Wellington, July 16. WEDNESDAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 113, 1 August 1885, Page 3

Wellington, July 16. WEDNESDAY.

Notices of .Motion. Mb Moss gave notice to ask the Govern- j merit whether, taking into consideration the great number of wrecks which continue to occur at Kaipara Heads, the Government will not now take steps, to connect the pilot station at that place with To Kopuru, by telephone. Among the other questions given notice of were the following : — " 'Whether the Government will lay on the table the correspondence which has passed between them and Sir G. Whitmore regarding the lattor's appointment as com-, mander of the . colonial forces V (Sir G. Grey.) " Whether the well known Harry Meiggs, of Californian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Tasmanian notoriety, is in any way connected with the firm of Messrs Meiggs and Sons referred to in the^Treasurer's East and West Coast Railway statement as -'.a wellknown firm, of railway contractors and financiers ?' and, if the Government are not in possession of such infprmation, whether they will make necessary- inquiries ?" (Mr ' Pyke).

Repairs to Coromandel Prison. Replying to Mr Cadman, to-day, Mr " Rtchakdson said a private con tract had been let in Auckland for repairs to the police station at Coromandel, because it was thought that the work could thus be best carried out by this means than by private tenders. Mr Locke gave notice to ask the Government if they intend to place a sum on the Estimates for the provision of accomodation for the Supreme Court at Gisborne.

Correspondence with Fiji. When the Premier laid on the table the correspondence that had passed last year between the Agent -General and Govern- ' nient respecting annexation with Fiji, Sir Geo. Grey said he observed that in all the other colonies the Legislatures were kept informed day by day of any correspondence passing between the Governments of such ; colonies and their Agents-General in England, but in New Zealand the Legisla- ; ture were kept in total ignorance. Ho wanted to know whether the Government ; would follow the example of other colonies, ! and let members of Parliament have , available information on subjects where the interests of the people were so greatly , concerned. I The Premier replied that the Government had refrained from publishing the correspondence because while delicate negotiations were pending they conceived 1 it would be unwise to publish letters - passing on the matter. The Government 1 had done all they could towards getting the j Imperial Government to consent to the 1 Annexation Bill, as would be seen from the < correspondence.

Returns. Mr O'Callaghan gave notice that he ( would -move to-morrow for a return (1) of t the names of all persons who have since \ July 12th, 18S3, evaded the succession r duty by deeds of gift ; (2) of the net r amount lest to the public revenue by such action specifically in each case ; (3) of t the names of all persons who have paid sue- t cession duty during the same period ; (4) of s the. net amount paid into the public revenue from this source for that time. c

Federation. * Mi' Beetham, in moving his long-standing series of resolutions re federation, prefaced j= his remarks by saying that he approached the subject with considerable diffidence — an observation that was apparently warranted by the fact that ho was listened * to throughout a long speech by 'a^ bare quorum of members. Only two Ministers , were in their places, while Mr Macandrew, despite the important notice of motion submitted by him yesterday regarding "a . grand confederation of the whole Englishspeaking community," was conspicuous by his absence The speaker again used the threshed out arguments which have so often been heard in the House when j this matter has been under consideration, , and quoted extensively from the Marquis cf Lome on Imperial federation and other works. He thought the time, had come , when it was the duty of statesmen to take an aetive^parfc in endeavouring to carry out j the proposals of federation. In the event of his resolutions being carried out, it would be the duty of Ministers of the day to take such action as would possibly lead to 'some . further consideration of the matter in England. '

The Colonial Treasurer seconded the motion. . Sir Geo. Qrry thought the House was very much indebted to the hon. member for the extraordinary industry and intelligence with which he had brought together so many facts bearing on the question which he had ventilated. As he felt certain that i the House would acquiesce in the views ex- ■ pressed, it was unnecessary that he should ' do more than say that in this matter the '. hon. member introducing the resolutions : would always find in him a firm friend ! and supporter.

The Pbemieb suggested that the motion i should be adjourned till the resolution of the hon. member for Port Chaltnera was considered. If that were done, he would reserve his remarks till Mr Macandrew's motion came on.

The Colonial Treasurer complimented the member for Wairarapa on hia singularly • happily worded resolution. Mr Joyce intimated that he intended to - move the following amendment :— u That New Zealand should preserve her autonomy and freedom of action defensively and fiscally, and that all proposals for federation should be rejected." Mr Bebtham concurred in the proposal for adjournment till August 12, which was agreed to.

