PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4479, 28 July 1875, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 27. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at two o’clock. PETITIONS. The Hon. Mr. MENZIES presented two petitions regarding the disposal of rown lands. papers. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN laid on the table a number of papers. NOTICE OF MOTION. The Hon. Mr. CHAMBERLIN gave notice of his intention to ask the Hon. Dr. Pollen what steps had been taken towards the construction of a road from AVaipa to Raglan, and if it was the intention of the Government to extend telegraph communication to Raglan. "REGISTRATION OP BIRTHS AND DEATHS BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said the object was to consolidate former Acts, and to make certain amendments to clauses found to be defective. He then proceeded to explain the 'nature of the proposed changes, the most important of which was the making provision for the greater safety of the records of the registration departments. The Bill provided that the different registrars should be required to make duplicates of all entries made, and forward them to Wellington. After entering further into its nature, The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved the second reading of this BUI, which was carried. IN COMMITTEE. The House then went into committee on the two Bills. , The Registration of Births and Deaths Bill was passed'without amendment, and the New Zealand University Act Amendment Bill was passed with amendments. RESUMPTION OF BUSINESS.' The House having resumed business. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN then moved that the Bills be read a second time on Thursday next. Carried. ADJOURNMENT. The Conneil adjourned till the usual hour on Thursday, the Hon. the Speaker stating that notices of motion for Wednesday would be orders of the day for Friday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 27. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. Several petitions and papers were presented, and various notices of motion were given, one being a notice by Mr. Reader Wood, to ask the Government whether it has obtained any legal opinion as to the power possessed enabling it to abolish the provinces. Notices were also given by Mr. Sheehan to ask questions respecting the legality of the appointment of Sir Julius Vogel as Postmaster-General, and the expiration of the present Parliament. Mr. Rolleston gave notice of his intention to move to the effect that it be an instruction to the Finance Committee to inquire into the nature of present tanking arrangements of the colony, and to consider whether other arrangements cannot , be made for the benefit of the colony. ADDRESS IN REPLY. On the invitation of the Speaker, a number of the members of the House accompanied him to Government House to present the address in reply to his Excellency’s speech. On return, the Speaker reported the presentation of the address, and the acknowledgment of his Excellency. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Mr. McLean, leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr. Tolmie. HAOBI LEXICON. As some of the correspondence laid on the table had reference to the Maori Lexicon, being prepared by Mr. Colenso, Mr. Steward was referred to that for an answer to his question as to the progress of the work. CLARENCE RIVER BRIDGE Jn answer to Mr. Ingles, The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON was understood to say there had been some difficulty about fixing the site of the proposed bridge over the Clarence River, but that the matter would be attended to directly. DISEASED CATTLE ACT. Mr. INGLES asked the Government whether it was intended to take any actien with a view to carrying out the provisions of The Diseased Cattle Act, 1871, more particularly with reference to the prohibition now placed on the removal of cattle between the Clarence and the Conway rivers ? He suggested a competent inspector should be appointed. Sir DONALD McLEAN said the Government would take the matter into consideration, and probably appoint a properly qualified inspector. FORESHORE AT THE THAiIES. Mr. O’NEILL asked whether the Government intended to introduce a Bill during the present session, providing for handing over the foreshore at Grahamstown and Shortland, Thames goldfield, to the Thames Municipality ? Sir DONALD McLEAN replied to the effect that the Government was willing to introduce a Bill, and should be happy to confer with Sir George Grey, the Superintendent of the province, on the subject. For various reasons the matter had been held in abeyance since last session. PLAN OP TOWNS BILL. Mr. O’NEILL, by permission, introduced a Bill intituled The Blau of Towns Bill. Second reading fixed for Wednesday week. CONSIDERATION OP HIS EXCELLENCY’S SPEECH. It was resolved that the House next day go into committee to consider the question of supply being granted to her Majesty.

