PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 10010, 16 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

"Wellington, July 16. In the Legislative Council yesterday, after tlie delivery of the Governor's Speech, the Hon. Sir F. D. Bell raised a privilege question. He thought the proceedings of the first day informal, as the business was done before the Speaker was elected for the Lower House. After discussion, and quoting precedents, the matter was referred to the Standing Orders Committee. Several notices of motion were then given. In the House of Representatives, the business transacted was purely formal, consisting chiefly of notioes of motion. The Convicts Prevention of Introduction Bill was brought in by the Premier, and read a first time. Sir W. Fox gave notice to move that Mr. Seymour be elected Chairman of Committees, and Mr. Shanks gave notice that 011 next sitting clay he would move address in reply. Notice of the introduction of a host of Bills was given, those to be brought forward by" the Ministry being—By the Premier : Imprest Supply Bill ; a Public Works Imprest Supply Bill at next sitting day ; a Bill to make provision for the representation of the people in the General Assembly ; a Bill to suspend plurality of votes in certain cases ; a Bill to authorise the borrowing and raising of money for immigration and construction of public works. By the Hon. Mr. Sheehan : The Natives Grants in Trust Bill; the Native Land Duties Act Amendment Bill: the Police Pensions Bill ; the Taonui Ahautauangi Land Bill; the Bribery Bill - and the Electoral Bill. By air. Thomson : A Bill to amend the Land Act, 1877 ; and a Bill to amend the Land Tax Act. By Mr. Gisborne : A Bill to regulate the control and management of public hospitals and charitable institutions; a Bill to make better provision for the regulation and inspection of mines ; a Bill to regulate and restrict the immigration of Chinese ; a Bill to extend the operation of the laws relating to goldfields over the Kumara education reserves. Mr. Curtis gave notice that he would introduce a Bill to amend the Licensing Act.

Mi - . Macau drew to move that a Select Committee, consisting of 11 members, be appointed to consider and report as to the principle which shall regulate the distribution of Government advertisements throughout the Colony, the Committee to consist of Messrs. Feldwick, Stevens, Ballance, Wakefield, Hon. Sir W. Fox, Moss, Cutten, M'Lean, Joyce, Captain Kenny, and the mover, five to form a quorum, to report in three weeks. Mr. Macfarlane to move that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report to the House what facilities can be given to newspapers for the use of the telegraph, consistently with a due regard to its use by the public, and without entailing an undue loss oh the revenue, such Committee to consist of Messrs: Ballance, Barff, Joyce, De Lautour, Montgomery, Stevens, Swanson, Wakefield, .Whitaker, and the mover, with power to call on persons and papers ; five to make a quorum, to report within 30 days. The House rose at half-past three o'clock. .