NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4530, 27 September 1875, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH

SEPTEMBER 1875. Fortransniissum by the *■*■ ftf**^-&"%, on. the 88th inst, and the A.S.X. Co.s *«<*"HT Macgregor on the. Ist October from Auckland, rid San Francisco. The progress of the Abolition Bill has absorbed all public interest since the date of our last summary. That date had just witnessed the carrying of the' second reading of that measure by 52 to 17. So onafter it was got into committee, not, however, without oue or two struggles upon the motion for doing so. So soon, however, as the House actually went into committee, the nature of the contest that ■was before it became apparent. The Opposition plainly announced their intention to defeat the Bill by every possible means allowable under parliamentary practice, and to raise discussion, word by word, line by line, and clause by clause. Against this the Government declared that they would keep the Hou3o sitting continuously; and so exhaust the talking powers of their opponents, they and their party maintaining silence. Accordingly, the House had a taste of this, the whole of the evening of September 9, and the morning and afternoon of Friday, September 10, witnessing the sitting of the committee, broken only by a few brief adjournments. On the evening of the latter day, however, it became known that a compromise had been proposed by the Opposition, and a general feeling of relief was experienced when, at the evening sitting, Sir Donald McLean, on behalf of the Government, moved that the Chairman should report progress, it being understood that this was to afford time for terms of a settlement to be agreed upon. We need not here give the history of the negotiations that followed on the results of the oaucns meetings that were held on either side. It will be sufficient to say that the proposal, which emanated from the Opposition, was to this effect: that the Abolition of Provinces Bill be proceeded with, and fairly considered in committee ; that the amendments proposed be decided on their merits, the Opposition assisting the Government to make the Bill as complete and efficient a 3 possible ; that on passing -through committee, as amended, no further opposition be given to its progress through the House. On the other hand, the Opposition stipulated that a clause be inserted, providiug that the Act Bhould not take effect until an address be presented to the Governor by both Houses next session, requesting his Excellency to bring it into operation by proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette. After much discussion of pros and cons at meetings of the members of either party, an agreement was come to that instead of the Bill being brought into effect by an address to the Governor it should come into operation one day after the last day of the next session of Parliament. This practically affirmed the abolition question itself, but left it to the country to decide by future legislation what form of local government should be substituted for provincialism. On the Tuesday following, in the House of Representatives, Sir Donald McLean stated the terms of the negotiations to be an agreement that the Abolition Bill should pass this session, and that hon. members should consider it fairly and upon its merits, and without unreasonable opposition. It was conceded by the Government in return, that the Bill having been passed, the Government should suspend the date of its coming into operation till one day after the Drorogation of the first session of the new Parliament. That had been the concession made by the Government, and he believed hon. members supporting the Government would fully concur in the arrangement.' The Act would be placed upon the Statute book, and the principle of abolition would thus have been absolutely affirmed ; and on the other hand, the Government had considered it due to the Opposition to take into account their particular views on the question, and had therefore agreed that the Bill should not be brought into operation till the date named. Sir Donald added that the various discussions which had taken place during the negotiations with the leaders of the Opposition, had been conducted in a spirit which showed an earnest desire on the part of those gentlemen to meet the present circumstances of the country, and to carry on the public business. In accordance with this arrangement, the Bill was discussed in committee, and on one matter of detail, the Government, it is to be regretted, gave way.. As will be seen by reference to the Bill as it now stands, and as we have reprinted it in another place, education ha 3 been provincialised, as Itwasundertheoldsystem, and a national settlement of a great question has been thus delayed. However, the adjustment of this question is simply one of time, and despite temporary delay, will bo adjusted by the colony as a whole. Provincial Councils are doomed. The only portion ef the Bill which is to come into operation on its receiving the Governor's assent refers to those bodies, and prevents their further meeting. Both Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew, it is understood, whilst yielding to their party in this matter of. compromise, do not intend individually, as Superintendents of the great provinces of Auckland and Otago, to let abolition bo accomplished without testing the power of the Assembly to do so, in the courts of law, and it is not improbable that the Provincial Councils of these provinces will be summoned by the Superintendents to meet as usual.. The settlement of the question, the history of which has been thus briefly narrated, has necessarily largely retarded the work of the session, as will be found from an interesting return we have compiled for this summary, of the Bills brought before Parliament and the stages they have reached. Over and above all minor questions, ..there yet remain the Budget and the Electoral and Representation Bills. It may be safely assumed then that the session will now last quite, if not over, another month. A reference to the items of news in our columns will show that the colony and Wellington are showing no indications of an abatement in the career of steady prosperity which has been their lot.for„some years. ..The past month furnishes the largest sum of Customs duties as yet paid in this city.