ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 1780, 15 August 1873, Page 3

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday, July 22. In the Legislative Council the Interest Bill, introduced by the Government to reduce the rate of interest allowed by law in cases where no special agreement had been made, from 8 per cent, to 6 per cent., was thrown out by a motion that it be read a second time that day six months. In the House of Representatives Mr Yogel stated that Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood and Co. had refused to confirm the arrangement entered into on their behalf for a six months service to connect this Colony with the Suez route. He hoped soon to lay before the House proposals for a three years' service to connect with the Suez route at Melbourne. The Animals Importation Bill was brought down for a second reading by Mr Yogel. The object of the Bill was by stopping the importation of stock from Europe to prevent the introduction of the foot-and-mouth disease, and other diseases now prevalent amongst stock in England. The opinion of the House was rather in favor of stringent quarantine regulations than prohibition of importations, and the Bill was lost on a division by 28 to 25. The Ruapuke Annexation Bill, making Ruapuke and the other islands in the Straits part of the province of Otago, was read a third time and passed. The District Courts Act Amendment Bill, increasing the civil jurisdiction of District Courts to £300, giving a jurisdiction in certain equity cases np to £500, and extending the criminal jurisdiction to offences punishable with 14 years* imprisonment, waa read a second time. The Gold Mining Bill was read a second time. A select committee was appointed, on the motion of the Government, to consider the law relating to the Civil Service, with a view to further amendments. The committee consisted of Messrs Stafford, Fitzherbert, Macandrew, Ormond, Rolleston, Reeves, Swanson, Shephard, Wood, and Donald M'Lean ("the mover). Wednesday, July 23. In the Legislative I Council the Hon. Mr Waterhouse moved for a committee to report upon the best mode of securing a satisfactory reconstruction of the Legislative Council ; committee to consist of the Speaker, Major Richmond, Colonel Kenny, Dr Pollen, Messrs Sewell and Hart, and the mover. Mr Waterhouse baid that the Government measure was quite inadequate to deal with the subject. He indicated that he was in favor of an elective Chamber, to be returned by the same electors as the House of Representatives, but resembling the Senate of the United States, either in each province returning a certain number of members, or by members being returned by large electoral districts. The question of the appointment of the committee was postponed till the 7th August. In the House of Representatives Mr Cuthbertson asked the Government " How many immigrants had been landed at the Bluff on behalf of the Government, exclusive of immigrants for Messrs Brogden and Sons ; and what instructions, if any, have been forwarded to the Agent-General regarding further shipments of immigrants to that port ?" He put the question on the Paper because he thought it desirable to call the attention of the Government and the House to the fact that that large district had been

