PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 487, 20 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, November 20,

In the Legislative Council yesterday, In reply to Colonel Brett, Colonel Whitmore stated that Sir Wm. Jervoise would be here about "the third week in December, and would commence his examination of the defences of the Colony in the north after having first visited Tasmania, The Education Bill was re-committed for the purpose of making certain alterations in it. The money clause (the Bth) was ordered to be struck out after a division, by a majority of two votes. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Sir George Grey announced that the Hon. Hone Nahe had been sworn in as a member of the Executive Council. He hoped the House would appoint an additional interpreter, as the Government wished Mr. Nahe to sit on the Ministerial benches. Tile House then went into Committee on the Land Bill. On clause 1, appendix 9, land districts of Canterbury, Mr. Stout moved a proviso that the uniform price of 40s. per acre should not apply to pastoral lands set apart for sale on deferred payments. After some discussion, the proviso was negatived by 32 to 31. The remainder of the Bill was passed, and on its being reported, notice of recommittal was given, in order to amend several sections.

On the House resuming in the evening, Mr. Sheehan stated, in regard to the recent disturbances about surveys in the Taupo County, that all interruptions had now ceased.

The Speaker announced that he had appointed Mr. Grace as additional interpreter to the House. Mr. Larnach then made his Financial Statement. On a division the consideration of the statement was postponed to the following day. Some discussion took place as to whether the business should be proceeded with, or the House adjourn. Messrs. Stevens, Reid, Atkinson, and M'Lean, urged the Government to state from what date it was pi'oposed to generalise the land fund. They said that until this was stated the finances of the Gountry could not be discussed. Mr. Larnach said it would be for tho House to settle the date when tho Bill embodying the proposal came before it. Sir George Grey declined to give any more definite answer, and said that as for taking the revenue from the 30th June, Major Afkinson knew very well that only Canterbury had on that day any land fund in the Treasury, as the day before leaving office he had distributed L 200,000 amongst the local bodies. Mr. Sheehan stated that the Government were prepared to stand or fall by their policy, and to go to the country on it if necessary. The matter of date was a question of figures and not of policy, and the House should decide it. The House adjourned at 8.85 p.m.