PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 394, 2 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(BV TELEOIIAm.) Welungtox, August 2. The House of Representatives met at the usual time. In reply to Mr. De Latour, Mr. Reid said the Government had never used any threat, direct or indirect, to the County Council at Waikouaiti, to force them to gazette the main arterial road as a county road. In reply to Mr. Stout's question as to what steps the Government had taken, or intended to take, for the establishment of Savings Banks in public schools, Mr. M'Lean said the matter rested entirely in the hands of the Education Boards. It the)- decided to establish these banks the Government would render them any assistance they could. In reply to Mr. .Seymour, the Premier said the Government had received no reports from the Australian colonies regarding the condition of stock in their respective districts. The only document received was from Victoria over a year ago stating that the colony was free from scab. In reply to Mr. Bees, Mr. Whitaker said the libel ease of Russell v. the Waka Maori was practically against the Government, but that in all probability tho plaintiti' would have to pay the costs. A special arrangement had been made for the printing of the Maori, tiie particulars of which woulel be laid before tho House. Sir George Grey raised a point of order with regard fo Lhe lvply given by the Attorney-General, and said that he had made a statement which was not called for by the question. That remark was calculated to influence the jury in arriving at a decision on the ease. The Speaker said it would have been better if the Attorney-General had not made the remark. Mr. Bo wen said the Government intended having a census taken next year. Mr. Fox introduced a I!i!l to amend the Licensing Laws. The Bill was read a, first fime, and the second reading fixed for Wednesday next. J!r. Curtis moved, " That the Standing Orders be amended so as to provide that no member shall address the House for more that twenty miuut s consecutively, unLss by leave oi the i louse." lie said he was not parlicular as to the twenty minutes being deiiniti ly lixed upon, and would be willing to accept any amendment with regard to the amount of time to lie allowed to spiakers, but thought something like a reasonable limit should be lixed. Mr. Stout moved, " T'at the wordß 'unless by have of the House' be left ouu." He <1 id this to pre vent, the majority controlling the power of talking by tho minority. A lengthy discussion took place, during which Mr. Montgomery deprecated tho silencj of the Government on the matter. The .IVen'ikr said the Government woidd not treat the matter as a party question, and would be found voting on both sides.

Mr. St'mi's amendment was carried by o2 a"ainst l(i ; hut on the motion being [Hit, it, was negitiv.d, Mr. Murray moved, " Tliat it be an instruction to tlie Public Accounts Committee to report within a month whether it would be advantageous to change tho limmcial year, so that it terminate on tho ol.it March, or some d;',le earlier than tho 30th .June." The Premier said the (Jovernmeut had no objection to the motion, which was carried. Mr. Macfarlane moved, "That tho Ilou.se aflirm the desirability of encouraging the establishment of beet sugar factories, and give an assurance that no excUe or other duly would be levied on sugar manufacl ured in the Colony for a period of 1U years. Some discussion took place, but oven* tually the motion was \yir.hdrawn in favour of the following amendment, moved by Mr. Swanson, " That the question of encouraging tho manufacture of beet root sugar be referred to a Select Committee, consisting of seven members." A return was ordered of ihe contract price for building tho Hinemon, tho amount of extras in I3"i;ain, the total cost on arrival at Wellington, and if insured. Mr. Frascr moved for a return of oases adjudicated upon by the Native Lands Court during tho past year in eacli provincial district of the North Island, showing separately the land purchased by tho Government under the Public Works Acts, 1870 and 1873 ; land purchased by

private individu.a . and lai-d ret aned by ■ the natives. Mr. Uriiiond proniis i 1 to give the returns as far .'is they could be got. but said they could li"t tell as to land purchased bv private individual.-; ur th.- quantity retained by the natives. The usual adjournment then look Tho House of Representatives resumed at 7-30 I»- m - | 3lr. Rees gave notice of motion to the [ effect tliat tho Government should be : cmidimned fur using their inilu'-nce and : means in defending t he Maori libt.l

j action ; and tliat after an expression of "3 opinion of the House last session, the 1 conduct of theGovernnient in still carrying I en the business was highly reprehensible. | lie also gave notice to move for a com:ij inittee to inquire into the circumstances sf under which the B.uik overdraft at the --j Thames was paid by the Government. ; Tie debate on tlie Charitable Institu- «| tion Bill was resumed and continued until 1 midnight, when Mr. Reid refused answi ri in" some powerful arennrmts against tl.e j ' ~ j 8.11, alleging the lar*. ness of t-lie hour • \ for not going further inro tiie matter. A | ] division was tak 1 n, resulting in the second j .ijj reading of the Bill being carried by -1-2 ! ' against 1.1. Tne nn.iney clause is to be j ij considered to-morrovv. The Bill to be I i committed oil Ihursday. | ■ The Ilouse adjourned at 12.33. I