PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4546, 15 October 1875, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. - Thubsdat, October 11. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. PAPERS. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN laid on the table papers relative to immigration and public works. NOTICE OP MOTION. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOTJSE gave notice that he would move that there be laid upon the table of the Council a copy of the contract entered into between the General Government and the Wellington Steam Navigation Company, for the performance of the coastal service between Wellington and Napier. Also, that, in the opinion of this Council, no agreement or .contract, entered into by the Government subject to the concurrence or ratification of the General Assembly, is binding upon the colony until it has received the concurrence of this branch of the Legislature. HABITS GRANT BILL: The Hon. Captain BAILLIE moved the second reading of the Martin Grant Bill The Bill was read a second time without opposition, but was referred to a select committee, on the suggestion of the Hon. Mr. Watebhouse. municipal corporations loan bill. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved that the Municipal Corporations Loan Bill be read a second time. Carried, and ordered to be committed presently. GOLDFIELDS ACT' AMENDMENT BILL. The Goldfields Act Amendment Bill (No. 1) was read a second time, and ordered to be committed presently. NEW ZEALAND CNIVEKSITT RESERVE BILL. This Bill was postponed for a day, on the motion of the Hon. Dr. Pollen, who had been unable to make himself thoroughly acquainted with its provisions, owing to his having participated in the festivities of the previous evening. STAMP BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed presently. PIAKO EXCHANGE BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved that the Piako Land Exchange Bill be read a third time. The Hon. Mr. HOLME3 announced his intention of opposing the third reading ; and further expressed dissatisfaction at Government land transactions generally. He was of opinion that they would very much lessen the confidence of the residents of the Middle Island of New Zealand in the changes_ which were about to take place in the administration of the country's affairs. He had been previously in favor of the abolition of provinces ; but when he looked at the manner in which the colonial estate was dealt with by the Government, the conviction forced itself upon him that the people of the Middle Island looked for a remedy in insular separation ; and such a Bill as that before the Council was a powerful argument in favor of separation. The Hon. Mr. BUCKLEY moved that the Bill be read that day six months. The object of the Bill, as it appeared to him, was simply to confirm Mr. Whitaker's title to a piece of land, and as far as the Council knew, that title might be doubtful. The Hon. Mr. PEACOCK expressed his intention of voting against the 801, because he had made himself better acquainted with it since yesterday, when he had voted in its favor. The Government could effect its object by compensating Mr. Whitaker in cash, and no doubt that gentleman would be as well satisfied.

The Hon. Dr. POLLEN having replied, the question was put. The Chairman declared the noes to have it; and Dr. Pollen called for a division, -which was taken, and resulted as follows:—Ayes, 12; noes, 12. The Hon. the SPEAKER gave his voice with the noes, and the Bill was thrown out. LICENSING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. BILLS COMMITTED. The following Bills were committed and reported, with and without amendments: — Stamp Bill, Municipal Corporation Bill, and the Goldfields Act Amendment Bill. The Dunedin Corporation Borrowing Powers Extension and Debentures Bill was committed, and at five o'clock progress was reported, and leave obtained to sit again on the day following. The following Bills were received with messages from the House of Eepresentatives, and read a first time:—Clutha River Conservation Act, Otago Harbor Board Empowering Act, Wellington Declaimed Land Amendment Bill, Invercargill Public Offices Site Bill, Moeraki Harbor Act, Auckland Waste Lands Amendment BiiL The Council adjourned till the usual hour next (this) day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, October 14. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o'clock. PETITIONS AND PAPEBS. Several papers were laid upon the table, and a petition from J. G. S. Grant, on behalf of the unemployed in Dunedin, was also laid upon the table. NOTICES. Amongst several notices of motion was one by Mr. O'Robke of his intention to move for an address to the Governor for a gratuity of £6OO to the widow of the late Mr. Williamson. MS. BBISSENDEN AND THE GOVERNMENT. Mr. SWANSON asked the Native Minister : (1.) Whether Mr. Brissenden's land purchases in the North had anything to do with his dismissal from the Government Land Purchase Agency ? (2.) Whether these purchases had been satisfactory to the Government ? (3.) Whether any opinion on the subject of Mr. Brissenden's land purchases had been expressed by any of the Judges of the Land Court; and if so, what that opinion was 1 (4.) Did Mr. Brissenden at any time write requesting to be allowed to terminate his contract with the Government ? Sir DONALD McLEAN replied : (1.) No.

