PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 78, 13 August 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[From Northern Papers].

Mb. Steward moved for a select committee to report on the condition of tho Volunteer force, with a view to amending the Militia und Volunteer Regulations Bill. Major Atkinson suggested that each district should have the power of forming its own volunteer regulations, according to local circumstances. Mr. W. E. Brown denounced the Volunteers of the Middle Island as useless for defence or protection. He would vote for tho abolition of the Volunteers of the Middle Island. The Volunteers of the North Island were useful, and should be maintained.

Mr. Stafford said the Volunteers of tho Middle Island were mere shooting clubs. Mr. Steward replied, and the motion was passed with the amendment. The Juvenile Offenders Bill was strongly denounced from all sides of the House, and thrown out on the voices.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, in reply to Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Vogel said he had no intention of increased representation to tho Thames district. The Government had no intention of altering the representation for some time. The Auckland members held a caucus, and on the proposal of Mr. Gillies it was resolved to request permission to borrow £1,000,009 to be disposed of thus: Immigration, £200,000 ; purchase of native Lands, £183,000; erection of schools and school-houses, £30,000; improvements in harbors on the East Coast, £20,000; gaols, hospitals, and asylums, £30,000; and the balance of the million to be spent on railways, including a railway to the Thames. Borne people think that the demand is too great, and that it is likely to defeat itself. Mr. Rolleston is coming to the front, but it is believed that while making flank attacks, he will not seriously attempt to oust the Government. Desertion from Mr. Stafford’s party is extensive.

The second reading of the District Courts Amendment Bill was carried on a division by 35 to 17.

Mr. Bathgate said the Government had no intention of making new appointments under tho bill but proposed to empower Judges of the Supreme Court to sit in the District Courts. The following bills were read for the first time: Bill to Regulate the Liquor Traffic, Bill to Amend the Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1872, Bill Authorizing Mining for Gold and Silver on Private Property. In committee on the Provincial Councils* Powers Bill, Mr. Gillies thought that all the objects sought would be gained by a declaratory act defining the term “ Court of Civil or Criminal Judicature.'* The whole difficulty was due to the ambiguity of the term. Mr. Fitzherbert condemned the bill as the narrowest, most pettifogging, and technical bill that could have been framed. It was evidently drawn up by a subaltern, and, aS the Government could make neither head nor tail of it, they bring it before the House to amend in committee.

Mr. Vogel after speaking in defence of the bill, said that if the House and the Government desired the same end he would not object to reportingprogrew, when in the meantime,a better bill tor the purpose than the present might be foamed. A motion for a report from the General Manager re the Telegraph line foomMaketu, Gisborne, and Napasrwadcrdsrod.