THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1653, 25 October 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

"WELLINGTON", Oct. 22. In the Assembly the whole of last night was spent in Committee of Supply. All the estimates (including public werks and immigration) were passed Tiro small items, proposed to b© charged proviociiilly to Auckland, were, on Mr Gillies's remonstrance, and after a debate, agreed to be made colonial charges. The Government withdrew the proposed additional £50 to the salary of the Westland Lands Commissioner. No other alterations were rnnde. In the Agent General's department, Mr Reynolds drew attention to the fact that Dr Featherston and Mr Morrison were directors of the National Bank proposed to be formed in England. Mr Ormorcd said the Cabinet had considered the subject, and had determined that seats in the directory of the Bank were incompatible with the A.sewtGeneral's and Mr Morrison's official positions. A debate ensued on the subject, when the Hon. Dillon Bill declared his conviction that Dr Featherston would not submit to such dictation, and that it would be said in England that the (government of the colony was in the hands of the Bank of New Zealand. M essrs Fitzherbert, Stafford, and others expressed the opinion that Dr Featherstnn was perfectly right in acting as he had done. Messrs B-atbgate, Gillies, and others thought differently, and paid that the horne s agent and Mr Morrison should not be allowed to sit in the directory. In the Legislative Council, by a majority of 18 to 12, the motion for the second reading of the Railway Bill was negatived. Mr Waterhouse immediately moved the adjournment of the House. The motion m to be brought on to-day again, and ib is believed that the Government can command a majority in a tull Council. • Iti the Legislative Council to-day the TTon. Mr Waterh^u^e, having obraiusd the suspension of standing orders, moved the second reading of the Ka;lway Biil again. Mr Sewell has given notice of an amendment declaratory of opinion as to the policy of public works which the Council will ba prepared to endorse. In the Lower House Mr Yogel announced that Mr O'Rorke had joined the Ministry, and that the election of a fresh chairman of committees would take place be'ore the session closed. Mr M'Lean announced the arrival of "the Luna at Tauranga, brining intelligence that no disturb. mcc had occurred at the Chatham Islands. Resolutions embodying the recommendations of the Local Industries Committee have been adopted by the Houpe. These include the encouragement of the development of coal mines, the offer of bonuses for the production of pig iron and steel, the payment of an export bonus on cured fish, the encouragement of sericulture, and the holding of an exhibition of flax dressing machines IS months' hence, with prizes of £300, £100, and £50 respectively, for the best machines, complying with certain fixed conditions. Oct. 24. The Southland "Waste Lands Act A-Dendtnent Bill has been fintlly passed without the clauses which the House struck out of tho Otago Waste Lands Bill and put inEo the Southland one. The House sat for only a couple of hours last night, the business transacted being unimportant. In the Legislative Council the Railways Biil has been passed, and the Immigration and Public Works Biil read a second time. Later. The Legislative Council has passed the Immigration and Public Works BiU. The Council has insisted on its amendment in the Maori Representation Biil, striking out the provision for an additional Maori member. In the House of Representatives, Mr Yogel iutimated that Mr J. E. Brown (of Canterbury) wished to retire from the candidature for tho Chair nanship of Committees. The election of a chairman would consequently be postponed till next session. Mr O'Rorke had been sworn in as Minister of Lands and Immigration.. Mr Yogel said be was unable' to announce any other Ministerial arrangements, further than that Mr Bathgate, by personally attending to the duties of the Stamp department, would obviate the necessity i'or the proposed Deputy Commissioner, and so save £500 a year. The prorogation takes place to-ruorrow at 2 o'clock. Large numbers of the members left by the Wellington and Alhatnbra.