PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4861, 20 October 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, October 19. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. MOTIONS. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved,—For leave to bring in a Bill to enable the Board of Governors of the Colonial Botanic Garden to to sell or lease certain portions 1 thereof.— Agreed to. The Hon. Mr. ACLAND moved, —-That leave of absence be granted to the Hon. Mr. Acland, from Monday, 23rd October, for the remainder of the session, on urgent private business.—Granted. The Hon. Mr. MANTELL moved,—That the report of the select committee on the Crown Redress Act 1871 Extension Bill be taken into consideration ; that the Council doth concur in the recommendation contained, in that report; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Government, with a copy of the report of the select committee. —Agreed to. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved, —That the standing orders relating to public Bills be so far suspended as to allow Bills of an urgent character to pass through all their stages in one day, if required.—Agreed to. THIRD READINGS. The Palmerston (South) Athenaeum, Debtors and Creditors, and Fraudulent Debtors Act 1875 Amendment Bills, were read a third time, and passed. IN COMMITTEE. Ohinemuri Goldfield Agricultural Leases Validation Bill.—The Hon. Dr. Pollen moved two new clauses, which were agreed to. The Bill then passed through,, On the Counties Bill, the Hon. Dr. Pollen moved the excision of sub-section g of clause. 41 and sub-section 7 of clause 104, which was agreed to. He then moved the following new clauses : with the road board of any road i district, within the county for the execution ;by such road board of any public work within such district which the Council is empowered to undertake, and may pay to such road board out of the county fund the cost of executing such work, or so much thereof, as may be specified in such agreement, or as it otherwise thinks fit. 192 b. The Council may from time to time pay to any or all of the road boards within the county such moneys, out of the general account of the, county fund, as it thinks fit, by way of subsidies to be expended, in such works within the road districts as the road boards are. empowered respectively to undertake.”—Agreed to. Progress was then reported. . / I . Bluff Harbor Board Bill. —Sub-section 1 of clause 16 was struck out. —Sub-section 6, same clause,.was also excised. ;A long discussion occurred; on these amendments, in which the, subject of the borrowing powers and the duty of the Government in harbor matters was ventilated.—The Hon. Mr. Bonab moved that clauses 35 to 52 inclusive, relating to the borrowing powers, be expunged from the Bill, and the Hon. Dr. Menzies, who was in charge of the Bill, accepted the motion, which was agreed, to.—The .Hon. Captain Fraser moved that clauses 53, 54, and 55, relating to the endow-, ment of 35,000 acres of pastoral land, be struck, out. After, considerable debate, the \ motion was carried on a division by 14 against 11.. Clauses 56 and 57, vesting the foreshore in the Board, were agreed to. The second schedule was struck out, and other formal amendments were made. The Bill was then reported upon, and on the Speaker resuming the chair the third reading! was fixed for next day. ; LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD BILL. The Hon. Mr. HALL moved the second reading of this Bill, pointing out that they did not ask for endowments, and only proposed to borrow on the security of the wharfage dues, which amounted to £15,000 annually, the outgoings being £BOOO. The Bill was read a second time on the voices, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. TIMARD HARBOR BOARD BILL. ; The Hon. Mr. HALL moved the second reading of this Bill, intimating that he would not press the borrowing powers, but would ask for the endowments.—The Hon. Colonel Whitmore said that the Bill was ; for a work of a very speculative character, and the urgency of the case was no greater than that of any other place.—The Hon. Dr. Menzies supported the Bill generally.—The Hon. Captain Eraser opposed the second reading, and after the Hon. Mr. Hall had replied, the Bill was read a second time. The Council adjourned at 10.30 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, October 19. The House met at 2.30 p.m. petitions. , Several petitions were presented and received. . - questions. Sir ROBERT DOUGLAS asked the Minister for Public Works when the .tickets would be issued for free passes on the railways ? The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON replied that the railways in the Middle Island were not at present under the control of the General Government, and therefore the tickets, would not be issued until after the termination of the session. ■ Several questions were put respecting local matters in other provinces, and answered by the Government. Mr. LARNACH asked the Minister of Justice, Whether ho has considered the Game Laws of the colony, with a view to checking the increase of hares ; and whether he will take any steps in that direction between this and next session 1 The Hon. Mr. BOWEN said it was the opinion of the Acclimatisation Society that the time during which it was lawful to kill hares should be extended, and ‘ the Governmentwould give the matter their consideratifin. BILL INTRODUCED. ABilltoextend the jurisdiction of the Native Land Court to 1 cases of intestate native grantees, and for other purposes in relation to the interests of intestate natives. REPLY TO GREY AND MAOANDREW’S TELEGRAMS TO THE SECRETARY OP STATE. The Hon. Major ATKINSON laid the following telegram on the table of the House : [Copy of a telegram from the flight Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to the most Hon. the Marquis of Norraanby, the Governor of New Zealand-] ' X6th October. Have received telegrams from Superintendents Mocandrew and Grey, complaining of enforcement of Provincial Abolition Act against strong feelings of. provinces, and urging reference to Law Officer and disallowance; also stating disturbances imminent. You may reply, Act was duly allowed on advice of Law Officer, 'and cannot be disallowed. - I trust no real risk of unconstitutional disturbances, and I have full confidence' in your judgment. > ■ - ’ Carnarvon.' RAILWAY FROM ORAHAMSTOWN TO WAIKATO. The .House went into. committee, on the motion of Sir , George Grey, to consider of I giving leave to introduce a Bill to provide for

