PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5490, 31 October 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 30. The Hon. tho Acting-Speaker took tho chair at 2,30 p.m. WELLINGTON COLLEGE. Tile Hou. Air. AIANTE LL, referring to au expression made use o£ by him in a late debate ou tho Wellington College Bill, la - hioh (speaking of the sanitary arrangements of the College at the. time of the lato cases of sickness) he characterised tho sanitary state of the College as *’ infamous,” desired to say a few words. He had received a letter on the subject from tho principal of the College. Ho was not prepared to withdraw any expression lie had made use of as to the state of the College at tho time referred to. He believed, however, that since that time attention had been given to the sanitary requirements of the place, and desired hou, gentlemen to understand that his remarks on a former oceassion referred to the state of the College when tho cases of sickness occurred, and not to its present state. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BILL. On tho first schedule the Hon. Colonel WumioitE desired that it should be taken as whole.—The Hon. George Buckley persisted in his amendment to strike out tho Wellin"-tou-Foxton line, which line was defended by Mr. P, A. Buckley. A long discussion followed, in the course of which Air. Hart said that ha did not know what information was possessed about the other lines ; but this he did know—for the last three months a competent engineer and eight men had been engaged in examining tho route of the FoxtonWellington line.—intimately the question was put whether the schedule should be taken as a whole or each line taken seriatim. Upon this a division was taken—Ayes, 12 ; Does, 18. The schedule as a whole was then pat—Ayes, 20 ; noes, 9. The other schedule was then passed, and the Bill reported. Subsequently the Bill was recommitted to reconsider Sir. G. Buckley’s amendment in tho 5 th clause. Air. Buckley’s amendment was struck out. SPECIAL POWERS AND CONTRACTS DILL. This measure was committed.—ln accordance with the recommendation of the committee to whom the Bill had been referred, Air. Waterhouse moved that clause 4 be struck out. —This -was opposed by the Government, and on a division the clause was struck out by 12 to 11. Clausa 5 was struck out, and G and 7 passed as printed. The schedule was amended and agreed to, and tho Bill was reported. PUBLIC WORKS AMENDMENT. This Bill was committed, and was under discussion at the adjournment hour. AMENDMENTS BY OTHER CHAMBER. The amendments made in the Municipal Corporations Bill were considered, and some agreed to. The others were disagreed - with, and the Bill sent back. The same course was pursued with the Eating Act. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. This Bill was read a third time and passed. PUBLIC WORKS ACT AMENDMENT. This Bill was further considered. Some clauses were struck out and others greatly changed, and the Bill was reported. NATIVE LAND ACT AMENDMENT NO. 2. The second reading of this Bill was moved by tile Hon. Air. Wilson, who briefly explained its provisions.—The Hon. Air. Waterhouse was surprised at the Bill._ Howwasittho Maoris were not to be trusted to mortgage or otherwise deal with their laud when the Government thought them so entirely entitled to the franchise ? The Government were iucou-si-tencin their treatment of the natives.— Alter a few words from Mr. Hart, Mr. Wilson replied, and the Bill was read a second time. MINOR BILLS. The Seal Fisheries Protection, Fisheries Dynamite, and Whakataue Land Grants Bills were read a second time without discussion. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said it was an exceedingly important measure ; but it was one which had received the assent of both sides in another place. He explained the Bill. The Hou. Air. WATERHOUSE called attention to the fact that this Bill, no doubt iuadvertently, but none the less positively, included a tack. There was a clause—the 12th—distinctly authorising a railway. Ho considered the Council should carefully guard its privileges iu this respect, and he should therefore move, although he would not oppose the Bill, that words should be added to the motion to the effect that the 12th clause included matter which was of tho nature of a tack, and should not be construed into a precedent. The Hon. Air. HALL agreed with Air. Waterhouse. The insertion of tho clause was a distinct invasion of the privileges of tho Council. The Hon. Colonel WHITAIOKE explained that no tack was intended. The intention was to lay down some authority for keeping certain money iu hand belonging to Taranaki. The Hon. Air. ROBIiS'SON supported tho appropriation of the money in the direction mentioned. Speaking of the reclaimed land iu Wellington, he was delighted to sea that the arrangement for transferring a portion of that laud for a small sum to the Corporation of Wellington had fallen through. He deprecated thelarge quantity of that land proposed to bo sold, aud recommended that tho land should be sold by degrees, when it would fetch a much higher price. Speaking of the Wellington Hospital, he thought too much altogether was being spent on that institution. After some remarks from tho Hon, Captain Fraser, Sir D. Bell supported tho addition to tho motion proposed by Mr. Waterhouse. The second reading was then agreed to. Subsequently a message embodying tbe amendment of Mr. Waterhouse was prepared aud ordered to be sent with tho Bill to the House of Representatives. IN COMMITTEE. The Government Kative Land Purchase Bill was committed.