PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4537, 5 October 1875, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ' Monday, October 4. The Speaker took the chair at half-past 2 o’clock. PAPERS. The Hon. Mr. Reynolds laid certain Government papers on the table. Sir Donald McLean presented a return of members of Parliament who had transferred land to the Government. NOTICES OF MOTION. Notices of motion were given by Messrs. Dignan, T. Kelly, and McGillxvray. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. Further leave of absence for ten days was granted to Mr. Bluett, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Richardson. CHRISTCHURCH AND TIMAEO RAILWAY. In reply to Mr. Webb, The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON was understood to say that the line between Christchurch and Timaru would be open by January next, and that the line from Timaru to Waitaki would be completed within a twelvemonth. FINANCIAL QUERIES. Mr. THOMSON asked the Hon. Major Atkinson the following questions : —■ Wliethei the £7,739,413 put down on first table, page 8, of Financial Statement as « expended,” included the discount or loss in the negotiation of the loans, and the £BO,OOO paid or to he paid to the Messrs. Rothschild, or whether these sums had to be met out of the £661,128 of “ available balances ’’ ? Whether the promise made by Sir Julius Vogel to the Messrs. Rothschild, that the New Zealand Government would not enter the money market for two years, meant simply that the Government would not borrow under new Loan Acts, or whether it meant that the Government would not, during that period, enter the money market to raise the balances of loans amounting to £1,954,800 ? When the Government proposed raising said balances of £1,954,800 ? If he would stated the amount by which the liabilities of the colony on 30th June, amounting to £3,349,457, had been reduced, up to 30th September ? How much of the £6OOO drawn by Sir Julius Yogel was chargeable on loan ? The Hoa, Major ATKINSON answered the questions as they occurred. As to the first, he was not quite certain as to whether the £BO,OOO was in the £7,700,000 ; but if not included in that, it was included in the estimate of liabilities. That which was stated as an available balance was, so far as it had been possible to estimate it.inrealitya balance which would he available. With regard to question No. 2, Sir Julius Yogel made no such promise. He refused to give any pledge of the sort. With regard to question No. 3, he might state that the Government proposed to raise money on colonial debentures on the first favorable opportunity. The guarantee debentures would not he parted with until the last of the public works were in hand. As to the fourth question, he was not in a position to answer definitely, but as soon as the account was received from Sir Julius Vogel, he should be happy to lay the particulars on the table. His answer to the last question was that the House would have to decide for itself how much of the £6OOO drawn by Sir Julius Yogel should be chargeable upon the loan. WASTE LANDS ADMINISTRATION. Mr. SHEEHAN asked the Colonial Treasurer whether it was the intention of the Government to take any action in reference to those portions of the reports of the Waste Lauds Committee, upon the petitions of the Hon. H. R. Russell and Peter Robertson, condemnatory of the waste lands administration in Hawke’s Bay ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the matter was under the consideration of the Government, who would take such steps as they thought necessary to see the thing carried out properly. ROADS IN AUCKLAND. The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON wished for the opinion of the House as to furnishing a return asked for by the member for Caversham, regarding the items of expenditure on roads north of Auckland. He drew the attention of the House to the matter because the return would entail the furnishing of some sixteen or seventeen hundred entries, and if the return were required, it would have to be made out at once. Mr. SHEEHAN failed to see the object to be gained by the return. BILLS INTRODUCED. The following Bills were introduced, and read a first time :—Provincial Appropriation Act Continuance Bill, Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill, and a Bill to Amend the Immigration and Public Works Act of 1870. BAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS moved that this House approved of, and ratified, the joint contract entered into on the 23rd July, 1875, by Sir D. Cooper, Bart., and Mr. Thomas Russell, on behalf of the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand, respectively, with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, of New York (for whom Messrs. Elder and Co., of Glasgow, and Mr. McGregor, M.P. for Leith, are sureties), for a four-weekly mail steam service between San Francisco and Sydney, and between New Zealand and San Francisco. He referred hon. members to papers already on the table of the House. Ever since the accomplishment of the mail service of 1868 the Government had endeavored to establish a mail service by way of San Francisco, and several attempts were made in that direction, but without success. He was now in a position to congratulate the House upon entering into a contract which would prove of great advantage to the colony. The whole success of the scheme would depend upon the