PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4193, 28 August 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, August 27. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at noon. COUNCIL OFFICERS. The Hon. Major RICHMOND, C. 8., moved, — (£ That it is essential to the independence 'and dignity of this Council that the salaries of its officers should be placed on a footing of equality with those of officers of the House of Representatives in corresponding positions.’ The Hon. Dr. POLLEN agreed _to the motion passing, subject to the reservation that some regard should be had to the length of service of the officers. Motion agreed to. ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES OP THE CHAMBER. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved,—" That the present disposal of the draperies in the Legislative Council Chamber is very objectionable, both as being detrimental to the acoustic properties of the Chamber, and in the worst possible taste, both as to color and arrangement." Motion withdrawn. ACCESS TO THE CHAMBER. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved,—“ That the attention of the Government be requested to the present state of the access to this Chamber from Sidney Street, and that Ministers be requested to take into consideration the propriety of removing that entrance from its present position to a point opposite to the footpath in Museum Street; and that the present depository of filth below the Houses be altogether removed from that situation.” Motion agreed to. CLOSING OF INTRAMURAL CEMETERIES. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved, —“.That the Government be requested; - during • the recess, to prepare a Bill providing for the closing of intramural cemeteries, and the provision of other places for disposal of the, dead by interment, cremation, or otherwise.” Motion withdrawn. REPORTS OP JUDGES OP NATIVE LANDS COURT, The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved, —“ That Return No. 114, ‘Remarks by Judges of the Native Land Court upon the Native Lands Act, 1873,’ be printed in the Appendix to the Journals.” Motion agreed to. THE VOLUNTEERS. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved, —“ That the report of Major Gordon, on the Volunteers of the Colony, should be printed.” The Hon. Colonel BRETT hoped the Council would give him credit for hairing been animated by no desire to condemn the Volunteers. It was necessary that portions 'of the report should be read to the Council, to enable them and the country to know the state our defences were in. ‘ There were several parts of the report, and he was proud to say it, which gave considerable credit to the Volunteers for efficiency ; but there was a large number of parts of the report where the reverse was the ease. In the instance he was about to cite he woul not he invidious, and therefore would not men tion the district; but the report said of it;— “ This company, 29 strong on its roll, produced only two men, one of whom was very drunk.” ' (Laughter.) Major Gordon went on to say, after admitting that the force had been in an inefficient condition for many years past;— “ I regret to bave to record my conscientious belief that the amount of public money ex. pended on capitation on the 31st March last is lamentably in excess of the sum which should otherwise represent the state of efficiency of the force in general, so that immediate and effectual measures shall be had recourse to, to arrest for the future the useless and wanton expenditure, which has for so long a period been carried on, and for which officers commanding districts are primarily-responsible.” This was not very creditable to the officers. The report went on to cite instances in .which the Government officer had recommended and procured capitation, for men who had earned their certificates as efficient Volunteers, who. had not so much as heard of such a document; cases where no monthly parades were , held as the regulations directed, yet it had been certified that these parades took place ; instances in which efficiency certificates had been thrust into the hands of men, and capitation thereby obtained for them, who did Hot admittedly possess the knowledge which these certificates affirmed that the men did possess ; and, parenthetically, he expressed a fear that the Provincial Government had been similarly imposed upon, with respect to the remission ce. tificates, in the acquisition of laud. All this was dishonest. The publication of this re. port, and in Jlansard of the debates on this subject, would open the-eyes of the country, and probably lead the House at some future time to raise the present force to its proper standard. The motion was negatived on the voices. NATIVE LAND ACT. On the second reading of this Bill, The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE complained, of so important a measure being brought down at the end of the session, when it was impossible to give to it the attention it deserved. It would have been as well if the matter had been referred to a Select Committee, and gone thoroughly into, but of course it was too late to adopt such a course. He had paid a great deal of attention to the Native Land Acts, impressed as he had been with their great importance not only to the Natives themselves, but to the settlement and occupation of the country ; but the measure passed through last year was so utterly unintelligible and incomprehensible that he had not even time to master its intricacies. Therefore it was that he then refused to say a single word in reference to the Bill. He had great confidence in the Native Minister, and supposed him, in introducing that Act, to have been animated by a sincere desire not only to promote : the settlement of the country, but also to. do justice to the Natives ; but he was hound to add that it was the feeling amongst persona outside the Government and intimately connected with the Natives, that there had been a deep laid plan, in the measure to prevent the Natives from passing their lands into any hands other than those of the Government. He regretted that such an idea had got abroad, because it would create a feeling of dissatisfaction in the Native mind. He was not aware whether there was in the opinion of those who took exception to the Native Land Act of 1873 anything in this measure that would remove the diasatis. faction, or for supposing that the Act of 1873 would work more satisfactorily in the future than in the past. At the same time, as the measure was brought forward by the Government lie would not oppose the second reading. He only hoped that the apprehensions with which the measure was generally regarded would prove to be baseless, and that the measure would work more satisfactorily than persons outside the Government believed it would. The Hon. Mr. HART pointed out that a decided advantage possessed by the present Bill was that no judgment of the Court could be delivered independently of the Native Assessors. This would give more confidence in the decisions of the Court. < ■ . After further discussion the second reading was agreed to. WELLINGTON LAND PAYMENTS BILL.

