GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 613, 14 September 1878, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[press agency.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, September 13. In the Council to-day, after the transaction of some formal business, leave of absence was granted to the Speaker. The Hon. Mr Hart moved that the proprietors of land dividing the same into townships should be compelled to set apart a proportiohate part for recreation and other public purposes. '>•: ■ c. Motion agreed to. , The Hon. Captain Fraser’s motion for a call of the Council for Thursday 25th instant, was carried, on a division, by two. On the Land Drainage Bill coming on for its second reading, The Hon. Mr Waterhouse opposed it strongly, and concluded by moving that the Bill be read that day six months. The Hon. Mr Wilson suggested the withdrawal of the measure. The Hon. Mr Waterhouse’s amendment was carried, and the Bill thrown out. The Council then went into Committee on the Brand’s Regisration Bill. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, September 13. For the remainder of the session Mr O’Rorke will occupy the chair of the Speaker when necessary, withont formally obtaining permission. In reply to Mr Murray, Mr Macandrew said arrangements were being made for the sale of railway tickets at other places than stations, and the Government would consider the question of introducing the American system of baggage, checks. ° In reply to Mr Richmond, the Hon. Mr Sheehan said the Government would not deal with the licensing question piecemeal, and if they found themselves unable to bring down a general measure this session to effectually deal with the "'hole question, it would have to remain over to next session. On the motion of going into Committee of .Supply, , • ‘ i'lr V. < lolcoek went mb. the question -of rim distribution of the 20 per cent, of Land Fund, <.«ul Elated on the glaring

inequality of its operation. After a speech of considerable length, he moved, as aA amendment, that clause six of the Financial Arrngements Act, 1876, Amendment Act 1877, be repealed. iThis raised a discussion which,Was AUt B mu nsua * ti me of adjournment, u The whole question turned up on the way in which 20 per cent, of the Land I^as dealt with by the Government. Messrs Wakefield, Atkinson, SheeMn, the Premier, and other members sp'oke at considerable length on both sidbs of the question ; and Mr.Sheehan cautioned members of the GoverAlrient party against being deceived by the maclunatign of the . enemy—the other side whose jsole aim was to create complioatibns if they could not break up the Ministry. Several members endeavored to ingraft other ‘amendments upon .MV, Woolc6clrs but the Speaker it' must be disposed first. In the course of the afternoon Mr'fJallance read a telegram ‘ from Christchurch stating that in case of the Avon Road Board against the Government, thC Verdict was against the Road Board, with Costs. jV' T. /-* . The division on Mr Woolcock’s motioA re Land Fund was lost by 62 against 11. The Vote for £so,oo(>ior charitable aid| has passed after several objections, had f been raised. MINING REPORT. Vk? [Fros* our Special Mining Rwpoiypnt'j I understand Mr Minnihinefc hfta got another telegram from , M[r Thome George, stating that the County Connoil were negotiatihg with the Govern* ment with the view of taking over the management of the Government, water* races in this district,, and from the 1 ton© of the telegram it does not appear that the Government intended doing apy* thing in the matter. It is very difficult to conceive how a Government could find such a lame excuse for not bring* ing the water on to Mignonette Flat, for even if the transfer of management had actually taken place, it would .still be the doty of the Government; to. i3ee that the affair Was projierly managed. There is nothing now left for the . par* ties who are ready to wash but to turn to and bring in the water, themselves, and if the Government supplies the timber, as. soon as it is completed'.they will stick the broad arrow on it,, and gee the benefit of the labour of a few. Those who have been the pioneers of the flat, will thus havfe to construct a flume that will supply scores of men who will do nothing towards'its fcfpn* structiou, and will still have thdir whiter at the same price as those that .did con* struct it. Such a flagrant" phfcbdUinjustice, and criminal, .’neglect. wpnld hardly be perpetrated by Govern* ment if they thoroughly, umjeratood the state of affairs. ; It remains to be proved whether tb© distinct will benefit much l>y fiiie trans* for «f management; and the .cry, for a separate county for this district ‘does not promise well, and the fact that no attempt has been made by the County Council to provide a track, although the cost would be so small, is no. very en* couraging omen. It is to be regretted that the full particulars of how accidents occur, are not made public, for in many instances it would be a warning to miners tp avoid careless methods of doing theif WorJr. I have not heard the full particulars of how M‘ Levie’s unfortunate affair happened, and therefore cannot say anything; of that, particular Case ] but I know this,.much/. that, ; several fatal accidents. jtjjis district through dp,wnrigh,t There is a false, reserve practised in such cases, through respqCt for, v tha pietpofy of the dead, but mtr duty to the living in pointing out where accidents may be avoided should outweigh aIP sideratiqns. There cHn Jte doubt that mining in the majority ‘Ofklaima on the Kumars is attended f with rradrd real danger now than when ?accidents were more frequent; but ,miners. h«jvo learned to avoid the mistakes,, iKjaff; others have suffered by And probably the large number that.;hay§ single timbering instead of sets , has had something to do with it. T’