PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5146, 20 September 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, September 19. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 3.30 p.m. PAPERS AND REPORTS. Various papers were laid on the table by the Hoh. Dr. Pollen. —The Hon. Mr. Hall brought up a report on the Canterbury railways, and moved that it be printed, which was agreed to. MOTIONS. The Hon. Mr. HALL moved,—That leave o£ absence be granted to the Hon. Mr. Wigley for one week, on urgent private affairs. —Carried. . The Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL moved,—That the petition of the pastoral tenants of the Provincial District of Southland be ordered to be printed. —Carried, SHIPPING AND SEAMEN’S BILL. The second reading of this Bill was agreed to, and its committal fixed for Friday next. CROMWELL ATEENA3DM AND MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE BILL. The second reading of this Bill was carried, and the Bill ordered to be committed on Tuesday next. WANGANUI GAS COMPANY ACT, 1877. This Bill was received from the House of Representatives, and read a first time. The Council then (at 3.30 p.m.) adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, September 19. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. DISQUALIFICATION. The SPEAKER read a letter from Mr. Eisher, member for Heathcote, relative to Mr. Peacock being disqualified from holding his seat in the Legislative Council because he was a member of the Waimakariri River Board. Mr. Eisher asked if the same ruling applied to him, as he was also a member of that Board, and inquired what course he should pursue under the circumstances. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER subsequently moved, and it was agreed to, that the committee appointed to inquire into the alleged grounds of disqualification against Mr. Peacock, of Heathcote, should also deal with the case of Mr. Eisher. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr. SUTTON gave notice that he would ask the hon. the Attorney-General next day if it was the intention of the Government, durinf this session, to introduce a Bill amending the law relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors to natives. The Hon. Mr. FOX gave notice that he would move for the evidence taken before the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Dr. Buffer for compeusation to be printed and laid upon the table of the House. PASSENGERS BY THE AVALANCHE. In reply to Mr. Barpf, the Hon. Mr. McLean stated that the Government had transmitted a cablegram asking for tbe names of all the passengers who were on board the Avalanche for New Zealand. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr. Wakepield, the Hon. Mr. McLean stated that the Government purposed introducing the Harbors Biff at as early a date as convenient. Mr. MURRAY asked the Premier, —What course the Government has taken, or propose to take, to maintain the Queen’s authority against the recent lawless acts of natives upon the West Coast of this island, in rescuing a prisoner from the custody of the police ? In reply it was stated that the matter was in the hands of the Civil Commissioners of the district to deal with. bills introduced. The Wanganui Harbor Endowment and Borrowing Bill (Mr. Bryce); the Lyttelton Harbor Board Land Biff (Hon. Mr. Ormond) — the second reading appointed for Tuesday next; the Otago Roads Ordinance Amendment Bill (Hon. Mr. Reid) —the second reading appointed for Friday next; a Bill to amend the Native Lands Act, 1878 (Mr. Rees) —the second reading appointed for next Wednesday; a Bill to amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876 (Mr. Travers) —the second reading appointed for Wednesday next. ASSEMBLY BALL. Mr. FITZROY moved, without notice, that the House on its rising at 5.30 on Thursday do adjourn until Friday at 2.30 p.m. The object of this motion was to allow the members of the House an opportunity of returning to some extent, by means of a public ball, tbe hospitality and kindness accorded them during their present stay in Wellington. After some discussion the motion was agreed to. OTAGO BRANCH RAILWAYS. The adjourned debate on Mr. Macandrew’s motion was resumed. The original motion was for the construction of a large number of specified branch lines of railway in the interior and outlying districts of Otago. Mr. LARNACH, in speaking to the motion, proceeded to point out the advantages that would arise by constructing tbe lines proposed. It was necessary that the work should be taken in hand with as little delay as possible. He also showed that by the opening up of the Strath-Taieri line it would go through a large tract of excellent country. Another important line was from the Gore to the Elbow. Ey making this line a considerable extent of good land available for agricultural purposes would be thrown open. There was no engineerin" difficulty to be contended against. The line would enhance the acreage value of the land through which it would pass from £2 to £2O or more. For these reasons he urged the House to give consideration to the motion, although he was himself hardly sanguine of results. Mr. MACANDREW, in speaking to the motion standing in his name, dwelt strongly upon the necessity that existed for constructing those lines. The country through which they would pass presented no unusual difficulties in the way of forming the lines. The only possible way for making the lines already in existence pay was by constructing those feeders. It had been said by an hon. member that the House was not to consent to the proposals submitted merely on his (Mr. Macandrew’s) ipse dixit. He would state that there was nothing to prevent the Government from getting accurate data to bear out the statements he (Mr. Macandrew) had made. After much discussion and various amendments, the motion was negatived. MOTIONS. Mr. DE LAUTOUR moved, —That in the opinion of this House, the report of the Goldfields Committee upon the petition of John Foley, of St. Batbans, should be given effect to. On the suggestion of the Hon. Mr. Reid, the discussion was postponed in order to allow opportunity for the production of certain papers relating to the subject. Mr. Reid stated in the course of his remarks that the sum set down in the Estimates for goldfields had been long since exhausted, and that the Government had no intention of entering upon new arrangements.—The motion was adjourned for a week. Mr. KELLY moved, and it was agreed to, —That the quorum of the Public Petitons Committee be reduced to three members. Mr. TRAVERS moved, and it was agreed to, —That a select committee, consisting of the Hon. Mr. Reid, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Brandon, and the mover, he appointed to inquire into and report upon the regulations now in force relating to the examination and admission of surveyors to practice, and upon the nature of such examination. Three to be a quorum ;to have power to call for persons and papers, and to report in a fortnight.