— The Hon. Air IIART said that injustice would be done to the creditors of Potter, Wilson, aud Co., and the Bank of Glasgow, if this Bill passed as it stood. He moved a proviso to prevent such injustice.—Some discussion followed, and progress was reported. The Native Law Act Amendment Bill, No. 2, was then proceeded with, passed through with slight amendment, and was reported. The Seal Fisheries Protection and Fisheries Dynamite Bills went through committee wi bout alteration, wore read a third time, and passed. Tho Financial Arrangements Bill was then committed, reported, read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned at 1.30 a.m. till 2 o’clock to-day. HOUSE OF REPESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 30. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. WAGGON COMPANY. Air. ROLLESTON asked the Government, —Whether they will grant to a Christchurch Waggon Company the same concessions as those given to the Otago Waggon Company ? The Hon. Mr. AI AC ANDREW replied in tbe affirmative. TUB POLICE PAY. Iu reply to Mr. Pyke, the Hou. Air. Ballance said the increase in the pay would be general, aud would apply to sergeantmajors. VESSELS DETAINED. The Hon. Air. SHEEHAN stated that the Wanaka had been detained until H p.m. He did not know whether he would be successful iu having tbe Taranaki detained. • MESSAGES. Alesaagcs were received from bis Excellency, transmitting additional Supplementary Estimates. SUPPLY. Ou tho motion for going into committee of supply, . TheTlou. Air. FOX said ho had a resolution to move with reference to the Telegraph Department. Ho thought his hou. friend the member for Waikouaiti deserved the best thanks of the House and the Press for having been instrumental iu putting -a stop to an attempted monopoly with regard to a special wire. That little piece of business was nasty and very unfair aud very unjust, but the Government had been prevented from carrying it out. If tho resolution, which he now moved, were agreed to, its effect would be to give even-handed justice to tbe Press and public of tho colony, ani prevent tho granting of monopolies. He begged, therefore, to mov®, —That th® arrangement entered into wits tho Otayo Daily Tima, Lyttelton Times, and Auckland Herald shall bo suspended till the machinery of tbe Telegraph Department shall bo iu a condition to extend equal privileges, it required, to all journals aud Press Agencies in tho colony. , , „ Sir GEORGE GREY said the hou. member for Wanganui had called this a nasty business, but the speech of that bon. member was as nasty as tho speeches he delivered on any ana every subject. There was no monopoly whatever contemplated by the Goyeimneut; it was intended to extend to all parties the same pnvi*

leges. Ho denied positively that any monopoly was ever intended or contemplated. On the contrary, the action of -the Government was calculated to break down *a monopoly, which had been arranged by the hon, member for Waiknuaiti himself. He would road a letter from tho Pre«a Agency to Dr. Lemon, dated August 1, 1877, asking him to move tho Telegraph Commissioner to allow the collect system to continue so far as their Australian telegrams were concerned. They wex*o allowed to continue tho system verbally. On the 11th October, 1877, the present Government received a mem*, from Dr. Lemon, stating that the collect system had been allowed to continue to the Press Agency. Subsequently, the evening newspapers applied for a like privlege, and tho Government granted it, and all along it had-been their object to break down rather than establish a monopoly. The Press Agency was allowed a special wire during the whole of tho session, and tho special wire to tho other company was not to be granted until the Ist of January next. Tho Hon. Major ATKINSON" said that if . this transaction could have borne the light of day, why was tho explanation of it taken out of tho hands of aa honest, plain-spoken gentle- ■ man who would blurb out the truth, and undertaken, by the Premier? Tho House had presented to it the unusual spectacle of tho ’ matter being taken out of the hands of the gentleman entrusted to do the business of tho