PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4486, 5 August 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 4. The Speaker took his seat at the usual hour. PAPERS AXD PETITIONS. A number of petitions and papers were pre-, sented. Mr. SHEEHAN presented a petition from Henry Russell, for an inquiry into certain native land purchases at Hawke’s Bay. Sir GEORGE GREY gave notice that he would ask at what date the Governor had received the opinion of the Attorney-General re the power of the General Assembly to abolish the provinces. The Hon. Air. REYNOLDS laid on the table a number of papers. INDEMNITY BILL. Mr. READER WOOD submitted the report of the Public Accounts Committee, which recommended the passing of the Immigration Indemnity Bill. OAMARU IMMIGRANTS. Mr. STEWARD asked the the Hon. Mr. Atkinson whether instructions had been forwarded to the Agent-General to cause a certain, proportion of the immigrants shipped to Otagoto be sent to Oamaru without being first landed at the port of Dunedin ; and if so, when such instructions were so forwarded? The Hon. Mr. ATKINSON replied that orders had been sent, but only by last mail,, the matter having slipped his memory. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF COAL. Mr. O’CONOR asked the Commissioner of Customs whether the Government would lay upon the table a return showing the exports and imports of coal, &c., to complete the last, return furnished on the subject, to the end of the past financial year 1 The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS said thepapers would be laid on the table to-morrow (this day.) LAND REVENUE. In reply to Mr. T. Kelly, The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the proceedsof all land sales during the present year would,, in the event of the Bill to abolish provincesbeing carried, be placed to the credit of the districts within which such sales took place.

RAILWAY MATERIAL. Mr. MUEEAY asked the Minister of Public Works why, with the quantities and specifications of railway material shown in the returns as having been sent to the colony, the prices, from whom procured, and whether by public tender or otherwise, had not also been stated ? The Hon. Mr. EICHAEDSON said the Government did not deem it necessary to print all the information asked for by the hon. member ; if he were to move for information regarding any particular transaction, a mode-rately-sized return could be furnished, but the same course had invariably been pursued. Everything was advertised for and secured by tender. Mr. MUEEAY then asked if the Government had taken any other steps than by remonstrance to protect the interests of the colony from fraud or carelessness in the supply of materials for the public works? The Hon. Mr. EICHAEDSON thought it would have been more convenient had Mr. Murray put his question in the form of a motion. The subject had been alluded to in the Public Works Statement the night before ; and he could only repeat that the railway material was, on the whole, of excessively good quality, considering the quantity shipped, and much superior to that sent to other countries where there had been much more extensive inspection. He thought that in making the contractors compensate for the loss, the very best course had been pursued. PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY. Mr. MUEEAY asked the Colonial Treasurer where the £IOO,OOO worth, or thereabouts, of outstanding Port Chalmers Eailway Companies debentures, appears in thfe statement of the liabilities of the colony ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON replied that the wholeof the debentures hadbeen paid save £IOO, and that was included in page 8 of the liabilities ; the disbursements appeared in page 18, and would appear in greater detail when the full returns were published. TELEGRAPH FOR WESTLAND. Mr. WHITE asked the Government when the erection of a telegraph station in the Arahura district, Westland, would be proceeded with. The Hon. Mr. KEYNOLDS said the revenue which would be derived from the line would not justify the Government in going to the outlay required for original construction and maintenance, which would cost £2OO per annum. BILLS INTRODUCED. The following Bills were introduced without discussion ;—Eegistration of Mining Companies Validation Bill; Laud Transfer Act, 1870, Amendment Bill; Napier Waterworks Loan Bill ; Qualification of Electors Bill; Supplementary Electoral Eolls Bill; a Bill to Authorise the Sale of a Parcel of Land at Waihi to John Chubin.

DUTY ON AUSTRALIAN WINES. Mr. CHARLES O’NEILL moved that, in the opinion of this House, the duty' on Australian wines should be reduced to one shilling per gallon. The motion elicited considerable discussion. The Government opposed the motion, stating that the necessity for raising revenue was paramount. Mr. SHEPHARD moved an amendment, in favor of which Mr. O’Neill withdrew his motion, that for the • word “Australian ” “light” should be substituted, so that the Bill would have reference to all light wines, from whatever country. A division was demanded, the result being— Ayes, 12; noes, 43. STEAM NAVIGATION. Mr. O'NEILL moved that, in the opinion of this House, it is advisable that the Governmeut should, without any delay, prescribe provisions or changes in respect to the equipments, &c., relating to vessels, in accordance with section 31 of the Steam Navigation Act, 1866; and also to prepare by-laws and regulations in terns of section 12 of the Steam Navigation Act Amendment Act, 1867. The resolution was agreed to. OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. Mr. BUCKIE, on behalf of Mr. Wakefield, moved that the “ Official Handbook of New Zealand” and the results of the census-of New Zealand for 1874 be laid upon the table of the House. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said there, would be a fresh supply of copies within three- - weeks, and the Handbook would then be placed before the House. RAILWAY TRAFFIC. In reply to Mr. Luckie, The'Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON said a table • of rates for traffic oil railways now in operation would be placed on the table as soon as , possible. > FINANCIAL STATEMENT. In reply to Mr. Reader Wood, The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the Government would lay on the table a detailed return, showing the liabilities referred to on page 8 of the Einancial Statement, and amount- - iug in the gross to £3,349,457 16s. Id. arms act fees. On the motion of Mr. Gibbs, it was agreed . to lay on the table a return, showing the amount of net revenue derived from the issue of licenses or from other fees under the Anna Act, 1860, and amending Acts, during the past financial year. QUEENSTOWN WATER WORKS BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow. PLANS OP TOWNS REGULATION BILL. After some discussion, this Bill, which was . introduced by Mr. O’Neill, was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Wednesday next. CHURCH OF OTAGO INCORPORATION BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and to be committed to-day. ORDERS POSTPONED. 0 The remaining orders of the day were postponed : some till to-day, and others till Wednesday next. The House adjourned at 10 o'clock.