Highway Boards Amendment Act empowering Highway Boards to levy a rate in excess of that at present authorised for the purpose of! lighting the streets. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill was reported from Committee,, with several new clauses and amend-: ments, and was ordered to be considered 1 on. Tuesday. ' ; < ; Amendments by the Legislative Council in the Taranaki Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill^ Timaru Municipal Waterworks! Loan Bill, Annie Hood. Grant Bill, and; Electric Telegraph Bill, were agreed to.- J The Wellington Toil-Gates Bill wwars r read a third time and passed. The Otago Harbor Board Empoweringand Clutha River Conservation Board j Bills were read a second time. ' The Auckland and Blenheim Election; of Mayors Bill was withdrawn on the motion of the Hon. Mr Richardson, who ■, said they were no longer necessary in! consequence of a general Act for the elec- ; tion of Mayor. The Wellington Extension Bill was read the second time. ; ' ■ The Westport Municipal Reserves Bill ; passed the third reading.. The Public Libraries Powers Bill, -the; object of which Mr O'Rorke explained; to j be to enable libraries to enforce ' their; rules and regulations, and ;to r receive i donations of land, money, &c, was read \ a second time. - :i ; The Oamaru Town Hall and Gasi Works Site Bills passed the third reading. : The Clyde Waterworks Billwas reported | from Committee and passed the 'third reading. • . . . : The Moeraki Harbor Board Bill was! read a second time. ■ : > \ On the motion of Sir D. M'Lean, the! House will sit on Monday at 2.30 p.m. ! and take Government business. ) ' : -The Treasurer announced'^ that early ! next week the. Government would be pre*- 1 pared to go on with : the ? {Estimates j'-and n 1 after some progress had been made; would ! inform the House what >. measures : tftey ! would ask- to be passed this session, and whac they proposed to abandon. The House went into Committee on the ; Railway Companies Bill. Clause 21 was being discussed at 5.30. .• . •:-. :,-.:..?