In committee, the Hon. Dr, Pollen carried an amendment to the effect that particulars of all transactions under the Act should be published in the Gazette before a Crown grant could, be issued. GOLDFIELDS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. On the second reading of this Bill opposition, was offered by tho Hon. Messrs. Holmes, Buckley, and Dr. Pollen, the latter stating he was necessitated to proceed with the measure because a suit was now before the Supreme Court. _ The Hon. Mr. PHASER : When I took charge of this Bill I had no idea that the matter was sub judke. If tho hon. gentleman assures me that such is the case I will at once , withdraw tho Bill. The Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL ; I can assure the hon. gentleman that such is tho case. The Hon., Mr. ERASER: If I had known that, I should not have taken charge of tho Bill. I beg leave to withdraw it. The second.reading was then negatived. CLYDE WATERWORKS BILL. On the second reading of this Bill, the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse moved that it be read that, day week, which was agreed to.

PROTECTION 01’ ANIMALS ACT. On the committal of the Protection of Animals Act, the Hon. Mr. Peacock moved that the application of the Bill should be confined to the North Island Provinces. The Hon. Hr. STOKES moved as an amendment that progress be reported, which was carried on a division by 18 to 10. THE WARD-CHAPMAN INQUIRY. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved,— “ That the evidence taken by the Select Committee on the Ward-Chapman inquiry, be placed in the hands of the Hon. the Speaker." , The Hon. Dr. POLLEN remarked that the Government would reserve to itself the discretion of dealing with the officers of the Tele.graph Department referred to in the report. In order to enable that to be done it would be a more convenient arrangement that the papers should in the first instance be referred to the Government. He moved the addition of these words.—“ Referred to the Government to take such course as might be desirable.” After some discussion, the following woods were added : “ The Government to have access to the same if they so desire,” and the motion as amended was agreed to. THE AHIKOOKA CLAIMS REHEARING BILL. The second reading of this Bill was strongly opposed by the Hon. Messrs. Mantell, Waterhouse, and Ngatata, and ordered to be taken that day six months. .THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were taken through their various stages and passed : —Canterbury Marriages, New Zealand Extradition, Excise Duties, Native Land Act Amendment, Volunteer Act Amendment, AVellington Land Payments, Walsh and Others Pensions, Wilson Gray Pension, Invercargill Gas Loan, Harbor Board Act Amendment, Taranaki Waste Lands Act, Wanganui River Foreshore, Poverty Bay Lands Titles, Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits, David Lewis Retiring Allowance, Borough of Thames Tramway, Railways. FIRST READINGS. The Railways Bill (No. 2) and Appropriation Bill were read a first time. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS GASWORKS BILL. This Bill was discharged from the order paper. AUCKLAND IMPROVEMENT BILL. The second reading of this Bill was carried, on a division, by 16 to 8. THE RAILWAYS BILL. On the second reading of this Bill being moved, The Hon. Mr. ROBINSON asked for the Speaker’s ruling whether a Bill, having been thrown out, a similar Bill could be brought on during the same session. What was the position the Council would be placed in were the remainder of the Bill brought in in another shape 1 The Hon. the SPEAKER replied that in a case of the kind he should consider that if the remnant of the Bill were brought in in conjunction with the other part, it would, in substance, be the same Bill ; and therefore he would pronounce against the two parts. But if he were asked to say whether the Bill now before the Council was the same in substance as the one that had been rejected, he would say certainly not. The second reading was agreed to.