HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 206, 31 August 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Thursday. The House met at _.30 this afternoon. The Hokitika Gas Bill was read the second time. Fourteendays leave of absence was granted to Mr Kennedy. The followiug new Bills were introduced: Raikaia Road Board (Mr Wasou), Sharebrokers Act Repeal (Mr Lusk), and Public Reserves Sale (Mr Bowen). The debate on Mr Barton's petition was resumed, and Mr Curtis moved an addition to Mr Whitaker's motion to the effect that the House decline to receive the petition because its allegations were not specific or such as, if proved, would justify the House in removing the Judges. Messrs Fox, Reynolds, and Rees strongly condemned the conduct of the Welliugton Bar iu presenting an address to the Judges, aud the conduct of the Judges in permitting Messrs Moorhousc and Travel defended their action in the matter. Mr Button admitted that he had acted indiscreetly without considering his position as a member of the House when taking part iu the demonstration. Messrs Gisborne, Grey, and Montgomery, while agreeing that the petition showed no' sufficient grounds for removing the Judges, thought a dangerous precedent would be established in refusing to receive a petition. Mr Bowen thought the motion, if not altogether satisfactory even as amended, was the best course the House could adopt under its present Standing Orders. Mr Stafford supported the motion, as he considered the petition frivolous and vexatious. The motion, as amended by Mr Curtis was agreed to ou the voices. ' The Government promised to consider the question of giving compensation for long service, and special pay to certain members ot the police force who had lost it when they ceased to be provincial servants. Mr Pyke accordingly postponed a resolution on the subject. Mr Travers' motion, that, pendingalegislative action, no purchases or negotiations for the purchase of native lands made or entered into since the withdrawal of the Native Lands Bill should be valid unless sanctioned by a measure introduced in the House, was passedMajor Atkinson stating that the Government were makiug enquiries, and intended to introduce a Bill for the purpose. The House then adjourned for dinner.

Friday. In moving the second reading of the Medical Practitioners Bill, it was explained that its object was chiefly to prevent bogus degrees beiug registered. Drs Wai lis, Hodgkinson, and Henry strongly opposed the Bill, urging that a slight alteration in the existing law would effect all that was required. Mesrs Sharp, Wakefield, Douglas, Rowe, and Gisborne opposed the Bill, and Messrs Tole aud Sutton supported it. Major Atkinson opposed the Bill, as he thought the law gave suiheient power to purge the roll. Mr Reynolds moved that it be read that day six months, which was carried on the voices. Mr Macandrew moved the second reading of the Dunediu Wharves and Quays Reserves Bill, saying that the Harbor Board agreed that the reserves should be vested in the Corporation. Mr M'Lean strongly opposed the Bill. All independent members of the Harbor Board opposed the transfer, which was ouly carried by Mr Reynolds using the position to which he was appointed by the Government to divest the Board of property, where his duty was to protect its interests. Mr Reynolds denied the statements made. The Government should be ashamed to countenance an act of repudiation, and had made a mistake if they thought when appointing him that he would act tha part of a rogue. The laud belonged to the city. Mr Reid denied that it did. It waa the property of the whole province for harbor purposes. . Messrs Pyke, Gisborne, and Lumsden supported the Bill. Mr Burns opposed the second reading, which was carried ou a division by 15 to 14. r The Oamaru Athenaeum Reserve Bill, Town of Waitahuna Bill, City of Wellington Loan Consolidation Amendment Bill, Crown Grants Amendment Bill, and Port Chalmers Waterworks Bill, passed the second reading. The Napier Borough Endowment Bill was opposed by Messrs Gisborne and Ormond as improperly changing the ownership of reserves. Mr Sutton supported the Bill. The second reading was negatived on the voices. The House adjourned at 12.45 a.m.