GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 257, 1 August 1877, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[press agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, July 31. The House met at 2.30. Mr Macandrew -will move that the railways for opening the outlying dis tricts of Otago be proceeded with forthwith. A Committee of Inquiry into the weather reporting is to be asked for. Sir G. Grey will move Triennial Parliaments and manhood suffrage, Mr Rees will ask whether the Government bears the cost of the Waka Maori libel cases; and will move for a Select Committee to inquire into the procedure of the Courts, with a view to a modification of the laws. The Government declined to print the suggestions of the County Councils and Road Boards with the view of improving the County Government in

future, the documents being too voluminous. The Government, in reply to Mr Bichmond, said that they had no intention of relieving the fioad Boards from compulsory annual valuation. A large supply of the revised edition of the “ New Zealand Pilot ” is ordered and will soon be obtainable at all Custom Houses. , The Government informed the House that all the Marine Laws of the Colony are being consolidated, and a Bill will be brought down this session. The Government hope to be able to do something this 'session respecting the closing of cemeteries within all towns. The Auckland Highway Districts Valuation Bill, and the Crossed Cheques Bill, are passed. A sharp discussion took place on the latter, to make any cheque under £2O ■ negotiable, even if crossed, on the ground of the great inconvenience and loss to poor men, who ceuld not get crossed cheques cashed. Several amendments were proposed, but each attempt failed. The adjourned debate on the Charitable Institutions Bill was resumed, and occupied the House until 5.30. The only new idea being by Mr Fox, who asked from Government an. assurance that they would introduce a clause making , the Bill law for 12 months only, and during that time have a commission to collect information and data respecting the working of these social institutions in other Colonies, and America. In the Legislative Council Sir F. Dillon Bell was sworn in. * The Correspondence between the Government and the Banks of New Zealand and New South Wales, re the two half-million loans, was ordered to be laid on the table.