GENE HAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 220, 3 September 1862, Page 5

GENE HAL ASSEMBLY.

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

AUGUST, 12th to 29tu,

(PROM. OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

r The following is a brief abstract of the more important proceedings of the House of Representatives interestiag to the ganer ft reader, up to the date of the Airedale's departure, received from our own correspondent. We shall publish the debates as the demands on our space permit.

TUESDAY, 12th AUGUST

, special proceeding requiring notico here was the reply to the question of Mr. Fox., as to whether the Government proposed making-any and. what provision for the butter administration of the General Government in tho Middle Island.

The or.lv

Mr, DOMETT replied that the Southern mem bers had h:i<l a meeting whh the Government the day previously. They considered the appointment of a portion of the Executive as unsuitable to their wants, and looked for greater advantages in the future by its not being carried into eilect. Nothing would be* done therefore this session.

WEDNESDAY, 13th AUGUST.

Mr. DOMETT detailed his policy with rt'ir.ird to native binds. The new hill w:;s nearly similar to the oi'.o introduced by Mr. Fox, but went further, giving the Natives the p-nvcr of selling their land to'aiiy buoy ihey'-pleased after the titTe bud been nijuuii-ated on by a Court of Natives under the prt^idiiu-y of an European. He intended to organise a force after the tn.shion of the" Irish constabulary force.' and to form frontier settlements by means, of a loan of a million.

The Customs' Duties Act Amendment Bill was committed; it merely applies to military supplies.

THURSDAY; Mth. AUGUST.

Mr. J'JTZGEIiA LI) brought on t'ne Nominated Snperinti-niitnt'a JJill. v.hieli gives .power to a ProviiK-iai C'.-imeil to nsk the- Governor for a Superhuendent instead cf his being elected. Notice of intention to introduce suiii n [iroposirion -must be j-iven for thrte months pri.-rto a dissolution of the.Provincial Council in wJiidi Hie proposition is to be moved : thus making a dissolution of a Council v necessity, and the return of a new one .with special leferum-e to the point indispensable. Major UICl! ARDSf >N moved that the Bill be read that day six Hi.nirhs. The debate eventually adjourned. The Miner's Franchise Bill, and Otago Kc-pro-sentaiive Bill, were i>ostj>oned.

FRIDAY, ir>Tii AUGUST.

The Otajro .]{epresentatio:i I3i!!, and-Miner's j Franchise Uill, vmxa both read a second time and | committed. j The llon>e in Committee agreed to vote i .£30,000 for five years for the Panama service. I The Local Steam Service excited 'discussion, j Mr. GILLIES contended that instead of there i being three lines from Australia, there should j only be two, viz : to' Cook's Strait and Auckland ; —preferring that the line to Utago should he ! under the control of that province. On a divi- ; sion the proposition for three lines, the third beihjj I between Melhoiune and the South, was carried'! by 30 to 5. ■ ■ ' ■ I The other "two resolutions recommending the! Gi.vtrnmtnt to a vail-itself of the advice of the ( Provinces, and direct weekly communication be- j tween t!ie principal provinces, if .not exceeding [ £20.009, were also carried. A fourth was added I limiting contracts to a year. j

MONDAY, 18th AUGUST. I

Mr CARGILL took his seat for Bruce. The' Estimates were commenced, an,] a portion of the j Execuave departments jjone through. -.'[

TUESDAY, "l!)ra AUGUST,

A Committee to consider. *ho lo~?cs sustained by passengers in the White Swan was'appointed. Mr. (tSLiJKS said it was the intention to'put intj ;;•■• ration the Registration and Tran-sier of TirV:.> .\-\ -»i isfiu. siu.rtly. This is after Torreii's i-;.uth Australian pri.:ciij!e. Mr. ])()MCTT inlro.-luced a Memorial to the Queen, in repiy to ti.e Duko o" Xe*viias!li.''s des- ] ati l,e>, dccHniiig the- government of Xutivcs. Coasi:!er;U:oii uiijfiuracd. Mr. ft )X resumed t'te lon^ standing debatn on the Ministerial resolutions rel.iling to the nonresponsiliiiiry relation? in the tnatu.'r of Native government-betweeu His E:cx'!leuey, and his Minisier?. Mr. .MOIJEHOUSE moved the "previous question.' T:iu debate flawed, and tlie "previous ijuc-itinrr' was lost by 27 to 20, and the resolution* carried by 27 to IS. The, Otrigo Franchise and Representation Bills repom-d, &c.

