PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 762, 20 September 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, September 10.

Tn the Legislative Council to-day. Mr. Menzies moved for legal opinions in reference to the letter from the Secretary of the Education Department, viz., that "the Government has hecn advised that the Otago Education District, mentioned in the Otago Boys'and Girls' High School Act, 1377, could only mean the Otago Education District in existence lit the date of the passing of the Act. The mover thought it desirable that the Council should be informed of the reasons which actuated the Government in over-riding an express Act of the Legislature. Some debate followed, and on the suggestion of Dr. Pollen the motion was withdrawn in favor of referring the whole question to a Select Committee. Dr. Pollen spoko strongly on the wrong- committed by Parliament in allowing the reserves to be appropriated for a particular district, which should lie applied for the benefit of the whole country. The Wellington Local Boards Empowering- Bill was read a "second time on the motion of Colonel Whitmore, hut it was understood the Bill would be so worded as not to give powers to these Boards different to those enjoyed by large bodies in other parts of the Colony. The Council then went into Committee, when the Irterpretation Bill was slightly amended, sihd recommended.

The Dog Registration Bill was recommitted, and a long discussion ensued on the 2">th clause, giving power toI destroy dogs running at large among sheep or cattle. The clause was amended and agreed to. The Brands Registration Bill was then proceeded with, clause 4 being lost on a division by 10 to S. The Colonial Secretary said the Government would abandon the Bill.

At the evening sitting the Colonial Secretary withdrew his amendment, moved with a view to. the abandonment of the Brands Bill, Claires •"■, ts, and S were postponed, and i-.l;-.i;/:o. was. struck out. The rcniitli-.insr clauses were' passed with some amendment, the. omigusioii to. brand cattle being struck out, and (ibl'i'rat'o'rv branding confined to sheep. The Sheep Bill was Slightly ixmonded and roporteu, and the Administration Bill was read a third time.

The Council adjourned at 5.30, to admit of members nttundlii-s the Assembly bull.

The House of Representatives met at -2.n0 p.m. _ Mr. Orninnd asked the Government whether toe news that Maniapoto and native owners of r_uids ihrou'.'h which (lie proposed railway fv-'u.i vmtkato to Taran'aki would run, have e>,:i,.emea in the construction of that r:-.i!v,„y, v.i nave ..oissented to give land io liiv.Viilu fi.i - its construction ; and if so, will the Covernment lav bei'ni-o the House particulars of such promise or undertaking. Mr Sheehan did not think it desirable to give tiie House the information asked for. If he answered the question as lie might answer it, lie thought it would have an unfavorable effect- upon the negol>at;,,i.s n..w pending, which would probably U,st for. years to come. is u. lie laiii on tUe table between tiie (Joieinnieni and the Chairman of Vincent County Council, respecting tiie future maintenance of charitable institutions. Tawiti asked the Native Minister when the Government would introduce a Bill to increase the number of Maori'representatives in the House. Mr. Sheehan said tlyat if t'uc G v ,vear>me.ii,t proposals were iH.t «cuepte<i, tu'isv would bring', in a Bill to increase, tiio numb a. of Maori me.iftb.ws.

A number of notices of moling were gi\eu, amongst them being one f-?.r. all particular.; icKavdmg the acceptance %d a tender for- the 'tanaiiui railway. In Committee on the Electoral Bill, clauses 3S and 30 passed as printed. Clause -10 was amended by the striking- out the fee of one shilling to be paid by any person oblecting to any name on the roll. Clauses 4S to 111 inclusive passed without material amendment. Air. Saunders was speaking in favor of his amendment proposing to retain public nominations from the hustings, when the hour of adjournment ayrh. ed. Vne iionse itLumcd at 7.3y p.n..

In LVnnmitee', M'i.. arnendment was negatived oh division. Clause 112 to 12s inclusive passed with a few- slight verbal aiiibiidii,ei,ts.

On t-luuse 120 (puhlic-ho-uses to lie closed on election days') a long discussion ensued. the Attorney-General expressed his willingness to amend the clause so as to limit public-housekeepers to the sale of liquors wholesale. Manv members maintained it would be impossible to stop drinking on election days and the regulation could onlv have the effect >,f enccuKLgmg sly drinking ami hvpociisy. and tnet.efyi.e the should be struck out. "Tiie words''! bvr.etail"- we're inserted, on the voices : it' was then put that the clause as amended stand p,ai-t of the Bill, upqo which the House divided, thp rqsiilt bwny that t! ( e clause was struck out by 31 against i:2, Clauses 12C k, 131 inclusive, were passed unaltered, A good dual of discussion ensued upon clause 13"., regarding the hours for polling Considerable objection was taken to keeping the poll open till eight in the evening, and an attempt was made to get itopened at eight in the morning instead of nine, but it was negatived. Then the House divided as to whether the poll should close at six instead of eight as in the Bill, the result being that the former hour was adopted by 3t> against 20. Another division was taken as to whether "six" should be the hour, which was carried hv 2(: ac.aiu.st 20. ■il... Okv.se then passed as amended Clauses 12C, 1'37 and, 13S passed unaltered. A good deal qf lUseussidn ensued upon clause 130, but it passed,. Mr. Samidevs moved that clause 1-10, (declaration against bWheiw may be demanded) be struck out. Clause carried' by 2S against 13, and the House ad-jom-nod at ten minutes past ten, in consequence of the Governor's ball. The Committee will sit again to-morrow.