PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5478, 17 October 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 16. The Hon. the Acting-Speaker took tho ’ chair at 2.30 p.m. PAPERS AND REPORTS. Some papers were laid on the table, and the Hon. Colonel Kenny brought up the report of the Local Bills Committee on the North Otago Benevolent Institution Bill, and the second reading of the Bill was fixed for next day. He also brought up the report on the Wellington College Act Amendment Bill. The committee were of opinion that the circumstances of the case were exceptional, and that the Bill, with a proviso annexed by the committee, should be passed. The second reading was fixed for next day. Reports on the Oamaru Harbor Amendment, New River Harbor Amendment, and Nelson Harbor Board Bills (the latter an interim report), were also brought up. ALLEGED RELEASE OP PRISONERS. The Hon Colonel WHITMORE, in reply to Sir D. Bell’s question of the previous day as to the release of prisoners at Naseby, said the circumstances of the case were:—A Chinese had assaulted a European and injured him. He was committed for trial ou the 23rd inst. Two Europeans who witnessed the assault, and probably saved the life of the person assaulted, turned upon the Chinaman and ducked him, injuring his clothes. For this they were sentenced to three and five days’ imprisonment. A petition had been forwarded to the Governor, who had replied that as the sentences were so short, it would be useless to issue' a pardon. These were the facts, and hon. gentlemen could peruse the papers which he had before him if they so wished. VOLUNTEER PASSES. The Hon. Colonel BRETT moved, —That tho Government should grant a free pass on the railways to the volunteers in the South Island, to attend a general review of tho volunteers at Dunedin, on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday.—The Hon. Mr. Robinson, in a humorous speech, twitted Colonel Brett with inconsistency, inasmuch as he had disparaged the volunteer force on previous occasions.— The Hon. Colonel Whitmore said if the volunteers were to be retained at all, they should be effective, and he had great hopes of such a result. The Government had come to the conclusion that the best way was, to put a sum on the Estimates for the purpose of defraying the cost of the transit of volunteers. Tho Government thought the free-pass system a very vicious one, and that it should be done away with as far as possible.—Tho Hon. Dr. Grace said that while in the South Island he had seen 500 men who wore as smart soldiers as you could wish to see. He thought it was the duty of the Government to foster a military spirit, and as evidencing tho necessity of bringing them together, so that they could be compared, lie mentioned that he had seen a company at Oamaru, and the officer in command, in saluting ids Excellency, absolutely turned his back on him. Wherever the volunteers were backward he considered it was the fault of the officers. If there were smart officers they would make smart men.—The Hon. Colonel Brett, in defence of his motion, said that the volunteers had now at their head an eminent soldier (the Defence Minister), and the difference was already marked. RIVERTON, OTAUTAU, AND NIGHTCAPS RAILWAY. The Hon. Mr. NURSE moved, —That there be laid upon the table any communications that may have taken place, either by letter or telegram, between the Government and the County Council of Wallace, with reference to the weight of the rails to be used on the Riverton, Otaufcau, and Nightcaps railway.—Agreed to. GOVERNMENT BILLS. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE moved, — That the standing orders relating to Bills be so far superseded for the remainder of the session as to enable public Bills to be passed through all their stages in one day.—Agreed to. free passes. The Hon. Mr. ROBINSON moved, —That a return of the number and description of the free passes now in force ou the Government railways, which have been granted by the Minister for Public Works, together with the names of the persons to whom such passes have been granted, be laid on the table. Because the railway deficit was now to be covered by the tax on landholders, he would do away with all free passes except those issued to members of the House of Representatives, and ho would retain those, as ha thought it desirable that members of that Chamber should be afforded an opportunity of forming an opinion of the country and of the effect of the new, class tax.