WEDNESDAY, 20rii AUGUST. Mr. DICK, or; being-refused leave to substitute "Coot's Strait" for " Wellington," in his motion relating to the removal of the sea: of government, withdrew it, and gave an amended notice for tC-!THV.TC>M\ Capt. ATKfNSON brought on the consideration of the Turariaki petition fur compensation id full, but no (It-bate was allowed tv t:-.kc place thcroii, it being ug^inst scanuiiuj orders to discuss v money petition on the same day as that on which iC is brought forward. Debate .adjourned till to-morrow. Mr. FOX made a motion, id!innin<; the necessity for being in'ormod bow the.Government intended to fill up permanently th^apj-ointments of Attorney General, Postmaster-General, and Treasurer, and for further information' relative to the million loan. Mr. Domett replied iio didn't know. He had tried to £<..-.t members to accept seats. Mr. Eell wouldcoiitimic.ro hold the Trcasurcrship conjointly with the oiliee, of Native Minister. Details of tiie loan were not yet ready. If the question was a party one, and the House affirmed it, a. dissolution wouid result. Mr. Fitzgerald urged Mr. Vox to avctj t oflk<; in the Domett Ministry. A sharp debute followed, "when Mr. Ward announced his intention to join the Ministry, if they would have him, us also did Mr. Wood, both of whoso ofTe:s were.ncc.pfed, and it was genern!ly ur.dt-rsood that Mr. Seweil woulcj do ko likewise. Mr. Fox replied'b\* showing tliatliis late colleagues had'made him acquainted with their ■ intentionponie tiay.s ]>revif>us!y, and that they had acted throughout witlj the greatest honor; and that the eminences of the evening were not, as might be supposed, a desertion of himself, that he had some time before, finally refused to join Mr. Domett ; but, iit the same time, left his late colleagues to act for .themselves, in joining a Ministry professing almost the same policy as the one in which they had so "faithfully served. The motion was ■withdrawn, and the House immeaiately broke up.

THURSDAY, 2 Ist AUGUST.

A debate ensued on a motion by Mr. Stafford for assimilating the tenure of Judges to those of England. (Gamed.) That they should be suspended or reinovnble only on nn address to the Governor by both Houses. (Carried.) And that for the next ten years they should be appointed in England. The debiiie turned principally on the third head, many members contending that it was unjust to the profession now in the colony, and would prevent men of ability from coming to practise here, if they knew far certain that the prizes were shut out from colonial competition. The third head was negatived by 0 to 34. A motion by Mr. Stafford was then discussed and carried, separating the office of Minister of Justice from that of Attorney-General, and affirm*

ing that the Attorney-General should not necessarily be a member of the Executive, nor liable to stand or fall with any particular Ministry. A gold-fields bill, the result of the "labors of the select committee, was introduced and read a first time. At ten o'clock, Mr. DICK moved the removal of the scat of Government to Cook's Strait, contending that justice to Southern'interests required it, and that if tht South saw an indisposition to do it justice it would ore long not be content with any such modicum as that now asked for, but would require a thorough dismemberment of the Government. Major RICHARDSON seconded the motion, on which Mr. STAFFORD spoke at considerable length in opposition, at the conclusion of which there were loud cries of '• divide," repeated almost after every successive speaker. Some twenty-live speakers afterwards took part in the discussion, the principal feature of whiHi was the declaration of three native ministers, Messrs. Fox, Mantell, and Wild, that the necessity for keeping, the seat of Government at Auckland in order to govern the natives was a bug betir, and the affirmation by the present native minister Mr. Bell.(member for Southland) to the contrary, and that if the motion was carried he must quit his oKlcc. Mr. DICK, in reply, contended that :fduty to constituents and the continuance in oltfcc interfered with each other, Mr Udl was bound to resign one or the other. The division took place at 2 o'clock, when the motion was lost by one. Ayes, *J2; Noes, 23 all the Otago members voting with the ayes, as did Mr. Mantell (of. Southland), and all the Canterbury members except. Mr. Cracroft Wilson.

