PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 178, 25 July 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, July 24. In the Upper House yesterday Mr Waterhouse, in moving the appointment of a Select Committee to report upon the reconstruction of tho Council, said that the Lower House had no power to abolish Council, as it was a matter settled by the Constitution Act. The second Chamber was highly necessary for good government. The existence of one Chamber, wherever it had been tried, had proved a failure. The reviewing measures from the Lower House was not so important a function as preventing one class from domineering over the other. He showed the difference I between the House of Lords at home ond the Council here. The nomination of its members here was dependent upon the exigencies of party, and the Council could not offer resistance to popular pressure, and could not maintain itself against the elective body. He was in favor of an elective Chamber, which should resemble thi* United States Senate. The qualification should be the same for both Houses, the duration of the Council being ten or twelve years. After some further discussion, the motion was adjourned. Jnly 25. In the House of Representatives to-day, Mr Curtis referred to the discrepancies in shipping returns, which were calculated to mislead. The returns represented Wellington to have four times the trade of Nelson. Mr Reynolds said the practice was to put down vessels from foreign ports at the first port of call, Melbourne steamers being put down as vessels from outside the colony. He was of opinion that foreign vessels should be put down to the whole colony without mentioning a port. Major Atkinson moved for a copy of the correspondence between any officer of the Government, and Mr. Finnimore, of Wanganui, relative to the purchase of a lar»e block of land on tbe West Coast, known as the railway reserve. Mr M'Lean said he was just about to lay the papers on the table. Mr Fox moved that the correspondence be read. In the letter of Mr Finnimore, formerly Government Auctioneer at Wanganui, to Mr C. E. Haughton, Under-Secretary for Immigration, the writer referred to sales by auction of certain lands, and went on to propose that he and Mr Haughton should enter into a land speculation, he offering to pay Mr Haughton half the net profits! Mr Finnimore did not wish his name to appear. He proposed the land known as the railway reserve should be sold to him at the upset price, and then auctioned, and tbe net profits divided. He offered to deposit £1,000, but the transaction to be strictly private and confidential. He referred to his services in the field, and said that he might claim a large slice of land from Government, but bad not got a rood. Government bad twice ruined him, and he said if Mr Haughton joined him a large sum miuht he made. The letter was headed "Private and confidential," and was signed by Mr Finnimore. Mr Haughton replied, stating that he could not regard the letter as confidential, and therefore had handed it to the Native Minister. The latter dispensed with Mi* Finnimore's services, and appointed Captain Ray, of Patea, to conduct all land sales pn'sonally. Iv reply to Mr O'Neill, the Premier j said (bat abstracts and specifications of patents were proceeding rapidly. To a second question from the same gentleman, he said dispatches from the Secretary of

State were unfavorable to the establishment in New Zealand of a Mint. In reply to Mr Eradshaw, the '"remier said that the Government did not intend introducing any measure thia session authorizing mining for gold and silver on private property. He desired to watch the operations of Victorian legislation on the subject. In reply to Mr Murray, Mr Richardson said that materials for the public service were procured in Europe, as follows : — Orders were sent, to the Agent-Genera], who cansed specifications to be prepared by a Government engineer. Tenders were then invited, and the lowest had always heen accepted. Mr O'Neill introduced lans of Towns Regulations Bill, which was read a first time. On the motion of Mr Yogel, the Education Bill was read a first time. On the motion of Mr Gillies, it was agreed that the correspondence with Shaw, Saville, and Co., on the subject of chartering emigrant ships by the AgentGeneral, be produced. In reply to Mr Bradshaw, Government promised to lay regulations on tho fable for Gold-fields discovery aud rewards. Io reply to Mr Webster, the Premier said the transactions between Government and the Bank of New Zealand were carried on under agreement laid before the House of 1871. On the motion of Mr Gillies, tho Volunteer Land Scrip Roppal Bill was read 0 second time. Mr Gillies proposed to amend the bill in committee, so as to leave tho option of issuing scrip to Provincial Councils. He said in the Province of Auckland persons who had bought up scrip bought blocks of land at auction at. half-a crown an acre. The Defence Minister promised to introduce clauses in committeo protecting existing rights. The Wellington Loan Bill was read a first time without discussion. Mr Yogel said he hoped to make his Finaucial Statement on Tuesday next Mr Yogel obtained leave to introduce an Imprest Supply Bill for a quarter of a million. Mr. Gillies said he did not appear as leader of the Opposition — no organised Opposition was in existence. The necessity for an Imprest Bill was caused by the House not being called together earlier. Mr Reader Wood saw no objection to the Bill The Joint Stock Companies Bill was passed; tlie Sheriffs Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. Mr Wakefield has giveu notice of motion for a return of sales and leases by Natives to Europeans since 1862, distinguishing between Government and private transactions, and giving all particulars.