East and West Coast Railway BUI. On the Treasurer moveing "that tin's House will, on Friday, resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider the East and Weet Coast and Nelson railway, and what concessions, if any, should be given for its construction," Sir Geo, Grey gave notice of the following motion — " That all correspondence between New Zealand Government and other persons relating to the construction of the East and West Coast railway of the Middle Island and Nelson railway, together with all copies of any agreement entered into by any person or persons in relation to those railways, belaid on iihe table and printed." Mr Stout : The Government have'ho objection to do that without notice, but' the ' agreement has been laid on tne table and printed. 1 Sir Geo. Grey: The correspondence is important. The Pbemiek-: It shall be laid on the table and printed. The Treasurer's motkra was then put and carried.

In Committee. The House then went into Committee on the Plurality of Votes Bill (Sir George Grey's measure). It passed through Committee with a trifling amendment.

The House then went into.Committeo on the Presbyterian Church Property Bill, and it also passed without much amendment. On the suggestion of Mr Hubsthotjse, it was agreed to take the third reading'on the Plurality of Votes Bill at once. • On the question that the bill be read a third time, the result was : Ayes, 37 j noesj 29. At the 7.3O,sittingf the House divided on the third reading of the Plurality, of Votes [Bill. Ayes, 36"; noes, 36. The Speaker [ voted with the noes, and the third reading | was thus lost.

Alining Companies Act Amendment. • ! Mr Menteith, in moving the second reading of the Mining Companies Act, 1872, ■ Amendment Bill,- said' its object was to render the machinery of the Act more certain and more effectual. The measure occasioned no discussion, and the second reading was carried without division.

Seamen's Representation, In moving that the Speaker do leave the chair to go into Committee on the Seamen's Representation Bill, Mr Bruce made an eloquent appeal in. favour of seamen. In his estimation, till the seamen had proper representation in Parliament, -their interests, wo,uld not be properly looked after. He was pleasod to have the opportunity of* entering his protest against the neglect and cruel inhumanity with which seamen had been treated in. this colony in .the .past* Mr Allw'right moved an amendment that the bill be proceeded with this day three months. Messrs Guinness and Macandrew supported the measure. Mr Macandrew claimed, as representing, perhaps, the chief maritime portion of the colony, that he knew that a great deal of interest was taken by sailors in the bill. On the question, "That the Speaker do now leave the chair," the voting was — Ayes, 49 ; noes, 20. In committee the principal amendments made were— (A) That the hours of polling should be Cus-tom-house hours instead of from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ; (B) to prevent sailors from exercising a residential vote in addition to ! a property voie, and that to which this measure entitles them. The amendments will be considered tomorrow.

Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill. The second reading of the Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill (Mr O'Connor) was passed, on the understand- ! ing that the discussion would be reserved till the motion for the committal of the measure. Amendments of a minor character were made in the Rating Act Amendment Bill (Mr Turnbuli).

Bills Reported. The Law Practitioners Act 1872 Amendment No. 2 Bill (Mr Fisher), Impounding Act 1884 Amendment Bill (Mr J. C. Bnckland), and the Evidence Further Amendment Bill (MrDownie Stewart), were reported with amendments, which will be considered to-moirow.

Abolition of Coroners' Juries. When the Coroners' Juries Abolition Bill (Mr Guinness) came on for second reading, the Minister for Justice suggested its withdrawal, he having given notice of a measure providing for a reduction of the number of jurors. Mr Guinness declined. He would take the sense of the House whether they wished to [abolish coroners' juries altogether,, or to simply reduco tho number of jurors. The Premier hoped, the House would not 3onsent to the abolition of such juries. If bhey abolished coroners' iuriea altogether, bhey might as well abolish coroners altogether. He moved that the bill be read a Becond time that day three months. Mr Holmes regretted that the Premier did not tell the House why coroners' juries should not be abolished altogether, or of what use they were. He saw no reason why this obsolate system was still continued. He had been a coroner for six or seven years, and so far as his practice and personal experience went, he found it not only worthless, but of great expsnse to tho country. Mr Fisher opposed the measure. Mr Ivess saw no necessity for jurors, coroners' inquiries being merely of a preliminary character. At Ashburton a man was found drowned last week. His body had to be kept some days for want of a coroner, while eventually the inquest was held at night, before a Justice of the Peace, and the jury added a stiff rider regarding the delay. He thought Justices of Peace would be well qualified to act as coroners where no euspicion ot foul play existed. Mr Conolly also supported the bill, He thought the proposal of the Minister of Justice only went partly in the direction in which it was desirable to go the whole way. On the question "That the bill be now read," the voting was— ayes, 13 ; noe3, 32, The Premier's amendment was then put | and carried.

Police Offences Amendment. Mr Fisher, in moving the Becond reading of his Police Offences Amendment Act, which deals with women of ill-repute, said that asthe bill dealt with an unsavory subject he did not propose offering any remarks on it. Clause 4, to which some objection had been raised, was simply a transcription of the Act of last session without any material alteration. The second reading was carried, and the House rose at 12.25 p.m.