PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 197, 19 August 1881, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Angast 18. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p. n>. Replying <o Mr Water-house, Mr Whitaker said tha Colonial Parliamsot could not legislate re extraditing deesropipg husbands, A Bill for the pur* pose was now before tha Imperial Parllemenf, but it was hardly likely to pass this session. Mr Reynolds moved that the Membere of the Council should bear the same relative proportion to the number of representatives of the various districts of the Colony. After some debate the motion was rejected by 15 to 14 :— For the motion : Messrs. Brett, G. Buckley, P. Backley, Chamberlain, Frasor, Johnston, Lehman, Meoziee, Peacock, Reynolds, Scotlaad, Waterhouse, Wilson, and Wood. Againet it, Mißire. Addend, Dignan, Hart, Henderson, Mantell, Martin, Miller, Nurse, Peter, Pharszyn, Pollen, Robinson, Wbitaker, Wigley, and Willi«mson. Mr Whiiaker move 3 the Becond reading of the Distress for Rent Abolition Bill. There waa a debate of some length ; Mr Waterhouae moved an amendment that the present law should be Emended but not abolished. The motion that the Bill be reed a second time "now," was rejected by 20 to 8, but Mr Walerhouse's amendment waa also negatived by 15 to 10 ; the question as to the second reading of the Bill will therefore coase up again tomorrow at 5. The Council adjourned till 730 p.m. j The House met at 2 30 p.m. Mr Macondrew gave notice to move, on ooiog into Committee of Supply — " With a view to greater efficiency aad economy in the Government of New Zealand, it is expedient ihat the Colony should be divided into two distisct Proviace?, separated by Ccok Strait. 2. " That ea^h of the two Provinces shall have a Legislature, to be composed in the first instance, of the members of the House of Representatives in each Island, who shall be elected to serve in the next Colonial Parliament, and of a President to be elected of the arid members. 3. " The President shall be the chief Executive officer of the Province, and an integral part of the eaid Legislature. Hefiball possess the same functions in relation Jo tha Provincial Council os does the Governor towards the House of Repreeentstivee. 4 " That each of the Provincial Legislatures shall have full, independeDf, and constituent powers of legislation and administration as regards every matter and thin^ affecting the peace, order, and good government of the Province, except tbat they shall not levy Customs duties, nor have anythiDg to do with matters relating to Bankicg, Bankruptcy atid Criminal lows, Supreme Court, Telegraph. Postal, aad Lighthouse services. All the other department of the public service, the waste lacd3, railway?, and schools to b 3 hsßded over to the Piosinces. Tha taxing functions of the Colonial Parliament to ba limited to — raieing the interest on the Colonial debf, and any deficiency that my arise in respect of the maintenance of the Sup»eme Court, Teli^rnph, Posisl, r.ad Lighthouse services." Sir George Gr^y gave notice to introduce a 811 authorising anyone to prcctise in Law Conrfs when duly authorised by snv party to a suit. Replying to Mr Jones, the Premier stated that he bad received what had since turned oot to be a bogus petition from the unemployed in Waitaki. The petition came to him direct, and he had bo reason to suppose that the district numbers knew acythicg of it. Both Mr Jones end Mr Sbrimski denied positively that they knew anything of it. Replyicg to other qurgtione, it was stated that s Biil would be introduced to allow postage etainps to be üßed for dniy purposes and vice versa. paring the last two years no reward had bsen offered for goldfields diseGveriee, and tlere wes no intention of doing co. The aid hitherto given for prospecting waa found to be more effective when devoted to the opening up and formiug of trncka. Instead o? rendering pecuniary aid to prospectors, the Government intends! to furnish diamond drills and such-like appliance? to assist in the sf arching for gold, an 3 a ipm of money for that- purpose would be placed on the Supplementary matesInstead of sending the .Agricultural and Analytical C'brnoist ihroughout the districts to analyse manures, tie agriculturists were in tho habit of sendicg ssraplea of their manures! to be tested. The plan hed worked well, and tbe Government had no intention of changing it. Domains in the hands of County Councils and Municipalities were provided for by the Act under which theee bodies operated. With regard to other domain?, provision was required to.be made, and in any future legislation that requirement would be attended io. If the two Counties interested were agreeable to abide by .tbe reporf, the Government Engineer would be instructed lo raporfc on the Rangifatn bridge and the iron piles design. Tee Public Health Ac», 1876 Amendment, end Education Reaervee Act Amendment Ac(b were introduced and read a first ti^f. The Onehunga Grammar School Bill was onder consideration in Comraiite9 when the Hcceo pdjourned at 5 k 30 p.m. On resuming at 7.30 p m., Mr Andrews, bs a personal matter, rpad a telegram from Mr Logan, b Visiting Justice of Donr^in Gaol, denying the accurncy of certain slatfjnen«B mßde in the House by himself relating to thn DuneJin Visitin? Juetices and Copt&in Hom9. He desired to withdraw th.-p.e rf marks, he having been mis!? ] uy certain statenaents made in a Wfißgnnoi paper. On the order of sbf- fay for the second rraditg of the Annn&l Parliansents Bill being exiled on, Dr Wallis said, as he believed there wss only one member sufficiently advatcel in Liberalism to believe in annual Parliements, he would net move the second reading. Mr Brown objected to tbe Bill being

discharged, and he bimaelf moved the second reading, Mr Swanson and Mr Andrews sopported the principle of annual Parliaments. Br Wallis then spoke in favor of the Bi'l. The motion for the second reading was on a division lost by 41 to 8, and the Bill was withdrawn. The Protection of Crops Bill (Mr Saanders) was read & second time. The Parliamentary Oaths Bill (Sir G. Grey) was passed through all its remaining stages. The Gold Duty Act Amendment Bill (Reeves) was read a second time. The third reading of the Kakanui Horbor Board Bill was carried on a division by 31 to 24, [and the Bill passed. Mr Shrimski moved the third read- ! ing of the Pensions Bill. i Mr Hall said the Bill would throw ' great obstacles in the way of carrying out retrenchment by amalgamation of offices, as no retirements of pensions could be made during the recess. Mr Stevens objected that pensioners entering the House would by iha Bil! be debarred from receiving any honorarium. This would be unfair. After some farther discussion Mr Wakefisld moved that the Bill be recommitted to consider clause 6 with a view to obviating the objections raised by Mr Stevenp, which was agreed to. In Committee, an amendment to meet Mr Steve's objection, movad by Mr Whitßker, was carried by 36 to 16 The Bill waa reported, as amended, read a third time and passed. The Legislative Council to-night, resolved to insist on its amendments in the Gramiug and Lotteries Bill.