PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5212, 5 December 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, December 4. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at half-past two o'clock. MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY. A message was received from his Excellency the Governor covering the correspondence which had taken place between himself and his Excellency Sir William Jervois, and also between himself and the present Ministry, relative to the visit of his Excellency Sir William Jervois to this colony. THE STANDING ORDERS. The Hon. Major RICHMOND, C. 8., moved, and it was agreed to, —That the report of the Standing Orders Committee, presented to the Council on Friday last, November 30th, be adopted by the Council, and that the alterations suggested by the Standing Orders Committee in standing orders 196 and 196 a be adopted. NATIVE LANDS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed, a message to that effect being ordered to b« sent to the House of Representatives. OTHER BILLS. The second reading of the Maori Real Estate Management Act 1867 Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, and agreed to ; as was also the Government Native Laud Purchases Bill; and then the Council went into committee on the Land Bill, and at a late hour adjourned till the usual hour next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, December 4. question. In reply to Mr. Hamlin, Sir George Grey stated that the Stella would be sent to Port Waikato to make a survey of the entrance, with the view of placing the beacon in such a position as to ensure the safety of vessels entering the port. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—The Hutt County Offices Site Bill, the Middle Island Half-caste Crown Grants Rill, the Rating Amendment Bill, the Counties Act Amendment Bill. WASTE LANDS BILL. The House went into committee on the above Bill.—Mr. Lumsden moved an amendment, that that portion of clause 4 fixing the price of free selection laud at not less than £2 tier acre and laud to be sold by auction at not less than £l, be struck out.—After a long discussion the amendment was negatived by 34 to 26.—Mr. Stout moved that in the event of land being put up for auction and not sold, it shall be in the power of the Governor to declare such land open for free selection at a price not less than £1 per acre.—Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Reid, the Auckland homestead clauses were extended to all parts of the colony.—Captain Morris moved, and it was carried that the right to exercise volunteer scrip be extended a further period of twelve months.—Mr. Stout moved that it only apply to scrip actually in the hands of volunteers. Agreed to.—On the Bill being reported, Mr. Rolleston entered his protest against it.—-The Bill was read a third time by 35 to IS. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BILL. This Bill was considered in committee. A division was taken on danse 4, making the Land Fund part of the Consolidated Revenue, which resulted in the clause being retained by 40 to 14. —On clause 6, providing that 20 per cent, of the Land Revenue be given to the district in which it accrued, Mr. Macandrew moved an addition, to the effect that the clause should not be repealed except by an Act of the Imperial Parliament.—The amendment was negatived by 33 to 9,—The Bill was reported with amendments, and read a third time. BILLS. The Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Property Vesting Bill, the Nelson Gasworks and Waterworks Sale Bill, and the Hutt County Office Site Bill were read a third time and passed, and the Middle Island Half-caste Crown Grants Bill, the Rating Amendment Act, and the Counties Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. The House adjourned at 1.40.