the construction of a railway from Grahamstowu to Waikato. V The Bill was introduced, and :tha resolution having been reported to the House, the Bill was read a first time, and, ordered to be read a second time at the evening sitting, after the other orders of the day. , THE SESSIONS. Mr. THOMSON moved, that, in the opinion of this House, the next session of the General Assembly should be held in Dunedin. He remarked that this motion did not involve the removal of the seat of Government, but that it was most desirable that the Assembly should' not sit in Wellington alone, but by turns in the different large centres of population ; in the colony. The Government would very niucß extend their information regarding the colonies, ‘ and the present time was one when suck an argument could be used with greater force, than any former time, owing to the changes in the Constitution proposed by the Government. Another thing to be said in favor of the motion whs, that the proposal, if carried out, would give the people in different parts of the colony an opportunity of becoming acquainted with, the Legislature,, which to most of them was at present a, sealed book. He thought there might also be something saved in the matter of expense. He thought, for instance, that Hansard could be dispensed with,because, in Dunedin the newspapers would give full and fair reports of the proceedings.' Here it was different,' the morning ; journal■? was biassed ; and if it bad not been for Hansard, the proceedings ®f Parliament, as recorded in that journal, would have appeared very damaging to the. party with which he (the speaker) was connected ■ The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the arguments of the hon. gentleman meant nothing, They simply amounted to this, that he thought it would be nice to bold the session-in Dunedin occasionally. The House would of course reject the motion, for it had not a single recommendation, -■ > Mr. PYKE made some humorous remarks on the motion, saying that: he thought of moving an amendment to the effect that the word Cromwell be substituted for: Dunedin. Speaking seriously, he hoped the horn gentleman would not press his motion, as there was nothing so disastrous to a place as to be taught to lean on Government support. Mr. BARFF would’sooner see the session anywhere than in this horrible place Wellington, and thought the seat of Government should be removed. ; He complained of the money spent on the Botanical Gardens, and objected to it the more because he had heard that it was a disreputable place to be seen in. The general tenor of the hon. gentleman’s remarks was that Wellington was very offensive to him. Mr. MANDERS supported the motion, because Wellington was" distinguished by the existence of unpleasant vapors in certain parts of the town. Mr. REES thought there ■ was a good deal in the motion of the" hon. member, for Clutha, believing it would tend to the welfare of New Zealand if the sessions of Parliament were held from time to time in the great centres of population, so that the ■ people -'could be brought face to face with the Legislature. Mr. DE LAUTOUB supported the motion; A division was taken on the question, the' result being;—Ayes, 23; noea, 29. Ayes.—Barff (teller), J. 0. Brown, Bums, De Lautour, Dignani Fisher, Grey, Hislop, Joyce, Larnach, Lumsden, Macfarlane, Bees, Reynolds, Rowe, Seaton, Sheehan, Shrimski, Swanson, Takamoana, Thomson (teller), Tole. W; ’Wood. Noes.— Andrew (teller), Atkinson’, Bowen, Bunny, Button, Carrington, Curtis, Fltzroy, Gibbs, Hursthouse, Kelly (teller), Kennedy, Handers, McLean, Montgomery, Mnrray-Aynsley, ~ Ormond, Pearce, Richardson, Richmond, Rolleston, Seymour, Stafford, Stevens, Tawlti, Teschetnaker, ■ Wasonjl Whitaker, Woolcock. TARANAKI LAND CLAIMS. The’ Hon. Mr.. STAFFORD moved that the honor and creditof the colony demanded thatthe awards made by the Government commission under the Taranaki Lands Claims Act, 1872, be settled with no unnecessary delay. He knew that this question was to, a certain extent embarrassed in consequence of the relative liability of the General, Government and the province, but he looked upon that as of secondary importance to the question as between the claimants and the colony, there being not the slightest doubt that the claimants had a legal and equitable claim. ,As showing the legality of their claim, he related the circumstances under which tbeawards were made. '.

The Hon. Major ATKINSON said he agreed with most of what had fallen from the hon. member, but while it was the duty of . the Government to see that justice was done to the claimants, it was also their duty to see that the public estate was hot squandered. .He believed the Act of 1872 was passed under a misapprehension. The House would never, unless such were the case, have passed an Act for the purpose of buying land to satisfy these men. There was no reason why these men should receive more than the acre and a-half except for the passing of the unfortunate Act referred to. He would say at once he would be prepared to refer the case to an impartial tribunal, and whatever they decided upon as being right he would abide by. But this Act having been passed, it might be wise in the Government to have the matter settled, but he hoped the House would not insist upon their giving the claimants £17,000 in money, or such a block of land as would effectually impede the progress of settlement in the Taranaki province. He was open, on . behalf of the Government, to receive any reasonable proposition from the claimants, and he would move that this be added to the motion :—“And the Government be authorised ,to negotiate with the claimants with a viewito such settlement.”

