PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4790, 29 July 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, Jdly 28. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. WESTERN DISTRICT RAILWAYS. The Hnn. Mr. NURSE asked the Hon. the Colonial Secretary,—lf he will procure from Mr. Blair, District Engineer in Otago, an opinion as to the utility of the Western District Railways, under the present plans and specifications,—first, as to their safety for passenger traffic, and, if so, up to what rate of speed ; second, as to goods traffic, what weight can safely pass along the line ; and if he will lay the same on the table of the Council ? The Hon. Dr. POLLEN, in reply, said that Mr. Blair was acting at present as an umpire between the Provincial Council of Otago and the contractors, under which circumstances he ought not to he asked for his opinion.—The object of Mr. NURSE (that gentleman said) had been sufficiently gained by calling the attention of the Government to the matter. PORT CHALMERS AND THE MAIL STEAMERS. The Hon. Mr. NURSE asked the Hon. the Colonial Secretary,—lf he would inform the Council from what source he derived the official information that the City of San Francisco had not touched on the bar at Otago harbor on her last trip to that port ? In asking this question, Mr. Nurse read a telegram from Captain Waddell, which stated explicitly that the steamer had touched j and notes taken by the agents on the arrival of the steamer here, which showed that the first and second mates had also felt the vessel touch. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN said the Harbormaster of Dunedin had sent the report in question to the 'Government. He laid the report on the table. NEW ZEALAND FISHERIES. The Hon. Mr. CHAMBERLIN moved,— That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that the Government should bring in a Bill for the better preservation of the New Zealand fisheries. The Hon. Dr. MENZIES supported the motion. , The Hon. WI TAKO_ approved of the motion were action confined to the European districts. By the treaty of Waitangi the Maori fisheries were reserved to them. The principal support of the natives was their fish—The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse thought it was of more importance to give facilities for catching the fish on the coast of New Zealand than for preserving them.—The Hon. Captain Fraser, Colonels Whitmore and Brett supported the motion.—The Hon. Mr. Bonar thought what was required was the regulation of those engaged in fishing. He suggested that the word “ regulation ” be substituted for “preservation” in the motion. — This was d on e. —The Hon. Dr. Pollen thought it would be impossible to bring in a Bill on the subject this session. He suggested that the Hon. Mr. Chamberlin should move for a select committee, and devote his energies to the collection of information on the subject. The motion was withdrawn. WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved that Capt. Fraser’s name be substituted for his own on the committee. —Agreed to. ORDERS OP THE DAY. The Taranaki Botanic Gardens Bill was referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The Diocese of Christchurch Church of England Lands Bill was withdrawn. The Canterbury Education Reserves Sale and Leasing Bill was committed.—Clauses 1,2, and 3 were agreed to. Clauses 4 and 5 were amended and agreed to ; S and 7 were passed as printed ; 8 and 9 were slightly amended and passed, and 10 and 11 were agreed to. —The Hon. Mr. Hall then moved a new clause, which was also agreed to. The Bill was ordered to be recommitted on Tuesday next. The Regulation of Local Elections Bill was further considered in committee. Clauses 9, 13, 37, and 39 were amended in manner previously mentioned in these columns, and agreed to. A new clause was proposed by the Hon. Mr. Hall, and agreed to. The third reading of the measure was fixed for Tuesday next. The Hawke’s Bay Rivers Bill was farther considered in committee, reported, and the third reading made an order of the day for Tuesday next. The Council adjourned at ten minutes to 5 p.m. house OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, July 28. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. PETITIONS, ETC. Several petitions were presented and notices given, REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES, The select committee appointed to consider the petition of Henare Potene, in reference to the validity or invalidity of the Eastern Maori election, brought up their report, recommending that the election should be sustained, and that Karaitiana Takamoana be allowed to take his seat. . Mr, CURTIS, chairman of the committee, moved that the report and evidence be printed, which was agreed to, and he gave notice of his intention to move on Tuesday that Karaitiana be authorised to take his seat. QUESTION. In answer to Mr. Thomson, The Hon. G. McLEAN said the desirableness of extending the telegraph to Catlin’s rhti, by way of Port Molyneaux and the Nuggets ;had been considered, Dr. Lemon had been instructed to make inquiries on the subject, and fuller information would be forthcoming in a day or two. NEW BILLS. New Bills were introduced as follows by— Mr. Pyke, a Bill to provide for the Management of the Cromwell Racecourse Reserve, in the province of Otago ; Mr. J. C. Brown, a Bill to provide for the management of certain . Reserves of the Lawrence Athemeum and ‘ Mining Institute, in the province of Otago ; Mr, Andrew, a Bill to amend the Deputy Superintendent of Wellington Act, 1876. WAIUKO CHURCH OP ENGLAND SITE CROWN GRANT BILL. This Bill was considered in committee, reported with plight amendment, and passed.

