PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 395, 7 October 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

(From our Exchanges.) September 30. The House continued nearly all night on the Counties Bill. The miner's right franchise was carried by 5L against 14. It was agreed, by 54 to 18. that the county chairman should be elected by the ratepayers. Sir George Grey made an attempt for manhood suffrage, but was defeated by 42 against 11. MR. WAKEFIELD APOLOGISES. Before the adjournment of the House last night, Mr. Wakefield asked permission to make a statement. He accepted the responsibility of the articles which appeared in the ' Tiuiaru Herald,' and expressed regret for them. He bad himself suffered from most unfair accusations from the Press, and he trusted the present occurrence would tend to prevent a treatment of members of the House by toe Press that almost amounted to intimidation, For himself, he withdraw alt imputations in the articles without qualification. He bitterly regretted them, and threw himself on the generosity of the House. After some discussion, Mr. Joyce, the member who might have felt most aggrieved at the article in the 'Tiuiaru Herald,' 'said that, in view of the manner in which the House had taken up the case and expressed itself, the apology of Mr. "Wakefield quite satisfied him. Except as regarded the houor of the House, he had no feelings of irritation to soothe. Mr. Whitaker proposed that the apology be accepted, and that the order made in reference to the matter be discharged. Mr. .Bee 3 seconded the motion, which was unanimously agrc d to. The Speaker said the way the House had accepted Mr. WakenVi'tVs apology did infinite credit to the members. Sir Julius Vogel declines going South. He will leave for i-.urope via Auckland. Mr. John Cargill left for Dunedin yesterday. It is understood he will act in the interests oi the General Government. The work of the session is proceeding slowly. The Government supporters are squabbling over the Counties Bill. Mr. Robert Wilson is in Wellington, and, seeing the position of affairs, he regrets having signed the letter. In the Waste Lands Committee Mr. Reid moved and carried clauses providing for the cutting up of the runs on the determination of the present leases into blocks of not larger extent than 5000 acres ; for their sale by deferred payment extending over fifteen years at 20s. per acre, with the addition of residence. MAIN CENTHAL KATLWAY. Mr. be Latjtour moved—;" That the House resolved itnelf into a Commit-

tee of the whole to consider an address to the Governor, requesting he will cause provision to be made, as that an area of waste lands of the Crown should be set aside in Otago, the proceeds of which, under the waste land laws in force, or to be put in force, should be placed to a special fund as a guarantee for payment of any moneys hereafter to be raised for the purpose of opening up the interior of Otago by main central railway." As the Government localised the land revenues of each district, it behoved the Government to Ree that they were spent to the best advantage, and it Was their saered duty to take steps to open up the interior lands of the Provinces, so that they might carry people instead of'sheep. The Pbemietc said the hon. gentleman had his entire sympathy when he paid ho wanted to see the land reserved lbr real settlement, but there was nothing in the resolution to show that the lands sold in the way pointed out would be sold to the rest of the settlers, and in a way to promote settlement. The question opened was a very large one, because, if they did what was proposed in Otago," they would have to do so all over the Colony, and it appeared to him, however the object might be, that the .Colony was not now in a position to do what was asked. Mr. Reid thought a central railroad in Otago was very desirable, but the time had not yefc arrived for such a work. In any case he thought such a work should be constructed out of a loan instead of by locking up the lands. Rejected bv 24 to 20.'