NOTES FROM SPECIAL REPORTERS AT WELLINGTON.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 234, 29 August 1873, Page 6

NOTES FROM SPECIAL REPORTERS AT WELLINGTON.

Mr. Bradshaw's Mining on Private Property Bill came on for second reading on Friday, and I am glad to say met with a most favorable reception, as it is really one of the most important measures that has been brought before the House this session. Of course it is crude and imperfect in many of its provisions, though these will be remedied by experience, but there was no excuse for Ministers knowing so little of its principles, as actually to jeopardise its fate, and though it has been postponed for a week in.-- order to enable these gentlemen to read, mark, and inwardly digest it, I think- it may safely be looked upon as safe.. Again has there been another fight over the Licensing, alias the 'Permissive Bill, and again has Mr. Fox triumphed, as in Committee there was made a , most determined attack, with a view to burk it for at least this session, but this was defeated by 38 to 13, and teetotalism is rampant with joy. On the motion for adjourning during the debate for the iisual " ten minute's for refreshment,"' Taiaroa caused some amusement by stating that he objected to members going out to imbibe "whiskey hot" and then coming back to vote for teetotalism. Mr. Fox tries' to tell the story another way, but this, I think, is the best version of the two. Correspondent to the ' G-uard-. ian/

Mr. O'lSTeill moved a reduction of the gold duty by 6d. per oz. —Mr. Vogel was sorry that he had to oppose the motion. A Mint was to be established for the purpose of continuation against Bank (sic). The reduction might benefit Auckland but not Otago or Westland. He was sorry the reduction was made last year. The gold duty was not a tax on miners. The goldfields members should be glad that others opposed the reduction: —Mr. O'Connor supported the motion, and quoted largely from statistics to show that -the miners of New Zealand were worse off than those of Victoria. He showed that the yield of gold was reducing, arid the number of miners falling off. —Mr. J. L. G-illies supported the motion. Mr. T. White argued against the duty as being a special tax, and urged the absurdity of levying a special tax on an industry already heavily burdened.—Major AtkinI son opposed the motion, and said the question was one of royalty, and not of special taxation.—Mr.. Fox. supported the motion, and said there was ah understanding last year that the reduction should be gradual each year.—Mr. Sheehan opposed the motion, on the ground that the Assembly had no right to remove the revenue of the provinces.—Mr. Buckland said that unless the tax were continued, the Auckland province would become insolvent, The debate was interrupted by the arrival of the dinner hour. On the motion of Mr. ißradshaw, the regulations and rewards for the discovery of new goldfields were referred to the G-oldfields Committee. —Telegrams.

'August 22. There was an extraordinary scene last' night over the Otago Waste Lands Bill, No. 2 Mr. Macandrew said the Bill had been introduced, but he wished to withdraw it and substitute another.-—Sereral. Otago members spoke apparently on three diff rent Bills, and the Speaker was referred to as to which Bill was before the House._ He stated that Mr. Macandrew had introduced two Otago Waste Lands Bills, and the one under discussion was No. 2.—Mr. T. L. Shepherd disputed this, and said Mr. Macandrew had introduced two Bills, but one being distasteful to certain members, he was attempting to substitute q, third Bill in the place of No.

1. Messrs Reynolds, "Webster, - and Thomson all explained, but each; was interrupted with cries of " wrong.:"—Mr. Macandrew asked leave to withdraw one, and establish another, which was refused; —Sir J. C. Wilson asked : was an hon., member at liberty to introduce one Bill, and, having had it read a first time, substitute another for it at the'second reading?— After general confusion, and the Speaker being unable to set matters right to the satisfaction of the Otago members, the Bill was read a second time and referred to the Waste Lands Committee.— Telegram.

August 22.The second reading of the Bill to permit mining on land' : alienated, after its passing was carried by 33 to 25, and stands referred to the Goldfields Committee. The Government supported the second reading on the understanding'that they were unpledged regarding future support. It is proposed to assimilate the Bill to the Westland Act, which permits auriferous land to be resumed possession of for minpurposes on payment of full compensation. The support of the Government has been obtained to the second reading in consequence of the pressure of some of their former Otago supporters. The final fate of the principal involved in the Bill is very uncertain this session. It depends upon how the G-oldfields Committee propose the Bill. —Telegram, 1 Mr. Gillies was the only Otago member who supported the, reduction of the gold duty. O'Neill, O'Connor and White were the only mining members who spoke in its support. —Telegram. The adjourned discussion on the Gold Mining on Private Property Bill was resumed, and a motion .that the Bill-be read that day six months negatived oh a division by 33 to 22. The Bill was read a second time, and carried.—Telegram. The Goldfields Committee, I believe, has' often resembled a bear garden, goldfields members, as a rule, often being of a peculiar and pugnacious character. Some of them lack rudimentary, as well as political education. Uncouth as a bear, or a-goldfields member in "Victoria in days of the past, has been a common saying. There are several points of difference between our various Colonial Legislatures. In Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria," members "at times' indulge in pugilism; pugilistic and ; profane language, and get up occasionally and call each other d—d liars." 'There is7nothing of this kind in our New Zealand Legislature only, occasional scathing sarcasm, and an abundance of superfluous talk. The de* bating power, however, of the New Zeal- ' and Parliament is inferior to that of Yic- '■ toria and New South Wales. We stick and.,., haggle more for ceremony than our ■ Australian neighbors. What kind •of ' legislative arena it would have become ■ had an Australian element not been imported into it, is almost" impossible to ! divine, unless something of a fossiliferoua • character.— f Star/ "

Mr.;' Macahdrew has introduced a Bill enabling the Superintendent of Otago to construct a branch railway from- the Green Island Coalfield to the Southern trunk railway. He has also introduced a, -Bill to amend the Waste Lands of the province, having reference to Southland. This Bill is opposed by Mr. M'G-lashan, who has stated that it is not in accord with the resolution of the Provincial Council of Otago relating to the price of land. Mr. Macandrew has likewise given notice ikat he will move that £1,50Q be placed oh the supplemental estimates to. establish communication between the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island. This is a desirable object. His further notice of motion, to the effect that Victorian goods should be admitted duty free on Victoria agreeing to admit New Zealand goods free, is of quite a different character. We hardly like the look of it. If he confine himself to a few specified commodities, in. which the producers on this side do not compete with Victorian producers, there can be no possible objection; but we altogether object to a general relaxation of our revenue laws in favor of : Victorian products. If we are, to have trade, let every other colony 'benefit by it;—' Guardian,'