JURIES ACT AMENDMENT BILL._ This Bill was slightly amended in committee. In clause 6, which permits jurymen to take refreshment, an amendment was preposed to the effect that alcoholic liquors should be excepted. A discussion took place on the amendment, and a division showed to be in favor of it 27* and 34 against. The amendment was therefore rejected. ' The clause was amended by the addition of words to the effect that the refreshment should be procured by the sheriff at the expense of the Crown, and as amended passed. To clause 7 Mr. Macpablane moved an amendment, to the effect that the verdict of two-thirds of a jury should in civil cases be taken as the verdict of the. jury after three hours’ consultation had failed to produce unanimity. After some discussion, the matter was postponed, the lion, member giving notice of his amendment for next sitting. MR. WHITAKER’S RESOLUTIONS. The Hon. Major ATKINSON mentioned to the House that in consequence of being unwell the Premier would not be able to be present at 7.30, when the hon. member for Waikato was to move his resolutions. If the debate was to go on that evening the Government would manifestly lie under a great disadvantage, and therefore it was proposed that the debate should go on so far as the speech of the hon. member for Waikato was concerned, and then be adjourned until Tuesday evening at 7.30 p.m. If, however, the House desired particularly to go on with the debate that evening, the Government would be prepared to go on, although it would be to their inconvenience and disadvantage, and they would much prefer being indulged by the House. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The House went into committee on this Bill, taking it up at clause 106. On clause 131, which provides for corporations borrowing to the amount of ten times the amount of the year’s rates. Mr. Sharp opposed it, on the ground of the unfairness of locking up the rates for so long. — Mr. Donald Reid hoped the clause would pass, seeing that all boroughs were going so fast; no harm could come of the proposition.—Other members spoke on the subject, • and progress was then reported. mr. whitaker’s resolutions. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said it appeared he had not been properly understood earlier in the afternoon. He then repeated the statement he had previously made, adding that if the hon. member for Waikato would postpone his speech till Tuesday, there would be plenty of work to go on with, and really no time would be lost. Sir GEORGE GREY opposed any adjournment. He said the subject had been before the country for years, and was well understood. It was even more than probable that members had fully made up their minds, and some would not even speak. No in such cases would at all alter the opinions of twenty years, or affect the voting, and therefore he did not see any necessity for an adjournment. He hoped the debate would go on. Enough time had already been wasted. The other night business had been postponed because of a ball, and now it was proposed to postpone it again, in consequence, perhaps, of the effect of the ball. Mr. MACANDBEW suggested the advisableness of agreeing to an adjournment because it was not to be expected that any member of the Government could at a moment’s notice get up and make a speech which the Premier had perhaps taken some time to think out. He put it to the hon, member for Waikato whether he would not postpone his motion till Tuesday. Mr. Whitaker was about to rise, when Mr. Stout got up. . The SPEAKER said it was half-past five, the adjournment hour, and he could not permit the debate to go on. Mr. WHITAKER asked permission to say a word or two to settle the question of postponement. The House appeared inclined to accede to the request. Mr. STOUT : Then I claim my right to speak. Immediately there were loud cries of “ adjourn,” and the House accordingly adjourned. ■ At the evening sitting, Mr. WHITAKER rose and said that he was willing to take an adjournment of his resolutions until Tuesday next. The adjournment was then agreed to. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL, The House went into committee on this Bill. The Government proposed an amendment to clause 131. Some discussion ensued, after which “ five times” was carried. Clause 133 was amended so as to provide that special loans might be raised for public works generally, not mentioning the specific object for which the loan was to be raised. The consideration of clause 145, providing for payment of coupons, was postponed. In clause 170 it was provided that lands let by way of lease should he so let by public auction ; also, that lands should be let at an annual rack rent, without premium, and subject to such covenants, agreements, and conditions as the council shall deem expedient. Progress was then reported, and the House adjourned at 12.50 a.m. ECCENTRICITIES OF IRISH JUDGES. A writer in an English magazine says : Decidedly the most amusing and one of the ablest Judges on the Irish bench is Chief Justice M . He is not only funny himself, hut very frequently the cause of uproarious fun in others. When