PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 225, 18 September 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Stpttmbf-r 17. In the Upper liou«e to-day, the Hon. Mr Pollen moved the second reading of the P/ovin::ial Loans Bid. '* he Hon. Mr Mantell moved' that the second reading take p-ace that day six months. The bill will probably be thrown out by a large majority — nearly 2 to i. September 18. "\i't Provincial Loans Bill wa? n-jeet-d by the Legislative Council last night The ;ol!owing is theriivii-ion list on the motion that the Hi 1 be thrown out :— Ayr s, 19 : Messrs Acklnnd, Bonar, CampU'll, Chambe lain. Kd wards, Hall, Holmes, Johnston. Kenny, Mantcdl, Miller, Mur-c, Paterson. P- ter, tlnrazvn, Seweil, Stake*, Wnterhouse, and Whiimore. Noe?, i_ : Mts-rs Kaillie. Bret, Vrasir, Grace. Lah.bann, McLean, Ngatata, I'ollen, Richmond, .Scotland. Taylor, and Wijilev. Jn the Hnu«r: ye^tcrdty the following Bills were read the firtt time:— A liill to Amend the Commissioner of Crown Lands Act, 1.-66; a Pill to Amend the Crowi: Grants Act, ISfiO; the Herwi Tareha Jlatengi Grant Validation Bill. The debate on the Immigrants' Land Hill was nsumtd by Mr Rollctc.n, who said that he intended to move a resolution that the House could not discu-s the conduct ol the Agent-General without fuller information and the complete correspondence. The Governor's amendments in the Telegraph Cable 1 ! - üb-idy Bill provide lor an agreement lor a cable between New Zealand and any Australi-n colony, at a cost not exceeding £20,000 annua'ly, if no agreement is made under clause 4 of the original bill.

Mr Yogel explained that a letter to Dr Featherstoa hid been cent with the others to the Governor, who hid said it was not fair to lay it en the table Tho ! e6rer had reprimanded the AgentGnreral for the tnne of his last despatches. Ministers claimed the right to address any letters to their officers Without the intervention of the House. Minivers, though di-approvinn of some of the acts «! the Agent-G neral, recugnized him in a valuable officer, who was possibly sullbrina; from illness at the tims h u . wrote. It the i!ou?e <i:ri.id-d m demanding the production of the letter, the Government Arould produce it Mr I-'irzh»rbert spoke ptrongy against the ri_-ht of the Governor to say what papers should or .-houl : not b.- pre^erted. He si- Mr John Hall hf.d authority to supersede. Dr Fenthcrsto .c, and Ministers wi'lied t.> s;ive themselves from the dliCs of the'r inulaibniriistratioa of the immigration p->!iev ny s-vriSciiiij him. Mr Stafford said Uvit ?evs ral important pp.pers from t.:e Agant-GeneMit had not been presented. The debr.te was adjourned to alio*- of a motion to be hrojght forward tor the production of dispatches. Mr Bunny moved for their production. Mr Vogd opposed the motion, and called for a division, but voices being against him lie gave way. A letter /rem Dr Pollen to the A gent-General was laid on the table. The letter acknowledged the receipt of several letters front tho AgentGereral which had been brought under the r»oti?o of the Government on account of their tone. It then proceeds to charge the Agent-General with a want of ccurtesy and with insubordination The Government blame the A gent- General for endeavoring to prolong the Shvw and Saville monopoly, also for irregular correspondence. The Government stated that they we- e aware thit the Agent-General suffered from serious fMness, and recognise the - evotion with which he had endeavored to discharge his duties. Thc-y attribute the irregularity of t! c correspondence to his illness. Ministers expect the Agent Gereral to give effect to their wis-ts. If their instructions by mail were not sat ; s"actory he should telegraph •or further instructk and also should reply monthly to a!! communications sent to him. On the House resuming, Mr O'i.orke said that fi tr en vessels were on the way out with 4<CO immigrants. Five more were to sisil in September and six in October. He proceeded to reply to Mr heeve'. .Mr T. L Sheph--rd referred to the Upper House as nullifying tho efforts of the Lower House. Mr I'i'zherbert said thit the Immigrants Land Bill was a well-intentioned measure, but very weak. Mr Brp.ndon defended the A gent -General. Mr Dunier said the Agent-General had too many duties. Mr Webster spoke at random. lie criticised the press, the Ministry, the Goldfields numbers, etc. Ke compart d editors to washerwomen, and said that the Mini-try knew more about- selling old clothes and lawyers' ;letters than ab.-utt colonisation. MrLuckie said that Mr Webster's remarks ws re excuniblc considering his festive garb, lie said the great question was land. The land for the people and the people for the land. That was the cry which would ring through the country during the nrxt twelve mo - ths. ?<'r Thomson thought the Government, and the Agent-General especially were in fruit. Mr lie-id defended the Agent-General, and praised the Governor for defending hi:n. The Bill was certainly h-rmieas and would be useful. Mr Bunny support' d the Bill. Mr Keiley contended that Mr Beeves' speech was substantially correct. Mr Yogel made an able defer ca, and said the country could weil afford to pay £20 cash to each immigrant who paid his own passage. He said he would not descend to the level of Mr Webster's speech which was simply buffoonery. The Government were prepared to give free passages, but the nominations should be made by name, and not by occupation. The Bill passed the second reading on the I voices. Mr Voce! then asked the House to adjourn till Friday, to give the Government time to consider ! their position regarding the action of the Upper | House.