HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Colonist, Issue 71, 25 June 1858, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On Thursday," April 29th, there were present the Speaker and sixteen members. Mr. East inquired of the Colonial Secretary if it were the intention of Government to introduce any measure for legalising distillation of spirits—a measure which he considered would prove to be of the utmoat benefit to the agricultural interests ot'New Zealand.

Mr. Stafford replied that Government had no intention to bring in such a bill. Mr. East intimated that he would move for leave to bring in a bill for legalising distillation.

Mr: Stafford moved that the Sheriffs' and Gaolers'- Bill be read a second time. Upon which some little discussion ensued, several honorable members being desirous of postponing the question to give the matter more consideration. Messrs. Ollivier arid Hall thought that the custody of criminals, without much better provision made, ought not to devolve upon the provinces, but that some central establishment for convicts should be provided by the General Government, leaving minor offenders to be dealt with by the provincial authorities. After some further argument, Mr. Carleton moved an adjournment of the debate. Motion negatived, and bill rea^ a second time, and ordered to be committed next Wednesday. .', The .reports of the committee on the ttylilitia Bill, and the Interpretation -Bill, with amendments, were presented by a deputation from the Legislative Council, and ordered to be considered next sitting day. Some amendments having been made in the Wool and Oil Securities Bill, its further consideration in committee was deferred until a future, day. Several amendments having been made in the Election, Writs Bill, it was ordered to be recommitted on a future day. The House then adjourned.

On Tuesday, May 4, there were present the Speaker and seventeen members. # Captain Symonds, having been introduced by Measrs. Stafford and Beckham, took the oath and his seat as a member for the Pensioner Settlements.

The Bishop of New Zealand's Bill, having been presented by Messrs. Sw'ainson and Tancred, on behalf of the Legislative Council, was received and read a first time. ,-...,■

Mr. Stafford laid on the table—Correspondence between Mr* Sewell and the Go-1 vernmerit relative to the New Zealand Loan—Correspondence relative to the appointment of Judges—Statistics of New Zealand between. the years 1853 and 1856, making honorable mention of t)r. Bennett,

Registrar-General, for the very careful and efficient manner in which he had prepared them. -

Mr. Ollivier asked the Colonial Secretary whether the Government proposed to bring forward any measure for increasing ~ the efficiency of the constabulary, and rendering the force applicable to.the colony at large. Mr. Richmond said a limited number of police would be provided, and also a petty sessions police for the country districts.

, Mr. Ollivier asked the Colonial Secretary if Government intended to make any provision for a central House of Correctibn. It was, he thought, necessary to separate offenders who were sentenced for a lengthened period of imprisonment from ' those confined for minor offences. ■

Mr. Richmond replied that the Government had not come to any decision on the subject. It was one which was undef consideration.

Mr, Brodie asked the Colonial Secretary whether any land or other property belonging to Mr. Blackmore, late Sub-collector of Customs at Nelson, had been made over to Government. , ■ >:; : _ :? ~,-■ Mr. Stafford, 'as Superintendent .o£! iNelson, had, drawn the attention of thft; General Government to Mr. Blackmore's case. Goods belonging to Mr. Blackmore had been sold for the sum of £260, and -, also certain allotments in the township of, Nelson, but that portions of the land had; been reserved for public purposes. ;■• Mr. Brodie, pursuant to notice, mored "an Address to the G-overnor, to obtain from the Superintendent of Auckland the correspondence and documents relative to the appointment of Mr. Wayland as Clerk, of the Resident Magistrate's Court, the late Census, and the issue of the Binary Writs.

On the motion of Mr. Richmond, the House went into Committee on the amendments made in the Interpretation Bill by the . Legislative 'Council. Two of1 those amendments were adopted; but ,on the third a conference with the Council was requested.

The Bankers' Drafts.Bill was read a second time; when, some little discussion having taken place, it was resolved to refer it to a Committee on some future day. ./the further, consideration of. the Wool and Oil Securities Bill was postponed.

The Boundaries of Provinces Bill was read a third time, passed and transmitted to the Legislative Council for their concurrence; as were likewise the Absent Debtors' Bill, Unstamped Instruments Bill, and Absent Defendants' Bill. . .

The Foreign Seamen's Bill was postponed. Mr. Brodie having amended his motion for the production of the correspondence relating to the appointment of Mr. Wayland—the late Census—and Binary Writs, the question was put and passed. Mr. Brodie withdrew his motion for throwing open the Botanical Gardens to the ; public. . ;

1 On the motion of Mr. Ollivier, the petition of J. P. Robinson and others in reference to the case of L. Berlowitz was ordered to be referred to the Committee on private grievances. ' The House then adjourned.

On Wednesday, May 5, there were present the Speaker and eighteen members. Mr. Stafford laid several papers upori the. table, viz :—

1. A petition to His Excellency and the House of Assembly from the settlers of Murihika. .

2. Copy of declarations and documents transmitted by the Resident, Magistrate to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Auckland, for the information of his Honor the Chief Justice, oh the 11th of March, 1858.

3. Papers relative to tihe late Auckland City Council,—by command of his Excellency. 4. Returns of the quantity" and estimated value of the gold dust exported from New Zealand, to the 31st March, 1858.

5. Copies of all correspondence relative' to the dissolution of the late Provincial Council of Auckland, other, than that published in the Government Gazette.

Mr. Stafford gave notice that on next sitting day he should move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the appointment and tenure of office of Judges of the Supreme Court. ,

Mr. Richmond gave notice that he should move* next sitting day. That on Wednesday next this House do. resolve itself into a committee of Supply to consider so much of his Excellency's speech as relates to the public expenditurq,^ with the view to the grant to her Majesty of a Sujir" plemeritary Supply for the year ending 30th June 1857, and a Bupply v for, the. service of the current ye.ar.

