PARLIAMENTARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 20, 5 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 this afternoon. lleplyiug to questions the Government said —(1) It was not intended to introduce any Bill to forbid lotteries, art unions, and rallies, which were already illegal under English law. (2) George Jones was charged in the Wellington Court by the advice of the Crowu Prosecutor, as both parties were here. If the evidence was suffiuieut he would be committed for trial iu Dunedin, or, if necessary, the Magisterial enquiry would be adjourned to Oauiaiu. (3j The lease of the Auckland Island would be caucelled if the provisions were not soon complied with, and tenders for a new lease would be inyited. The following new Bills were introduced: —Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill (by Dr Hodgkinson), Peninsula County Libraries Bill (Mr Seaton), Akaroa Library Exchauge Bill (Mr Montgomery), and Aucklaud Harbor Board Reclamation Bill (Mr Tola). Mr Eeid moved the second reading of the Land Bill, and in doing so he explained its provisions at length. The necessity for consolidating the land laws so as to render them intelligible to people in and out of the colony, had become evident; and the Bill while doing this, retained the features peculiar to each existing system. He dwelt upon the advantages o£ extending deferred payments to the whole of the colony, aa calculated to promote settlement, relieve the labor market and encourage immigration. He maintained the justice of the mode of dealing with Canterbury runs, and of opening certain pastoral lauds to deferred payments. The Bill was read'the second time without . debate, and referred to the Waste Lauds Committee. Tue House then went into Committee on the Education Bill, and the first six clauses were passed with slight verbal alterations. Wednesday. In Committee on the Education Bill, clause 7 was amended by inserting the words " General Inspector " instead of " Inspectors " iu the second line, and the last paragraph was struck out, the elfect being to have a General Inspector under the department, leaving ordinary inspectors under the appointment of the Boards. Clause 8 was postponed. Clause 9 was passed. Clause 10 postponed. Clauses Hand 12 were passed. Several members urged doing away with Boards altogether but Mr Boweu declared them absolutely necessary. Clause 13 was passed, the Committee being allovve I to nominate two candidates for the Board instead of one. Clauses 14 to 19 were passed. Clause 20 was ammended by disqualifying contractors uuder the Boards. Clauses 21; 22, and 23 were passed. Clause 24 was postponed. Mr Bowen stated that it was intended to introduce fresh provisions regarding reserves, so that those existing might be valued and then apportioned between the districts, onefourth, in each case being specifically set appart for the purpose of secondary education. Clauses 25 to 28 were passed. Clause 29 was amended so as to apply also to Inspectors. Clauses 30 to 33 were passed wiih verbal amendments. The House rose at 12-10 a.m.