PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 211, 6 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Wednesday. The House met at 2.30 this afternoon. Replying to questions the Government said —(I) That they were obtaining information with regard to the case of Hacker v. Forbes, Dalrymple and C0., 0f Masterton, with a view to ulterior proceedings against Dalrymple a certified accountant iu bankruptcy. (2) That it was intended to get the provincial district printing executed, if it could be done as cheaply as in the Government office. (3) That it was not intended to introduce a Dog Registration Bill this session. The following new Bills were introduced: — New Zealand Consolidated Stock Bill (Major Atkinson), aud Publio Revenues Bill (Major Atkinson). Ou the motion of Mr Barff a Select Committee was appoiuted to consider the advisability of constructing a railway to connect I Hokitika aud Greymouth, aud the proposed harbor works at Hokitika. Mr Rees drew attention to the publication in the /Vety Zealand Times of evidence given before the Public Petitions Comm'tteeinthe case of M'Manns, imputing professional misconduct to him. He had replied to this in his evidence, and thought the Committee in justice should express an opinion on the subject. Mr Kelly, as Chairman of the Committee, said they were perfectly satisfied with the explanations given by Mr Rees. Mr Dignan confirmed this, and Mr Rees expressed himself quite satisfied. Mr Woolcock moved, " That the present laws relating to franchise aud electoral matters are unsatisfactory, and that the Attor-ney-General be asked to fulfil his promise of last session to introduce a Bill dealing with the whole question, so as to be able to pass it this session." Mr Whitaker admitted the promise, and said a Bill had been prepared consolidating the present Act of 350 clauses into one of 170, aud dealing exhaustively with the whole questiou, but ifc was impossible to get it through this session. It would be introduced the first day of next session. , Sir George Grey objected to the postponement. After some remarks from Messrs Reynolds and Hodgkinson, Mr Woolcock asked leave to withdraw his motion. Mr Hodgkinson objected, and the motion was negatived ou the voices. The Government agreed to Mr Taiaroa's motion that £500 be placed on the Estimates to complete the road from the Maori kaika to the lighthouse at Tairoa Heads. Mr -hee ban's motion for a Committee to enquire into the Poverty Bay land purchases was agreed to. On the motion of Sir Robert Douglas, the debate on the Native Lauds Bill was ordered l? be printed in Maori aud circulated. Mr Thompson's motion to remit fines on Crown grants waa negatived after a long discussion. Mr Fox moved that instructions be given to the police regarding the suppression of sweeps, gambling, raffles, aud sales of spirituous liquors (Lo ihe Maoris; also, prosecution and conviction for fhese offences. He urged the Government to ins. . uct the police to enforce the law in these Respects. Messrs Carriugton and i,i()\vg supported the motion. Mr Bowen said the Government would do all it could to enforce the law. Thursday. The Lawrence Municipal Waterworks Bill, Chrisfcelj urch City Reserves Bill, Canterbury Rivers Aot 4j#endß_ent Bill, and Auckland

College and Grammar School Bill wera read the second time. The Law Societies Act Amendment Bill, and City of Wellington Loan Consolidation Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee. There was a long discussion in Committee on a resolution for an address to the Governor to take steps to carry out the recommendations of the Goldfields Committee regarding rewards for new discoveries. The motion was carried with an amendment that in estimating the population on goldfields, Chinese are not to count, and that rewards be payable for a new class of workings on old fields. In Committee on the Local Option Bill clauses 2, 6, 7, and 8, were struck out without a division. The further consideration was adjourned for a week. The Port Clialmers Library Bill, Tapani Pastoral Agricultural Association Bill Crown Redress Extension Bill, St. Andrew's Church Trustees Incorporation Bill, Fine Arts Copyright Bill, and Wellington Reserves Bill were read the second time. The Auckland Provincial Council Library Bill, vesting the library in the City Couucil, passed through Committee. The Auckland Grammar School Site Bill was read the third time. A conference with the Legislative Council was appointed regarding the disagreement on the Auckland Highway Districts Validation Bill. The House rose at 12*20 a.m.