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, August 27. ‘ The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. TADRANOA, TCPAPA, AND CAMBRIDGE ROAD. In answer to Mr. W. Kelly - , who said that nothing had been done to carry out a former resolution of the House that a coachroad should be made between the places named, and which was much wanted, Mr. RICHARDSON said the Government recognised the importance of the work referred to. Instructions had been given for the survey of the road, which would ultimately be extended to the Thames. The middle road was commenced some years ago, and stopped on account of Native difficulties. Those had ceased, and the work would now be resumed. JUDICIAL CIRCUITS. Mr. FOX asked whether it was intended to give effect to the recommendation of the WardChapman Committee, for an interchanging Judicial Circuit. Mr. VOGEL said the Government had long recognised that it was desirable that there should be a change of circuit, from time to time, and he had no doubt that it would be carried out. A MINT FOR NEW ZEALAND. In reply to Mr. O’Neill, who was desirous of seeing a Mint established in New Zealand, Mr. VOGEL said the Government would make inquiries into the subject ; and he had no doubt that the Victorian Government would give every information in their power on the subject. POLYNESIAN TRADE. Mr. MURRAY asked the Government what coarse, if any, they proposed to take to induce the Imperial Government to take measures to protect and encourage British Commerce in Polynesia. Mr. VOGEL said full information on the matter was contained in the papers before the House. The subject was more interesting to New Zealand than to the Australian Colonies, and would always receive attention from the Government of this Colony. In answer to Mr. Rolleston, as to whether any opinion had been given by the Imperial Government on the Polynesian scheme submitted to them, Mr. VOGEL said all the. correspondence the Government thought they were at liberty to make public had been published. patent laws. Mr. MURRAY asked whether the Government would do anything to obtain cheapness, simplicity, and uniformity in the patent laws throughout the Colonies. Mr. VOGEL thought the question was one for the Imperial authorities, and not for New Zealand. CASE OP THOMAS AND OTHERS. In answer to Mr. Sheehan, Mr. VOGEL said he had only obtained the recommendation of the Committee yesterday. The case was a very complicated one, and he could not at present say what the Government could or should do in the matter. • WANGANUI BRIDGE. Mr. Reeves brought up the report of the Petition Committee, recommending that consideration should be given to the petitions of inhabitants of Wanganui, and of residents on the banks of that river, in favor of an opening in the bridge over the Wanganui river, to permit of trading craft passing up. NATIVE AFFAIRS.Sir DONALD McLEAN laid on the table a number of reports from Native officers, which he moved should be printed. CENSUS PAPERS. Mr. VOGEL laid on the table further census papers. WARD-CHAPMAN COMMITTEE. Mr. VOGEL intimated that after the adjourned debate on Mr. J. L. Gillies’s motion came on he would move as an amendment that the evidence he referred to the Government for consideration. WAVS AND MEANS. - The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means, when the resolutions of the Committee of Supply were agreed to, and reported. THE APPROPRIATION BILL. • ■ - ■ Mr. VC GEL brought up the Appropriation Bill, which was read a first time, and proposed that it should be passed through all its stages. Mr. ANDREW expresed a hopo that if the Provincial Councils and Superintendents should resign their positions and offices to test the feelings of the community as to the abolition of Provinces, the Government would receive them. (Laughter.) The Bill was then read a second time, and passed through all its stages. MARRIAGES IN CANTERBURY. Mr. VOGEL brought in a Bill to validate certain marriages which had been celebrated by a clergyman who had lately arrived from England, and tv ho was ignorant of the laws of the Province, which was passed through all its stages. NEW ZEALAND EXTRADITION BILL. Mr. VOGEL brought in this measure, which was panned through all its stages.

