PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 282, 11 November 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Own Correspondent.] Wellington, November 8. Legislative Council. At the evening sitting yesterday The Special Towers and Contracts Bill was read a third time and passed. The Greymouth Harbor Bill (No. 2) was read a first time. The Council adjourned at 11.20, November 11. Appropriation Bills, In the Council on Saturday, The Appropriation Bills were passed through all stages. House of Representatives. November 8. In the House yesterday The Fisheries Conservation Bill was read a third time and passed. The Appropriation Bills were read both first and second times. The House adjourned at 2.80. November 11. In the House on Saturday on the motion for the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, Major Atkinson criticised the work of the session, remarking that Sir Julius Vogel had taken office with a flourish of trumpets, boasting of the great works he would do with his magic wand, but doing very little except as Moses did for the Israelites, settii g up a golden calf for the Canterbury members to worship; but they would bitu iy repent it before very long. Sir Julius Vogel denied tlr session had been barren, and said his magic wand was common sense, with which he had removed the colony’s difficulties. He thought the remark about the golden calf somewhat sacriligious, but at all events the Canterbury members would prefer worshipping a golden calf rather than a brazen one. The Appropriation Bill and the Public Works and Immigration Appropriation Bill were then read a third time and passed. Federation and Annexation. Mr. Stout moved the federation and annexa-

tion resolutions. Major Atkinson supported the proposals. Sir George Grey complained of the lateness of the session for bringing forward the resolutions, which precluded their being properly considered, and moved an amendment, That the junction of the whole English speaking nation into one great confederation was an object of the highest importance! worthy of great efforts and large sacrifice. He said that the outlying portions of the British Empire are already respectively federated to some extent with the Empire, and capable of being still more closely united to it. They should take no steps for confederation amongst themselves which might embarrass another union with Great Britain, or which might hereafter render more difficult to confederation of the whole English speaking nation. After considerable debate the amendment was negatived by 25 to 22. Mr. Samuel moved the adjournment of the debate for a fortnight, which was negatived by the casting vote of the Speaker. Ultimately the debate was adjourned till > yesterday morning; but before the House adjourned Sir George Grey threatened that if Ministers insisted on rushing the resolutions through he would move a vote of no confidence at the first opportunity on Monday morning. The House rose at 12.55 a.m. The House met yesterday morning at 11 o’clock. The debate on the Federation and Annexation Resolutions was resumed and prolonged till about 2 o’clock Ultimately Mr. Stout accepted an amendment made by Mr. Shrimski, striking out the portion relating to the Federal Council, and limiting them to the Colony contributing its share of the cost of the expense of the protectorate over New Guinea. The resolutions were then passed, and the House adjourned.