GENERAL ASSEMBLY ITEMS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 230, 1 August 1873, Page 7

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ITEMS.

In the House, on Thursday last, Mr Shepherd asked the Premier whether the Government intends to extend the tele- * graph during the financial year, from \J Naseby to Clyde, via Black's and St. J Bathans. The Premier said that the cost *^^°Sy )e between tnree ana four thous-antr-pounds, but that the Government would enquire into the matter. In reply to Mr uNeill, in the House of Representatives, the Premier said that abstracts and specifications of patents . were being rapidly proceeded with. In reply to a question from the same gentleman, the Premier said that despatches from the Secretary of State were unfavorable to the establishment of a New Zealand mint. In reply to Mr Bradshaw,' the Premier said that the Government did not intend to introduce a measure this session authorising mining for gold and silver on private property. It was desired to watch the operation of Victorian legislation on the subject. - A Bank Holidays Bill has been introduced to make the following days close holidays:—New Year's Day, Easter Monday, the 24th of May, if a week day, and the 25th of December, if a week day, Bills of Exchange due on any of these days, to be due on the following days.

The Miners' Franchise Extension Bill enables every holder of a miner's right or business license, who is qualified to vote for members of the House of Representatives or Provincial Council, to vote at election of Superintendentofthe Province in which such miner's right or business, license has been issued. Qualification to commence from passing of the Act. On the motion for the addition of Mr Collins's name to the Goldfields Committee, Mr Wakefield pointed out that no Wellington or Canterbury members were on the Committee. Mr Mervyn said they would be of no use : they understood nothing of such matters. Mr Rolleston severely condemned the remarks of Mr Mervyn, and said that the Goldfields and Native Committees contained the names of too many persons interested in such matters. The Wellington correspondent of the 1 Star' telegraphs that when leave of absence was asked in the Lower House on Wednesday for several of the Qtago members, who are at present attending the session of the Provincial Council, a strong opposition was raised to granting the request, and it was suggested that the absentees should be guilty of con- \ tempt, and fined £SO in terms of the Standing Orders. When three weeks' leave was asked for Mr Creighton, the member for Franklin (Mr Buckland) got up and talked about the constituency of Mount Eden being virtually disfranchised. This remark from Mr Buckland, whose absence from the House is almost greater than that of any other member, is rather good. However, the leave asked was granted, and a week to Messrs Macandrew, Brown, Reid, M'Glashan, and Taiaroa.