(2.) Most clear and satisfactory. (3.) Yes. Judge Eowe of the Land Court had expressed the opinion that the transactions were right and proper. (4.) He had so written. SHIP RODNEY AND COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION AT WELLINGTON. Mr. W: KELLY asked if the attention of the Minister of Immigration had been drawn to certain charges made by Dr. Harris, late Surgeon-Superintendent of the ship Rodnej', published in one of the Wellington newspapers, against the Commissioner of Immigration at the port of Wellington; and if so, was it the intention of the Government to take any action in the matter ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON" said he had read the letter, and after careful inquiry had been surprised that such a letter had been written. There had been no reason for such a letter, as the Commissioner of Immigration had acted quite correctly. ORDERS OP THE DAY. On the motion of Mr. Ballance, order of the day No. 1, namely, the committal of the Coroner's Act, 1567, Amendment Bill, was discharged. Mr. MONTGOMERY moved the second reading of the Canterbury Education Board Bill. Mr. J. E. BROWN moved that the Bill be read a sscond time that day six months. After discussion a division was taken, and the second reading was carried by 40 to 3. The House went into committee.

The Grey town and Masterton Public Park and Cemetery Bill and the Wellington Rivers Bill, were considered, reported, read a third time, and passed. The Onehunga Reserves Management Bill was committed, considered, reported, read a third time, and passed. The New Zealand Presbyterian Church Bill (No. 2) was considered in committee, reported, read a third time, and passed. The Religious and Charitable and Educational Trusts Bill, the Lodgers Enfranchisement Bill, and the Wellington Educational Reserves Bills were committed, considered, read a third time, and passed. The order of the day for the second reading of the Native Lands Purchase Bill was postponed until Wednesday. The House went into committee on the Representation Bill. The debate was resumed on the amendment for creating a new electoral district on the East Coast.

After discussion, the Government accepted the amendment. Mr. PYKE said he would move that all the proposed new electorates be eliminated from the Bill, with the exception of a member for the Thames and a member for Dunedin. In the course of discussion, Mr. O'CONOR said already eight members came from Dunedin, and he was opposed to giving the city any more representation. On a division the amendment was carried by 43 to 22. Mi-. BRYCE then moved that another member be given to Wanganui, and after dilating upon the strength of his claim, said if the Minister for Justice would give one single good reason why the addition should not be made, he would withdraw his request.

Mr. PYKE moved that the Chairman leave the chair.

Motion negatived by 45 to 16. In reference to the motion of the hon. member for Wanganui, the Hon. Mr. BOWEN said, taking the districts of Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu, and other districts on the West Coast, they had already more representatives than the East Coast districts, although the population of the latter was 2000 in excess of the West Coast districts.

Mr. BRYCE thought that reasoning unfair.

On the question being put, a division was taken, which resulted as follows :—Ayes, 29; Noes, 25.

Mr. ANDREW moved- that an additional member be given to Waikato. • He pointed out that Wanganui only had 739 electors, whereas Waikato had 893 electors, which he took to be a good argument in favor of giving the additional member he asked for. Mr. D. REID said, according to the return upon which he had based his calculations, Wanganui had 1030, and he wished to know where Mr. Andrew got his figures from. The Hon. Mr. BOWEN said a supplementary return had been prepared; A long discussion ensued, after which a division was taken, and the amendment was lost by 29 to 28. Sir F. D. BELL proposed that the words "Mataura one member," be'inserted. On a division, the amendment was lost by 32 to 26. .

Mr. O'CONOB moved that the words " Buller, one member " be inserted. This was negatived by 27 to 29. Mr. WILLIAMS proposed an amendment giving the Bay of Islands and Mongonui an additional member, which was negatived on the voices.

An amendment by Mr. Swanson that an additional member should be given to Newton was lost by 31 against 19. Mr. WALES proposed three extra members for Dunedin.

Mr. PYKE proposed two extra members. Sir GEORGE GREY moved that the provision for an extra member for Timaru be struck out.

A motion to report progress was lost on the voices.

After further discussion, a motion by Mr. Macandrew to report progress was also lost on the voices.

Sir George Grey's amendment was lost by 46 to 6. Mr. PYKE moved the insertion of the words " Wakatip one member." This was lost on a division by 34 to 21. The amendments re the city of Dunedin representation were lost on a division by 40 to 13. An amendment by Mr. Dignan, providing that there should be still two electoral districts in the City of Auckland, was accepted by the Government.

Mr. Ballance's amendment, providing for the representation of minorities, was withdrawn after discussion.

The remaining clauses were considered and passed without amendment. Progress was then reported, and the House adjourned at 3.40.