HOUSE COMMITTEE. This Committee, on the motion of Mr. Parker, obtained leave to continue its labors during the recess. PROROGATION. In answer to Mr. Reader Wood, Mr. VOGEL said the prorogation would take place either on Saturday or Monday. The steamers would sail on Saturday as announced ; but there would he a sufficient number of members left in Wellington to form a House on Monday, if necessary. INMIGRATION PAPERS. Further papers on the subject of immigration were laid upon the table. RAILWAYS BILL. Mr. VOGEL stated that the Railways Bill passed by the House contained most important provisions with reference to the construction of railways, and the purchase of Provincial railways. He greatly regretted that the Bill had been rejected in another place, because it contained those purchasing powers. Nothing the Government or the House could now do this session, would enable them to pass the Bill as it stood. He proposed to go on with the valuation of the railways of Otago and Canterbury, and re-introduce the subject next session ; and he hoped the House would now allow Railways Bill, No. 2, to be introduced without the clauses, ref erred to. The Government would be no party to indemnity resolutions.

Mr. REID regretted that the Bill had not passed, and that the Government did not see their way to take any other course than that indicated. The arrangement contained in the Bill was a good one for all parties. If the Province was unable to proceed with the branch lines it would he most unfortunate. The authorities of the Province would be placed in a most unhappy position. If they sacrificed a portion of their landed estate they could carry on those branch railways; but that they did not wish to do. He hoped the Government would re-consider their decision. He asked the Speaker to advise him how he could move iu the matter, so as to carry out his views.

The SPEAKER said the hon. member could move the resolution now proposed by the Government as an amendment, on the order that he should leave the chair, without endangering the passage of the Bill. Mr.. REID then moved a resolution to the effect that the Minister for Public Works take steps to purchase the Provincial railways of Otago, on valuation, the money to be paid in instalments, the House undertaking to indemnify the Government in next session. Mr. MACANDREW concurred in all that had been said by the hon. member for Taieri. He greatly regretted that the Government should not have either abandoned the Bill altogether or insisted upon it in its integrity. The Bill, as it stood, enabled the North Island to borrow a quarter of million for railways on a land fund that did not exist; while the railway contracts in Otago and Canterbury, which had already been let, and the works commenced, must he stopped. These Provinces required no assistance if they were allowed to obtain the money for themselves. It would be better to throw the responsibility on the Upper House. If the resolution was earned, surely there was some means of communicating with the other House, which might be induced to review its decision. The SPEAKER said he understood that it was not the wish of the House to interrupt the Bill now before it. That measure might be passed, and then the resolution of the hon. member for the Taieri might be brought forward. Mr. RICHARDSON said the Government had not the slightest hope that the Bill rejected by the other House would b 6 carried there on another attempt. They would, however, be greatly embarassed if the other portions of that Bill did not become law. . Mr. BRADSHAW said the Province of Otago had entered into large railway engagements which now could only he carried out by a sacrifice of its landed, estate. He was sorry to find that the Government was indisposed to assist the Province.

