PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4850, 7 October 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, October 6. The Hon. the Acting-Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. OPINION OP LAW OFFICERS. The Hon. Captain PHASER moved, —That there be laid on the table copies of any opinions of the Law Officers of the Crown in England, which may have been applied for and received by the Government in accordance with the advice of the late Attorney-General, dated Ist December, 1874, presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of his Excellency. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN said the hon. member might rest assured that no such documents existed. SECOND READINGS. Dunedin Wharves and Quays Reserve BilL —Read a second time after some discussion. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved the second reading of the Education Boards Bill, stating that it had been found impossible to introduce a comprehensive general measure this session. The Bill has been fully discussed in the Lower Chamber.—The motion was agreed to after a short debate. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. An amendment made by the House of Representatives on this Bill, to insert the words “tanner or” in the 75th clause, line 11, was agreed to. THIRD READINGS. The Roman Catholic Lands, Blueskin Recreation Reserve, and Moa Elat School Reserve Bills were read a third time. IN COMMITTEE. The clauses of the Dunedin Wharves and Quays Bill were agreed to, and progress reported on the schedule. The Education Boards Bill passed through without amendment, and was reported. Port Molyneux Reserves Leasing Bill.— The Waste Lands Committee recommended the excision of clause 2, hut the clause was retained on a division of 10 to 9, Further progress was made at the evening sitting. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, October 6. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. petitions and notices op motion. Several petitions were presented and notices of motion given. • QUESTIONS. Mr. SHEEHAN asked the PostmasterGeneral, —Whether the Government would give effect to the prayer of the petition of the settlers of Kaukapakapa, in reference to opening a telegraph station in that settlement ? The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER replied that on the ground of expense the Government would be unable to comply with the request. The Hon. Major ATKINSON intimated that he intended to make the Financial Statement on the supplementary estimates at 7.30. Sir GEORGE GREY asked if the Government could not allow members during the next fortnight to have two days as heretofore to get on with the private business. The Hon. Major ATKINSON replied that when the Government business was disposed of private members should have every facility to push through their Bills. The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS complained of the present system of dealing with the Order Paper. Mr. ROLLESTON asked the Minister for Public Works, —Whether the Government propose to make provision for further storage accommodation for grain in the province of Canterbuay; and, it not, whether it will give facilities for the erection of stores by private enterprise at the several railway stations, and will give public notice of the terms on which such facilities will be given ? The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON said that the Government considered the railway accommodation was provided for carriage, and not for storage. THE COUNTIES BILL. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER moved that this Bill be discharged from the Order Paper, so that it might be re-committed, explaining that the amendments which had been made rendered it necessary to make several verbal alterations. Mr. DONALD BEID said that it had been provided that elections were to take place on electoral rolls to be made up. He thought no machinery was provided for making up rolls tor the first elections. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER replied that it was the intention of the Government to make the necessary provision by making slight amendments in clauses 44, 45, and 46. The Bill was then discharged from the Order Paper, and re-committed for the purpose of considering certain specific clauses, parts of the schedule, and three new clauses of which notice had been given. Considerable discussion arose on the question of the qualification of county chairmen, and the proposal of the Government that members of the House should not be disqualified, and that electors of outside counties and boroughs should be eligible, was carried on a division by 29 to 28. —Mr. Stout then proposed an additional amendment. On resuming at half-post seven the Counties Bill was proceeded with in committee. Mr. MURRAY proposed a new clause for the purpose of constituting counties board of works districts on the application of certain number of ratepayers, but subsequently withdraw the motion at the suggestion of the Hon. Mr. Whitaker. A long discussion arose on the Thames and Manukau county boundaries, the Auckland and Thames members being active talkers, and displaying a good deal of feeling, which was not always of a friendly character. On a division the amended bourdaries, as agreed to before the re-committal of the Bill, were lost by a majority of one, the voting being—Ayes, 25 ; noes, 26. Mr. STOUT moved that progress should be reported, characterising the action of the Government on the last division as a distinct breach of faith.—The Hon. Mr. Whitaker pointed out that the Government had taken no action whatever in the matter, which was simply the result of the vote of the House. After a great deal of discussion, the motion was put and lost by 36 to 24. The question that the boundaries of the Thames county should remain as in the schedule to the Bill before amendment was then put, when a further amendment was proposed by Mr. Sheehan. On a division, the original boundaries were retained by 29 to 28. On the schedule detailing the boundaries of the Buller county coming up for consideration Dr. Henry moved an amendment, which, after discussion, was negatived on the voices. The Bill was then passed through committee. On the motion that the Bill be now read a third time,

Mr. STOUT moved the adjournment of the debate, in order, as he said, to enable the amendments made in the Bill to be printed before the measure was put through its- last stage.

A division was taken on the motion, the- , result being as follows Ayes, 18 ; noes, 29. , Mr. DE LAUTOUR then raised his protest ' against the Bill, expressing his regret that the .Government had not seen its way to accepting the proposal of the hon, member for Taieri in respect to the province of Otago. He could ; assure the Government they little dreamt of what sort of a feeling they were raising, and which they would soon discover that it was not in their power to allay. Mr. HODGKINSON also raised his protest against the third reading of the Bill. He said it was easy for “ignorance, folly, and presumption ” to pull down, but difficult for them to reconstruct; and it was useless to look to the Government benches for wisdom, Messrs. Rees, Donald Reid, Henry, Sheehan, Burns and Rolleston having spoken, Sir George Geet moved theadjoummentof the de- • bate, which wasloston the voices.—Mr. Reader i Wood pressed the Government to allow the debate to be adjourned, and moved accord-

ingly.—Sir Geoboe Gbey then spoke on the question, and said the delay was not caused by the Opposition, but by the action of the Government. Hemovedthe adjournment of the debate,

which was lost on the voices.—Mr. W. Wood moved that the Bill be read that day six months.—Sir Geoeoe Geey then spoke at com siderable length.—Mr. Kenny would vote against the third reading.—Mr. LoMSDEN did not intend to vote at all.—Mr. Stout spoke against the Bill On the conclusion of Mr. Stout's speech a division was taken on the third reading, which was carried by 37 to 16. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 2.18 a.m. until half-past 2 on Monday afternoon, for Government business only.