department, and tho Premier endeavoring to give reasons for this gross job, which was luckily discovered by tho hon. member for YVaikouaiti. It was absolutely against tho well-known and established facts of the case to assert or believe that tho Press Agency had a monopoly. In this case tho Government had endeavored to establish a monopoly ; amongst their own political friends and thick-and-thin supporters. And it was the first attempt that had been made by any Government in this country. He must say that so far as ho could see, the reports furnished by the Press Agency were fair and correct, and did not display any party feeling. {“ Oh, oh/’ from Mr. Stoct.) The Premier was not stating the actual state of the case when he said that a monopoly existed when tho present Government came into office. It was in the interests of the public service that tho Government wisely allowed the collect sytem to continue so far as Australian messages wore concerned, and not in the interest of any monopolist. The statements of tho Premier were not reliable. Ho (Major Atkinson) would leave the public to judge whether in the papers presented to the House on tho subject-the words “gross job” were not written on their face. The Hon, Mr. STOUT said that if there . had been any attempts at a job the Government would not have made the papers public. These contained confidential communications between tho Government ami the head of the Telegrapu Department, and the Government could have withheld these communications if they had pleased to do so ; but they had nothing to conceal, and therefore all the papers were presented to the House. The Press Agency telegrams had always borne a strong political bias; and the present agitation on their part had only been got up because they feared they would not be able to exist if any other agencies were established. (Cries of 44 Question.") After some remarks from Messrs. Macfarlane, Gisborne, Plsher, Joyce, Bowen, and Saunders, q he House divided on the question,—That the words proposed to bo omitted stand part of the question. Ayes, 57; uoes, 23. The amendment of the Hon. Mr. Pox was therefore practically negatived. MB. BARTON AND THE JUDGES. Mr. BARTON said that sines he addressed the House on the subject of a letter written by one of the Judges’, the Government had been : a deed several questions on the subject. When ho received the proof from Hansard he sent a letter the Government, stating tho report was a correct «>ne of what he said, that those were his charges, and that he was prepare jI to substantiate those charges by evidence.- tie kad since received a letter from the Colonial Secretary, acknowledging tho receipt or this letter and enclosure, and saying “ the Government are of opinion that no inquiry should be made against Judges or other persons, unless the charges are particularised and specified.” (Hear, hear.) “This report of your speech does not do so.” This letter appeared to him 1 to bo very unsatisfactory. The report of his speech contained thirteen specific charges, though no dates or persons were mentioned, ‘ and tho Government ought to have said in what way the charges were nob specified. He would now proceed to specify ten of the charges. Mr. BOWEN rose to a point of order. He thought the hon. member ought to make his | charges in writing, as 'requested by the Government to do, and not in a speech on a 1 motion for going into committee of supply. 1 Mr. ROLLESTON said it was the contitu- 1 tional practice, before bringing an indictment | against the Judges before the House, that it ■ rested with, tho Government to say whether there was a case. The Government had already said thero was no case. It would be a most 1 mischievous precedent to allow the hou. 1 member to make a speech against the Judges, unless he could follow it up with a motion. ; Alter some further discussion on the point of order, The SPEAKER ruled, in effect, that tho hon. member for Wellington could not prefer an indictment against the Judges without the interposition of tho Government. The Hon. Mr. STOUT said that aa the Southern members wished to get away that evening, the Government intended to bring down the Appropriation Bill at 7-30 p.m. If the hon. member for Wellington allowed tho .House to go into committee of supply at once, in. order that the additional Supplementary Estimates might be passed, the Government would offer no objection to hi* addressing the House after the Appropriation Bill had gone up to the other branch of the Legislature, if the House allowed him to make a statement terminating with a motion. Mr. BARTON : X shall avail myself of the opportunity which has been suggested by the Attorney-General, I should like to say only a few words more, and after half-past seven I shall, i! the House allows me, make a statement, and move as follows:—“That in the opinion of this House the charges made by the