unexcited, or delivering a weighty judgment, or charging a jury in an important suit, such as the celebrated marriage case which was heard before him a few years since, he speaks as an educated gentleman, and with scarcely a trace of the brogue. But if annoyed by unnecessary interruptions, or otherwise excited, his brogue becomes as broad as the. Atlantic, and as mellow and as racy as that of O’Connell in his happiest moments, and forgetful of the dignity of his position, he very often relieves himself by thundering out a hearty and quaintly-worded curse, He has also an odd habit of jerking out comical comments on the appearance of witnesses, apparently oblivious of the fact that they can be distinctly heard throughout court. “ Faith, here’s a man with so much hair about his mouth that we can’t hear a word he’ll say,” he exclaimed, on the hearing of an appeal in reference to a bill of exchange which was heard before him at the Cavan assizes in 1860. The witness referred to was the manager of a local bank, who rejoiced in the possession of a magnificent beard. The next witness to this gentleman was his cashier, who was both bald and beardless. “No more hair on him than on a Ballyshannon salmon,’.’ was the flattering remark elicited by his state of hirsute destitution from the learned Judge. “ He’s cbapely rid of her at tho price,” was his comment on a verdict awarding £2OO damages to an ancient virgin whoso affianced lover had refused to lead her to the hymeneal altar. A very different one from Judge M was the late Justice P . So jealous was he of the dignity of his position that on one occasion he fined the High Sheriff of a northern circuit £SOO, because that official had not his carriage and retinue of gallowglassos in waiting for his arrival at the assize town ; but as it was subsequently proved that the train by which '.his lordship travelled had arrived before the time it was due, the fine was, I believe, remitted. So sensitive, moreover, to the noise was the Justice, that the floors of the courthouse in which he sat were covered with straw in order to deaden the sounds of footsteps, and woo betide the luckless attorney or policeman whoso passage over the litter was accompanied by the faintest sound. Policemen were the pot abominations of his lordship, and ho omitted no opportunity of manifesting his amiable feelings towards them. “ Turn out the policeman—he’s making nbiao in court,” is an order which I have heard him give scores of times ; and bn every occasion it had to bo put in force without delay. Tho victim on one occasion was an officer, or subinspector of the force, whose slung scabbard

happened to come in contact with the straw-' covered flags. When I mention that these sub-inspectors wear a very showy rifle uniform, and that in the absence of military, they assume all the airs of s on sabreurs, and are the heaviest swells-of country towns, the feelings of this expelled policeman may be more easily imagined than described. On another occasion the opening day of the Mayo assizes happened also to be the market day of Castlebar the county town. The turf market was held in the immediate vicinity of the courthouse, the turf being exposed for sale in large baskets on creels borne by donkeys, or in creels drawn by those patient but not very musical animals. His lordship had scarcely taken his seat upon the bench, when, as if by previous concert, all the turf-laden donkeys of Castlebar began to bray with might and main. They, poor animals, may have meant to give his lordship a more melodious welcome to tho town than that which he had received from the trumpeters ou the infantry regiment who had heralded his arrival at the railway station, but, on the other hand, they may have meant a deliberate contempt of Court. Be that as it may, however, his lordship flew into a passion, and ordered the instant expulsion of the donkeys from town. Half-a-dozen policemen left the Court for the purpose of carrying out this order, and their departure was quickly followed by one of the most hideous uproars I have ever listened to. The poor turf-sellers protested against the hardship of being compelled to leave town without disposing of their fuel, and their donkeys brayed forth alternate notes of _ defiance and entreaty as they were being driven from the market under the very windows of the courthouse. This uproar continued for fully half an hour and when at length the flushed and wearied policemen announced that they had not left a turf-laden donkey within the boundaries of the borough, the temper in which his lordship resumed the business of the Court was not remarkable for judicial calmness. He had not been many minutes seated when an attorney accidentally let fall a law-book, which he was about to hand to one of the barristers. “ Try and conduct yourself properly iu court, sir,” exclaimed the Judge. “ I trust I always do, my lord,” was the reply. “ Sit down, sir,” roared his lordship, “or I’ll have you removed.” Aud down the poor attorney accordingly sat, with a countenance ou which a Christian submission to the insolence of office was not the most striking expression.