TELEGRAMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 300, 21 August 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. DEBATE ON ABOLITION BILL. MR. PLIMSOLL APOLOGISES. LOSS OF LIFE ON THE DANUBE. 120 DEAD BODIES FOUND. [by electric telegraph,] (brom oub own correspondent.) A portion of the following appeared on Thursday evening, as an extra. WELLINGTON. Wednesday evening, August 18. The House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon was occupied by a debate on a point of order respecting introduction of the Abolition Bill, in consideration of its containing financial matter. Mr. Sheehan moved that the Speaker’s ruling be considered on the following day, and that no business be transacted till then ; the motion was lost on the voices. The Speaker finally ruled that the financial part of the Bill could be considered in a committee of the whole House, after the second reading. At the evening sitting the debate on Abolition Bill was resumed by Mr. Rolleston, who spoke of what the Provinces had done, and the obstructions placed in the way of their usefulness by the General Government. He said the Bill was opposed to all true principles of constitutional Government. He acknowledged that the circumstances of the Colony necessitated some changes, but not those proposed, which were opposed to the idea of simplification as carried out in the United States and Canada. He held it to be the duty of the General Government to work harmoniously with the Provinces, and to aid their Governments in carrying out the work of progression. The essential features of popular government were election, and Provincial Councils. The whole administration of the General Government had been one which could not commend itself to the people of the Colony. His idea of simplification was a division of the Colony into, shires and conterminous local organisations with large powers of Government and taxation ; but he found nothing of this sort in the ministerial scheme. There was no guiding mind in the Ministry, although Mr. Stafford pulled the strings. He thought if the Bill passed, separation of the Islands would inevitably ensue. The Hon. Mr. Bowen replied, saying if there wore any financial difficulties in the way the Provinces themselves had created them. The circumstances of the Colony, that required Provincialism as a form of Government, no longer existed ; it was true the Bill retained Provincial districts because of the masses of legislation in each Province, which extended no further than its boundaries, and, therefore, to prevent confusion, the Government had determined to leave those laws valid for the present. Mr. Murray opposed the Bill. Mr. Ballance defended it, in a maiden speech. A long discussion then ensued on Reid’s motion to adjourn ; the debate proceeded, and the House did not rise till close on 4 a.in., this morning.

August 19. Yesterday the Goverment intimated that the goldfields revenue would, eventually be locally extended. Sir Donald McLean said Government would move for a Select Committee to enquire into the Confiscated land transaction, but only on the understanding that the Opposition would not raise a debate on the motion and waste time by frivolous discussions. Mr. Reid objected to such a charge against Opposition. Sir George Grey declined to be bound, and said that hitherto the Government had shown no readiness to enquire into the Confiscated land question. The debate on the Abolition Bill was then resumed by Reid who spoke for two hours. He said that abolition was premature, inexpedient, and against the wishes of the country. The measure brought down by Government was too imperfect. He defended. Provincial administration, and charged the General Government with a desire to seize Provincial land funds. He was confident that the Government could not carry out the promises made in the Bill.

Cracroft Wilson defended the Bill and spoke till house adjourned at half past five. He renewed the debate at the evening sitting, condemning the system which allowed Provincial Officers a seat in the House. Economy, he thought, was impossible with Provincial Councils, and would vote for the Bill through his love for New Zealand.

Cuthbertson would assist (Government in carrying the measure through this Session ; he condemned their land administration in Otago. He spoke strongly about the cumbrous machinery of the Government, and said the present system could only lead to financial disaster.

Stewart also defended the Bill, as did McGillivray. Von der Heyde spoke against Abolition, but would support the Bill as far as second reading, no further. The House adjourned at 12.30. Stafford speaks to-night (Thursday). Fitzherbert follows. The debate is not expected to finish this week. It is said that the Opposition will not divide on the second reading. August 20. In the House yesterday Mr. Sheehan asked whether the Government intend to take steps towards improving the harbour at Gisborne. Major Atkinson replied' that the matter was purely a provincial one, the House had voted last year £40,000 for public works in the North Island. Abolition debate was resumed by Mr. Rees who spoke for an hour condemning the Bill; he would do h's best to prevent the Bill passing its final stage. Mr Curtis would support the measure; Mr. Ward opposed. Mr. Stafford then addressed ths House, rising amid loud applause- He said never had an expiring Parliament shone more brightly than the present one, in able speeches accord - ing to the faith of members, on a question so important. He regretted the loss of Mr. Fox from the House, but the mantle of Elijah 1 had apparently fallen on his successor (Ballance). He denied that he himself was anything more than one rank and file, having had no hand in the preparation of the Bill how before the House. Ministers were alone responsible. He regretted that Sir George Grey had thought it not beneath him to stamp upon young members instead of holding out the hand of assistance to them. He defended the Minister of Justice and the Colonial Treasurer, and spoke of the power of the eountry when united by common laws, and one legislature, referring to the fall of ancient Greece. His speech was brilliant, and he sat down amidst loud applause. No one then rising to continue the debate,

the speaker called on the Treasurer to reply when White (Hokitika) got up hurriedly, and occupied the remainder of the sitting speaking against the Bill. NAPIER. August 19. Wellington steamer is advertised to steam from herb for Poverty on Saturday, going on to Auckland. ITEMS BY THE MACGREGOR’S MAIL. London, July 30. In the House of Commons, Mr. Plimsoll apologised and withdrew his unparliamentary expressions. Mr. Disraeli considered the apology full and satisfactory, and the motion for reprimand was discharged. The Standard's special despatch from Pesth reports that the loss of life by the tempest of yesterday exceeded the first reports. Ono hundred and twenty dead bodies have been found in the Danube, and many more must have beeen carried away by the current. Colonel Baker, of the 10th Hussars, has been tried for indecently assaulting a lady in a railway carriage, and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, without hard labor, and £5OO fine and costs. August 3. Obituaby.—Reverdy Johnson, Ex-Presi-dent United States. Galle, August 3. Her Majesty’s s.s. Golconda left Galle for Australia on the 31st July. August 4. The Unseaworthy Shipping Bill has passed. Desultory fighting has taken place between the Turkish troops and insurgents, who are retreating. Austria, Germany, and Russia are neutral and have enjoined Servia to remain neutral. New York, July 10 The steamer from Panama brings later details of the great earthquake in Colombia. Cucuta is in ruins, not a single house remaining. The number killed is calculated at 5,000. Rosario, San Antonio, Capucho, Gwariino, San Juan de Urga, San Cnyetano, San Cristobal, Tariba, Lobatera, La Grita and adjoining villages are in complete ruins ; Salagan suffered severely, and die adjoining country is nearly devasted. Chinacota, Chapo, Pampalona, Cucutilla, Arbedollas, Santiago, Gallindo, and Gramolotc have also been great sufferers. The Venezuela side has suffered, if possible, more severely than the Columbian.