hon. member for Wellington against the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Richmond ought to be inquired into without delay.” It has been said, sir, that X am the aggressor in this matter, but I can show hou. members that I am on my defence. When the time has arrived that I can no longer appear at the bar of these Courts and earn my bread, will hon. members say that I am the aggressor ? If I appeared at the bar to practice my profession, I have little doubt I should be made the subject of an application to strike mo off the roll in order to prevent me earning my bread for my family, and to ruin me aa a gentleman of honor and birth. Therefore I am compelled to abandon the profession at which I was making an income, and by that to abandon the means of earning my bread. Can it be said, therefore, that I am acting as the aggressor, when, in truth, I am acting in defence of my character, reputation, and position ns a barrister. If I had the means to-morrow to appear in that Court with safety, as I think—possibly I maybe wrong, but I don’t think I am—to myself and my clients, everything that has happened to me would be forgotten and and buried in the • past. I have been confined—and this is the first time I have alluded to it publicly—in tho common gaol for the space of one month under dreumstances of the greatest degradation that it was in tho power of tho Judges to inflict upon me; anaged man, and under the greatest hardships it was in their power to inflict upon me; sleeping in a room in which any number of persona might sleep, 10 feet square, and sleeping on the floor, locked up for twelve hours, with no means of ogres* for any purpose whatever. And up to this hour those who aro now resisting mo have never allowed mo to knotv why I was given that month’s degradation and imprisonment. It is not iu writing, any where. Nothing has been stated, except in general terms, that my conduct was turning tho Court into a beai garden ; and under these circumstances I shall claim this evening from this House tho right of being put 5a tho same position as those who have punished me. I have suffered a terrible degradation which I never can forgot, and my family and descendants will feel tho disgrace of that degradation as long aa they live, and up to this moment X am not told why X was subjected to it. Under these circumstances, I ought to bo allowed to prefer my charge against them, aud get back to the earning of my bread aud the support of my family. . The House then resolved itself into committee of supply. Thefollowingadditional Supplementary Etslii mates were passed:—Law and Justice, £200; Marine, £SOO ; Railways, £5949 ss. 7d. ; Miscellaneous, Special, and Temporary, £4872 10s. ; Roads through reserves in Canterbury, £IO,OOO ; Total chargeable on Consolidated Fund, £21,521 18s. 7d.; Public Raidings, £2650. ' • - ■ hi EMI SERVICE. . The Hon. Mr. MAOANDREW moved,— That this House do resolro itself into commit*

7 tee of the whole to consider tho following re- ; solution:—That a direct monthly steam i service between New Zealand aud the mother country would be highly advantageous to both • countries, and that the Government be author- • ised to enter into arrangements for tho establishing of such service, subject to the followi ing general conditions : 1, Vessels to bo of ; such draught of water as shall enable them to enter tho principal ports in the colony. 2. The contract time between the final port of departure and the final port of arrival not to exceed days. 3.. Government to guara >tee to ship 1000 statute adults by each monthly steamer inwards during a period of five years from commencement of service, and fa pay by way of subsidy a sum not exceeding £ annually during the like period. He regretted it had been brought forward at a very late hour of the session, and said he would not have brought it forward were it not that he was advised by both sides of the House to do so, and unless both sides of the House now . approved of it, it would be of no value. He thought vessels of not less than 500 tons would be sufficient, and that to meet the first condition it would be necessary to specially build vessels, which the parties considering the matter were, he understood, willing to do. He thought as to the length of trip it should be forty-five clays, aud that the number of adults guaranteed should be 800 per month, and not 1000. As to the subsidy, he thought perhaps £30,000 per annum would be sufficient, but to give a margin ho would propose £50,000. Ho believed the colony would benefit to the extent of at least £IOO,OOO in the sale of Us products ; indeed it might be made a condition of contract that the vessels should be provisioned from New Zealand products. He foresaw great advantages from tho project. Indeed he considered it the only means to be adopted to secure immigrants of the right stamp, and so large did he