Sir DONALD McLEAN said the hon. member could not have been in his place when the Premier spoke. Mr. MONTGOMERY hoped the Government "would still insist "upon carrying the bri-" ginal Bill, and reminded the House of what the Premier had said on the subject of the purchase of the railways in the Province named. He proposed an amendment to the effect that the House believed that the purchase of the Provincial railways of Canterbury and Otago was sound in policy, and that the Government, he authorised to enter into negotiations for the purchase of those lines during the recess, and that proposals should be brought up next session, to carry that policy into effect. Mr. J. L. GILLIES thought the Government had placed themselves in a very anomalous position. The Minister for Public Works recognised the difficulties into which the General Government had fallen, and proposed to relieve themselves from it; but they Avould not recognise that the Provincial Government were in a similar difficulty, and would not stretch ogt a finger to save them. It would force the Province of Otago to sell lands for mere purposes of revenue, which that Government did not desire to do. The proposal of the Government would give immense dissatisfaction. The people Yvere long-suffering, but a point might be reached which could not be passed. Mr. REID withdrew his motion, to permit the BUI of the Government to pass. Mr. MURRAY thought it was the duty of the House to reject the Bill now proposed by the Government. In this matter the House, to use a vulgar phrase, bad been “sat upon.” The original BiU should either be pressed on or abandoned. The session was a short one, and even if a mouth should be required over this matter it should he devoted to thework.

Mr. THOMSON (Fought it unwise to reject what they could get, because they could not get all they wanted. He would support the Bill, and also the resolution of the hon. member for Taieri. If Otago were forced to sell its agricultural lands to construct the railways; they would be picked up by capitalists who had their eyes upon them. That was the real reason why the Bill had been rejected in another place. The new Bill proposed by the Government was then passed through all its stages. In committee. Sir F. D. Bell expressed his very great regret that the Provinces had been put in the position in which they were placed by the rejection of the Bill sent up to the Upper House. The House then went into Committee. Mr. REID submitted the resolution, the purport of which he had mentioned to the House, limiting it, however, to the purchase of the Winton railway in Otago. ■ Mr. RICHARDSON feared that if the resolution were agreed to, the Government might bo placed in a very unpleasant position.; Sir F. D. BELL said if the Government opposed the resolution it could not be passed. Mr. MACANDREW said the Government had already agreed to the purchase of the line, and surely the Ministry did not withdraw from it now. Mr. BUCKLAND said the House must back up the Government, and insist on this thing being done. Mr. CREIGHTON hoped the Government Yvould accept the resolution. Its rejection would seriously embarrass the Province of Otago. Mr. VOGEL was unable to accept the resolution. The other House had already rejected the Railways Bill because it contained the proposition contained in the resolution, not having confidence in it. They might as well tack it on to the "Appropriation Bill, and he hoped they had not come to that pass. The Government proposed to ,go on with the valuation, and to make a payment in February. No doubt the matter was annoying. The member for Akaroa had shown him an amendment which he was prepared to accept. Mr. MACANDREW said if anything could justify the surmises and insinuations thrown out as to the honaftdes of the Government in this matter, it was the course now taken by it. He could not see they were likely to bo advanced a step further twelve months hence than they were now. '

Mr. VOGEL said, as to any surmises and insinuations, they wore merely remarked upon in a fit of temper —tboy Yvere entirely false.

The Government had done all it could do to pass this Bill, and greatly regretted that it had not done so. But the other Chamber could not be regarded merely as a House for the registration of the decrees of the Lower Chamber. He would endeavor to fulfil the intentions expressed in the rejected Bill in a legitimate way ; but the question was not a vital one, or one in which—as had been sug-gested—it.-.was necessary to impress a lesson upon the other Chamber. Mr. REID said they were knuckling down too easily to the other House. Knowing how. small the majority was in the other House against the Bill, they were justified iu passing the resolution.

