HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 1002, 12 August 1868, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, July 14. House met at Three o'clock. The Speaker informed the House that he had received a letter from Sir William Wiseman, acknowledging the thanks of the House for his conduct during the late Native war. It was resolved that the letter be recorded on the journals of the House. Papers were laid on the table of the House by the Government. Major Heaphy, V.0., asked the Colonial Secretary whether the Government intended to bring in a Bill to cause the amount of duty on gold to be determined in accordance with the respective values of the metals exported. Major Heaphy's question had special reference to the Auckland goldfields. Mr Stafford thought that the best mode of meeting what he was i prepared to admit was a hardship in the case of the Auckland goldfields, would be I to charge a less rate in that district than |at present fixed! It was most likely that a Bill in that direction would shortly be submitted to the House. Major Heaphy asked whether the Government - intended to make any special' provision, for the representationpf the Auckland goldfiejlds. He believed therp .would be. an. accession of 30,000 to the population of the colony before the termination of the summer. Mr Stafford said the Government were not'pr&pared-to bring* ina.Billoa the-sub-ject juat.,yet ; at the same time, theywerpr watching the goidfields closely, and it might be found advisable to make special provision for their—representation. Mr Burns asked the Postmaster- General to allow-rthe dateaud- address on -telegraph messages to pass free. Mr Hall did not see Iris way to aiiswerihg the ' question just then. He thought thejrates charge^ for messages moderate, as compared with neighboring colonies; Mr Cracrofb Wilson,, C.8. ? brought, up „ad[ .interim reports of the JPublic Petition's Committee, which were received and ordered to lie on the table. It' was 'agreed "tnaiT'tTie--House would go into Committee next day on the question of~granting supplies. A long discussion then took place on the appointment : of * caterer for Ballamy'si severarhdn members complaining of the quality of the refreshment supplied by the caterer, Mr 'Osg66d^and a resolution J impressing the necessity of a change, was j ,t r -rv v f, "> rr rr ir -r r

carried, on a division, by 14 to 8. Mr Travers moved for copies of correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and the Registrar of the Supreme Court, relative to a proposed reduction in the officers of the Supreme Court at Wellington. Mr Stafford had no objection to lay the correspondence before the House. He thought there were no Government officers who actually did less continuous work than the Registrars of the Supreme Court. Mr Bums declined to discuss the individual case referred to by Mr Travers, and intimated his intention of supporting the Government 'in all possible reduction.' Mr Borlase made a few remarks, and Mr Travers replied to the Colonial Secretary. The motion was agreed to. Mr Richmond obtained leave to bring in a Distillation Bill. Mr Hall obtained leave to bring in a Bill to enable the Government to acquire land for the purposes of Pencarrow Lighthouse; also a Ferries and Bridges Bill, Police Offences Bill, and Interpretation of Acts Bill. The name of Mr Reid was added to the Waste Lands Committee, arid the House adjourned. j