anticipate the traffic would be, both inward and outward, that he believed it would soon be necessary to make it a weekly instead of a monthly lino. He pointed out that the present contract with the Albion Company for the conveyance of immigrants might be terminated at six months' notice, so that the new order of things could be commenced at once. He might remark that at present we were paying £IG per head for immigrants' passages. Mr. MURRAY-AYN3LEY did not intend to oppose the motion for going into committee, but would like to have had more information. It was true that Immigrants now cost £l6 per head, hut 30s. was paid for office expenses, and that would still have to be paid whether a steam service was employed or not. Then again, if tho ship were provisioned from the cvlouy, wo should lose the profit at present gained by the purchase of stoves in a cheap market, though, of conv-e wo should sell our produce. If we sold our produce we should have to pay more for the maintenance ! of our immigrants on tho voyage. He thought the whole subject should be left over till next session, because it was impossible for tho House to come to an intelligent conclusion on tho subject without more precise data. Ho believed the proposal amounted to this -to increase our immigration expenditure by £150,000 a year. No doubt tho hoa. member was entitled to great credit, aud if more information could bo afforded, no one would more readily support the lion, member than he would, for ho had supported him in his first movement to connect New Zealand and Melbourne by steam. Tho Hon. Mr. GISBORNE had no objection to go into committee, bub he objected in the first place to guarantee immigration for five years, especially free immigration, because he preferred the plan of gradually substituting nominated or assisted immigration. Then, again, at tho present time they could arrange for immigrants to arrive at the best season of tho year, but under this proposal the immigrants would arrive month by month. That was an objection. No doubt it was desirable to establish a steam service, bub it could not bo done in a hurry, and he would wish to see ai\y contract made subject to confirmation by the Parliament, because in a large subject like this, where a large appropriation extending over five years was to be made, it was not well to ignore the other House.' Sir R. DOUGLAS moved the previous question. Mr. BRANDON thought it. monstrous to bring down such a proposal at so late a period of the session. Mr. ROLLESTON felt sure the House would not entertain the subject seriously, and therefore would not speak to the general question, but would just remark that the proposal to introduce 800 or 1000 immigrants a month displayed the greatest possible ignorance of the matter. The colony could not absorb so many immigrants per month for so long a time; and, further, they could not bo obtained at Home. The worst feature of the immigration scheme of the past had been that a certain number of immigrants had to be obtained by a certain date. The result was that if suitable immigrants were not obtained the ship had to be filled up with any persons who could be got together, no watter whether fit persons or not. There should be definite proposals and estimates before the House was asked to take up the question. Dr. HODGKINSON thought tho Minister for Public Works deserving of every credit for the action he had taken in bringing the matter before the House, bat it coaid not be entertained this session. The House then resolved itself into committee of the whole. Tho Hon. Mr. HACANDREW then moved that progress be reported, expressing regret that the resolution had not been better received. Ho hoped next year to bring down proposals which would be acceptable to the House (Hear, hear.) Mr. WAKEFIELD believed that if that were done the House would receive the motion favorably, but the House could not accept proposals such as that shadowed forth iu the resolution.. After some discussion the motion was agreed to. APPROPRIATION BILL. After the usual formality, this BUI was brought in and read a first time. On the motion for tho second reading, Mr. JOHNSTON wanted to know what was going to be done about the Electoral Bill. It was stated in Government newspapers that tho Government were going to give up their benevolent project to enfranchise 70,000 people because the Legislative Council would not allow them to swamp three or four North Island constituencies. Was that so ? .The Hon. Mr. STOUT said it was not usual to take a debate on the second reading, bub on the third reading of such a Bill as this. That bad been done ever since 1870. The SPEAKER was understood to say that discussions could not bo taken unless relevant to tho Bill. Major ATKINSON thought tho request of the honorable member for Manawatu was reasonable, and perhaps the Opposition might move that tho third reading should