The Weekly Times "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri" MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1867. NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 August 1867, Page 192

The Weekly Times "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri" MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1867. NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

After the adjournment of the debate on the Gold Fields Question, on the 16th, several matters of minor importance were considered, —Mr Stafford proposing a renewal of a sessional order, made last session, concerning the hours of meeting, and Mr G. Graham moved for a return of the sums expended by the Colonial Government in conducting the East Coast campaign, to the latest date, and affording the greatest amount of information available, wfiieh, after some discussion and explanation, was agreed to. Mr Reeves also moved for the appointment of a select committee to search for precedents, and report upon the best means for declaring the seat for the electoral district of Ashley (Canterbury) vacant, the member for which bad left the colony, and forwarded an informal resignation; his intention, however, was clear and capable of proof. Agreed to. On the 17th, in the Legislative Council, the statistical tables for 1866, in aticipation of the annual volume, was laid on the table by Major Richardson. Leave was also granted for the introduction of several bills, including a Church of England Trust Bill, a Forgery Bill, an Indictable Offences Act Repeal Bill, an Offences against the Person Bill, a Larceny Bill, a Coinage Offences Bill, and a Malicious Injury to Property Bill; these were all introduced, read a first time, ordered to be printed, and their second reading made an order for a subsequent sitting.

A reply was given to a request of Dr. Menzies, concerning the reason why the Panama Mail s.s. Otago did not call at the Bluff for the Southland mail on the 22nd June. It appeared that, owing to tempestuous weather, the Otago was detained at Port Chalmers for more than two days beyond her proper time, and there being every chance of her being too late at Melbourne for the outward mail, it was considered better to leave tbe Southland mails in New Zealand, than incur the almost certainty of leaving all the New Zealand mails in Melbourne. It appeared that, as it was, the Qtago did at last miss the mail in Melbourne by a few hours. The second reading of. the Private Estate Bills Bill was postponed till Friday, and that of the Accessories Bill to next sitting. In the House of Representatives the subject of his Excellency’s visit to the North was discussed. His Excellency having been prevented from visiting Monganqi through a pressure on his time, owing to despatches arriving which required attention, and it was now impossible to say when his Excellency would be able to visit Monganui and the Bay of Islands. A. Representation Acts Amendment Bill, intended to give two additional members to districts in Auckland Province, and to augment the representation of Westland, the one as a sort of halance to the other, was ordered to be prepared. Leave was given to introduce a hill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Resident Magistrates and Justices of the Peace, and the House went, into committee of supply, when Mr Fitzherbert proposed, “ That a sum not exceeding .£200,000 be granted tp her Majesty for the Provincial Treasury of New Zealand, to be granted , by way of advanee, to be accounted for and charged in the mauUPf b?reaft§f tP b@ expressed in any

Act or Acts passed in this present session of Parliament, for charging the Public Revenue of the colony for the year ending the 30th day of June, 1868. The Appropriation Act of last year had expired, and the Government were unable to make further payments. Ministers might bring down the estimates and obtain three months’ supply under an Appropriation Act embodying the sums so authorized to be expended; or they might ask the House to grant an advance of a certain amount,. to be afterwards accounted for in terms of the future Estimates of the year. Ministers preferred the latter course, as it would save the House the trouble of going twice over the same ground, and Ministers were not prepared to make a financial statement, or come down with definite estimates. A lengthened discussion ensued, during which the an attempt was made to adjourn the question until that of the administration of the Gold Fields was decided, but tbe motion of the Government was ultimately carried, £IOO,OOO having been substitufed for £200,000. On the 18th, in the Legislative Council, a petition was received from G. Green, on a question of land claims; one from certain settlers in Raglan, complaining of unfair treatment on the part of the Auckland Provincial Government, and a discussion took place on the question of having a member of the legal profession in the Government, the following resolution being adopted, “ That this Couucil is of opinion that the legal business of the Legislative Council cannot be satisfactorily conducted without the presence of a member of the legal profession, recognised as representing the Government.” In the House of Representatives a motion by Mr Reynolds for establishing a system of vote by ballot, at elections of members of the House, gave rise to considerable discussion, in which Mr Haughton, Mr Stafford, Mr J. O’Neil, Mr J. C. Richmond, Mr Fitzherbert, Mr Carleton, Mr G. Graham, and several other members took part, Mr Stafford supporting the motion, which was regarded more favorably than similar propositions have before been in the House, but was not pressed to a division. A bill was brought in by Mr Haughton, for the reduction of the duty on gold exported from the colony, and the House went into committee on the question of the Honorarium allowed to members, it being proposed that:—l. No member should draw more than £SO for the present session. 2. That the rate should not be higher than 10s. per day. 3. That it should cease with the present session, the discussion on which was suspended at the usual hour for the orders of the day. The Appeals from Justice Bill was read a second time. Mr Hall. moved the second reading of the Medical Practitioners Bill, which gave rise to an animated discussion, the debate being ultimately adjourned. The Coroners Bill was read a first rime, and the House went into committee of supply, to consider certain clauses in the British Australasian Mail Service during which the report of the recent Conference was explained by Mr Hall, and a resolution adopted, giving authority to the Government to expend from the colonial revenue for thfr purposes pf the mail contract not exceeding £50,000 per annum, The House also went' into committee of supply to grant £IOO,OOO for the public service, to be accounted for in accordance with; the resolution previously passed by the House.