Mr. VOGEL reminded the House that early in the evening he had stated that the Government would not accept indemnifying resolutions for the expenditure of a sum which had six figures in it. The matter was a much more serious one than one of mere etiquette between the Chambers; He did not think that a delay of three or four mouths would necessitate the disposal of its agricultural lands by the Province of Otago. Mr. J. L. GILLIES thought that in a matter of tiiis kind, the nominated Chamber should give way to the elected House. Under the arrangement entered into with the Government, the Province of Otago had entered into an engagement which would compel them to sacrifice their lauded estate, unless the General Government carried out its engagements with them.

Mr. VOGEL said that if there were a constitutional way of bringing the rejected Bill again before the other House, the Government would have taken it. That could not be done, and to adopt the course proposed by the resolution would be flying in the face of the Constitution.

After some further discussion in which Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Vogel, Sir F. D. Bell, Mr. Wales, Mr. Richardson, and. Mr. Creighton took part, Mr. VOGEL expressed his regret that the House was now in the position it was in. If the House thought another effort should be made, he would move that the House should adjourn and meet again at eight o’clock, when he would bring down a Bill to allow £60,000 to be paid on the Ist of February to the Province of Otago, as an instalment of the purchase-money of the railways. The valuations would go on in the meantime, as no authority was necessary for that. Mr. CURTIS asked if the Government would include in the proposed Appropriation Bill the amount of the small Bill for the Province of Nelson, which was rejected by the other House. If not, it would show that there were different ways of dealing with Provinces.

Mr. CREIGHTON said the members for Nelson had accepted their defeat; those for Otago had not done so. Mr. O’CONOR thought the members for Otago would have to accept their defeat too. Mr. WALES thought one Province should not stand in the way of another in this manner. Mr. LUCKIE thought the Nelson Bill was thrown out as a stepping-stone to the throwing out of a larger measure. Mr. VOGEL thought the Province of Nelson was the last that should make any complaint. MANAWATH LAND ORDERS BILL. This Bill was discharged from the paper. immigration. Mr. MURRAY" withdrew his motion on this subject. WARD-CHAPMAN INQUIRY". On the adjourned debate on this matter coming on, Mr. VOGEL submitted the amendment of which he had given notice. It appeared from the evidence that one of the officers of the Telegraph Department had been tampered Yvith, but he thought no good would arise from making further inquiry through a Select Committee or a Royal Commission. He proposed that the evidence should be placed in the hands of the Government. Mr. J. L. GILLIES entirely concurred with the amendment. He was quite satisfied that telegrams had passed into the hands of Mr. Macassey in the way he had stated. The amendment was agreed to. [The evidence, therefore, will be referred to the Government, that they may take any action upon it they please.]

THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCES. Mr. J. L. GILLIES moved that a return be laid on the table showing the distribution o£ the million and a-halr stated by the' Premier to have gone in concessions to Provinces to purchase support for the public works and immigration policy. Hr. VOGEL thought this was an attempt at a joke on the part of the hon. member. Mr. J. L. GILLIES : No., no. Mr. VOGEL had said that year after year propositions had been made by private .members or representatives of Provinces which had compelled the Minister of Public Works to deviate from his proposals, so as to meet the immediate views of the Provinces, and agree to construct works not originally contemplated. It had originally been intended, also, that certain blocks of land should be- taken and made security for certain loans or advances, but that scheme had to bo abandoned, and other plans fallen upon. Mr. J. L. GILLIES did not for a moment dispute the statement of the Premier. He only wanted to know how the money had been distributed. Mr. VOGEL remarked that it was found that some. gentlemen, after securing railways to their own districts, ceased to think that any others were required; and the consequence was that concessions were unavoidable. This might explain some of the concessions that had been [found necessary. After the House had declined to sanction the main trunk lines, there had been endless efforts of that sort. When they had nine Provinces they had large pressure ; when they had only four Provinces there would be less than one-half the pressure. The hon. member (Mr. J. L. Gillies), when he considered those things, would be able easily to ascertain how the million and a-half went. Did not the hon. member for Avon agree to the expenditure of £500,000 for laud in the North, for the express purpose of saving the laud fund of the South from being made security for the railway loan. (Hear, hear.) The combinations nine colonies were able to make were too many for a General Government to contend against, and the px-oof was, contained in the Provincial Loans Bill. If the hon. gentleman examined the whole of the accounts of the ten millions for himself, he would find no difficulty in finding Out how the million and a-half had gone. Me thanked the hon. member for theopportunity of adding another chapter to the history of those Colonial matters which justified the recent policy of the Government with reference to Provinces. Mr. ROLLESTON remarked that this latest touch of the Premier revealed the whole policy of the Government, and explained its shiftings—it was merely one of concessions to Provinces. The arguments of the hon. member would be appreciated by the independent members for the South Island, who had been dominated over by the majority whom the Premier had cajoled, and who had felt that domination with indignation. The hon. member now had adopted a policy that was not his own—the voice was the voice of Jacob, but the hand was the red hand they had seen in Colonial affairs for the past few years. [The hon. member went on to illustrate his view on this matter, by quotations from the financial speech of the Premier in 1870.] These changes in the views of the Premier had occurred at the very moment when three of the leading items of his policy were under a crucial, teat—his Native policy, Ills toy railways that would have to ho made over again, and his immigration scheme. Mr. J, - E. BROWN was about to speak, when .