be pest poned till the Government announced, with regard to the Electoral Bill, what they were going to do. Mr. ROLLESTON also pressed the question. Sir GEORGE GREY said tho Government did not intend to proceed further with tho Electoral Bill. Further on he would state more fully what was going to bo done. The Bill was then read a second time, aud passed through committee. On the motion for the third reading, Major ATKINSON took occasion to criticise tho work of the session. The Government had taken office with the declaration that their predecessors had been guilty of great corruption, and that large sums of money could bo saved iu the public service, bub they had failed to prove tho charges or to reduce the expenditure. He recapitulated what he bad said on the second reading of the Land Tax Bill, and referred to tho fact that his statement on that occasion had not been traversed in any particular. Tho Premier also undertook to save £IOO,OOO on tho Estimates for the year, pledging himself to do so, but instead of that ho had taken tho Estimates of the late Government and exceeded them by £7OOO ; and this year tho Estimates exceeded those of last year by £40,000. He did not find fault with the Estimates, but merelv wished to point out that the hon. gentleman had failed to carry out the pledge ho had given so positively. Then the Premier, when in opposition, had stated that there was £345,000, at a moderate calculation, paid by tho working classes which ought to be paid by the wealthy classes ; and this statement was made, not hastily or rashly, but after mature consideration, and after a forty years’ study of tho whole subject. But the Government had never attempted to do this. The Land Tax Tariff and other financial Bills were simply 'abortions, and did not iu any any way carry out that purpose. There had been, remissions of Customs to the extent of £IOO,OOO, nob £345,000, and a beer duty of £40,000 had been sought to bo imposed on tho working classes. The Land Tax Bill would would only touch tho struggling agriculturist

who had his lands mortgager] ; and thus a poor class would pay the taxes which should fall on the shoulders of the rich. This was the only attempt made by the Governmentto carry out the.promises ou which they ascended to office. ‘ The Companies Income Duty Bill showed that the Government would not tax aovthiug hut land, and that while the colony hail 26,1)00,000 acres of land which it was trying to dispose of to small settlors,, tlleso persons bad been discouraged aud tho rich classes protected. Ho twitted the Government on the manner in which they had eaten thenwords in connection with standing or falling on their financial Bills, and said he had never soon a Government in a more contemptible position. He then went on to speak ef the abandonment of the Electoral Bill, and pointed to the inconsistency of the Government in refusing to go on with the Bill. The Premier had declared that 70,000 men were languishing for freedom; yet when both Houses had agreed to enfranchise the 70,000 men, the Premier would not grant them that liberty because Parliament had insisted that tho proposals brought down by the Government in reference to tire native vote, after eight months’ consideration, should not be amended, but that tho Bill in this respect should be passed as it was put before the House. The fact was that the Premier threw up this Bill because he was not allowed to swamp the European electors in the North Island. He challenged the Premier to go to tho country on th • question whether tho North Island was to be governed by the Maoris or whether the constitution was to have free play. He had purposely refrained from criticising the native policy, because he recognised that it must to a great extent be left with tho Minister fertile time being, aud that it was not desirable to criticise his conduct unless it was with the object of deposing him from office, or dealing with a proposal to change tho native policy. Neither of these occasions had arisen during the session, and he was not now going to discuss native affairs except to deny the statement that the present. Government had; only £SO for every £IOO possessed by the late Government for native purposes. Ho wont into this point at great length, quoting figures to show that the present Government had had as much per annum as their predecessors. He next complained that although the Premierhad always complained of Orders-in-Council, iu no session had orders-in-council ever formed so largo a part of the machinery of Acts of Parliament ; and went ou to deal with the neglect of the Government to attempt to improve, even in technical particulars, the present system of local self-government exempt by Oi-devs-in-Council. He criticised the action of the Premier in endeavoring to get the Land Act vetoed, after having forwarded it in tho House ; aud having tailed to bring forward any measure to readjust the representation, after having for two or three years declared that the House did not represent the country, aud that its opinions were worth nothing in consequence. He warned the Government that if fchev desired to occupy those benches this time next y.