—Motion agreed to. THAMES HARBOR BOARD ACT AMENDMENT. On the motion for the second reading of this Bill, the Hon. Mr. G. B. JOHNSON moved, —That it be referred to the Joint Committee ou Bills.—The Hon. Dr. POLLEN said native interests were largely affected by it, and tho Bill should therefore be translated and circulated among . the Maoris, conformably, to the Standing Orders.—After some remarks from the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, , the Hon. P. A. Buckley said under the 4th clause all rights were reserved.—Some discussion followed, and ultimately the measure was referred to the Joint Committee on Bills. second ’readings. Tho Inch-Clutha Bill was moved by tho Hon. Mr. Reynolds and agreed to without discussion. The Greymouth Racecourse Reserve, Hamilton Public Hall Site, and Malvern Water-race Bills were also read a second tiiuo. Ou the motion for tho second reading of the Timaru High School Bill, considerable debate arose.—Dr. Pollen considered they were dissipating for the uses of the present that which should be available for the future. Ho thought a .colonial view should be taken of this question of secondary education. Instead of alienating these reserves wo should retain the whole and look upon them as an increasing quantity, and distribute the proceeds like fertilising rain over tho whole of the districts. The Hon. Mr. Reynolds said Dr. Pollen did not understand tho question as it affected Otago.—Tho Hon. Colonel Whitmore thought it would be unfair to make an exception in this case.—Some further discussion followed; and the second reading was agreed to. AN EXPLANATION. Tho Hon. Mr. HENDERSON desired to explain that he had voted against the third reading of the Parnell Reserves Bill under a misapprehension. He thought the motion before the Council ou the previous day was for the third readiug of the Bill, whereas it was that it should be discharged from the Order Paper. He should have supported the third readiug. in committee. Tho Inch-Clutha Bill was amended in aocordance with recommendations of the Local Bills Committee, and reported. Tho Greymouth Racecourse Reserve Bill was committed, amended, and reported. The Hamilton Public Hall Site Bill was amended in accordance with the views of the Local Bills Committee and reported. The Malvern Water-race Bill went through without amendment, was read a third time, a.nd passed. Tho Timaru High School Bill was amended so as to agree with the opinion of the Local Bills Committee, and reported. The Riverton Harbor Endowment and Borrowing Bill was amended, and reported. ELECTORAL BILL, 1 - ' The committee then proceeded with this Bill. Clauses 10 to 25 passed as printed.—-Ou

clause 26 the Hou. Mr. Waterhouse raised the question of how long electorallists should remain in force. He moved to add the words “in each year” after u registration officer and at the end “and such list shall be in force for one year and no longer."—The Hon. Colonel WIIiTMOUB {said Jto avoid Scylla they were rushing into Oharybdis. The difficulty at present was to get people to register. He must oppose the amendment. — The Hon. Geo. Booklet supported tho amendment—The Hon. D. A. Buckley said there was some mis*, apprehension. Tho roll was revised at present every year.—Mr. Waterhouse would transfer his amendment to the 27th clause.—After the half*hour adjournment, Colonel Whitmore stated that he had consulted some of his cob leagues, and they were willing to have a provision inserted so that tho roll should bo purged every four years— : that is, after each general election.—The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse then moved that the following words should be added to clause 27 :—“And every such roll shall remain in force until tho registration which shall take place next after each general election," Tho amendment was agreed to.— Clauses 23 and 29 passed as printed.—On 30, the Hon. Mr. Hart moved an additional subsection, to be sub-section 2 :— 41 A leaseholder shall make a claim in tho form No. 2 in tho schedule." Agreed to.—Clause 31 passed, and 32 was verbally amended and agreed to.— Clauses 33 to 61 were passed without material amendment, and 62 was postponed.—Clauses 53 to 60 were passed as printed, and 61 postponed.—Clauses 62 to 68 passed as printed, and 69 was verbally amended and agreed to.— Clauses 70 to 115 were passed without any material amendment, and progress was reported. Tho Council adjourned at 12.45 a.m.l HOUSE OF KEPKESENTATIYES. Wednesday, October 16. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. FLOODS IN OTAGO. Mr, THOMSON, by leave, asked, without notice,—Whether tho Government intended to bring down any proposal for tho assistance of the local bodies in the Clntba Valley, in view of the destruction of works by the recent floods ? Tho Hon. Mr. MACANDKEW, replying, said the Public Works Department were busy preparing a report on tho subject. It seemed obvious that the local bodies concerned could not at once find the necessary funds to repair damages, and the Government would probably propose to lend tho local bodies sums of money, to bo repaid within a period to bo agreed upon. NEW BILLS. The Dunedin Botanical Gardens Bill and Dunedin Waterworks Bill were introduced. REWARD FOR DISCOVERY OF A GOLDFIELD. .Mr. BASTINGS moved, —That this House will to-morrow resolve into committee of the whole to consider of a respectful address to bo presented to his Excellency tho Governor, praying that provision may be made to give effect to the recommendation of the Goldfields Committee upon the petition of Daniel James Moore, of Otago. The recommendation of the committee wag that the petitioner wag entitled to £2OO as reward, in consequence of the services he had rendered to the colony as a prospector. * Mr. DE LAUTOUR said there were hundreds of such cases, and if a reward were to be given in this case it would unsettle the minds of many who had equally good claims, but whose claims could not be satisfied because the Treasury could not afford the expenditure. He strongly hoped that the House would follow out the practice of the Goldfields Committee, and discourage such a claim. Mr. JOYCE held similar views. Mr. BARFF was aware that Mr. De Lautour, the Chairman of the Goldfields Committee, had little in sympathy with the miners, and he (Mr. Barff) could inform the House that the committee did not tako tho view represented. Practical goldfields members were in favor of rewards being paid when deserved. Mr. SHRIMSKI objected to any member being referred to in the terms in which Mr. Barff had spoken of Mr. De Lautour. Mr. BARFF had not wished to be offensive. Mr. MACANDREW thought this a peculiar ease, and the Government wanted time to consider it. He moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. REEVES* believed from the evidence given that, beyond a doubt, Moore had discovered the mine, and deserved the money proposed to be given him. , Mr. BO WE commended the care and prudence of Mr. De Lautour as chairman of the committee, and said his conduct would compare very favorably with that of Mr. Barff. Therefore reflections should not be cast upon him.

Mr, PYKE had received letters protesting against any money being paid, on the ground that other persons made the discoveries in re« spect to which Moore claimed. The debate was adjourned for a week. A PETITION FROM HENARE MATAU. Mr. TAIABOA moved, —That the petition of Henare Matua and others be printed. SirBOBEBT DOUGLAS objected, to petitions being printed unless urgent necessity was shown, and hoped some information would be given to the House to show there were good purposes to be served by the printing. He knew it had been the custom to get certain matters printed in order that their contents might be distributed over the colony for private purposes at the public expense. Mr- SUTTON expressed the belief that this was a petition against Mr. Justice Ilichmond being allowed to adjudicate in certain native land cases, and explained how he had seen the petition handed about Napier by Government servants for the purpose of signature. Major ATKINSON moved that the petition be read in order that the House might knew the nature of the contents. The petition was accordingly read, and was fonnd to reflect very strongly on Mr. Justice Bichmond in bis capacities as a politician in the past, and as a Judge of the Supreme Court at the present time. Mr, BOWEN hoped the House would never consent to the petition being printed. Had it been a European petition it would never have been received, but he might add he thought it was only nominally a Maori petition. No member of the House who had been used to hearing native documents read could but come to the conclusion that the petition was written by a European or Europeans, if signed by the natives. Mr. TATABOA asked and obtained leave to withdraw the motion, and The SPEAKEB expressed great regret that persons could be found who would make petitions to that House vehicles for the dissemination of such charges. (Hear, hear.)

