PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5177, 25 October 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 24. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. REPORTS. The Hon. Captain BAILLIB brought up the reports of the select committee on several petitions, and moved that the consideration of the reports be made an order of the day for next sitting day. NOTICE OP MOTION. The Hon. Dr. MENZIES gave notice that on next sitting day he would move for a select committee to inquire into the provisions made for the supply of water to the Government Buildings, and what were the available means for repressing fire, with power to call for papers and persons, and to report within eight days. QUESTION. The Hon. Dr. MENZIES asked the Hon. the Colonial Secretary,—What provision is made for the supply o! water to these buildings, in quantity sufficient to extinguish any fire that might occur in them, whether such supply would be promptly available for such a purpose at any time? .... The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE said that the water was laid on to the buildings by mains from Sydney-street, Molesworth-street, and Hill-street; that the Government Buildings were connected with the Central Fire Brigade station by an electric bell, after nngin"°which a full pressure of water could be turned on in three minutes. The Government had also a private reservoir off Tinakori-road. MOTIONS. The Hon. Captain BAILLIE moved,—!. That the Council agrees with the report of the Public Petitions Committee upon the petition of Te Hapuku and 203 others, with respect to the management of the Te Ante estate, presented to the,Council on the 18th October; 2. That a copy of the report be forwarded to the Government for their consideration. . , The Hon. Captain ERASER havmgread certain objections which he had to the report, moved the adjournment of the discussion, which was carried. The Hon. Sir D. BELL moved, and it was carried,—That the Hon. the Speaker be requested to direct that Bills standing for third ■reading be placed at the head of the paper 'on private members’ days. BILLS. A message was received from the House'Of Representatives stating that they agreed in the amendments made by the Council on the Wanganui Gas Bill. The following Bills were received from the House of Representatives, and read a first rfcime, their second readings being fixed for dates as under:—On the motion of Colonel Whitmore : The Volunteers and Others Land Act, the Bankeis Book Evidence Act, the Auckland City Endowments and Reserves Act, the Crown Grants Act Amendment Act, next sitting-day; the City of Dunedin Loans Consolidation Act - and the Conveyancing Ordinance Amendment Act 1874 Amendment Act 1877, Monday next; on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Miller, the Town of Waitahuna Act and the Lawrence Municipal Waterworks Act, next sitting-day ; on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Hart, the St. Andrew’s Church (Wellington) Trustees Act 1873 Amendment Act, Monday next ; on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Pharazyn, the Wellington Reserves Act 1876 Amendment Act ; on the motion of the Hon. Sir F. D. Bell, the New Plymouth Harbor" Board Ordinance 1875 Amendment Act 1877, Monday next.; on the motion of the Hon. Hr. Hall, the Akaroa Public Library Site Act, Monday next. A message was received from the House of Representatives, saying that they hadpassed the Himatangi Crown Grants Act and the Kaiappi Native Reserves Act, with amendments. As these amendments only affected the clauses which had been, put in erasure type by the Council, they were agreed to. ORDERS OF THE DAY. The Shipping and Seamen’s Bill (third reading, the Hon. Colonel Whitmore) was postponed till next sitting day. The Lotteries Bill (third reading) and the New Rivers Harbor Management Bill (third reading) were passed. The second readings of the following Bills were agreed toThe Mataura Reserve Bill (Hon. Colonel Whitmore), the Havelock Commonage Bill (Hon. Sir F. D- BelP, the Otago Museum Bill (Hon. Mr. Mantell), the Christchurch District Drainage Act 1875 Amendment Bill (Hun. Mr, Buckley), the Kaiapoi Cemetery Bill ((Hon. Mr. Hall), the Oamaru Reserve Bill (Hon. Mr. Miller). The ■ Goldmining Districts Act 1873 Amendment Bill (second reading), was discharged from the Order Paper on the motion of the Hon. Capt. Fraser, and made an order of the day for next sitting day. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. till the visual hour next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 24. The Speaker took the chair at half-past 2 o’clock. notices of motion. Seueral notices of motion were given. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Major ATKINSON gave notice that he ■would move next day that the House has no confidence in the Government. Mr. Bcnny and Mr. Bastings wished the motion to be put off until Friday, in order to allow members to get private Bills passed. QUESTIONS. Mr. O’RORKB asked the Premier, — Whether the Government will take into consideration the disparity that exists between, the pensions of £333 6s. Bd. of ex-Chief Justice Martin and £BSO of ex-Ohief Justice Amey, with a view of reducing that disparity, by recommending that the former pension he increased to £SOO, so that the principle of the Supreme Court Judges Act, 1874, should be made to apply equally to both cases ? Sir GEORGE GREY replied by stating that the Government would take the case into its earnest consideration. Mr, CURTIS asked the Minister of Justice, —lf his attention has been directed to the report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the allegations contained in the petition of Thomas Butler, late keeper of the Nelson Lunatic Asylum ; and if it his in tention to direct that a criminal prosecution shall be instituted against Thomas Butler and John William Tatton, or either of them ? The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN held in his hand the report of the Royal Commission, and although he had not yet had the opportunity of fully examining the report, he had seen enough to cause him to submit the matter to the Chief Law Officer of the Crown. The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE asked the Minister of Justice, —Whether the Government will bring in a Bill to alter the Jury Act, so that special jurors may receive payment for each day on which they serve in civil cases, instead of receiving a fixed fee of one guinea for each civil case, however long it may last ? The Hon, Mr. SHEEHAN stated, in reply, that Government would, if possible, introduce a Bill to provide for jurors being paid by the day. The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE asked the Colonial Treasurer, —Whether the Government would refer to the Public Accounts Committee, for their report thereon, the question whether the practice adopted in this colony of obtaining ad interim supplies during a session could, with public advantage, be assimilated to the Bystem in force in that respect in the Imperial Parliament ? The Government replied in the affirmative. Captain RUSSELL asked the PostmasterGeneral, Why tho postmasters who are authorised to receive tho premiums on life assurance policies are not permitted to receive interest upon loans advanced upon the security of such policies ; and if ho will issue such orders as will enable them to do so hereafter 1 The Hon. Mr. FISHER, in reply, said that from inquiries that had been made it was shown that the business done was not sufficiently large. If tho work was found to increase so as to pay, the business would then be transacted through the Bank of New Zealand.

