TELEGRAMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 306, 11 September 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(from our own correspondent.) WELLINGTON. PARLIAMENTARY NEWS. September 7. In the Legislative Council to-day, the Napier Gas Bill and the Plans of towns Regulation Bill were both read a second time. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 Mr; Harrison asked if the Minister of Justice would appoint a Deputy Commissioner of Stamp Duties at Greymouth. Mr. Reynolds said the Government did not intend to make any such appointment at present. In reply to Mr. J. C. Brown, Mr. Reynolds said the Government intended to erect a Telegraph and Post Office at Havelock, Otago, and expected that it would soon be ready. In reply to Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Richardson said the Government intended to introduce a Bill to amend the Adulteration of Rood Act as soon as the other business permitted. Mr. Murray asked if the Government intended to take measures to prevent overloading in vessels. Mr. Reynolds explained that there were several Acts containing provisions to prevent the overcrowding and overloading of steamers and sailing vessels already, and the Government were then taking proceedings in one case.

In reply to Mr. Stout, Major Atkinson said that, as far as the Government knew, no advertisement had been issued calling for tenders for the conveyance of immigrants, but all New Zealand Shipping Companies had been communicated with on the matter.

After a little formal business, Mr. Buckland created a lively dissension by moving that a Committee be appointed to inquire whether the appointees of Superintendents did not come under the fifth clause of the Disqualification Act. He did so because he heard Dr. Featherston declare in Auckland that Superintendents were executive officers of the Crown, and it was specially provided for in the Act that no appointees of theirs, drawing public money as salary, could sit in the House. Major Atkinson, speaking for the Government, thought the clause did not apply, but the mover was at liberty to test the opinion of the House.

Mr. Macandrew moved an amendment to make the motion embrace all members of the House, on the account of the honorarium, and when Mr. Buckland agreed to withdraw his motion at the wish of the House, Macandrew pressed his amendment to a division, but lost it, the votes being—for the amendment, 23; against it, 40. The motion was then withdrawn, but Mr. Buckland said he would test the matter in another way. Before going into committee on the Abolition Bill, Major Atkinson replied, as he promised at Friday’s sitting. The burden of his remarks was to show that the Government had not, and never had, any design upon the land funds of Otago and Canterbury, arid quoted a large number of figures to show that abolition was an immediate necessity, quite irrespective of anything in connection with the land fund. It was solely dictated by a desire for a system of colonial finance. He considered that, with the exception of Mr. Montgomery, all the Opposition speakers had been amply answered by those supporting the Bill, and the figures he cited were mainly in reply to Mr. Montgomery’s, and went to show that the Colony could easily redeem all the promises the Government had made in connection with abolition.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. Major Atkinson’s speech in moving the House into Committee to-day was very bad policy, as it actually invited a renewal of the debate, and the invitation is likely to be liberally responded to. Mr. Reeves has given notice of an amendment to give 25 per cent, of the land revenue to all the Canterbury Road Boards, as is now done in the Timaru and Gladstone district.

September, 8. On the House resuming last night, Mr. O’Rorke took occasion before going into committee, to express his opinion of the Abolition Bill. He quoted Vogel’s words upon one occasion when he said that the taking away the functions of Government meant political life and prosperity at one central point, and political paralysis at the extremities of the colony. He denied that any part of the colony was in favor of a change and pointed in proof to elections of Stout, Ward, and others. Ha would like to see the Premier test the matter in Auckland and go to the poll against Sir G. Grey. He considered the Bill a system of bribes, but the Auckland people with all their poverty spurned them. All the bribes in the Bill were delusive. He foresaw that if it passed there would follow political torpor, political stagnation and political degradation.

