PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4860, 19 October 1876, Page 4

PA R LIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 18. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. MOTIONS. The Hon. Major RICHMOND moved, — That the amended standing rules and orders of the Legislative Council, atttachedtothe report of the Standing Orders Committee, under date the Bth of August, be adopted.—Agreed to. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved, -That there be laid upon the table copies of all analyses of silver ores made at the Colonial Laboratory since its institution.—Agreed, to. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved,—That the Ohinemuri Goldfield Agricultural Leases Validation Bill be ordered to be committed on Thursday next.—Agreed to. ELLESMERE AND FORSYTH RECLAMATION, ETC., BILL. The second reading of this Bill was moved by the Hon. Mr. Hall.—After some remarks from the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, Colonel Brett said that he would not exactly oppose the Bill, but would like to see it postponed far another year, so as to give the inhabitants of Ellesmere an opportunity of pronouncing an opinion on it. - —The Hon. Mr. Acland supported the measure.—The Hon. Dr. Pollen said that one of the strongest objections to the measure was that it took £50,000 from the revenue of the province of Canterbury. This was, to his mind, a very serious objection.— The Hon. Mr. Stokes pointed out that the Bill only proposed in the first place to survey the lake and its vicinity, and when that was done to obtain further power. He would support the Bill.—The Hon, Mr. Hall replied. All that the Bill intended was to make enquiry. The measure was then read a second time. THE HARBOR BOARD BILLS. The second reading of the Napier Harbor Board Bill was moved by the Hon. Mr. Stokes.—The Bill sought for no borrowing powers. The motion was agreed to nem. con. The Castle Point Bill was moved by the Hon. Mr. Holmes. It, too, did not seek for any borrowing powers. Second reading agreed to. The Thames Bill was moved by the Hon. Captain Fraser. It sought for neither endowment nor borrowing powers.—Bead a second time without opposition. Wanganui Harbor and River Conservators Bill.—The Hon. Mr. Johnston moved the second reading, and trusted that the Council would agree to the measure although it contained borrowing powers.—The Hon. Colonel Whitmore had made enquiries and ascertained that all that was immediately required was the machinery part of the Bill. He would not support the borrowing powers.—The Horn. Mr. Stokes having said that he would conditionally vote for the second reading, the Hon, Dr. Mbnzibs could not agree with the view that the endowment of harbors with land, tkc., was a vicious principle.—After some remarks from the Hon. Mr. Holmes, the second reading was agreed to. The Wellington Bill was postponed till next day. The Foxton Bill was then read a second time, after a short discussion. The Waimakariri Bill was moved by Dr. Pollen.—The Hon Mr. Stokes moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. After observations from the- Hons. Mr. Robinson and Colonel Whitmore, Dr. Pollen replied, and on a division the second reading was agreed to by the casting vote of the Hon. the Speaker, the list showing 8 to 8.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. On the third reading, the Son. Mr. Saul moved the following proviso to clause 10 : : — Provided always that in case any proceedings shall have been commenced or taken in the Supreme Court of New Zealand for the purpose of testing the validity of the tenure- of office of all or any of the six persons in office as aforesaid, by or at the instance of any ratepayer of the said borough, all the costs of such proceedings to be taxed, if required,, as between solicitor and client, shall be paid out of the borough fund, on demand, by such ratepayer.—Agreed to. Further progress was made at the evening sitting.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 18. 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. THOMSON asked the Minister for Public Works,—Whether he would state the contract date for the completion of the railway bridge over the Clutha, and’ whether he expected that the work would be finished m contract time! ...... The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON replied that the time fixed was March, 1877, and ho did not think that the contractor would he able to complete the work in time. _ The way the work was being proceeded with was however so satisfactory that probablj an extension of time would be granted Mr. MURRAY asked the Government, —If they would appoint an impartial and competent person to carry out the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee, and the resolution of the House of the 20th September, in order to a fair settlement of the claim, of Joshua Goodfellow I The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON said that the petitioner, Instead of adopting the proper legal remedy, had come straight to the Public Petitions Committee- He thought it- vet;

inadvisable that the committee should deal with these matters;-and the Government did not propose to carry out the recommendation. Mr. MANDERS asked the Colonial Treasurer, —1. Whether he had- been furnished with any account of the expenditure by the Otago Provincial Government of the amounts sanctioned by the Colonial Government, from the Ist April to 30th September, 18761 2. If so furnished, if he would state the amount proposed to be expended in the provincial district of the Lakes (Otago), and the amount actually expended during that period in that district ?