Mr. Stafford moved for leave; to bring in a bill for taking an account of the population of New Zealand.: —lt was impossible lunder the system hitherto pursued to obtain return a with sufficient accuracy,.

: Mr. Richmond seconded the motion. ,The Bill was then read a first time and ordered to be printed. ,

Mr. Daldy moved, that it is desirable this House should, without further delay, have placed before it a statement of the financial policy and estimates of the proposed expenditure -of the Government. The House had been in Session for three weeks, and many bills had been brought forward, and yet hon. members were left completely in the dark as to the financial policy intended to be pursued by theCjovernT ment.

Mr v Richmond in .answer reminded the hon. member that it was: first necessary that the House should know what, they were going to do before the question of expenditure could be entered upon. With regard to. the Supplementary Estimates to be placed upon the table, he (Mr. R.) must plead a personal' excuse for the delay.'

tinder the burden of his duties,™besides attendance upon Committees, his health had somewhat failed-

Mr. Hall thought that it was high time the House should be put in possession of the intended financial policy. .

Mr. Carleton felt bound to support the opinion of the hon. member for Christchurch Country District. He believed the present ministry to be hard working, arid anxious to perform their duties conscientiously—reticence .was their 6nly fault. : Mr. Forsaith foresaw that much inconvenience might arise if the financial policy were laid before the House at so early a period, and under.present circumstances. Mr. Gllivier fully agreed with Mr. Hall that the time had arrived for a definite explanation of .financial. matters, for moat of the bills before the House referred to provincial matters, and those who had provincial interests to watch over, were naturally anxious to know at once what part of the scheme referred to the provincial revenue. He -hoped the Government would not lay itself open to some significant norn de guerre, which so many other ministries had proyoked. One had been styled the " Cuff and Collar,, Ministry;" another the " HalfCrown Ministry;"■ he tiope<| the present Government would not be characterised as the " Bit by Bit Ministry."" ;:./ * After some further discussion, the question was put and passed. Mr. East withdrew his motion relative to the enforcement of British law among the Maories; also relative to a bonus to be presented for the first ton of beet-root sugar manufactured in New Zealand. Mr. East moved an address to his Excellency the : Governor praying that he may cause such sum to be placed on the Estimates as may be sufficient to provide the New Plymouth Battalion of Militia with two field-pieces and 300 Enfield rifles.—^ There was no knowing when the militia.at New Plymouth might be called into aetpn, and. he (Ml; E.) thought: that they should be well armed.

Mr. Stafford said that Enfield rifles had been sent for from England, and were now on their way out. He (Mr. S.) would remark that this was another.objection that might be urged against bringing forward the financial policy at so early a period of the Session. A very strong remonstrance was sent home last May, with regard, to providing adequate military defences for the colony, and no reply as yet received: if that application were negatived, it might occur, even during the last two. or three dajrs of the session, that most important items of military expenditure would be brought under consideration. The; House then proceeded to the orders of the day. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Coroners' Bill were agreed to. The report of, the committee' on the Wool and Oil Securities Bill having been adopted, it was read a third time and passed. The foreign Seamen's Bill was also read a third time and passed. The House then adjourned. ■ On Thursday, May. 6, there not being a quorum present, the House was adjourned till Tuesday.

On Tuesday, May 11, there were present the Speaker and 18 members. Mr. Richmond, with reference to the financial statement, intimated that it was originally the intention of the Government to divide it into two parts —retrospective arid ■ prospective. It was impossible to place it before the House immediatelyi as, being a matter of facts and figures, it required careful preparation: but it was their interitipni with the least possible delay, to Wing, forward a full statement of the financial position of thexjountry. ! The House then proceeded to. the orders of the day, the first of which was the second reading of the Census Bill. | Mr. Stafford said that the idea of this bill was suggested from the defective character of the statistical statements recently placed upon the table of the House. Without some such machinery as that provided in the present measure, no accurate or, reliable statistical records could be obtained. Means similar to those proposed had been adopted in England and some continental countries with the greatest success, securing voluminous and important information.

The bill was read a second time, and advanced a stage in committee.

The hon. Mr. Whitaker and the hon. Mr* Outfield were announced as a deputation from the Legislative Council, bringing up a Bill to provide for the payment of costs in proceedings instituted on the part of the Crown; also a Bill to provide for raising a,. Militia within the Colony, with amendments; also a Bill to regulate the. iExeciisio^ of Criminals,. .These bills w,eye read a'^rst tiihej and ordered to be read?a second time next sitting day.

The Sheriffs' -and Gaolers' Bill, the New Zealand Posts Bill, the Customs Regulation Bill, and thei Election"^ Writs Bill; were advanced in committee. And the House ad:ioumed. :

' Marine. Locomotive.--An. engineer in the United States has invented what he terms a maririelocomotive, which he designs should be substituted for the present steam boat Icraft,; by making the Wof the boat prospelling agent, instead of paddle-wheejs, or the^crew at the stern. TUhe invention consists in using; two huge, parallel screws in the place of the present keel, and cauiing 'them to revolve by means of steam power, ,so that they shall cut their way through' thei water; as a common screw cuts into wood. The screws are to be constructed: of iron, hollow, but divided into compart- ■ merits as a precaution against sinking; in i cast? xC accident. . It is proposed to construct -the cafein of this new locomotive on framework elevated- above the screws; thus admitting the passage of fresh air beneath the vessel,' tinder these circumstances, the sanguine; inventor confidently expects that his locomotive will attain a speed of thirty* miles an hour.