contractors. [Mr. Reynolds proceeded to notice the progress of the negotiations, and to give a history of the service hitherto.] The Hon. Mr. STAFFORD asked how the colony stood with respect to New South Wales in agreeing to the sum placed upon the order paper for the contract ? The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS said the Government had received no enmmunication from New South Wales except what would be found in the printed papers. Mr. MURRAY moved an amendment to this effect—That the Sau Francisco mail service, being advantageous to the citizens of the United States as well as to the British colonies of Australasia, a fair proportion of the expenditure on the service should he paid by the Government of the United States. The Hon. Mr. STAFFORD said the hon. member had apparently left out of consideration the fact that we were absolutely bound by the terms of arrangement made witli New South Wales. Last session it would have been proper for the hon. member to have made such a motion, and for the House to have agreed to it if it thought proper, hut a resolution having been passed last session, the hon. gentleman was out of order. The only thing for discussion was whether or not the New South Wales Government would approve of the additional £SOOO, and the extension. of the time for two years over the time of the contract. Another important question was as to whether the service should be coastal. Ho saw no reason why these steamers should be engaged along the coast while wo had colonial services competent to perform the delivery of mails from one central port. It imposed an unnecessary burden on the people, because theyreaped no beuefitfromit. Hewouldsuggest that some modification in this respect should he made, and it might be well to adjourn the debate on that account. The Hon. Mr. BOWEN said it was obvious that the agent for New Zealand was not particularly desirous of adding the coastal service to the contract, but felt himself bound on tho one side by his instructions from the New Zealand Government, and on the other side by tho action of those who were acting on behalf of New South Wales. The Government felt, therefore, bound to ratify the arrangements made, but that did not prevent them from considering tho alteration proposed. He should offer no opposition to adjournment. Mr. LUCKIE said the necessity for an adjournment might be avoided by the Government saying they wore prepared to arrange for

the abolition of the costal service. He looked upon it as a great waste of public money. There were companies now in the colony quite equal to performing the service without calling in foreign aid. Mr. MACANDKEW would not give a penny piece for a service which did not call along the coast. He was of opinion that, from a commercial point of view, the result of an arrangement such as that suggested would be very serious indeed. The debate was ultimately adjourned till next day. PIAKO SWAMP. Mr. SHEEHAN asked the Native Minister whether it was the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to give effect to the sale of the Piako-Waikato swamp ? He asked this question with a view to suggesting that the Bill might be referred to the committee now sitting on that subject. Sir DONALD McLEAN replied that the intention 'of the Government was to wait for the report of the Piako Swamp Committee. OUIRAM TELEGRAPH BILL. The Outram Telegraph-station Reserve Bill was read a second time, and its committal made an order of the day for the day following. BILLS COMMITTED. The House went into committee on the following Bills :—lmprisonment for Debt Abolition Amendment Bill, Debtors and Creditors Bill. The Fraudulent Debtors Bill was also committed, and largely amended. A division was taken on clause 76, which makes provision respecting chattels in order and disposition of debtor. It was proposed to erase the words, “ or whereof he has taken upon him the sale, alteration, or disposition as owner.” The division resulted in a majority for the words remaining part of the clause. Considerable discussion took place with respect to the clauses providing for the liability of after acquired property. They were struck out. The Stamp Duties Bill was further considered in committee. Progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again. The Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The Fraudulent Debtors’ Bill was also read a third time, and passed. The Debtors and Creditors Bill was recommitted, and clauses 72 and 73 struck out. The Bill was then reported to the House as further amended. THE ABSTRACTION OF MINERS’ EIGHTS. Mr. BRYCE brought up the report on the Ohinemuri miners’ rights investigation. The report was read. In reply to Mr. Bryce, The Hon. the SPEAKER said he would take care that the report was printed. DAVIDES SUCCESSION BILL. The Hon. Major ATKINSON moved the second reading of the above Bill, particulars of which have already appeared in our reports of the Legislative Council. The Bill was read a second time. GOVERNMENT APPRENTICES BILL. The Government Apprentices Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed next day. REPRESENTATION BILL. The adjourned debate on this measure was resumed by Mr. Cutbbertson, and maintained by Messrs. McGillivray, Swanson, O’Neill, T. Kelly, Andrew, Reid, Mervyn, and O’Conor. - The Hon. Mr. Fitzherbert moved the adjournment of the debate, which was carried, and the House adjourned at 1.5 a.m.