The adjourned debate on the Honorarium wag taken up* and ended by

the adoption of an amendment of Mr Reynolds, “ That the Chairman report

progress.” A On the 19th, in the Legislative Council, several bills were advanced a stage, and in the'‘House of Representatives, on the subject of “ Criminal Immigration.” Certain convicts, „ trader sentence in tbe Australian colonies, holding conditional pardons, to the effect that they should not be at liberty to go to the United Kingdom, but permitting them to go elsewhere, having flocked to New Zealand. The Government would consider what course to take. The Supply Bill was read a ’ second time, committeed, read a third time, passed, and forwarded to the Legislative Council. The Coroner’s Bill was also committeed, and progress reported. A Bill to prohibit the appointment of members of that House to any Government office, was introduced, and some other business of minor importance transacted, which brings our resume of the proceedings of the Assembly up to tbe end of the second number.

By the arrival of the Lord Ashley we are in receipt of No. 3 of the Parliamentary debates, extending over the week ending 31st July, and although our space will not admit of any extended analysis, we will present our readers with so much of the main points of interest as we are able.

On Tuesday, 23rd July, in the Legislative Council, Mr Harris asked if it were the intention of the Government to introduce a bill to prevent the introduction of convicts from Australia and Tasmania, and stated that it had been the practice of the Tasmanian Government to grant well-behaved convicts remissions of sentience, conditional on their leaving that colony. Such convicts had found their way to New Zealand, and the Government should take steps to prevent the continuance of it. The hon. Major Richardson said that the Government had directed its attention to the matter, and read copy of a communication that had been addressed to the Secretary of State for" the Colonies, and reply thereto, to the effect “ that Her Majesty’s Government would not disallow any Act that the New Zealand Go» vernment might pass; they would regard such an Act with regret, as not being in accordance with Imperial policy ” ; still the object was of such importance to the welfare of the that the Government would introduce such a bill. In the House of Representatives, in reply to a question, Mr. Stafford said that in the Government Printing Office, in consequence of the publishing of the debates from seven to nine extra hands were employed, at a cost of £3 per week each, being less than generally paid in other printing offices. The Appeals from Justices Bill and the Coroners Bill were considered in committee; the British Australasian Mail Service Bill was read a second time. After some discussion ; the Steam Navigation Act Amendment Bill was re-committed* on the motion of Mr Hall, previous to., its third reading. A motion of Mr Carleton for the copies of all correspondence relating to the compensation awards at Taranaki was agreed to,, and a library committee appointed.. On Wednesday, tbe 24th, in the Legislative Council, several Criminal Law Bills were passed, and forwarded to tbe lower House.

In tbe House of Representatives, Mr Carleton inquired concerning the intentions of the Government with regard to compensating settlers for losses sustained in the north during Heke’s war. Mr Stafford replied that a select committee would be appointed inquire into tho whole mat-

ier. of . cormpebs'ation., A; letter !frW the .chairman'of a -public- meeting ’ atj a’ ‘resolution Xestingffagainst the reOent vote of:thei ’House. teiative;‘tb the • jgo.llLfields dele** Ration, was- readjby- the 'Speaker,' who Vould hot lay 1 it r on v: 'the 'table, from the offensive land violent nature of Vits language.; 'Mr' C. ’ ’WilSOn suggested

that it should be returned, and if received; a second -time flung '’ on the floor of the House, that it might be trampled under feet. A petition of the Bev. IT. C. ' Symoiids, relative tor the foundation of scholar.-' 1 ships at one of the English universities open to New Zealand colonists, was referred to a select committee. Mr Vogel proposed his motion for the appointment Of -a committee of the provincial Superintendents to enquire into the'financial condition cif the colony and recommend an equitable apportionment Of liabilities, with a view .to end the indefinite, liability of, the Southern provinces for Northern expenditure, and to give the Northern provinces the control of their own affairs. Mr Fitzherbert moved an amendment modifying the motion as for the appointment of a committee to enquire (1) whether the indefinite liability of Southern' Provinces for Northern expenditure can be limited, and, if so; whether any recommendation can. be" made for' an equitable apportionment of liabilities'; f2) whether;, and if so in what manner, the control'of* native affairs can be' conferred on. the Northern provinces within their respective limits, 1 whfch amendment was after some discussion adopted, and on the motion of Mr McLean, the committee was appointed by ballbt.

X>n..tha motion of Mr Jollie, it was ordered that 1 a return ' of sales of confiscated laud to the end of tlib last financial-year, specifying the province and locality, and the average amount received'-in each case, be laid on the table. The. recommendation of the Reports of Debates Committee, thatthe pamphlets containing the;'Parliamentary debates, should pass free by post throughout the colony was adopted* and. the necessary steps were taken for the issue of a new writ for the. election of a member for the Ashley (Canterbury) district were taken.