Captain RUSSELL asked the PostmasterGeneral,—lf he will cause stamped newspaper .■wrappers, similar to those in use in England, to be issued ? The Hon. Hr. FISHER, in reply, said the subject was already under the consideration of the Stamp Department, and would receive every consideration. Mr. WASON asked the Government,— Whether they have ordered coal from any particular colliery in Canterbury to be forwarded to Auckland ; and, if so, at whose cost, and for what purpose ? The Hon. Mr. LARNACH m replying stated that ten tons o£ the best Canterbury coal had been sent to Auckland to be tested on the Auckland and Mercer railway, where engines had been adapted for using that sort of coal. Mr. HISLOP asked the Government,— What steps (if any) they intend to take to give effect to the report of tho Public Petitions Committee upon the petition of William Moody, of Kakanui. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN explained that it was a case of great hardship, and it would be endeavored to give effect to the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee. LEAVE TO INTRODUCE BILLS. Leave was granted to Mr. Wakefield to introduce the Milford Harbor Bill. The Government refused to grant leave to Sir Robert Douglas to introduce the following Bill: —A Bill to appropriate all the Waste Lands of the Crown North of Auckland for the improvement of Harbors, of Public Works, and establishment and maintenance of Public Institutions in that part of the colony. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Sir GEORGE GREY said that it was within the recollection of the House that on the defeat of the late Ministry their successors took office on Saturday, and went to work on Monday, without having asked for any adjournment. Ever since, that time they had been fully occupied. He had indulged in the belief that the late Government .themselves would have desired some statement as to the financial aspect of the colony before an attempt was made to put their successors out of office, and that some time would be allowed to the incoming Ministry to become acquainted with the public affairs of the colony, so as to be able to speak with some degree of authority. He (Sir George Grey) was encouraged in that belief by the statement made by the leader of the .Opposition that time would be granted. They were told that if funds were required during that time successive votes of Imprest Supply Billso££loo,ooo would be granted. Now, however, a motion had been tabled which reversed all possibility of making those enquiries into the public affairs that should be made. Objections were made regarding the delay which had taken place. Those objections were absolutely unreasonable. At the present moment they had been unable to get the information necessary to furnish a fair statement to the House. An important return had only been given to him that day, and -others had yet to be placed in bis hands. Under such circumstances he felt constrained to ask for an adjournment until half-past seven on Friday next. He made that proposal with very great regret, on account of the inconvenience it would occasion many honorable members who hadbusiness lon the Order Paper. He trusted the House would allow one clear day before bringing on the motion of want of confidence. He would conclude by moving the adjournment of the House until half-past seven o’clock on Friday next. Major ATKINSON said he did not propose to answer then the arguments of the hon. gentleman who had just sat down respecting the unreasonableness of the proceedings. That appeared to be a subject fitted for debate when the House was considering the motion. He (Major Atkinson) thought he would then be able to show satisfactorily to the House the fairness of the course he had pursued. If he understood the hon. gentleman rightly he had asked the House for an entire day to put the Government in a proper position to debate the no confidence motion, and for that purpose to suspend the private business of members for one clear day. He was prepared to accept the proposition of the hon. gentleman for the House to adjourn until half-past seven on Friday next. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN said as a matter of constitutional right -the House should adjourn ; but it would be a generous act on both sides of the House to devote part of the intervening time in advancing the private business of members. The Hon. Mr, STAFFORD said that in a great many cases Bills were brought in which it was the duty of the Government to watch. The words private interest or private business of members in getting Bills passed through the House had a very specious sound. It was the duty of the Government to see that the Bills so brought forward were moulded in proper shape. It was quite improper to rush private measures through without giving them due consideration. He did not see any objection to that day being given up to work by going on with private Bills that were not of a financial character. He concluded by protesting against private Bills being carried through the House unless the. Government were prepared to assume the responsibility of them. After several hon. members had spoken for and against the adjournment, the motion was carried. The House therefore adjourned until half-past 7 on Friday next.