Mr. McAndrew made a last appeal to have the Bill remitted to the country. He said the Treasurer pretended to have discovered the philosopher’s stone, and could make something out of nothing. If in two years time Otago was to show a deficit of £13,000 under the able administration of the General Government, it was a bad look out for the colony,

towards the whole revenue of which Otago contributed one third. When the glamour thrown over the people had passed aw r ay, they would see, when they had not sixpence of their land fund left what was the real meaning of this measure. He challenged the Government to go to the country, and announced his intention to oppose the Bill in every stage. Mr. Stout then moved a motion to the effect that the Ministry should have lima to mature their measures, and when matured to submit them to the country by dissolving the House. L. Shepherd opposed the amendment. Grey, Wood, Reid, and Fitzherbert supported it. Reid said he was prepared to sit there six months till the Bill was amended to his satisfaction. A division took place, the amendment being lost by 44 to 22. ' LATEST TELEGRAMS. ABOLITION BILL IN COMMITTEE. GREAT FIGHT IN THE HOUSE. RESISTANCE TO THE BITTER END. Friday afternoon At the evening sitting after some formal business, the House went into‘Cbmmittee on the Abolition Bill. Rolleston said it was reported that Government were prepared to be satisfied with carrying the first four clauses of the Bill and that then they would not care what became of the remainder. He asked for an authoritative statement. —Sir Donald McLean replied, stating that Ministers would have the whole Bill, and would not be satisfied with only certain clauses being passed. Government were not answerable for lobby rumors. —On clause first being put Sheehan moved that progress be reported. — Rolleston demurred to the title of the Bill, and said it perpetuated the worst forms of Provincialism. He twitted the Commissioner of Customs for saying that a strong Government was required to watch the Superintendents. The papers regarding loan negotiation showed such an instance of blundering and plundering as was unexampled; a ministry that bungled everything; that has tampered with members of Legislature while trafficking in land, and that had interfered with the independence of Judges, should not bring accusations against Superintendents. The Bill meant bank influence ; handing the country over to bank and land-jobbing rings, and initiating a rotten and false system of finance. —Dignan said he would resist the Bill line by line, clause by clause ; and would demand that each clause be read in full at the evening sitting.—Sheehan made a long speech, but introduced nothing fresh.—Fitzherbert said he intended to obstruct the Bill as long as his strength lasted, and the forms of the House allowed. He commenced speaking at 8 p.m., and continued till 11.20. —Montgomery suggested that the Bill should not come into operation till the sitting of the new parliament; also that all clauses up to clause four be postponed.—Brown suggested that the time when the Bill came into force —ninety days in clause four —be left blank. — Sir Donald McLean said if the Committee would pass the clauses to those* just referred to the Government would be prepared to consider suggestions made, on any others in a fair, reasonable, spirit. —Gibbs said if Bill came out of Committee, not improved to his liking he would vote with the Opposition. —O’Neill said his constitutents were as numerous as Sir George Gray’s, and read letters slnwing they were in favor of immediate abolition.—Swanson would like Government to consult leaders of Opposition as to best course to pursue; then if no agreement could be come to the contest would have to continue to the bitter end. —Reader Wood said Opposition would come to no compromise but would keep up discussion till Parliament expired by effluxion of time.—February 25. He intended to go on speaking till 8 next morning; he would then be relieved till 2.30 p.m, then another relief till 5.30, and so on. The Opposition were determined that the bill should not pass this session; he had nothing *■■■ Bl■Bl foiiM Fe<» ioB adjtM September 31 A warrant has been sent after Constable Axam, late of the Auckland police force, who left by the Frig Moa ten days ago, for Newcastle, to arrest him on a charge of forging an endorsement of a pblicesergeant and another to a promissory note. Several other charges are also pending against him. A whole family, wife and five children at Mount Eden, are seriously ill from drinking goat’s milk. One child has died, and another is not expected to live. They were seized with violent vomiting immediately after taking the milk, and continued reaching for several hours. The goat’s udder, subsequent to milking, became much swollen, but when milked had only a lump the size of a pea on the teat. The cause of poisoning is not explained.

DUNEDIN. September 7. As Steadman’s West Taieri coach passed the Saddle Hill toll-bar this morning, one of the horses shied, and toppled the coach over a twenty feet bank. The driver, Henry Scadman, received serious internal injuries, and died shortly afterwards. There were no passengers in the coach. Two prisoners were committed for trial to-day. Thomas White, an old offender, for burglariously entering the cabin of the ketch Annie with intent to commit a felony, and Ah Chew, for assaulting a brother Mongolian with an axe. Messrs. Ross and Gemmell are passengers per Hawea for Napier.