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New Zealand Mail, Issue 36, 30 September 1871, Page 7

matter as this. They would vote against tbe second reading. Mr PEACOCK and Mr O'Neill agreed with the provisions of the bill, the former thought should confer on county councils and boards the power of borrowing money. It might be made useful in many ways, and with very considerable advantage. Mr Mebvyn thought the mover of the motion for the second reading had not stated sufficient reason for the passing of such a measure. He thought the Government might as well lend money to the merchant, to the miller, or to any other man of business, to carry on his business. He would vote against the second reading. Mr Shephard did not think this the proper time to introduce measures of a Utopian character. The bill would have the effect of lessening the exertions of those whom it was proposed to assist, because it would give them the opportunity of borrowing money at a time when in reality they might not require it. At a time when they were borrowing largely for the construction of public works they should not have their attention distracted by such measures as these. He would propose that tbe bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr M'Leod supported the second reading of the bill. He saw that it would be of considerable benefit in assisting others than those engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr Mubeay having replied, the amendment that the bill be read that day six months was put and carried on a division. COMMITTEE OE SUPPLY.

Mr O'CONOR, before going into Committee of Supply, desired to say that in such a time as the present, when we were in times anything but prosperous, As they had been declared to be, their duty should be to retrench. They found all classes of the population of the colony crying out for retrenchment, and therefore he would, vote for reduction, although in Bpeaking of the reduction proposed by the hon member for Eden he thought that was too sweeping. With regard to the domains, he thought the Government were the best judges of what the legitimate expenses were, and although he had heard a great deal about the doing away with the Colonial Architect, he did not at all agree with that proposal, because, although he had little to do at present, there was no doubt he would have plenty to do in a little time in building poor houses. Mr GISBORNE desired to explain, on behalf of the Colonial Architect, that the statements of Mr Gillies, made on the previous evening, were entirely erroneous. Mr GILLIES said the Colonial Secretary had anticipated him. He would have acknowledged his error had not the Colonial Secretary made his explanation. He found, on looking up the account, that it was for work done last year. The reduction proposed by Mr Creighton, that the item £2,550 for public domains and buildings be reduced to £9OO, was then put and negatived on the voices. Mr GISBORNE proposed that the vote be reduced by £3OO. Mr CREIGHTON" proposed that the item be reduced by £7OO. Mr HALL would like the hon memW to specify the item he wished to see reduced. There was owe item —that for the New Zealand Institute—in which he took a great interest, and he should object to its reduction. Mr CREIGHTON would say at once that he objected to the employment of a Colonial Architect as a luxury the colony could not afford. Mr WOOD thought enough had been shown to prove that a far greater reduction than the £3OO proposed by the Colonial Secrecretary could be effected. While not wishing to say a single word against the ability of the Colonial Architect —for no one who had been through Government House could have any doubt upon that point—he failed to see what employment they were to find for him now that the great works were completed. Mr M'LEAN thought the concentration of the duties of a Colonial Architect in the erection of public buildings had resulted in a great saving of time and money to the country. The House might receive the # assurance of the Government that they desired to see reductions made.

Mr REYNOLDS intended to vote for the reduction of the £7OO, but he would vote with the object of doing away with the luxuries. He would like to see the vote of £SOO for the New Zealand Institute struck off.

On division, the motion of Mr Creighton was negatived, the numbers being—Ayes, 26; Noes, 46. The motion of Mr Gisborne to reduce the vote by £3OO was then put and agreed to. The Chairman then reported the resolution to the House, and it was ordered to be considered to-morrow.

Notices of motion having been given, the House adjourned at eleven o'clock.

Friday, September 28, 1871. In consequence of the lengthy nature of the statement of the Minister of Public Works, which we publish in extenso, we are unable to furnish our usual report of the proceedings in Parliament. The time of the afternoon sitting wa9 wholly absorbed by a discussion on the advisability of abolishing the "vested rights" of civil servants conferred by Acts of the past and the present. When the hour of half-past five arrived the debate was not concluded. The second reading of the Otago Land Bill being down for half-past seven, the discussion on Mr Wood's motion was adjourned. On the presentation by Mr Yogel of a petition from the Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, with reference to the extension of the telegraph from Tauranga. Mr D. M'Lean took the opportunity of making a few observations on the subject of telegraph extension referred to. He might state that the Government had made every exertion to forward the completion of the line asked for. They were all aware that the most of the

difficulty was caused by Te Hira, but he was happy to state that most of that difficulty was now overcouie, and he fully expected that the line would be opened for communication by the first of next month, and also that the line to Kati Kati would be soon opened. The Government were sensible that a great loss of revenue was the result of these lines not being connected with Auckland. The Government were making every endeavor to get these lines opened up, no effort being spared to get the extension completed. He made these few observations because an impression hud gained ground that if the Government had made greater efforts to extend the line it might have been completed much earlier. Mr Creighton asked the Colonial Secretary whether the Government had paid the passages of any of the Scandinavian immigrants to Sydney, Wanganui, and Napier, and if so, of how many ; also, whether the passage money of any such immigrants had been remitted ? He asked the question because he had seen a statement to that effect in a local newspaper, and because he knew how much these people had cost the colony. Mr Gisborne said the report arose from the fact that one couple who came out had since been found to have been improperly selected. When the settlement was formed at Manawatu, the rest of the immigrants objected to this couple forming part of that settlement. They were afterwards employed privately, but getting out of that came down to Wellington and circulated reports of a character damaging to the success ot the scheme, which the Government thought at the start of a special foreign settlement should be removed. The Provincial Government asked that the passage of these persons should be paid to Sydney, which was done, but the charge will be a provincial one. No such passage money had been paid for the conveyance of any of these persons to Wanganui or to Napier, although one or two of them had gone to the other side of the Gorge. The Government had no authentic information with reference to the existence of discontent among the Scandinavians. The great majority were very well contented, and there was every prospect of the experiment proving a success. In this first experiment the passages were paid by the General Government, but in future the immigrants will pay their own passages. Mr Beyce asked the Colonial Secretary whether it was intended to hold sittings of the Supreme Court at Wanganui, and if so, when ? Mr Gisboeke said the Government would endeavor to have a sitting at the end of next month if the circumstances demanded it. Of course, if there was no business to transact it would be useless expense to send a judge there. The Otago Waste Land Bill occupied the House from half-past seven till half-past one o'clock a.m., when a motion for adjournment of the debate till this evening was carried by 24 to 22.