-ar they must mend their ways. Sir GE I KG Id GK ICY re-asserted every one of the charges he had made, and said the hon. gen 1 leraan and his friends had for years legislated so as to throw large estates into their own hands. “ I charge those hou. gentlemen, sir,” said tho hon, member, “ with having applied tho public funds to the advantage of themselves and their friends, with having taken cave that the native lands went to their friends, who realised large fortunes therefrom.” Major ATKINSON moved that the words be taken down. The words were accordingly taken down, and tho Premier asked if he had anything to say in reference thereto. Sir GEORGE GREY said those were his firm convictions, and he believed bo could prove the charges. Major ATKINSON desired an explanation. These charges had been constantly made, and in the past he had submitted to them, trusting to his general character for a reputation ; but now the matter had assumed a different phase, seeing the hon. gentleman had been in office for twelve months, and had had all records at his disposal. After some discussion on points of order, Mr. GISBORNE desired to know whether, in the House, they were “objectionable” words within tho meaning of the standing orders. Mr. MOSS thought the words did not impute personal dishonesty to the hon. member for Egmont. , After some further discussion ou points of order, Major ATKINSON demanded protection from charges which simply indicated, in hii opinion, personal corruption. If the House considered the words did not hem-that meaning, then he had nothing more to say. It would be a public calamity if a public man had been guilty of the crimes and misdemeanors charged to his account; if they were true he should be branded with infamy and thoroughly punished. He moved that the charges be referred to a select committee for investigation. Tho Hon. Mr. STOUT said the motion could not be put, because it was opposed to the theory of tho taking down of words. The motion did not relate to words of heat or disorder which was only intended to be referred to by the standing orders. These were simply charges which could be investigated at any time. This point was discussed at some length. The SPEAKER said he entirely differed from the Attorney-General. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN moved as an amendment, —“That the words used do notsufficiently transgress the rules of debate as to render further action necessary, and directs that tlie lion, member procdftl with his speech.” Mr. PYKE pointed out that not select committee could sit this session. He said this, at tho same time believing thero was no truth iu tho charges made. Of ear, hear.) Mr. Bowen aud Mr. Gisbounk agreed that if the Premier did not impute personal dishonesty it was not desirable to proceed further; hut if tho Premier did impute that, then thero should bo an inquiry. Mr. HUNTER pointed out that on three previous occasions a course similar to that now adopted was taken. Mr. BARTON argued in favor of freedom of debate, so long as personal dishonor was not imputed. Mr. MONTGOMERY had not understood the Premier to declare the hon. member for Egmont guilty of personal dishonor; had lie done so, ho should vote iu favor of the resolution. Tho Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON said it would be a very simple way out of the difficulty if tho Premier would state that. Mr. MOORHOUSE remarked that if a .newspaper; published such words against an individual, a jury would bo requested to say what was the meaning of the words. Tho House was in the position of a jury, and it was for tho House to say what would bo the effect of tho words on the popular mind. Mr. TURNBULL deprecated any imputation of personal honor ou the hon. member for Egmont; and as ho did not think such an imputation was made, ho should vote for tho amendment. On a division the resolution was negatived by 20 to 13. Major ATKINSON said he felt a good deal hurt because hon. members had not given him an opportunity of disproving these charges. By their speeches they had said they did not believe the Premier, hut they had by their votes denied him (Major Atkinson) an opportunity of asserting his honor. Eor tho rest of the session he should not ait in tho House while tho Premier was addressing it. On tho question that tho amendment bo agreed to the'House divided, aud tho amendment was carried by 28 to 1-1. Sir Geoboe Guar then rose to proceed with his speech. Major Atkinson and several friends loft tho Chamber. Sir GEORGE GREY justified bis conduct by tho conduct of the Opposition in reference to the