Mr. J. L. GrIXiI/lES rose to a point of order. The discussion had become a general one on the policy of the Government, in place of on the question before the House.

Mr. J. E. BROWN had risen to express his wonder as to what had occasioned the excitement of the hon. member for Avon (Mr. Bolleston). Tho : Premier, in fact, had raised the red rag of Centralism, and the hon. member for Avon had rushed at it like an excited bull. He defended those who had voted with the Premier, as having acted in as independent a manner as the hon. member for Avon had done.

After some further discussion, in which Mr. Murray, Mr. Donald Reid, and Sir J. C. Wilson took part, Mr. McGLASHAN moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. VOGEL remarked that if the hon. member for Avon were to sum up all his own political opinions, he would find that nothing remained. The discussion was continued—the House waiting for a measure to.come down from the other Chamber—by Mr. Sheehan, and the question of adjournment having been negatived, Mr. J. L. GILLIES replied to the observations of hon. members, and expressed his astonishment that a simple motion, such as that before the House, had created such a tempest in their little tea-cup. He pressed his motion.

The SPEAKER said he was afraid that there was no officer of the House to whom the order could be addressed. If carried, he would, of course, do the best he could. The motion was then negatived. MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY. —OTAGO PUBLIC WORKS ADVANCES BILL.

A message was received from His Excellency recommending a Bill to authorise an advance of £60,000 to the Province of Otago, to assist the Province in the construction of light lines of railway there. Mr. VOGEL stated the circumstances under which the message was brought down, so that no misapprehension might arise hereafter. If the House, next session, should agree to the scheme proposed in the Bill, the £60,000 now proposed would go towards the purchase of the Provincial railways in Otago ; if the House did not agree, the money would go as an advance to that Province, in the same way as advances to other Provinces. . He pointed out that it was proposed this year to advance not less than £381,000 to Provinces from the Consolidated Revenue, in addition to £60,000 to the Province of Wellington, £50,000 to the goldfields of the Thames, £56,000 for immigration purposes, and £60,000 for roads in the North Island. The Colony, providentially, had been prosperous enough this year to enable the Government to make these liberal advances. Mr. MACANDREW thanked the Government for its anxiety to assist the Province of Otago, but desired it to be understood that it was not the fault of that Province, but of the legislation of the General Assembly, that Otago was in the humiliating position of having to ask for assistance. The Otago Public Works Allowances Bill was then brought in and passed through all its stages. .Mr. VOGEL then (at five minutes past 10 o’clock) moved the adjournment of the House till half-past 12 o’clock on Saturday, which was agreed to, and the House adjourned.