PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 167, 6 July 1876, Page 2

PARLI AMEN TARY.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Wednesday. The House met at 2-30 p.m. A. week 8 extension of time was given to the Committee inquiring into the election of Mr G. E. Keid, Mr. Morris not being able to attend. The Premier raised a question of privilege. It- fcppcared that Mr. Waterhouse, in the L°g siatire Couutil, said that an influential ciiisen of Wanganui told the electors that if they returned Sir Ju'.ius Yogel and Mr. Bryce members of the Assembly they would obtain JELOO.OGO for their harbor works. There was not the slightest foundation for such a statement. The person who made t'te assertion was not a member of Bryce and Vogel's Commiitue, Bnd no doubt made use of the aseert'on to injuriously affect the latter's election. Tiie prout of the untruth was that when he (~ir Julius Vog-1) visaed his constituents, thjy never raid or hinted at anything that could be construed into the meaning that they expected to oe assisted out of the public purse, lie could only call such statements malicious Mr. Atkim on made a similar personal explanation with regard to utterances aacrised to him, to tha effect that at a dinner which took place at VVanganui he promised the electors local public works if Messrs Yogel anl Bryce were elee ed members of Parliament. Nothing that he had ever said at the dinner could fairly be tortured to mean anything of the kind. The Premier, in reply to questions by Mr Ormoni, said he understood from the mail agent's te'egram that the reason the City of tsnn. FeancUco passed wi hout calling at £inpiur was that the bar was unsuitable; but ha had instructed Captain Euwiu to en juire i.uo trie where matter, and to proceed to Nqiier for that purpose, if neueesary. It the Government found that tne steamer incurred peiiiities, they would be enforced. It appeared to him thit it would be wise for the colony to go to the expense of a competent piiot to take the mad boats if the costal service was to be adhered to. Hid it been po-itiule to uat'.h the mail boat, the Government would have chartered a steamer to take the iSapier mail on. Sir D. M Lean read a long series of telegrams between himself, native officers in the north, and native chiefs, to show th.t the Government did alt that could possibly be djue to secure tbe apprehension of ttie murderer Winat*. qh the ra »tloa of the Premier, a co-nmittee was appjinted to consider what modifications are required, if any, in the Calitornia mail service. Some important returns were ordered, and the Uouso ruse at 5.30. Thursday. la the House last n'ght, Mr Sharp moved that there be "laid before |ho House r.^ar.n.a showing tag quantity of

lan 1 sold in the sett'ement of the Province of Nelson, an J subsequently, toge her with the amount paid to the late New Zealand Company oufc of the funds of the same up to the date of extinguishment of the Company's claim by payment from the half million loan. Mr Richardson said the return would be obtained, Mr Sharp informing him that such records as the Gener il Government did not posse's could be obtaine 1 at Nelson. Sir George Grey'« motion that the House ask the Governor to cause £40i) to ba p'aued OU the Erttirmteq far an essay oa grasses and forage plants likely to prove useful in New Zoaland, was agreed to without a dissentient voice. The Premier moved ths s cond reading of The Keßistrati«n of E'ectors' Act, 1875, Kep<3al Bill. Owing to defect 3in the Act considerable confusion hid arisen as to its interpretation, and a great many ratepayer hai been struck off the Roll ia consequence in several parts of the colony. It was therefore thought betttr to strlki it off the statute book at once This Jed to a long discussion, the maj >rity, while agreeing that the Aot contained many imp rfections and had betn mischevious ia effect, etill thought that the principle was good, and it would be a pity to repaal it unless a more mtturely con iderad measure w«s brought down in its pla-e, and a number of members agreed to vote for the Repealing Bili if the Government would pledge themselves to bring in a proper measure embodying the principles of the present Act, and remedying its defects. If not, they would prefer to assist in amending the Act. Other members suggeeted that some clauses should be introduced int > the Repealing Bill with the object of remedying the defects complained of. The Premier said they felt bound to take into consideration such a strong expression of opinion, and if the House would take the second reading of the Kepealing Bill, he would postpone its further consideration for a fortnight, and he would ptomisa that during that time the Government wou'd carefully consider all the objections raised and suggestions offered as to the present Registration Act with a view to meet them in some way. The House then adjourr ed at 9 30 p.m.