NORTHERN NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1295, 19 August 1870, Page 2

NORTHERN NEWS.

(FBoar ojjjs. ows coeeespondeitt.) V .'WEi.iJirGTQN, August. 18. , The Netv' Ze^a^Umv'eraiCyj.BiJl, hai been" thrown. oat by the casting vote of the chairman. Half of ( the . Otago were absent. J __ ■ . Mr Macandfew has received a telegram from the L Secretary of ; the \A6nex>tion League, Hoki|dka, desiring i;hat Westland should be united to Otago. ,".'.. -Mr Macandrew is quite prepared to entertain the. #> ques,tion, and enter; upon riegociations. . ~ J ' ' The Otago j niembers ! are favorable to the project. . s ■ The Golden . Crown claim, Thames, Crushed ltjSZoZßTvfrom -111? fcoaa^- . i , ; We take the following - telegraphic .summary from 6ur exchanges i— ' • , . "/WELLiwGTOir, Augnst 10th. . On the resumption of the debate on the committal of the Public Works and Immigration Bill, Mr Richmond said that he iKpught the wantof consistency irrthe boded ill for the success of the scheme. He warned, the. Government not to rely too much on the -Customs revenue, and urged the imposition of aland tax. 3000 families might safely be introduced "during the first year. After that the colonising work should be based on the gross increase in the preceding year's revenue, 7 the amount to be borrowed for any year- not to exceed eight times that increase. Half a million spent, on railways should give 125 . miles in the first year. The North Island roads should be made in such a manner as to be easily adapted for railways. Land was the worst possible coin in which to pay for public works. He supported Mr Fitzherbert's suggestion as to the appointment of a Minister and Board of Public -Worksi but thought that the scheme in! its present shape would result in failure. '.'! Mr Carleton condemned the details of the Bill. , Mr Driver, while avowing himself a warm and ardent supporter of the Ministry, felt bound to protest against the want bf machinery and precaution for the due administration of the provisions of the Bill. It seemed to him as if the money was going to be thrown down for i a general scramble. He approved of what Mr ITitzherbert and Mr Richmond had said, and urged the Government to comply with their suggestions, and keep the control of the expenditure- solely with the House. Mr Stafford: thought that the whole gist and essence of the scheme lay -in its administration, and the Bill required careful revision, or the scheme would not redound to the honor and credit of the colony. He hoped the Government would continue to act as frankly, fairly, and candidly aB they had hitherto doneHe required more information, as to. the machinery even for the present year, and to know how the Government were going to spend the money, before he could vote for the Bill. - Mr Cracroft Wilson opposed the Bill. Mr Yogel declined to mix up the question of the relations between the colony and the provinces with the details of the Bill. Nothing that was now passed was irrevocable, and- the Act could be amended next session if it were found necessary todo so. It must work out its own peivi fection, as it was impossible to pass a perfect 'measure without practical experience. . He could not ' attempt - ta remodel it if it was to - be passed this session.- The Government intended during the current- year to carry on the construction of roads in the North Island, the bringing in of a water supply to the goldfields, ! and the conduct of .immigration to' places: where the local authorities would take care that immi— 'grants would find employment. The Government would accept the suggestion to appoint a -Minister of Public Works, but in the absence of Mr Bell and Dr Eeatherston they would not say whb he should be. They would place the construction of the roads in the North Island .under the direction of the new Minister- instead of the Native Office. They would also adopt the proposal to appoint Boards of Advice, subordinate to Ministers. They thought it would be desirable to have such a Board for each province, partly nominated by the Superintendent, and partly by the General Government. They t also intended to appoint two first-class engineers. The Government would not accept indiscriminate amendments,- and appealed to the House to accept the, Bill: and see how it worked during the year. The House then went into Committee; but immediately reported progress. , The "debate on Mr Gillies's resolution" regarding .the disqualification of Government officers for seats in Parliament, was interrupted by the dinner hour. ; An amendment by Mr Cracroft Wilson, disqualifying Provincial political officers, wag lost by 41 to 17. ' The -Inipe'st Supply Bill has passed through both Houses.. ;..'.'■ i., [ " i ,--..-- August 12th. ; In the debate on the Payments to Prbvinces Bill, Mr Hall and the Westland members urged a further grant to Westland. Mr Yogel announced it to be the intention of the Government to give a sum ( of between £5000 and £6000 to the county in addition to the capitation grant, iHe also stated that the Government

intended to promote the annexation of the Grey district to Nelson,, and to introduce a Bill making the Chairman of the County Council a nominated instead of an elective officer. ' - In Committee on the Public "Works and Immigration Bill, Mr "Richmond, Mr, Jollie, and Mr Bolieston moved various, amendments, but Mr Yogel positively refused to : accept them, and said the Bill: must pass as it stood, or stand over .to next session. - - ? All the amendments yet proposed have been negatived, and the feelings of. the House is evidently in favor of passings the Bill wholesale, leaving the responsibility to the Government. Mr Reader ~Wood said he would adopt this course. Mr Jollie has jast moved an amendment, limiting the expenditure on the construction of roads in .the North-Island to £50,000, instead of £100,000, within any one year. It was negatived on a division by 41 to 11. , The Maoris ,are to- be excluded from the calculation for the capitation grant j and the municipalities from participation in ihe grant of £50,000 to Eoad Boards. Mr Yogel proposed that, half the annual ambimts should* be divided in iproportion to the amount raised by the districts themselves^ .T/his, however, was. objected I:6,' and; wa/ withdrawn. The Savings 1 Bank Committee .have reported in favor of the compulsory ,cloaiig^?f 3*LL theiSavingst panics; «stablislieci under the Savings Banks Act, and the transfer of their,^business to the Post Office/Savings. Banks, the surplus funds beixg f devoted f , Ito . charitable ; and educational purposes, as recommended in eaca case by the trustees. . Mr Fox has introduced a Disqualification Bill. • . : GsETMLOTJTfIi August 12th. , - Mr Wilkie, member for the Grey district in the Nelson Provincial Council, vas tried for perjury at\ the .Resident Magistrate's Court yestierday, " and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court.; fie was' admitted to bail. ■ ; CHEiSTCHUBCja:, August lOlh.' ; An open air meeting of the. unemployed was :^ held this afternoon. There were .about 200 persons present, including a number of spectators. Resolutions were carried to the following effect :~* That; this "meeting regrets that'there are a large number of, competent workmen unemployed in the province who cannot get away." (2.) " That it is expedient that they should unite iv bringing these facts befoie the General and Provincial Governments, and urge upon the electors, &c, the absolute necessity of taking immediate "steps to supply work at reasonable wages by public works, or otherwise, previous to increasing the existing distress by further importations of labour." (3.) "That a Committee be appointed to carry but the foregoing resolutions." Mr Wakefield the chief speaker.