ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 1797, 23 September 1873, Page 3

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday, September 2. In the House of Representatives it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Vosel, to re-commit the Goldminiag Bill on Friday. The Speaker said that the course proposed, though unusual, was quite Parliamentary. Mr Shepherd said that he was very seldom away from the House, but several goldfields members did not lite the Bill, because if passed it would redound too much to the credit of the member for Dunstan. The Education Bill was read a third time and passed. The debate on the Provincial Loans Empowering Bill was resumed by Mr Reynolds, who defended the measure as necessary to put an end to the demands of the Provinces for Colonial loans on their own account. Other members followed, without exception condemning the Bill, but refusing to vote against it under the circumstances. Mr Ricbardson and Mr Fox supported the Bill. Mr Yogel replied, reviewing the debate ™ detail, maintaining that. *y ~"^ure was a necessity- -°" J would be beneficial, and w ;ndfflgup by bearing testimony to the abilities and good services rendered by each of his colleagues in the Ministry. The Bill was then read a second time without opposition. The House adjourned about 3 a.m. Wednesday, September 3. The Legislative Council discussed Mr Sewell's motion — " That the financial state of the Colony demanded grave consideraiion." Colonel Kenny proposed as an amendment in addition that there should be no more borrowing except to complete works already authorised. Mr Stokes recommended caution. Mr Holmes thought a better class of men was required to carry out the policy. The debate was adjourned. In the House of .Representatives, Mr Eeid's Coal Mines Eegulation Bill was read a second time, on the understanding that it would be considered in the recess, and brought up again next year. Mr Murray moved a Disqualification Bill, to prevent members of Assembly accepting civil service appointments for twelve months after resiguing, and disqualifying editors of all newspapers receiving Government advertisements from sitting in i either House. The measure was received with derision. Mr Murray declared he would take a division, "to enable incorruptible members to record their votes." He ultimately changed his mind, and the Bill was lost on the voices. Sir J. Cracroft Wilson's Protection of Animals Bill, making some unimportant changes in the Game Laws, occupied the House till 2.30 a.m., when it was re> ported with amendments, and the House adjourned. Thursday, September 4. The Legislative Council resumed the discussion of the financial position. Mi Campbell thought the debt of the Colony in 1876 would probably be about 13 millions* If the population had now attained its limit, then they should cease to borrow, not otherwise. Mr Bonai thought the debt in 1876 would probably

I be 16 millions. Mr Sewell's calculations • and his agreed within a few thousands. ' He was against Provincial borrowing, but would complete the trunk scheme, and • would oppose Colonel Kenny's amendI ment. Colonel Whitraore preferred ! roads to railways. Debate adjourned. \ In the Hnu.^e of Representatives Mr Vincent Pyke was sworn and took his seat. The proposed reduction of Od per oz. in the gold duty was negative'], after a long discussion,- by 3i to 26. Major Atkinson's proposal to grant £25,000 for ■ compensation to the Patea and Wanganui sufferers in the war of 1808 and 1869, was. after a lengthy and animated debate, negatived by 33 to 20. A number of unopposed bills were forwarded a stage, and the House adjourned at 2 30 a.m. Friday, September 5. j The House of Representatives was principally engaged in considering the ■ j Native L.nds Bill, the debate on which ' was ultimately adjourned till next sitting day. Monday, September 8. The Native Lands Bill was passed through Committee as far as clause 63, after tedious discussion on details. The Merchants Shipping; Acts Adoption, and the Steam Navigation Bills were passed. On the Gold Mining Bill beine; revived for discussion in committee, Mr T. L. Shepherd spoke at length in favor of the measure. Mr Pyke said the Otag.) miners were afraid of the Bill chiefly because Mr Shepherd was understood to have drafted it. After further comment, chiefly of a hostile character, from goldfields members, the Bill was thrown out. The Insolvency Bill next came on for discussion in Committee, and seemed to meet with general disfavor. It was ultimately ordered to be discharged, and the House adjourned. Tuesday, September 9. Mr Yogel, in reply to Mr Murray, said that the Port Chalmers railway materials had been valued at £9,440 by Mr Henry Driver, who had received £138 15s for doing so. On the question of going into Committee on the Provincial Loans Bill, Mr Tolmie, who had been absent during the debate, condemned the Bill, and intimated his intention of opposing it. Mr Yogel reminded Mr Tolmie that before he left he bad paired for the Bill. A debate on the question of going into committee followed, but it was merely a re-echo of previous speeches. The Bill was then considered at great length in committee, a few trifling amendments effected, and 33 clauses passed. The House then adjourned at 3 a m. Wednesday, September 10. In the House of Representatives the Native Lands Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Provincial Loans Empowering Bill was passed through committee with a few unimportant amendments. Thursday, September 11. The House of Representatives discussed Mr Bradshaw's motion for requesting a Koyal Charter for the University of Otago. Strong party and personal feeling was evinced by the friends of the University of New Zealand, who all oppos d the motion ; aud the debate was ultimately adjourned. The Licensing Bill was passed through committee, Mr Pox agreeing to drop the permissive prohibitory clauses for this year, and rest content with the point he had gained, namely, that the petition of ; two-thirda of the inhabitants of any licensing district against aay particular license should be effectual, to prevent the issue of such license. The Wellington Land Loan Security Bill, and similar Bills for Nelson and Otago, were read a second time, and by a suspension of the standing orders, passed through committee the same evening. The Otago L'>aa Bill is to pro [ vide for the construction of a railway from Tuapeka to Clyde, in the Dunstan district, to be paid for by raising £300,000 on the land ten miles a« -" Bide of the line, ahnn*- <~-^uu acres. -p-^^^i, September 12. me Provincial Loans Empowering Bill was brought on for the third reading. A debate was raised by the opponents of the Bill at this stage, with the avowed determination of taking a division on the question, which had not been done on the second reading. Mr Yogel said he was very glad that there was to be a division, aud the numbers were — Ayes, 50; noes, 22. On the question " That the Bill do now pass," Mr T. B. Gillies, stung apparently by some caustic remarks of the Premier's as to the inconsistent character of the opposition which had been made to the Bill, adopted the unusual course of making a speech against the measure. The Bill was thereafter passed on the voices. The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill was read a third time and passed. Monday, September 15. The debate on the memorial for granting a Royal Charter to confer degrees to the sUniversity5 University of Otago was resumed, and after considerable discussion, of a somewhat acrimonious character, Mr Bradshaw's motion was withdrawn, and the matter dropped. The Immigrants Land Bill, brought down by Mr Yogel, to give land to the value of £20 to immigrants paying their own passages, was brought down for second reading. Mr Yogel, on this question, went into the whole subject of immigration. The arrangements hitherto had not been quite satisfactory, but the Agent-General had been ill, and things were now being put on a better footing. Mr Reeves made a long and elaborate criticism on the management of the immigration portion of the scheme, and denounced Dr Featherston's arrangements as wanting in method and efficiency. The adjournment of the debate was moved, and, after a sharp discussion, agreed to, to permit of the charges made by Mr Reeves being examined and answered. _____—.