PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 1 September 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, August 31. In the Legislative Council this afternoon,

It was announced that the Royal assent had been given to certain Bills. The Permanent Officers Salaries Bill, the Public Works Appropriation Bill, and General Appropriation Bill were passed through all their stages, and the Council adjourned at five minutes past four.

In the House of Representatives today,

Mr. Hall moved that the debate on the passing of the Appropriation Bill be now resumed. The motion was necessitated in consequence of the Opposition having last night left the House without a quorum being left.

Mr. Macandrew denied that he was in any way responsible. He had gone away at a late hour simply because it was evident that a protracted sitting was contemplated by the Government. The Government were further to blame in having allowed their supporters to leave before the. business had been completed.

Mr. Sheehan coirtplained that the members who had gone away had drawn their full honorarium.

The Speaker said some members took five days' grace at the beginning of the session and others at the end.

Sir G. Grey said the present episode showed the necessity for the payment of members being fixed at a certain sum.

Mr. Hall said the Government was not in any way responsible for the payment of members' honorarium.

On the motion that the Appropriation Bill do now pass, Mr. Hutcheson reviewed at some length the work of the session. He complained bitterly that while blocks of land had been set apart for Mr. Yesey Stewart and other speculators, not an acre could be had by the colonists who had borne the heat and burden of the day. The motion that the Appropriation Bill pass was then put and carried. Mr. Sheehan drew attention to the fact that two petitions had been presented against him, making false and what were

afterwards shown to be baseless charges. These witnesses had all their expenses paid, whereas he had to bear all the expenses of defending himself from these charges. Ho called attention to the fact simply to show the injustice of the present arrangement in connection with these petitions. His contention was that they should not encourage petitioners to oome there with cases of that description. Mr. Gisborne agreed that, unless in very exceptional cases, petitioners and their witnesses should not have their expenses paid. It created an evil which it would be well to set their faces against. Mr. Hall announced that the prorogation would take place to-morrow by Commission, at 2.30, and moved that the House do adjourn till 2.15. Mr. Sheehan called attention to the fact that a person named Moore had produced splendid gold specimens, said to have been .got not far from Wellington, but in the other island. He suggested that steps should be taken by Government to ascertain the genuineness of the d}s-> covery. He also directed the attention of the Government to the alleged disqualification of Mr. Taiaroa in the Upper House, and suggested that steps should be taken to have him reseated.

Mr. Macandrew also spoke in favor of steps being taken in reference to Moore's alleged auriferous discoveries. Mr. Hall replied that if Moore would communioate with the Minister of Mines he would go into the question and do all Government could do in such a matter. With regard to the disqualification of Mr. Taiaroa he was not prepared to go into the question at present. With regard to the question raised by Mr. Gisborne and Mr. Brown as to the grants to public libraries, the Government would consider any exceptional cases, but he thought private persons might by donations of books do much to assist district libraries. The House then adjourned.