WASTE LAUDS’ ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Hon. Major ATKINSON, in moving the second reading of this Bill, explained that ■under a previous Act power was given the Government to reserve certain portions of land as they deemed necessary, but no provision had been made to enable them to restore the land so reserved, if expedient so to do. STAMP DUTIES ACT AMENDMENT ACT. The House- having gone into committee, The Hon. Mr. BOWEN asked for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Stamp Duties Act. The mover explained that the Act was simply to consolidate the different Stamp Acts, and provide a better machinery for the carrying out of the law. It would be seen by papers laid on the table of the House that the Bill contained some alterations. The SPEAKER ruled that the Bill must be considered in Committee of Ways and Means. IMMIGRATION EXPENDITURE BILL. The Hon. Major ATKINSON moved the second reading of this Bill. Mr. READER WOOD referred to the fact that on previous occasions the House had been told that the system of audit and control was most perfect, and wanted to know by what principle of driving a coach and six horses through an Act of Parliament the Government had acted so as to enable them to spend £80,040 illegally. The audit and control was either faulty, or moonshine and without any value. The Hon. Major ATKINSON offered a similar explanation to that given by him when introducing the Bill. Mr. SHEEHAN suggested that the matter should bo referred to the Finance Committee. He commended the Government for the ingenuity displayed in driving a coach and six through an Act of Parliament, though it was not creditable to the Government. There were two courses open to them, either to meet Parliament or spend the money, and they chose the more pleasant, and spent the money. But the conduct of the Government showed a marked contrast in this instance to the extraordinary scrupulousness they had observed in respect to a small grant to the Auckland province, which it was alleged was not warranted „ by the terms of the Act,

The Hon. Major ATKINSON expressed a willingness to accede to the request, but in respect to the remarks of the hon. member for Rodney, as to a different course being pursued with regard to Auckland said, in the one case the Government had the power of preventing a public inconvenience, but they had not that power in the other case. The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts. CUSTOMS PROSECUTIONS. Mr. HARRISON moved for copies of all correspondence relating to the prosecutions instituted against W. Kilgour, of Greyraonth, and Pizzey and Co., of Reefton. He complained that in the first case, although the duty had been paid upon the whole of a quantity of goods imported, yet because one package by accident had not been packed in the regular order, an information was laid against Mr. Kilgour, and he ran the risk of being fined £IOO. He was a most respectable man, and there was not a tittle of evidence of attempt at fraud against him ; but owiug to the unwarrantable stretch of authority by the Commissioner of Customs at Greymouth, he had been put to much inconvenience, and to a certain extent his credit had been injured. In the case of Messrs. Pizzey and Co. the circumstances were somewhat different. Mr. Pizzey had desired to take out a brewer's license, and acting under advice, had applied to the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Reefton for it, handing over a marked cheque for the amount. Three months afterwards the cheque was returned to him by a clerk, who informed him the issuing of licenses properly belonged to the Customs authorities, and he then sent the cheque on there ; but it was sent back with a message to the effect that the Collector could not receive it. He again went to the Resident Magistrate’s Court and, acting on advice received there, returned the cheque to the Collector. The Collector visited the place shortly afterwards, and laid an information against the firm, and they were fined £lO, with costs, with the understanding that the fine should not be taken. Very naturally, the firm complained of the annoyance it had been put to in consequence of the irregular proceedings. The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS said he had not seen the correspondence relating to the latter case, but in respect to the former he believed tbe correspondence would show that the parcel about which the prosecution had arisen had not been entered at the Customs, and the duty had not been paid. Mr. HARRISON said he had made a slight omission when stating the particulars. He should have mentioned that Kilgour had discovered the mistake he immediately, and before anything had been reported to him, went to the Commissioner of Customs and tendered payment of the duty. The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS promised the production of the correspondence. SPECIAL SETTLEMENT IN AOEBRE VALLEY. Mr. GIBBS having moved the motion on this subject standing in his name. The Hon. Major ATKINSON promised that copies of any correspondence which may have taken place between the Nelson Provincial Government and the Immigration Department, on the subject of the establishment of a special settlement in the Aorere Valley, Golden Bay, should be laid on the table of the House. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Hon. Major ATKINSON stated that the Financial Statement would be brought down on Friday. The House then adjourned.