PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 419, 31 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by telegraph.) Wellington, August 31. In the House of Representatives yesterday, The debate on Mr. Barton's petition was resumed. Mr. Curtis moved an addition to Mr. Whitaker's motion, to the effect, " That the refusal to receive the petition was owing to the allegations of the petition not being sufficiently specific, and of such a nature that even if proved they would not justify the House in removing the Judges." After a lengthened debate, in which Messrs. Macandrew, Gisborne, Reynolds, Fox, Moorhouse, Travel's, Rees, Bowen, Manders, Wood, Montgomery, Button, Stafford, and Sir George Grey, took part, Mr. Whitaker's motion, with Mr. Curtis' addition, was agreed to on the voices. Mr. Pyke moved to have placed on the Supplementary Estimates a sum sufficient for the continuance of long-service pay to all police officers hitherto in receipt of it, and also all arrears. Major Atkinson opposed the motion. Some of the Otago sergeants had been receiving as much as L2OO to L3OO a-year. The Government could not pay the police in Otago more than equally good men were receiving elsewhere. If there were special cases the Government would inquire into them, and pay compensation

for anything they had lost by transfer from one service to another.

The debate was adjourned for a fortnight. Mr. Travers moved, "That pending legislative action no purchases of or negotiations for the purchase of Native lands made or entered into since the withdrawal of the Native Land Court Bill, 1877, shall be valid, unless sanctioned by a measure introduced into the House." Major Atkinson said the Government was making inquiry, and intended to introduce a Bill to that effect. The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned. On the House resuming, the second reading of the Medical Practitioners Bill was moved by Mr. Hamlin, who explained that its object was c'iieuy to prevent bogus degrees being registered. Dr. Watts, Messrs. Henry and Hodgkinson strongly opposed the Bill, urging that a slight amendment of the existing law would effect all that was required. Messrs. Sliarpe, Wakefield, Gishorne, Howe, and Sir R. Douglas also opposed the Bill. Mr. Sutton supported the second reading. The Premier opposed the Bill, and said the law already gave sufficient power to purge the roll. Mr. Reynolds moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. This was carried on the voices.

Mr. Macandrew moved the second reading uf the Dunedin Wharves and Quays Reserves Bill, saying that the Harbour Board had agreed that the reserves should be re-vested in the Corporation. Mr. M'Lean strongly opposed the Bill, and said all the independent members of Harbour Board wore oppos d to the transfer, which was only carried bv Mr. Reynolds using the position to which he was appointed by the Government to divest the Board of its property, where his duty was to protect its interests. Mr. Reynolds denied the statements made. He said the Government should be ashamed to countenance such acts of repudiation, and added that they had made a mistake if they thought, when appointing him, that he would act the part of a rogue. The land belonged to the city.

Mr. Reid denied that the land ever did belong to the city. It was the property of the whole Province for harbour purposes. Messrs. Pylce, Gisborne. and Lumsden supported the Bill. Mr. Burns opposed the Bill. The second reading was carried, on a division, by 15 to 14. The Oamaru Athenreim Bill, the Town of Waitahuna Bill, the City of Wellington Loan Consolidation Amendment liill. and the Crown Grants Amendment Bill were read a s< c <nd time. The Port Ciialimrs Waterworks Bill passed the second reading. The Napier Borough Endowment Bill was opposed by Messrs. Gisborne and Ormond as improperly changing tie ownership of the reserve. Mr. Sutton supported the Bill, but its second reading was negatived on the voices. The House adjourned at 12.41 o'clock.