NOTES OE THE SESSION.

Southland Times, Issue 1622, 20 August 1872, Page 3

NOTES OE THE SESSION.

The debate on Mr Reynolds's motion for reducing the number of provinces to two, one for each Island, was resumed on the Bth inst., and ]ed to something like a scene. Mr Stafford wanted to know what the Government thought on the subject. Mr Fox replied that they would like to hear a little more about it before they said anything, and that Mr Stafford would do tne same if he were in their place. Whereupon Mr Stafford got angry, and said it was a humiliating — thing to see a lot of miserable wretches sitting on the Government benches, afraid - to speak their minds. Later in the evening he had to apologise, which he did very handsomely, and Mr Gisborne also withdrew some severe observations he had made iu reply, to the effect that Mr Stafford's conduct was that of a " scold," and not of a statesman. During the debate Mr M'Gillivray supported tbe proposition, saying that be looked on it as a step towards complete separation, which he desired. The debate was adjourned till the following 'Wednesday. On the same day tbe Council sat in . committee on the Californian mail . contract, which was strongly condemned hy the Hon. Messrs Holmes and Sewell. On Friday, the 9th, Mr Hallenstein and Sir J. Cracroft Wilson took their seats, the latter gentleman being re ceived with loud cheers. The second reading of. the Goldmining Bill was

_L __■--_-« '— ~ agreed to by the House of Eepresentatives, and the Bill referred to the Goldfields Committee. The measure, amongst other things, makes provision for .mining on private property, A long time was spent in Committee on the Highway Boards Empowering (Amendment) Bill. The original Act, which is not very generally known, is designed to confer on Road Boards and other local machinery more extensive powers than can be bestowed by merely Provincial legislation, such as the power to rate pastoral land held under lease from the Crown; also to establish proper tribunals of appeal from the decisions of such bodies. Parata moved for a mixed Commission of Europeans and Maories to enquire into the matter of the confiscated lands. The proposal, after debate, was referred to the Native Affairs Committee to report. Another Maori member, Taiaroa, moved a resolution calling on the Government to fulfil promises made respecting an old transaction Native lands in the Middle Island, which also gave rise to a debate, and was ultimately agreed to. A resolution, by Mr Steward, in favor of tbe abolition of Grand Jurie», was discussed, and adjourned. On Tuesday, 13th August, the Maori Representation Bill, which extends the present Act for five years, was read a second time. The subject of Maori representation in Provincial Councils, which is now provided for by law, though no Provincial Council has yet adopted it, was referred to, and the Superintendent of Wellington said he would keep the matter in view. The Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill was discussed at great length in Committee, and ultimately altered to make its action prospective only, and not retrospective, as had been proposed. In this shape it passed through Committee. A return to Mr Reid's motion was laid on the table, showing that Messrs Forest and Co. and Mr Proudfoot offered to construct 200 miles of railway annually, at 12£ per cent, below the Engineer's estimate, depositing 2£ per cent, of the cost as security. The Highway Boards Empowering Bill passed through Committee after a clause had been inserted compelling rateß to be levied either on the selling or annual value of the property, and not upon acreage. A long discussion took place on a motion of Mr Reader Wood's, expressing regret that the Government had not Been fit to obey the resolution passed last year that the next session should be held in Dunedin. The Government said that they had found the change would coßt £5000, instead of the £2000 the Houbo expected when it passed the resolution, and that they did not like to go to the expense. Several Otago members thought the Government had done very wrong Mr Wakefield said that the resolution referred only to one branch of the Legislature. The other House, after fuller discussion, had rejected it. The motion was ultimately withdrawn. In the Legislative Council on the same day, the Hon. Mr Grey moved for an explanation of the reasons' of the Government for refusing to entertain Mr Brogden's proposal about a railway company. Mr Hall replied that the adoption of the proposal would disturb the arrangements already sanctioned by Parliament, wbich was not desirable. It would also unsettle the mind of the country with regard to the whole scheme, and cause serious delay in the prosecution of the works. The Government did not desire to abandon the control of the public works, but, under the proposal in question, they would have little or none, while their liability for the cost would be increased. Tbe average cost of the IS7 miles of railway already contracted for, was — notwithstanding the rise in the price of iron — only £4808 per mile, while under the proposal, the Company might spend £8000 per mile, and demand the high rate of 5£ per cent, interest upon the expenditure. Before 40 years were over, that would be a very high rate of interest. The proposal contemplated the construction of 895 miles of railway in the Middle Island, and 585 in the North Island, which, at £8000 per mile, would cause the Colony to pay interest on twelve millions. Besides this, all local enterprise and competition would be shut out. For all these reasons, the Government declined to interfere with the present arrangements, but they were quite prepared to consider any other or further proposals which might appear to be to the advantage of the Colony. The Tramways Bill was read a second time in the Council, although strongly opposed by the Hon. Messrs Waterhouse, Holmes, and Campbell.