PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 496, 30 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by telegraph.)

Wellington, November 30. In the House of Representatives, yesterday afternoon, Sir George Grey, in reply to Mr. Fitzroy, said the Government wotdd introduce a Representation Bill next session. With regard .to : asking-■• for a dissolution afterwards, they would pursue the usual constitutional course. Mr,; Stevens asked the Minister -of Justice whether there was any truth in aIreport appearing in the public papers that a man incarcerated in the Lyttelton gaol, and: pronounced by the'district officer to be a dangerous; lunatic, was, still allowed ■ to remain'an-inmate of. .the,gaol although the medical officer 'had advised liisr immediate removal to the, Asylum, andirepeated representations had been-made to the authorities in Wellington to that effect. Mr. Sheehan replied that the case was one of shamming.; ■;• Two medical men had certified he was a lunatic, but two others pronounced it to be.,pretence. The prisoner, therefore r -was not removed. ■-- In reply to Mr.; {Sharp:, Mr. Fisher said he would endeavour to arrange for the Wanaka to wait for the San Francisco mail at Auckland. .• -''■"'■ ; : < On. the ' motion of Mr. Sheehan, theStanding Orders were suspended \ toenable him to, introduce the Napier Swamp /Nuisance Act Amendment Bill,: whiclpwas; afterwards- passed through all its "stages. The Waste Lands. -Board-Continuance 'Bill was read a "second time, and passed throug^^llrft^Btageg.;;.-" '-.: U ■'■■.'--'-'•< '■ ''■ The amendment of the Council to the i ZTaranaki Sand Company's Land; Bill—- | to effect: that the quantity of sanid to i

w&the Petitions! • l&pmmitteWliad calra|uUy' < considered |the^ jpj n§: /V- V : ■Symx. Trayers strongly exposed the reduction in the quantity. He denounced the proceedings of the Company in regard to experimental smelting as an aboniina--ble-triek: —rMuch' "of~tße~if6nTTmeTtecTwas ore froih Nelson,; iipt jTaranaki sand. -' ' Messrs. Stoutj Murray,, .and. contending that jfhe'.; Company deserved -all consideration, as they had spent all their mouey on experiments, having practically fulfilled their agreement, although they had been '■unsuccessful.

Major Atkinson opposed the amendment; as the Company had merely put the machinery on the grouud, bufchad never made any attempt to use it, or to get advice or practical men. The Company had not acted fairly to the Colony or to their own shareholders. The only reason for promising the land was to get the ironsand smelted, and this the Company had never really attempted to do. Mr. Burns in reply contended that the sand had been smelted, as the ore from Nelson had proved an utter failure. On a division, the Council's amendment was rejected by 30 to 20. On a second division, of 27 to 25, managers were appointed to draw up reasons for the disagreement.

Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Civil List Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to reduce Ministers' salaries. The second reading was agreed to, and on the motion to go into Committee, Mr. Shrhnski opposed the Bill, as he did not think the present salaries excessive. He moved that the Bill be committed that day three months. Major Atkinson thought the Bill a mere affectation of economy. It was all very well for gentlemen receiving Imperial pensions and of large private means to propose such a measure, but no gentleman could properly fill the office as Minister without spending more than LIOOO a year. To reduce the salary would be to reduce the already limited number of men to become Ministers.

Mr. Stout moved the adjournment of the debate in order that some compromise might be arrived at. He thought the Premier should have a higher rate of salary than others, and he thought at least one more Minister should be appointed. The adjournment of the debate would also allow the Laud Bill to be disposed of at once.

Mr. Reynolds opposed the adjournment, and also opposed the reduction of salaries proposed. He spoke from experience in condemning such a step. He thought another Minister in the Legislative Council necessary. Sir George Grey, in reply to Major Atkinson's statement about his Imperial pension, said that instead of LIOOO a year pension, he would now only draw LSOO, and if the Premier's salary was reduced to LIOOO, he would with his pension receive less than the present salary of the

Premier. The Land Bill was then further considered in Committee.