PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4777, 14 July 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday - , July 13. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE moved,— That there he laid upon the table copies of all papers and correspondence relating to the institution of the New Zealand Cross, both in New Zealand and with the Imperial authorities, together with all notifications. Orders in Council, and Regulations published in the New Zealand Gazette in connection with this subject.—Carried. CONSOLIDATION OF LEGISLATION. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE moved,— That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that steps be taken with a view to the consolidation of the existing legislation of the colony, and to provide for the incorporation of amending enactments, as they are passed, with the consolidated law. The motion was carried, as also was the following :—That an address be presented to his Excellency, embodying the resolution. UTILISATION OF TELEGRAPH AT ELECTIONS. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE moved,— That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable to make provision to enable voters at elections, whether.of a general or local character, to avail themselves of the services of the telegraph for the purposes of voting. The motion was negatived, after considerable discussion, Councillors generally being opposed to it. BILL INTRODUCED. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Hall, a Bill intituled the Leases and Sales of Church Reserves in the Diocese of Christchurch Act was introduced and read a first time. The second reading was made an order of the day for Tuesday next. BILLS. The third reading of the Juries Act Amendment Bill was made an order of the day for next (this) day. Dr. POLLEN gave notice of motion to insert a clause, on the re-committal of the Bill, affecting the constitution of juries, and making it unnecessary that the whole of the jury should agree in intimating that they could not agree. The Lotteries and Art Unions Bill was read a third time and passed. Messages were received from the House of Representatives announcing the passage of several Bills through that House. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 13. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. PETITIONS AND NOTICES. Several petitions were presented and notices of motion given. QUESTIONS. In answer to Mr. Taiaeoa, The Hon. Sir DONALD MCLEAN said the Government were going to introduce a Bill into Parliament, for regulating the disposal of native lands, and would consider the matter of providing greater facilities for ascertaining the succession to intestate natives being grantees of lands. _ Mr. REID asked the Minister for Immigration, if there was a clause in the contract for the conveyance of immigrants making it imperative that the vessels should bo fitted with Clifford’s boat-lowering apparatus ; and if so, whether he would be prepared to alter the conditions in future, so that Douglas’s patent might he substituted for Clifford’s ? The Hon, Major ATKINSON undertook to have inquiry made, in order to see what could bo done in the matter, h£r. REYNOLDS asked the Commissioner of; Customs, whether the Government intend Instituting an official inquiry as to the allegations stated, to have been made by the captain of the City of San Francisco, that the steamer touched the ground on entering and leaving Port Chalmers ? The Hon. GEORGE McLEAN said an inquiry would be instituted, and that he himself did not believe that the vessel had touched. NEW BILLS. On the motion of the Hon. Mr, Richardson, in the absence of The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, the Counties Bill was introduced and read a first time, the second reading being fixed for Tuesday next. It was stated that copies of the Bill would be circulated that evening or the next forenoon. The Bluff Harbor Board Bill was introduced and read a first time.

i ■’ MOTIONS. Mr. TESCHEMAKEE moved,—That all correspondence between the Superintendent i and Executive of Canterbury and the General Government, relative .to the appointment of" a • Eoyal Commission "ijo inquire into the administration of the Waste Lands and Survey department of that province, he laid before this House, and printed.—Carried. Mr. WILLIAMS moved,—For a return of the quantity of land that has been purchased by the Government from the natives in the Mangonui, Hokianga, and Bay of Islands districts, under the Immigration and Public Works Acts; also, quantity of land under negotiation, and a statementshowingthegeneral quality of the land purchased, as far as can be ascertained from reports of surveyors.—Carried. Hr. . MACFAELANE moved,—That the report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands to the Colonial Secretary, dated Wellington, 9th July, 1872, be reprinted for the information of members.—Carried. Mr. LUSK moved, —That a select committee be appointed to inquire into and report upon the working of the Native Lands Acts now in force in this colony, and best method of promoting the of the title to native lands, and the acquisition by Europeans of such lands as are not required for the use of the native owners. Such committee to consist of ten members, viz.—Mr. Curtis, Sir G. Grey, Hoh. Sir D. McLean, Mr. Macfarlane, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moorhouse, Hon. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Wakefield, and the mover; five to be a quorum, and the committee to have power to call for persons and papers.—Pending the bringing down of the Government measure, the motion was adjourned for a fortnight. Mr. SWANSON moved,—That the name of Mr. Eowe be added to the committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of using brown coal on the lines of railway in the colony.—Carried.' . Mr. WASON moved, —That the number of the select committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of using brown- coal be increased to eleven, and the names of Mr. Burns and Mr. Kennedy added thereto.— Carried. OBDEES OF THE DAT. The second reading of the Wanganui Harbor Board and Kiver Conservation Bill was postponed. The report of the Committee on the Regulation of Local Elections came up for consideration. The Bill was. re-committed, and amendments were moved in clauses 3,9, and 31. The amendment to clause 3 was moved by Mr. Whitakee, which would bring the Bill into operation' in some cases only on the written request of at least two-thirds of the members of the local body .in any, district.—The Government accepted the amendment, which was opposed by Messrs. Eeid and Stout, and supported by Messsr. Lusk and Gibbs. The amendment was carried on the voices. Clause 9 was amended so as to give longer notice of elections.

Clause 31 was amended so as to give the Returning Officer a casting vote in the case of candidates having an equal number of votes. The Bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to, was read a third time, and passed. . The Naseby Waterworks Empowering Bill was committed, considered, reported,'read a third time, and passed. Thr second reading of the Local Option Licensing Bill was moved by Mr. - Stout. The second reading was supported by Messrs. Woolcock, De Lantour, Burns, Hodgkinson, Button, Swanson, J. E. Brown, and Murray ; and opposed by Messrs. Murray-Aynsley (who moved that the Bill be read that day six months), Fisher, Russell, Wason, Ballance, the Hon. O. O. Bowen, Lumsden, and Larnach ; many of those who supported the second reading expressing their intention of striking out the main provisions in committee.—Mr. Macandrew then moved the adjournment of the debate.—Mr. Wakefield opposed it ; and a division took place on the motion, twenty-four being in favor, and forty-nine against.—Mr. Lusk made an able speech, at the conclusion of which Mr. Wood said a few words. DEATH OF DR. FEATHERSTON. The Hon. Sir JULIUS VOGEL then said: I do not rise for the purpose of speaking to this debate, but am sorry to say it is my duty to give the. House some information which will create universal regret. Captain Holt has shown me a telegram, received to-night, but which is three weeks old, reporting that Dr. Featherston is dead. lam sure this information will be most painful to many, and I shall only be consulting the wishes of the House inasking the hon. member in charge of the Bill under discussion to consent to its postponement, in order that the_Home may adjourn, as a mark of respect to the memory of a gentleman who has occupied distinguished positions in New Zealand, and who has had so much to do with the early history of the colony. (Hear, hear.) Mr. STOUT expressed the great regret he felt at hearing the sad news, and, willingly consented to the postponement of the Bill. The House then adjourned.