Mr. CARRINGTON spoke warmly on the subject, giving a history of the whole of the transactions in connection with these land claims, and saying that the House had passed an illegal Act. i Mr. SHEEHAN supported the motion. He remarked that no men had been treated with such injustice as the old land claimants in the colony, and nothing tended to damage the credit of this colony so much as having these unsatisfied land claims. ■ Mr. KELLY reminded the last speaker that these men had not. been in the colony at all, and he trusted that when , the claims of the real old settlers ; in, this colony should come before the House they would be as warmly supported. , , ': , ■ • The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS said the House should set its face against becoming responsible for a single penny, and that the compensation, if any, should be made out of the land revenue of the Taranaki province; . Mr. LARNACH held that the proceedings had been quite regular, and, the committee to which the subject was referred for consideration haying reported, he failed, to see what the Government had to complain' of. ■ , The Hon. Mr. STAFFORD, in,reply, said that he would . accept the addition of the words to his motion proposed by the Premier. The motion was then put, and carried un-< animously. ,i- ---. brogden’s petition. i Mr. LARNAOH moved,—That a committee be appointed, to consist of the Hon. Major Atkinson, i Mr. De Lautour, ■ Mr. - Rees, Mr! Shrimski, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Wason, Mr. Luriisden, Sir Robert Douglas, and' the mover, to inquire into the terms of the petition of Messrs, Brogden and Sons,: arid 'report 'to the Public Petitions Committee, relative to payments made by them to the late Agent-General on account of certain adult iirimigrants brought to this colony. ' Five members of the committee to form a quorum ; with power to call' • for witnesses and papers, and to report within ten days. : ■; Seconded by Mr. Murray. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said it was unfortunate that the ‘hon; gentleman had brought forward this motion. - He might inform him that the question had been very carefully considered. In 1873 the petition was, referred to a committee, who reported to the effect that the statements made in the petition had no foundation in fact, and that there was no ground for the claitn either'in law or in • equity. ■ • • He should • feel it’ his duty' to, oppose the motion. Mr. DONALD REID; thought the hon'. gentleman should allow; his motion to lapse, the petition referred to having been before a committee in!B73, and also having been considered by the'Public Petitions Committee this year.

•The mover ■’did 1 -not reply, and the motion was negatived on the voices. AFFECTING CIVIL SERVANTS. ( Mr. LARNACH moved,—That, in the opinion ‘of this House," it is improper for any salaried officer of the Government or; of the Civil Service of the colony to receive fee, salary, or reward outside of the office he holds; and that from this time forward any officer found receiving salary or fees other than from the office held ‘by him shall no longer be retained in the Civil Service or the service of the’ Government ’of the colony. There might be officers in the Government who' would: receive nominal salaries on condition of being allowed to engage in private practice. The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON said the hon. gentleman had in his last remarks somewhat anticipated what he was about to say. .-There were gentlemen in the employ of the Go- . vernment, appointed under the conditions; tated. With the general principle of the I motion, however, he was entirely at one with the hon. gentleman. He would move that all the words after the word “ holds ” be omitted, which he’ thought would meet the cash . Mr. KELLY; thought it better that there should be'no such condition in any engagement between the Government and their servants.;, . - , Mr. MONTGOMERY said they should be careful that the resolution would not affect country postmasters, whose pay. was so small that they were ’compelled to seek remuneration in other directions. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER thought it was a mistake to pass such a -resolution in general terms, because it would affect a great many persons engaged in the postal and other departments, and it would certainly have a detrimental effect unless it was made applicable to certain individuals,-as it would shut up several post i offices. ’ The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS considered it a bad system to permit Goverhihehtofficers under any circumstanc’es.to;; engage in privatepraqtice, and contended that all servants should be sufficiently paid. ■’ ' !■ ' Mr. ROLLESTON held that the House was not the body to make regulations of this kind, ; it being a function of the Governor in Council, and that therefore the House should simply give' an indication of its opinion on the question, or a recommendation possibly as to the particular direction in which action should be taken.. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND 818 GEORGE GREY. On the motion of Sir George Grey, certain correspondence was laid on the table, read, and ordered to he printed. PETITION OF ALEXANDER STITT. The House went into committee to consider an address to his Excellency the Governor, praying that he will cause to be placed upon the Supplementary Estimates the -sum of £BOO, in order to carry out the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee contained in their report upon the petition of Alexander Stitt. . The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON opposed the motion, as did Messrs. Burns, Curtis, 1 Button, and Woolcock, and others spoke in favor.— Messrs. Whitaker and Montgomery opposed.— Motion lost. NOXIOUS ANIMALS PROHIBITION BJLL. ; The House went into committee on this Bill, and Mr. Andrew immediately moved.that the Chairman leave the chair, because he objected to the prohibition of, the: importation of weasels. After discussion, the motion was negatived, and the ' Bill passed with amendments. DISEASED SHEEP BILL. • This Bill was passed through committee. : WELLINGTON CONSOLIDATED LOANS BILL. This Bill was passed, and the House then adjourned.’ V ‘ ” ’ ’