Mr, LARNACH moved, and it was agreed to,—That this House will to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider of an address to his Excellency the Governor, praying that he will cause to be placed on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £IOOO, to be expended in the removal of rocks at the entrance to Gatlin’s River, OTHER BUSINESS. Interrupted debate on the question, That the name of Mr. Seymour be added to the Waste Lands Committee,. Sir ROBERT DOUGLAS asked leave to withdraw his motion, as the business of the Waste Lands Committee had nearly concluded. In doing so be referred to Mr. Seymour in most complimentary terms. Leave was granted. , Interrupted debate on the question, —That, in the opinion of this House, it being now established that the counties are unable to make provision for the construction and maintenance of the main ai fcerial roads of the. colony, it is imperative that immediate and permanent provision should be raa ie by the Government for the gradual construction and maintenance of the same. Dr. HODGKINSON moved as an amendment, —That all the words after “colony” in the motion be struck out, for the purpose of adding words impressing on the Government the necessity of providing a sufficient sum on the Bst’mates for the maintenance and construction of the main arterial roads of the country ; and that a schedule of all such roads should be prepared by the Government. The Hon. Mr. STAFFORD pointed out the urgency that existed for giving effect to the motion by having roads and bridges made. —The Hon. Mr. Gisborne and Mr. Kelly also supported the motion. The debate was interrupted by the hour of adjournment. Sir GEORGE GREY moved that the Auckland College and Grammar School Bill be referred to a select committee.—Mr. Rees supported the resolution, and complained that the Auckland members were not sufficiently consulted in the bringing in of the Bill.-—Mr. Lusk approved of the Biff being referred to a select committee, and said it met with the approbation of the Education Board of Auckland, and was brought before a meeting of the Auckland members, and they approved of it. It was necessary that the Bill should be passed this session, as he feared it would be burked if referred to a select committee. —Mr. Gisborne thought more information should be given as to the endowments and explanations as to the trusteeship. It would not be advisable to hurry the Biff though the House.—Mr. Whitaker thought it would in all probability not pass this session, and that would result in no provision being made for the management of an important institution. He would be prepared, as far as possible, to meet the views of the hon. members who objected to certain parts of the Bill—The resolution was negatived, and the House resolved itself into a committee on the Biff, and after two hours had been spent in discussing details, the Biff was recommitted for Wednesday. The House then went into committee on the Fine Arts Copyright Bill, which was reported to the House without amendment. The Dunedin School Reserves Biff was read a second time, passed through committee, and reported without amendment. The Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill was considered in committee.—Mr. Rowe moved a new clause to the effect that such marriages contracted hitherto in any part of her Majesty’s dominions where they were legal should be valid in this colony.—The clause was lost on a division by the casting vote of the Chairman. —Mr. MACANDREW moved that a marriage by a widow with her deceased husband’s brother should be legal. He thought those who supported the Bill should he consistent, and vote for his amendment.—Dr.- Hodgkinson who had charge of the Bill, said the amendment of Mr. Macandrew was simply brought forward to delay the progress of the Biff.—The motion was negatived on the voices.—The Bill was then reported without amendment. On the motion for the third reading, Mr. Travers made a long speech against the Bill, and Mr. Swanson spoke in its favor. The House divided on Mr. Travers’ amendment—Ayes, 17 ; noes, 26. The Bill therefore passed. The House adjourned at 1.20 a.m.