FRIDAY. 2->xu AUGUST

A motion of Mr. Colenso's relative to appointments to the -.Legislative Council, affirming the necessity for a select committee to consider the bo it mode of appointing members to the Legislative Council, was discussed and negatived. The Ouvjo and Southland Boundary Bill was brought on fu. .second reading, having been intro-diu-od in the Legislative Comu-il. Jt met with n ■strong opposition from the Otago numbers ami others and was supported by .Mr. Manteil, of Southland, and other.*. An attempt was made by .Mr. Fox i<i throw it out on the grounds of its cumin*,' wiihih the meaning of a private bill, but it failed. The division on. the second reading resulting in I,'i l<v: t u> 23 against.

The .-icond reading of the Gold Fields Bill was earned, and t'ne Bill went into Committee.

MONDAi', :>stii AUGUST.

On the motion of Mr. FITZGERALD the uttention of Ministers wad directed to reporting fnhy.aml accurately the debate by a Guven£ mental stall* ut rcpi-rters. The wnr.id reading of the-. Xoijiinatod'Supfnn-tc-ndent's liiil was liotlv debated, and curried by ■2^ to -20. The adjourned debate on Native Lands Bill (from ihe-iaui), introduced by Mr. Hell, was. continued until 2 o'clock, alter"nrpeate.il attempts to come to a division. Adjourned-until tomorrow.

TUKSDAY, 2tVm AUGUST.

The q'ustjon relitive to tin- next sitting of the AssumMy was hiouirht on hy Mr. THOMPSON, who moved that it he at Wellington. Negatived hy I'J to 22; CaJiterhiiry v.-as negatived hv a much larger majority-, Nelson by'nil the members .^oliijj to. one side and cooling to no result ; finally eonfinnim,' Major Hichard«ons's proposition without a single "no," which was to leave it to His Excellency personally. The White Swan Committee recommended certain claims should be complied with—under L;*>oo.

The Native Lands Bill was again brought on, and ut half-past 11 adjourned until to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, 27th AUGUST. The Government informed .Mr. Tuvlor that there to no intention to alter the "Custom* duties Mr. STAFFORD pave notice of motion for increasing the salaries of the Kx-eutive oflin-rs from ].m) oto LIOOO, and of tl.e Judges LSOO each. -Mr. FITZGERALD brought forward his series of resolutions (eleven) in opposition to the adores* to the Queen before Us..- House in reply to the Duke of 'Newcastle's Despatches. They uuvu briefly iliicussed and referred to a select committee. The Nominated Superintendent's Bill went into committee. The only material oucstinn was," -whether the resolution of'a". Provincial Council, calling on the Governor to appoint a Superintendent, sbould require a simple majority in its favor, or a majority of two third.*, the former was ■ carr.:L-d on a division. 'LU? Native Lands Bill was again discussed at the commencement of-tho <:veiimg sitting, the principal.speakers being Mossr-s. John Wil;iau»M>n, Dornctc, Fcaiherstori, Fox, and Hell. The second reading was carried by 27 to 10, and then went into committee. Avia 27. Noes 10. (.■.irleton Carter Staft'j.-d Rwiull Atk'n-m O'ltourke Grtli.i.ui, R. Wiiji:ita:..!i, Jno. Graham, G. Draiiilou W.;..-d Munro Oiifr.niil Tavlor, \V. W JJu'ler Jlurri*-,u Wiliianism, Ja-s. Featho -ston Kicliuij;i<l. A. •?. Fiuher'ocrt Ki-.-liiiiond, J. C Firz','t.Tuld Ala*m Domett Ithoiies Cooiinon 'Weld Nixon T;vy'or, J. U. C'o!i.'ii.S'j Wilson Oillics Ws-.tt Curtis _■.--..". Huston Wells Bell rairs.— lit. Flt'inlcKon and Sir. O'Neillfor; Mr. Fox and Mr. JJick agfiiiu-it.

THURSDAY, 28tii AUGUST.