almost entirely neglected in regard to the scheme of immigration. If the House would permit him to make a verbal amendment in the question, be would do so by inserting after the words " Messrs Brogden and Sons," "and nominated immigrants." Mr O'iiorke, in reply, said that the only immigrants aent to the Bluff were those by the Zealandia, and of 319 immigrants in that vessel all were for Messrs Brogden and Sons, with the exception of 13, and of that 13 nearly all were nominated. Instructions were sent to the Agent-G-eneral on 14th February last, to send 300 immigrants to the Bluff, but no repty had yet been received. Up to 3 1st March about 200 nominated immigrants had arrived at the Bluff by way of Port Chalmers and otherwise. Mr Fox asked the Government whether they were prepared to bring in a Bill to amend the licensing law. Mr Yogel made a lengthy reply, admitting that the present system did not work well, and sketching certain reforms in the direction of appointing licensing commissioners, with extensive powers, and the enactment of measures severely to repress adulteration. The Government could not bring in a measure this session, but would support Mr Fox to the extent indicated. They did not, however, approve of the permissive clauses of Mr Pox's measure of last year. Mr Gillies moved the second reading of the Joint Stock Companies Bill, to enable a Limited Company formed in the Colony, to carry on banking in places out of tiie Colony. It is understood that this Bill is designed to permit of the formation of th« Fiji Banking Company. Bill read a second time. The Canterbury Water Supply Bill, analogous to the Acts for the introduction of water for goMfield*, but the water in this case is for irrigating purposes, was read a second time. The Prisons Bill, consolidating the laws relating to prisons, and providing for the establish meet of a place of detention for convicts sentenced to penal servitude, was read a second time. Thubsday, July 24. In the Legislative Council Mr Sewell moved for the correspondence relative to the late Ministerial changes, the Native Meetings, and the Governor's visits to Native Districts, including Kawbia Harbor. Motion agreed to. The Public Trust Office Act Amendment Bill, giving the Public Trustee power to deal with intestate estates, was read a second time. In the House of Hepresentatives Mr Murray asked Ministers in what manner materials required for the public service were procured in Europe. Mr Richardson replied that they were procured by tender and that the lowest tender was, so far as he knew, always accepted. On the motion of Major Atkinson, Mr M'Lean laid on the table a letter from Mr W. Finnimore, Wanganui, to the Under-Secretary for Lands, suggesting as a confidential proposal, that the Undersecretary should persuade the Government to sell a large block of land privately to Mr Finnimore at the upset price, and then allow Mr Finnimore, as Government Auctioneer, to sell the same in small blocks, as Government land. To induce the Under- Secretary for Lands (Mr Haughton) to negotiate this arrangement, Mr Finnimore offered him halt the profits expected to accrue from the operation. Mr Haughton at once placed Mr Finnimore's letter in the hands of the Ministers. The correspondence was read amid the laughter of the House. Mr Webster moved for and obtained the correspondence between the Government and the Provincial authorities of Otago relative to the recent raising of the price of land in Southland. Mr Webster doubted the wisdom of a change so sudden and violent. Mr Yogel said that the Government were actuated by a desire to protect the land from the operations of speculators, and the raising of the price was the only means to do so at their command. The Volunteers Land Act Repeal Bill was read a second time. The mover Mr Gillies expressed bis willingness to amend the Bill in committee so as to leave it optional with the Provincial Governments either to continue or to cease granting scrip under the Act of 1865. The House went into Committee of Supply, to grant an imprest of £250,000 to the Government. During the discussion Mr T. B. Gillies disavowed the position of leader of the opposition. He was not aware of the existence of any organised opposition. Mr Reader Wood spoke to the same effect. Ebi»a.y, July 25, In the Legislative Council, on the motion of Mr Sewell, the papers relating to the murder of Sullivan were ordered to be printed. la the House of Representatives the Telegraph Cables Subsidy Bill, providing for a guarantee on the part of New Zealand, not to exceed £17,000 per annum, on the sum required for the establishment of cable communication by way of New South Wales and Queensland, with Singapore and Europe, was read a second time without debate. The sum guaran. I teed by New Zealand is one-third of the whole, New South Wales and Queensland each also guaranteeing one-third. The cable is proposed to touch New Zealand at or near Cape Farewell, in Nelson Province. Mr Yogel moved the second reading of the Provincial Councils Powers Bill. This was a Bill to remove doubts as to the validity of many Provincial Ordin* ances, which have been considered to violate the provisions of clause 19 of the Constitution Act, forbidding the establishment of Courts by Provincial Legislatures. It appeared that it was hardly possible to pass an Ordinance with a reference to any tribunal by which, such Ordinance might be enforced, without technically " establishing a court." Such Ordinances were therefore held to be. invalid, and might be resisted or evaded. (

The measure was to remove this defect, and did not at all increase the legislative power of Provincial Councils. Some discussion followed. Mr Webster objected to the measure. Mr Cuthbertson said that had it been to increase the power of Provincial Councils he would have opposed it, but as the measure merely made the present legislation effective in reaching offenders, he would support the Bill. Bill read a second time. The Insolvency Bill was read a second time. The Canterbury Width of Tires Bill was read a second time. This Bill was introduced by Mr Rolleston, the Canterbary Council having been advised that they could not legally pass such a measure. It was understood that the Bill would be so amended in Committee as to empower all Provincial Legislatures to regulate the width of tires to be used in any given district. The Marine Surveyors Bill, providing for the licensing by the Commissioner of Customs of all persons acting as Marine Surveyors, was read a second time. The House adjourned till Tuesday, 29th July.