PCCLIO WORKS. The interrupted debate was resumed on the question,—That in the opinion of this House, no system of public works can be satisfactory, or truly colonial, that proposes to exclude a large taxpaying area from all participation in its benefit; and common justice demands that those large districts in the colony which can bo clearly defined as not presenting auch physical and political features as would justify tho construction of railways that would enhance their value, take the heavy traffic off their common roads, and to a great extent obviate the-necessity for common bridges, should either be exempted from all contributions to public works, by which they are not benefitted, or should be assisted from colonial revenue in the construction of their ordinary roads, bridges, or wharves. The Hon. Mr. STOUT, continuing his speech, which was interrupted on a previous day, said the Government must oppose the Motion because of its indefiniteuess. Mr. BOWEN referred to the injustice inflicted on certain districts under the Public Works scheme, and hoped the Government would endeavor to bring down a scheme next year under which compensating works would be constructed in these at present neglected districts. Mr. SHEEHAN could not complain of tho indefiniteness of tho motion, but thought it rather too specific, because it partook too much of tho scrambling principle. A great error had been committed in expecting that local bodies could construct local works, and he thought tho way out of tho difficulty was for the Government to take over some of the local bodies’ responsibilities ; but, of course, in that case the present system of finance must bo reconsidered. He could not subscribe to the declaration that there were some districts which had not been affected by tho public works. Even the north of Auckland, that most neglected spot, had derived some benefits, although ho quite admitted that tho benefits arising from the Public Works policy had been exceedingly variable, in different districts. However, he was quite satisfied that no system of works could bo satisfactory until these poorer districts were a little more favored, and allowed to progress at least in a reasonable ratio in comparison with tho more fortunate portions of tho colony. ■ Major ATKINSON raid the speech of the bon. gentleman would have given much more pleasure if Ifc could bo regarded as the expression of the mind of the Government, but it could not be no regarded in ylow of tho de*

3 clarations contained ia tho Public Works i Statement and of the speech of the Attorneyi General, who said he could not understand tho 3 motion. Tho hon. member seemed to innim- ) derstand the motion when he spoke of the I action of tho local bodies in connection with 3 abolition. Tho motion had really nothing to t do with local works which the local bodies 5 were able to carry out, but had to do with the . works constructed under, the Public Works ) scheme of the General Government. Ho hoped that as one Minister had expressed syra- ; pathy with these out-disfcriefcs, the other mem- ■ bars of the Government would soon be converted to the necessity of taking this matter in hand. The Hon. Mr. MACANDKEW said the motion had no practical bearing, unless the House was prepared to abandon its former position, that no local works should bo constructed except out of local funds. He denied there were any districts which were not receiving benefit from tho Public Works scheme. His opinion was, that the districts receiving most benefit were paying least in the shape of taxation. Mr. MURRAY considered tho question pressed more strongly for settlement in consequence of tho imposition of a land tax, which affected all districts alike, and might nob stop till it reeched one shilling in the pound, and thus prevented the local bodies from carrying on. He should express his views more fully when the resolutions ho had placed on the Order Paper came on for discussion. Mr. DE LAUTOUR said that this was the most difficult question tho House had to consider, but thought tho resolution was of no value except as a suggestion of tho direction in which reform of local government must go. Ho believed there must be more- power given to the local bodies, and that they must be enabled to tax property for local wants so that the House should bo relieved of the necessity of imposing taxation to provide funds for the local bodies. After remarks from Messrs. Hodgkinson and'Mauders, Mr. PYICE defended tho present form of local government from aspersions cast upon it by Mr. Hodgkinson. Mr. THOMSON was speaking when the hour of half-past five arrived. PLAN OF TOWNS REGULATION BILL. In committee, after a long discussion, progress was reported on this Bill by 32 to 29, mainly on tho ground that there was not sufficient time this year to deal with the subject. A number of local Bills were disposed of, and The House adjourned at 12.35.