Hon. Major ATKINSON replied that the Government had not been furnished with the accounts asked forj but they could obtain them, and in due course they would be published. ' In answer to Mr. Thomson, the Hon. Mr. Richardson replied that the Public Works Estimates would be circulated to-morrow. supply. : Certain resolutions. from the Committee of Supply were reported upon and agreed to; —On the motion that the Speaker should leave the chair that the House might go into Committee of Supply, Sir Robert Douglas moved that the House should resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider an address to the Cover* nor, requesting him to recommend an appropriation of £IOSO, to satisfy the claims of Mr, H. W. Eamall on the province of Auckland, as stated by the report of the Public Petitions Committee. [ Mr. KELLY opposed the motion. /The Hon, Major ATKINSON opposed the motion, and said that the appointment was illegal, and the claim should have been made against the Provincial Council of Auckland. Sir George' Grey and Messrs, Rolleston Gibbs, and Murray opposed the motion.- > Mr. SHEEHAN said that the claim was clearly , only against the Auckland Provincial Council. He suggested an enquiry by a committee of Auckland members, whose report could be adopted by the Colonial Treasurer, The motion was lost on the voices, and the Speaker then left the chair.

committee of supply. Mr. Seymour took the chair in the alienee of Mr. O’Rorke. 1

The first vote considered was £27,515 for Government buildings. The item departmental buildings was reduced by £4ooo.—Sir George Grey proposed to strike out the sum, of £450 for Ministerial residences, but his motion was lost on the voices.—The next vote was £1955 for the Colonial Architect's office. The item Colonial Architect, £7OO, was proposed to be reduced by £5, but the motion was rejected on a division by 27 against 16. A division took place on the question that the item be struck out—Ayes, 14; noes, 26. . Mr. MANDEBS urged that the Estimates should be passed at once without further discussion, for it was very clear the Estimates could not be reduced to any extent commensurate with the loss of time. It seemed to him that the items of the Estimates were regarded as giving an opportunity for raising sidewinds. The session had been a session of sidewind issues, and the sooner a direct vote of want of confidence was brought down the better. Railway Department : Superintending Engineer, £Boo.—Mr. Murray moved that it be reduced £loo.—The Hon. Mr. Richardson said more work was daily being thrown on Mr. Passmore, and it would be unfair to reduce the salary ; and he went on to refer to the experience and ability of Mr. Passmore, to the disagreeable nature of his duties, and the good work he bad done in organising the staffs on various lines. —Mr. Lusk complained of great mismanagement of the Auckland railways.— The Hon. Mr. Whitaker referred to the fact that a commission had been appointed to enquire, into the management of the Auckland railways ; and as for the salary, that should be considered in reference to the man. Was £BOO too much for such an officer ?—The amendment was withdrawn.

Grant to municipalities, road boards, and out districts, £75,000. —Mr. Montgomery did not see why the Consolidated Revenue should bear this charge, and on principle moved that it should be struck out.—Sir Robert Douglas agreed with the proposition, and hoped in place of it the Government would pay rates on Government property. That would suit the outlying districts best.—Mr. Moorhousb said the vote was absolutely necessary this year.— Messrs. Wason and Rowe having addressed the House. —The Hon. Major Atkinson defended the vote on the ground that it was carrying out the Abolition Act, and said it was sound in principle that outlying districts should be subsidised. A large number of people had no real l property, and should be called upon to contribute indirectly towards the support of roads. —Mr. Bsid_ disagreed with the arguments of the Premier. Such persons occupied houses, and paid rent and taxes. —The amendment was negatived by 37 to 12. The Waste Lands estimates were considered —The Chairman reported resolutions and progress,, and obtained leave to- sit again this day. PROVINCIAL ABOLITION- FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BILL. On the motion for going into committee onthis Bill, a discussion arose, in whieh Messrs.. Sheehan, Reynolds,. Montgomery, Reid, and Sir R. Douglas took part. The House then went into committee on the Bill, and immediately reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again this day. The House adjourned at 12.35 a.m.