PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 193, 16 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REWIESENTATIVES. WefiLjwrojf, Wednesday. The House met at 2"30 ibis afternoon. In reply to questions, the .(fpycrnment said it was intended to erect a lighthouse on Wairau Heads, and to connect the Cbristchurcli Government Buildings and Railway Station by telegraph with the Fire Brigade Station ; would consider the question o£ donations to Fire Brigades; would afford fccilitation for repairing steaiaers'^boilers in Ofcago dock; would maintain iuail'eojflmunication between Westport and the Karamea; would give a comparative return of railway carnages imported and those being manufactured in Dunedin ; had not authorised the i opening of the Dunedin Museum on Sundays. i

The Fine Arts Copyright Bill, the LawSocieties Act Amendment Bill, and a Bill to enable the Timaru Mechanics Institute to raise funds to defray liabilities, were introduced. Mr Stout moved a resolution to the effect that the Governor of the colony should be elected by the people. He did not think this would affect our loyalty or relations to the Empire, while it would tend to create national life and political feeling. Mr Tole seconded the motion. Mr Bowen opposed, as making the Governor elective would really transfer to him much power properly belonging to Parliament, and render real responsible Parliamentary Government impossible. Mr Hodgkinson supported the motion, declaring responsible Government to be the curse of the colony. He attacked Mr Keid for changing sides. Mr Keid replied, warmly defending his consistency. The debate was interrupted by the dinner hour. .. _ , Thursday. Mr Kees brought up, as a matter of privilege, an address presented by the Wellington bar, including four members of the House, to the Judges in relation to Mr Barton's petition now pending. The Speaker ruled that the matter was not one of privilege. Mr Eees gave notice of motion regretting what had been done. In Committee, an address was agreed to, asking the Governor to place £5000 on the Estimates in aid of public libraries in the proportion of pound for pound under the Public Libraries Act, and 10s for every pound raised by subscription to other libraries. Major Atkinson said the question was whether the money could be found. The Auckland Provincial Council Library Bill was read the second time. Mr Tairoa resumed the Local Option debate, and supported the Bill. Mr Button warmly supported the Bill, and thought that every mother should have an extra vote under the Bill for each child. The matter was so urgent that no consideration should cause postponement of dealing with it Mr Itowe supported the principle, but not the Bill, which was too far in advance ot public opinion. Sir George Grey supported the Bill, but thought the publicans could be entitled to compensation. Mr Wason opposed the Bill altogether. Mr Hodgkinson would support the second, but not the third reading, unless the details were greatly altered. Mr Macandrew thought that nothing would effectually remedy the evil but the total prohibition of the importation or manufacture of alcholic liquors. The publicans would be entitled to compensation. Mr Tole opposed the Bill. Mr Montgomery held that it was arbitrary and crude, and requiring great amendment. Compensation would be due if the existing houses were closed by the vote of a simple majority. _. Mr , Lusk supported the principle of the Bill, but had changed his opinion about the compensation, and now held that it could be fairly claimed. Messrs Joyce and Reynolds opposed the Mr Ballance condemned it as not susceptible of improvement in committee. Compensation would undoubtedly be due. Mr Stout spoke warmly in favor of the Bill, but thought the details might be improved. He held that the clauses for comhe pensation were utterly unjustifiable, and would rather see the Bill abandoned than that such a claim should be admitted. Mr Hislop moved the adjourment of the debate to Wednesday. The House adjourned at I*s a.m.