In reply to a question by Major Richardson, it was announced that the oilier of the Otago Judeeship, would be made to Mr. C. W. Richmond forthwith. In reply to a question by Mr. Cargill, Government intimated their desire to expedite the erection of a light house on Dog Island, Ifovcaux Straits. Mr. W. TAYLOR moved—" That in the opinion of this House, the interests of commerce and the Colony, call for a revision of the Customs Billies Act of 1858. That without Btrietlv defining the specific changes which are requisite to be made, this Hou>c is of opinion that the direction of such change should be towards a simplification of the TarifF Ly a repeal of the measurement rates at present levied, and the imposition of duties on a few enumerated articles of 'general consumption." The motion was negatived without a division. On the Superintendents Nomination Bill being reported, Major Richardson moved that it be dis charged, which was carried by 20 to 19. Mr. STAFFORD moved in Committee of Supply—" That the provision in the Civil List, for the Establishment of the General Government, and for Judicial Salaries, be increased. That the following sums be granted to Her Maiesty for the Salaries and expenses of the undermentioned Offices per annum—■ Governor ... *~. ... .. £4,500 Governor's Establishment ~»".-■ 1000 Chief Justice „, ~'. ~. 1700 Three Puisne Judges (at LISOO each) ... ... 4500 Colonial or Chief-Secretary ... 1000 Colonial Treasurer ... ... 1000 Minister for Native AfFairs .. 1000 Postmaster General ... ... 1000 Attorney General ... ... 1000 Under Secretary (permanent) ... 6UO Assistant Treasurer do. ... 600 Assistant Law Oflieer do. ... 600 General Expenses ..,.., 500

That a respectful address be preserited to'llis Excellency the Governor, requesting His Excellency to cause to be brought into the House of llepresentntivesa Bill to amend the Civil List Act, 1858, in order that the above alterations may be carried into effect.

This motion was agreed to, excepting the item of LI,OOO for the Governor's establishment.

FRIDAY, 29th AUGUST. Mr. FITZMERBKHT mo^ed—'That inasmuch as, by a ret c it decision, .this House has affinncd that, in fntnre, Judges may be appointed from among the members of the B;ir in the Colon)', with advantage to the public service : and whereas it h desirable to remove some impediments that may oMienvise tend to prevent this \visb of the f fousc from being carried out in practice ; mid further, in order to guard from suspicion, iin !cr the new arrangements contemplated, that high character of impavtirJity so essential to i be maintained by the Bench ; —this House desires jto record its opinion, that *in future* no Judge ought to be *a]«pointed to a seat in the Leyislature." Carried on a division. The Hold Fields Act went through Committee. The Marine Board Uill went through Committee. Panama Sloani Bill introduced. Mr. J. C. IMCll.MONl)moved on goinqr into Committee of'Siipply to consider the petition of the Superintendent and* Provincial Council of Turan;\ki to bis Kxeelieney the Governor—'• That this House will con>iiler, with a Htrotig desire to concur in thorn, any propositions that his Kxeelleiu'v, ■ with or through bis advisers, nuy submit to "it for relieving the-settlers of Taranaki from their losses of property suftered duriug the late insurrection, for repliieing that stttlctiM ut on n secure ;m.l permanent luisi*. and assisting .suc?i of the iiiliabitiiiit? a-^ may not choose further to nwnit the i.ssuii ol hh Excoiieney's policy with regard to that Province, to remove to and settle in other part* of the colony."

A debute ensued, n'sultinjj in ■the motion bciiv. ne^itivfd ; and the following om- by M-. 1-TIV. GEItALI), "carried without a divi:.ioti iv it. siead :—■ .

••That whilst" this Comniitteo protects in tinstrouu^t tt-nns nyainst the liability of Urn coloav for the losses "ssiH'i'.rcii by tin; Tanuial:! settlers in the lute war, on the "round that tho colonists wi-r<: in no way rosponsibic for that war, and that the greater p;;rt ot liaise losst*;* wen: incurred jn ccm-sc<iui-!!fo of the want of success of the military operation^, ov<r whieli the Kvttlcrs had no control ; this committee rceomuiemis that the liou.su shnuld'iMitertuht with favor a proposal to advance the sum required for the liquidation of those losses out of the Colonial Treasury, pending a consideration of the proposed claims by the Imperial GviVenimuit; and this eoinma'tee recommends that it bo referred to a select commitvee, to tiiijuiie into the amount of compensation ehiimed, and thy mode ia \v!ii,'!i it iii,iy \n- ik-MrablL- t«cl'.arj^e t'no saiiu' temporarily on the publ.c re .sources of the colony."

After which the ilou^e a«ljouiiied.