PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4848, 5 October 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ■Wednesday, October 4. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. SIR JULIUS VOGEL. The Hon. Hr. WATERHOUSE asked the Colonial Secretary,—l. From what date the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel will commence to draw salary as Agent-General 1 2. Whether or not the Government are to' pay the cost of passage to England of Sir Julius Vogel and his family? 3. Whether or not travelling allowances will be paid during, such voyage; and, if so, at what rate per diem ? 4.' Whether or not the Agent-General will be required to devote the whole of his time to the duties of his office ? 5. Whether or not he will be called upon' to find security for the discharge of his duties ? The Hoh. Dr. POLLEN, in reply, said that Sir Julius Vogel would draw his salary from the date of his appointment. The passage referred to in question 2 would be paid for. Travelling allowances would not be given. As to the 4th question, yes; and as to the sth, previous Agents-General had not been called upon to find security, and the Government did not think that they would be justified in making a difference between Sir Julius Vogel and gentlemen who had previously held the appointment, LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Hall, the Hon. Mr. Peacock was granted leave of absence for a fortnight on urgent private business. " DEBTORS AND CREDITORS BILL. Tie Hon. Mr. HART moved,—That the Bill be re-committed, for the purpose of reconsidering in committee the fitness of appointing provisional trustees to act in the administration of bankrupt estates, instead of registrars of the Supreme Court, and trustees appointed by registrars. . The Hon. Dr. POLLEN opposed the motion, which was carried oh a division by 13 to 5TTie Bill was then recommitted, and the Hon. Mr. Hart moved that clause 15 he struck out.—Motion withdrawn: Mr. Hart’s proposed amendment to appear cn the paper. The Hon. Mr. ROBINSON moved the striking out of the following proviso in clause 65; “ Provided also that nothing herein contained shall be held to apply to consignment of goods held by the debtor in the ordinary course of his business dor sale ou account of any other person, the identity and ownership of which can be proved to the satisfaction of the trustee of the debtor’s estate, or of the Court, and in respect of which the owner shall tender pay- 1 ment to the trustee of all advances made thereon to the debtor’s estate, and shall sursender to the trustee any acceptances granted by the debtor in his favor by way of advance thereon.” The discussion on the motion was interrupted by the adjournment hour. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 4. The Speaker took the chair at half-part two o’clock. . NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. O’RORKE gave notice of his intention to introduce a Bill to vest the Auckland Provincial Library in trustees. QUESTIONS. Sir GEORGE GREY asked, without notice, whether the Government had received an opinion'of the Law Officers of the Crown as to the powers of the House with regard to abolition 1 The Hon. Majcr ATKINSON said that the ho». member thoukl give notice in the ° r ThiSSpeaker intimated that that was the proper course to adopt, and Sir George Grey accordingly gave notice.. Mr. MURRAY tsked the Minister for Public Works,—lf he intended this year to provido for the requirements of year by ' a Bill similar in purpose to the Immigration arid Public'Works Appropriation Act,1876 ? The Hon. - Mr, RICHARDSON replied in the affirmative. •

LEAVE OP ABSENCE. U Mr. SHEEHAN moved;—That leave of ab- ' sence be granted to Mr. Taiaroa for fourteen ’ days, on urgent private business. —Agreed to. NEW BILL. Sir GEORGE GREY moved for leave to introduce a [Bill to amend an Act intituled, an Act to Amend the Protection of Animals Act, 11367, and the Protection of Animals Act Amendment Act, 1873. , Leave was granted, the Bill being read a first time, and the second reading fixed for that day week. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. : Sir GEORGE GREY asked the Premier when it was proposed to make the Financial Statement, and the Hon. Major Atkinson replied that he proposed to make the statement as to the supplementary estimates on Friday night. COUNTIES BILL. The Speaker left the chair, and the appropriation clauses in the Counties Bill were considered in committee, reported upon, read a second time, and referred to the committee on the Bill. ; The House then went into committee.— Sir George Grey moved an amendment vesting the appointment of county auditors in the council and not in the Government, On a division the amendment was negatived by 36 to 21.—The Government accepted an amendment by which the auditors should bo paid out of the Consolidated Fund.—A discussion arose as to the appointment of special auditors under sections 129, 130, and 131, the latter clause being struck out.—The schedule was then considered.—The Hon. Mr. Stafford suggested that the committee should decide on the principle whether the centres of rivers were to be taken as the boundaries of counties. To test the question he would move that the geographical term “ proper left bank ” be taken as the boundary. The Hon. Mr. Whitaker, in supporting the position taken up by the Government, referred to the ordinary rule of law as to riparian proprietors. After some discussion the committee decided against the amendment.—The boundaries of Mongonui, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Whaugafei, Hobson, and Waitemata were agreed upon with slight amendments. —The name of Mavsden county was changed to Rodney on the suggestion of Mr. Sheehan. —A new county called Eden was created out of Mannkau county, and the name -of Waiheke, Rangitoto and other adjacent islands were excised from the desorip tion of the latter.—Sir George Grey proposed new boundaries for the Coromandel county, which were agreed to, and the islands were struck out from that and the Thames county. Sir George Grey and Mr. Rowe proposed amendments virtually amounting to the addition of half the Piako county to the Thames, which was opposed by Mr. Murray and the Hon. Mr. .Whitaker, and on a division the proposal was carried by 37 to 26. The other half of Piako county was added to the Waikato county.—Sir Robert Douglas stated that he should move the recommittal of the Bill that the matter might be reconsidered. The House resumed at 7.30, and the schedule to the Counties. Bill was further considered in committee. The boundaries of the Waipa, Raglan, Kawhia, Taranaki, Patea, Tauranga, Whakatane, Cook, Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui, King’s, Taupo, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Waipara, Hutt, Wairarapa West, Wairarapa East, Sounds, Marlborough, Kaikoura, Waimea, Collingwood, Buffer, Inangahua, Amuri, Grey, Ashley, Courtenay, Akaroa, Ashburton, Geraldine, Waimate, and Westland counties were agreed to, Mr. Barff, however, protesting as to Westland.—Mr. Donald Reid moved an amendment providing for the division of Otago into two counties, the counties, as set out in the schedule, being taken as ridings.—Mr. Ptke opposed, stigmatising the proposal as audacious.—Mr. W. Wood suggested the combination of Southland and Wallace as one county —The Hon. G. McLean said that there had been strong expressions of feeling from Otago and Southland against the one county scheme, and the Government could not pass them by, but would oppose the motion.—Mr. Stout supported the motion, and was followed by Mr. Pyre, who pointed out that if the motion were carried the evils resulting to the outlying districts would be greater even than under provincialism.—The Hon. Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Mandebs opposed the motion. —Messrs. De Lautoob, Lumsden, and Montgomery supported it, the latter suggesting four counties. —The Hon. Mr. Whitaker pointed out that if there was such a feeling in Otago for unity as that represented, it was quite competent for counties to combine, and the result desired by Mr. Reid could bet obtained in that way.—Mr. Rolleston supported Mr. Reid, as he considered the proposition reasonable, and thought that the dissatisfaction in Otago, would be ; allayed if the scheme was carried out.—Mr. Reid's proposal was lost on a division, 23 voting for it and 36 against. The boundaries of the Waitaki, Waikouaiti, Maniototo, Molyneux (changed to Vincent), Lakeland (changed to Lake), Peninsula, Taieri, Bruce, Clutha,, and Tuapeka were agreed to with amendments. . A discussion arose as to the Mataura watershed with regard to the Southland county, it - being added to. the-Clutha county, on a division, by 26 against 12. Stewart’s Island, Ruapuke, and the.adjacent islands', on the motion of Mr Stout, were constituted a new county. King’s county , and Stewart’s Island . county were added to the second schedule. Schedules 3; to 9 inclusive were agreed to. The Bill was then reported upon, the amendments being ordered to be considered on Friday.

