HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 244, 5 October 1876, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Wednesday. The House met at 2.30. this afternoon. Sir George Grey said it appeared from a memorandum submitted by Ministers to the Governor, and published, that an opinion had been obtained from law officers in England as to the power of the Assembly to abolish the provinces. He wished, without notice, to ask the Government if this was so. The Premier said the hon. member should give notice. Sir George Grey then gave notice for tomorrow. In reply to a question by Sir George Grey, the Premier announced that he would make a Supplementary Financial Statement on Friday night. In committee on the appropriation clauses in the Counties Bill, Sir George Grey moved an amendment in the clause relating to the appointment of auditors, with the view of placing the power of appointing auditors in the hands of the Council. After a great deal of discussion, the House divided, and the amendment was lost by 36 to 21. Auditors are to be paid out of the consolidated fund. The next discussion arose upon the schedules The boundaries of Monganui, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Hobson, and Waitemata were agreed to with slight amendments. The name of Marsden County was changed to Rodney on the suggestion of Mr Sheehan. A new county called Eden was created out of Manukau County, and the name of Waiheki, Eangitoto. and other adjacent islands were excised from the description of Manukau County. Sir George Grey proposed new boundaries for Coromandel County, which were agreed tOj and the islands were struck out from that of the Thames County. Sir George Grey aud Mr Howe proposed amendments virtually amounting to the addition of half the Piako County to the Thames, which was opposed by Messrs Murray and Whitaker. The proposal was carried by 37 to 26. The other half of Piako County to be added to Waikato County. The House rose at 5.38. Thursday. The House resumedat 7-30 on the schedules of the Counties Bill, and all the Counties were passed until coming to the first of the Otago Counties (Waitake), when Mr Reid moved as an amendment that Southland and Wallace remain as two Counties, but that all the rest of Otago be known as the County of Otago, and that all the Counties laid out in the schedule be called Ridings. This led to a long discussion among the Otago members, and on a division being taken the amendment was lost by 36 against 23. On coming to the Molyneux County, Mr Thomson proposed that the name be changed to Vincent County. This was carried on a division by 27 to 22. Mr Stout then moved that it be called the Vincent Pyke County, but this was lost by 31 against 19. The name of Lakeland County was amended to the Lake Couuty. A discussion arose as to the Mataura watershed with regard to the Southland County, it being added to the Clutha County on a division by 26 against 12. Stewart's Island, Kuapuke, and the adjacent islands, on the motion of Mr Stout, were constituted a new county. King's County and Stewart's Islaud County were added to the schedules. Schedules 3 to 9 inclusive were agreed to, and the Bill was reported with amendments, and ordered to be considered on Friday. Mr Whitaker moved the second reading of the Attorney-General's Bill, and gave a slight sketch of the tenure of the office of Attorney-General since the creation of the office, and said the time had come when a change should be made. The Bill, he explained, allowed the office to be political or non-political, at the case might be. Mr Reynolds opposed the Bill. He was bound to say from his experience that political Attorney-Generals gave opinions in accordance with their politics. Mr Moorhoiiso could understand an At-torney-General being a partizan and a keen politician, but could not understand his risking his reputation by giving bad law. The Bill was read the second time. Mr Whilaker moved the second reading of the Public Health Bill. Objections were taken to going on with the Bill this session. Mr Stout took the same view, and moved it be read that clay month. Messrs Sheehan and Hunter strongly supported going on with the Bill, which, as Mr Bo wen explained, hud already received a good deal of consideration in life other House and was a measure that had been before the House before. After some discussion ihe Bill was read the second time. Tanneries to be classed as offensive trades was the only amendment made in Committee, and the whole Bill of 153 clauses wont through and was passed. The House adjourned at 1.45 a.m.