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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4162, 23 July 1874, Page 2

There was a slight error in the abstract of the Financial Statement which we published yesterday. In the sentence, “Ho would explain when he made his Immigration Statement, the further votes that would he required for immigration and railway purposes,” the word “authorities” should have been used instead of “ votes.” The arrival of the San Francisco mail steamer Cyphrenes at Auckland, at nine o’clock yesterday morning, was notified on the telegraph hoard at the Parliament buildings. She was due at Auckland on the 17 th instant, hut it was known that she sailed from San Francisco two days late, the Atlantic steamer having made- a slow passage. Strangely enough, we received no telegram of her news, and no explanation of the reason why, from the Press Telegraph Agency. The following tenders were received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the construction of the Wintou and Kingston Railway, section No. 2 ; —Accepted ; Matthew H. E. Bennett, Invercargill, £27,835 16s. Bd. Declined : McMenamin and Co., Invercargill, £33,828 4s. 6d. ; George Proudfoot, Dunedin, £34,991 15s. ; T. and N. Campbell, Invercargill, £35,245 4s. ; James Davidson, Dunedin, £35,416 4s. ; Hawkins and Co., Dunedin, £35,750 ; W. F. Oakes, Wanganui, £39,143 ; Brogden and Sons, Wellington, £39,537 4s. Bd. ; Mattheson Brothers, Dunedin, £48,011. One of the Native members, Mr. Taiaroa, moved yesterday that any report received from Mr. Alexander Maokay on the subject of the sub-division of Native reserves in the southern portion of the Middle Island, or any new allotment of land for Natives in that district should bo laid on the table. The subject was postponed for a week, as the report, though in possession of the Govorumont, had not yet been seen by the Native Minister, who was expected in a few days. The Civil Service Acts Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed in the House of Representatives last night. The House yesterday resolved, on the motion of Mr. Tribe, that a safo and fireproof building should bo erected or obtained for the keeping of records and documents of colonial importance. The Wellington Hospital Reserves Bill, and tho Wellington Special Settlements Act Amendment Bill, passed through Committee in the House of Representatives yesterday, and were ordered to bo rood a third time to-day.

Mr. T. Kelly brought under the notice of the House yesterday, an article published by the Taranaki Advertiser of the 14tK instant, in which he was reflected upon in Ids capacity as a member of Parliament. This, it would appear, is not the first time that the hon. member has been attacked in journals of the Province with which he is connected. Prom the low tone in which the hon. member spoke, it was impossible in the gallery to understand what the newspapers had to say of him, or the explanation he had to make. Honorable members seemed to labor under the same difficulty, and the matter dropped without anyone, excepting the Speaker, the hon. member himself, and half-a-dozen members near him, knowing what it was all about.

Mr. Richardson somewhat alarmed the House yesterday by the production of a portly volume to which, he made reference while replying to a motion by Mr. Murray, “tor a return showing under distinct heads the prices, amount, and cost of material and imported by the Government under the Immigration and Public Works Acts, and specifying commissions and discounts, if any, thereon.” The hon. member declared that the volume under his hand was only one of many, and that it was quite impossible to furnish the return for which the hon. member insisted. Mr. Murray explained that his views were not quite so comprehensive as the Hon. the Commissioner of Public Works supposed, but his motion fell to the ground. Leave was given in the House yesterday to Sir Cracroft Wilson to introduce a Bill entitled the Provincial Pencing Law Empowering Bill, and to Mr. Thomson to bring in an Act to validate the Clutha River Trust Reserve. Both Bills were read a first time. Mr. Ormond had a motion on the paper for leave to bring in a Napier Harbor Works Loan Bill, but did not happen to be in the House when the notice was called upon. The second reading of the Marriage with a Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill was moved last night in the House by Mr. Steward. It was opposed by Mr. MoGillivray, who moved that it be read a second time that day six months. The amendment was seconded by Mr. O’Eorke, who said the subject matter of the Bill was obnoxious to the feelings of his countrymen and countrywomen of all persuasions. The Bill was supported by Mr. McGlashan, and warmly opposed by Mr. Walter Johnston, who saw no necessity for the introduction of a measure to invade the domesticity of the homes of their constituencies. On a division the second reading was agreed to by. 20 to 9, and the Bill ■will be committed to-day. To-day, the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs will move, —“That a Select Committee of twelve members be appointed, with power to call for persons and papers, to report in eight days (three to be a quorum), to inquire,—‘Whether the proposed increase of Excise duties is inconsistent with good faith to those who have embarked in the business of distilling. Whether it would be expedient to altogether stop the distillation of spirits in the Colony ; and upon what terms such measure could be adopted.' The committee to consist of Major Atkinson, Mr. Bryce, Mr. Hunter, Captain Kenny, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Reid, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. May, Mr. Tolmie, Sir J. C. Wilson, and the mover.”

It was with considerable reluctance that Mr. Taiaroa was induced last night to postpone for a week, at the instance of the Commissioner of Customs, the motion of which he had given notice, for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into and report upon unfulfilled promises to Natives in the Middle Island. Mr. Reynolds was desirous that the subject shoidd not be dealt with until the return of the Native Minister. Mr. Taiaroa remarked that the matter had been postponed from time to time during the last three years—ever, in fact, since he had been a member of the House. He acceded to the request of the Government, but would ask the House to deal with the subject a week hence, whether the Native Minister was in his place or no. He added that he had hoped the Maori members of the Executive would have been able to say something on the subject.