WASTE LANDS BILL. : On it being moved that the Speaker leave the chair, so that the House might go into committee ou this Bill, Mr. Sheehan and other members suggested the discussion of the Bill being postponed until to-day. The Hon. Major ATKINSON intimated his willingness' to take the decision of the House on the voices. ■ The discussion was adjourned until Friday. ATTORNEY-GENERALS ACT REPEAL BILL. • The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER moved the second reading of this Bill, stating that at present the Attorney-General only held office during good behavior, and he thought the time had arrived when a change should be made in the law. ; Mr. MURRAY asked if it was proposed to increase the number of the Ministry from seven to eight, and a satisfactory reply was given by the Hon. Mr. Whitaker that there was no such intention. ■ The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS intimated his intention of opposing the second reading, as he had no faith in the opinions of AttorneyGenerals, they generally being accommodated to their politics. Mr. MOOrHOUSE expressed surprise at Mr. Reynolds’ statements, and said he would support the second reading. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday. i PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER moved the second reading of this Bill, stating that as it was mainly a question of detail, the discussion could be taken in committee. Mr. ROLLESTON suggested the extension of health districts in cities to the suburban districts. Mr. DONALD REID thought that it would be impossible to do justice to the Bill during the present session. The Hon. Mr. BOWEN hoped _ the hon. member would not oppose the passing of the Bill at this stage. Mr. STOUT complained of the Government introducing little tinkering Bills at the commencement of the session, and leaving the important business to such a late period. He believed the Bill was a good one, but would move that it" be read a second time that day month. • Mr. SHEEHAN declined to support the extreme lefton this question. He had great confidence in Bills which came down* from the Upper House. Ho believed the measure was necessary. 'Mr. HUNTER supported the Bill, saying if members would work a little more and talk a little less they would get on with the business better. ' ' 1 Mr. ROLLESTON pointed, out that the change in the form of government necessitated such a Bill as the present.' Ho hoped that Mr. Stout would withdraw his amendment.

| Mr. LUMSDEN supported Mr. * Stout, referring to the drainage of Wellington. ' , j Mr. BrAndon and Mri Morray-Aynsley supported the Bill-' I Mr. PYKE remarked on the stenches, of Wellington, stating that there were so many varieties that you could get a fresh pne round every corner. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER replied, and the Bill was read a second time.

On the suggestion of Messrs. Rolleston and Stout, it was resolved and agreed to' that the Speaker leave the chair, and the House went into committee on the Bill. Clause J 75 was amended by tanneries' being classed (as offensive trades.—Mr. Rowe spoke on section 97, giving the Governor power to make orders for cutting off communication with infected persons, but the clause , was carried without amendment—Mr. Rowe protested, against clause 141, dealing with the vaccination of children, characterising the practice as one of the most beastly on the face of the earth. The clause was passed without amendment. A new clause, proposed by Mr. Rolleston, ■was rejected by 20 to 10 on a division.—No other, alteration was made in the body, of the Bill, the whole 163 clauses passing through committee in forty-five minutes.—The seven schedules were then agreed to without amendment, and the Bill reported upon, read a third time, And passed. —Mr. Sheehan hoped they would hear no more about an obstructive Opposition. The House adjourned at 1.45 a.m.