PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 105, 5 July 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Tuesday. The Poisons Importation and Carrying Bill was put through its final stages. .TUDICAIL PRACTICE AND PEOCEEDURE BILL. Sir P. Buckley moved the second reading of the Judicial Practice and Proceedure Bill, providing for Judges of the Supreme Court going ou a circuit and preventing Judges from commenting on evidence summing up. The Hon Mr Pharazyn moved an hostile amendment, but after several members had spoken the debate was adjourned. Wellington, Wednesday. POST AND TELEGRAPH SOCIETY. The Hon Sir P. A, Buckley, replying to the Hon J. Rigg, said it was not considered desirable that the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Society should be officially recognised. MONETARY. The Hon Mr Rigg moved that a committee be appointed to consider whether the so-called mono-metallic currency is a sound one ; also to consider the advantages or otherwise of a State Bank of issue aud and a bi-metallic currency and State incontrovevtable paper currency. The debate on the motion was talked out at 4 o'clock. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time :—New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill, Uniforms Bill, and Dog Registration Act Amendment Bill. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Tuesday. THE BANKS. Replying to a petition. The Premier stated that no further proposals had been before the Government during recess for amalgamation of the Colonial Bank with the Bank of New Zealand, and no legislation was to be proposed on the subject during the present session. QUESTIONS. Iu answer to other questions it was stated that it was not the intention of the Government to surrender the preemptive right over native land; that the school reader be published by the Govern mentwas almost ready for circulation. RESIGNATION OF SIR GEORGE GREY.

The Speaker read a cablegram he had received from the Agent-General to the effect that. Sir George Grey posted his resignation of the Auckland seat on. Friday last. Mr Seddon gave notice to move next day that a writ he issued for election for Auckland.

Mr Seddon moved a resolution authorising the Government to expend £SOOO in forming the Midland Railway between Jackson's and Otiara andjn completing the line between Belgrqve and Motupiku. He fully explained the events which led up to the seizure of the line by the Government, and said the Midland Railway Company was practically bankrupt, and if the Government spent the £SOOO asked for by this resolution, and if the Company did not repay it within 15 months from the date of seizure there would be an end to the contract between the Government and the Company, but if, the Company could pay the money responsibility would rest with the Government whether they would allow ■the Company to go on with the line. The Government did not propose that this resolution should be a portion of a great loan policy. Captain Russell contended that to pass the resolution would probably commit the colony to an expenditure of £2,000,000 in the construction of the line, and in order to give more time he moved as an amendment that consideration of the Midland Railway be deferred till after the Public Works Statement is brought down. Sir R. Stout thought the Government did right in taking possession-of the line. Mr Seddon, speaking to the amendment, said it was simply bunkum to sav the House was commtting the colony to two millions of money. Several other members also spoke, among the number being Mr Reeves, who said the action of the Government was taken in order to get some of those million acres that were at present locked up by the Company. At 12.45 the debate was adjourned till the following day, and The House rose. Wellington, Wednesday. • MIDLAND RAILWAY, The debate on the Midland railway question was resumed |by Mr Mills., who supported the Premier' resolution, as also did Messrs Lawry, Collins, Buddo, O'Regan, McLachlan, Buick, G. J. Smith, Hogg, E. M. Smith, Willis, Morrison, and Pirani ; while Messrs Massey, T. McKenzie, and G. Hutchison spoke against it, On a division, Captain Russell's amendment to postpone the question till after the Public Works Statement was brought down, was lost by 40 to 19. K •