GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 287, 5 September 1877, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PEESS AGENCY.]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Wellington 1 , September 4.

The House met at 2.30.,

Replying to questions, Minister* said -—(1.) It was not intended to introduce any Bill to forbid letter!**, artunions, or raffles, which were already illegal under the English ' law. (2.) George Jones was changedin the Wellington Court by adviceof&eCrowflProsecutor, as both parties were'here. If ' the evidence were sufficient, he would bo committed for trial in Dunedin, or if necessary the Magisterial-enquiry would be adjourned to Oamaru. (3) The lease of the Auckland-Islands would be cancelled if the- conditions were not soon complied witty and tenders for a new lease be in.yi.ted, Mr Reid moved the second reading of the Land Bill. In doing so, he explained its provisions at length, and stated that the necessity for consolidating the land laws so as to- rehderjthem intelligible to the proprietors in and out of the Colony had become evident, - and the Bill, while doing thfo, letained - the features peculiar to each existing system with which the people .were familiar. Dwaling tentatively, at present, they would gradually approach a uniform and he : a welt on the advantages of extending she system of deferred payments to the whole Colony as it was calculated to promote settlement, relieve the labor market, and encourage immigration. He maintained the justice of this mode x>f dealing with the Canterbury runs, and the opening of certain pastoral lattds on deferred payments. •'..',;-"• The Bill was read a secqfid l£me without debate, and re*efipa£ to the Waste Lands Committee?. v - •

Education Bill in Committee; 'first six clauses passed with Bliglit verbal alterations. • " -' : *■!■•

■■• feepteffiber 6. In Committee on ihs n ' Education Bill, clauses 8, 10, and 24-were postponed. The others upt»33incltiSrVe, passed with amendments* 7 was altered so as to inspectors to the control of the Boards; the Minister appointing the general Inspector. Clause 13 was amended by allowing each committee to nominate two Instead of one candidate for the'Board. Clause 20 was amended «6 as to disqualify contractors under the Board. Clause 29 was made to .apply also to inspectors.

Mr Bowen declared the Boards"were absolutely necessary to the. worlring : of the Act, also that he intended to introduce fresh provisionsregardiug reserves, to have them solved (?) and apportioned between districts, one-fourjfch. Jaeing specially appropriated for secondary education. ' • ' - ' '"

The House adjourned at l&lOi