telegraph wires, and said ho had not imputed personal corruption to the hou. member for Egmont. Ho contended that on the admission of one Premier a million aud a half had been given to purchase support ; and referred to the Pialco Swamp and other transactions. Replying to Major Atkinson, he admitted ho had said tho late Government should have reduced tho taxation on the necessaries of life, and ho adhered to that. They had a largo majority, they had a Governor favorable to them, .and they had a Legislative Council favorable to them. That was not tho ease with tho present Government. He had a Governor hostile to him, as printed papers would show, and ho would tell the Homo why. Some years ago ho had refused to put in a position of trust a relative of the Earl of Derby under circumstances unjust to the colouy iu which ho (Sir G. Grey) was situated, unjust to’tho Civil Sorvice, unjust to the inhabitants. Ho was required to perform an unjust action, and bcoauso ho declined ho gave offence to tho Colonial Department, aud had since then become a marked man, and anyone who injured him would always stand well with that department. He also had a small majority in that House, He then wont

outo defend the land tax, and said he had so thoroughly .roused the 'Legislative Council against him that they had determined to thwart him in every why. They had for that reason resolved to destroy the Electoral Bill, Mr. MONTGOMERY was understood to object to such language. Sir GEORGE GREY contended it was so, and cited Sir. Dillon Bell as having stated that the natives had passed the Land Tax Bill and they should he punished. He was sure he had said that, because a great many persons had heard it. He went on to say the Legislative Council had no right to interfere with the wishes of the House as to its representative character: but they had given the House a handle to take hold of with reference to themselves, and if the people determined to have proper representative institutions the House must give the people that which they wanted. The hou. gentleman th.m went ou to state what took place at the conference, and said he believed the result would be that a Bill which would go much further would be passed. A dissolution could not be refused next year, and then the people would say, “Go on and get all our rights; give us fair representation, and study all component parts of the Constitution.” farther, they had reduced the taxation ou necessaries of life this year ; they had tasted blood; the taxes on necessaries should be wholly removed, and taxes on property should be thrown on the proper shoulders. All this would be done next year. The Legislative Council had interfered with a hope of being revenged principally, personally ou himself, but neither he nor his colleagues cared for them, but would march on in the path of progress in spite of them. A largo majority in the Legislative Council should not support a minority in the Lower Chamber. The opposition he had received bad nerved him, strengthened him to accomplish that which certain parties dreaded. As to Orders-in-Couucil, time detestable system must bo continued for two or three years because of what had gone before, but he (the Premier) was not responsible for that. Ho attacked the hon. member for Egmont on his action in reducing the loan of last year, and his false prophecy of the financial position this year. He then went on at great length to condemn the abolition of provinces, stating that in that action the late party in power had done great damage to New Zealand. The Government were determined that in some guise or another the people’s rights should be restored. After some remarks from Sir Robert Douglas, the Bill was read a third time aud passed. IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS AIT'ROiTUATION DILL. The Hon. Hr, BALANCE moved the second reading of this Bid. The Hon. Major ATKINSON objected that no information had been given ns to how an’ extra sum of £770,000 contained in this Bill was to be met. There were no ways and means provided to meet this expenditure. Captain KENNY, on beha f of Marlborough, entered a final protest against the injustice being perpetrated against that provincial district. He should divide the House on the Bill to show his sense of injustice. The second reading was agreed toby 38 to 2. The BUI was committed, amended, and reported. MR. BARTON’S CASE. Mr, BARTON then proceeded to move his motion that tho House should inquire into his allegations against his Honor the Chief Justice and his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond; but a long discussion ensued upon the question of whether the hou. gentleman was in order or not, the Acting-Speaker holding that notice ought to be given of such a motion. UUxraltoly the matter was settled by Mr. Barton giving notice to move his motion at 2.30 to-day. The House adjourned at 3.10 a.m.