THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1783, 22 August 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) "Wellington, August 19. In the House of Representatives today, a long discussion took place on the fact of votes for allowances having been largely exceeded during the past three years. Messrs Stafford, TFitzherbert, and Bunny condemned the practice, Messrs Yogel and Fox defending it. The following Bills were read a first time : — Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment, Disqualification Act Amendment and Promissory Notes. The Legislative Council's amendments to the Assaults on Constables Bill were agreed to. The Floatage of Timber Bill was read a second time and referred to a select committee. The Estimates are now under consideration. The Provincial Councils Powers Bill has been thrown out by the Legislative Council. August 20. In the House of Bepresentatives last night, the Estimates were under consideration, when the following items were passed without amendment : — Public Debts, £54,950 ; Law and Justice, £57,103 ; Postal and Telegraph Services, £141,813 j Customs, £47,200; and Native Department, £2(3,532. The TNational Bank Bill has been read a third time. In reply to Mr Donald TReid, the Minister of Public "Works said that if a Bill to meet the requirements for the regulation of coal mines was introduced by Mr Beid, Ministers would support it. In reply to Mr Ormond, Mr Yogel said the Government would take the census as usual, and a vote would be put on the supplementary estimates for the purpose. In reply to Mr Fox, the Native Minister said the Government would not introduce this session a Bill to give Maories the opportunity of being elected members of Provincial Councils. The following Bills have been read a first time : — !'o amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867 ; to amend the "Westland "Waste Lands Act, 1870; to amend the laws for the protection of animals ; to amend the Weights and Measures Act, IS6B ; and the Immigrants Land Bill. August 21. Beturns have been ordered of the railway lioes, paid out of the Public Works Loan, now in operation ; of the quantity and value of pig, bar, and railway iron, and castings, imported since 1870. The petitions in favor of the Mikonui water race (.Westland) have been referred to a select committee. A motion by Mr Bluett that the Government should bring in a Bill embodying the suggestions of the committee on the importation of stock was, after discussion, withdrawn. The House having gone into com mittee on the Licensing Bill, clause 9, specitying what licenses shall be granted, was passed with an amendment, proposed by Mr Eolleston, as follows : — " And such as may be provided for by Any Act or Ordinance of the Provincial Council of the Province in which the house for which such license is to be granted is situated." Clauses 10, 11, 12, and 13, providing the forms in which wholesale and retail licenses shall be drawn out, for houses having only a bar opening on to the public street, and for packet licenses, were passed. Clause 14 was passed ; the paragraph was struck out fixing the amount of fee to be charged for a wholesale license. Clauses 15 and 16, regarding notices of applications for licenses, and posting lists of same, were passed. Clause 17, one of the new ones, providing for Licensing Courts, was passed after discussion. Clause IS, with 17 sub sections, fixing the constitution of the JCourts, number i and mode of election of members, and other details, evoked a warm discussion. As framed, it was provided tbat the Court should consist of not more than 6even or less than three members, and all presiding officers, who were to be Magistrates for the district, were to be elected by the inhabitants. After a long discussion, a motion proposed by Mr J. L. Gillies was carried on a division by 17 to 13, removing the elective principle and making the Courts nominated by the Governor. Progress was then reported. A resolution from the committee regarding the Governor's Salary Bill was agreed to. A meeting of the Otago and Canterbury members was held yesterday morning for the purpose of considering the various questions raised in the financial statement, amongst these, the proposals ! to take security in land for the construc-

tion of future lines of branch railways — the power of the Provinces to borrow — and the raising of a loan for the purpose of purchasing land from the Natiros in the North Island. A sub-eomraittee, conß'"e*"iag of three members from each Province, waa appointed to draw up resolutions for consider ifcion at a future meeting. These resolutions aro to be> based upon the opiniona generally expressed at the meeting, which are in the direction that the main lines of communication named in the schedule to the Railways Bill of 187 L, should be completed out of loans without land security — that the proposal to take land should be resisted — that the two Provinces should of themselves construct the various branch lines — and that the meeting was not unfavorable to a loan being charged upon the Colony for the purpose of purchasing a landed estate for the North Island provinces. On the motion of Mr Bradshaw, the regulations for the rewards for tbe discovery of new goldfield-* were referred to the Goldfields Committee Mr Fox laid on the table copies of sundry testimonials from officials in the State of Maine certifying to the efficiency of the Maine Liquor Law. Mr Macandrew mived the second reading of the Otago Waste Lands Bill (No. 2), and briefly explained the reasons for bringing it in, and the provisions of the Bill. Mr M'G-lashan said the Bill was at variance with the resolution passed by the Otago Provincial Council regarding the price of land. He had heard that the Bill had been concocted in Wellington. Mr M'Gillivray urged that the provisions of the Bill were too stringent.