GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1370, 25 July 1885, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.ra. on Wednesday. In answer to Mr Reynolds the Hon. the Colonial Secretary gave certain information with reference to the guarantee of interest to the Wellington Patent Slip Company. On the motion of the Hon. the Coionial Secretary, the personnel of the Waste Lands Committee was altered by the omission of the names of certain of its members, and the insertion of others. In regard to the adjourned debate on the Bank of Issue Bill, the debate was, on the motion of Dr Pollen, farther adjourned. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Armed Constabulary Act Amendment Bill, extending the franchise to members of the police force.—The motion was lost by 20 to 16. The Industrial Schools Bill, and the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill, were read a first time. The Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. The Industrial Schools Bill, the West Coast Reserves Settlement Bill, and the School Committees Election Bill were read a second time. The Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill was committed, and on the motion of Sir F. Whitaker a clause was inserted legalising sweeps not exceeding £5, The Bill was reported and the Council adjourned at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.80 p.m. on Wednesday. Leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr O’Connor on account of illness. Replying to questions, Ministers said : That Government were in communication with the Union Steamship Company regarding the subsidising of a line of steamers to Queensland, and * Government were also corresponding with the Queensland Government to see if they would contribute towards a subsidy ; that Government saw no reason for making an enquiry into the case of Regina v. Bryson, recently heard at Ashburton ; that it was not the intention of the Government to place a sum on the Estimates for the construction of roads loading to the Upper Wa.hoa and Hakateramea, which the County Council of Waimate recommended, averring it would open up 100,000 acres of Crown Land ; that copies of all Bills of financial or commercial interest would be forwarded to Chambers of Commerce as early as possible ; that Government would consider the advisability of granting medals to Volunteers cf 20 years’ service; that Government did not think it advisable to lower the charges on private messages over the lines from Australia to New Zealand, but were considering the advisability of reducing the charges for Press messages ; that Government did not propose to renew the vote of last year for subsidising those postmasters who had to keep their offices open from 7 to 8 p. ra., but those officers who had no assistants would be granted a small sum out of the vote for postal contingencies ; that it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill providing for the creation of Boards for the management of railways. One or two other questions of little importance were also replied to, _ Several new Bills were introduced, among them being one by Mr Pyke to provide for the encouragement of schools other than State schools. Mr Fergus moved for a return showing the number of Otago runs and their acreage thrown up during the years from 1878 to toj 1884 (inclusive) with their rentals. —Agreed to. , A return showing the number of days the Hinemoa had been employed during the year ended March 1885 was also ordered. , . , Mr Beetham moved—(l) That in order to secure the permanent unity of the Empire some form of federation is essential ; (2) that no scheme of federation shou’td interfere with the exist ing rights of local parliaments as regards local affairs ; (3) that a scheme of Imperial federation should combine on ari equitable basis the resources of the Empire for the

maintenance of common interests, and adequately provide for an organised defence of common rights, Tire speaker spoke strongly in favor of his proposals, which, lie said, Sir Stafford Northcote promised favorably to consider.—The debate on the question was adjourned till the Ist August, when the debate on Mr Macandrew’s motion dealing with the same question also comes on. The Hon. Sir Julius Yogel moved—- “ That this House will on Friday, the 24th July, resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway, and what concessions, if any, should be given for its construction.”—The motion was agreed to. The Plurality of Votes Bill passed its third reading, but was thrown out on the motion “ That the Bill do now pass,” on the casting vote of the Speaker. Mr McKenzie (Moeraki) made an explanation to the House regarding a statement made by the member for Mount Ida (Mr J. S. Mackenzie) re the “ McKenzie clauses ” in the Land Act, which he said was untrue.—The member for Mount Ida said he had no intention of deceiving the House or the member for Moeraki, and if this had injured the latter in the slightest degree he deeply regretted it. The Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill passed its second reading. The Seaman’s Representation Bill was slightly amended in Committee and reported. The Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill, and the Police Offences’ Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. Mr Guinness’ Coroners’ Jury Abolition Bill was thrown out on a division by 31 against 13. The Law Practitioners’ Bill passed its third reading. The Ratine Act Amendment Bill, the Impounding Act 1884 Amendment Bill, and the Evidence Further Amendment Bill, were considered in Committee and reported. The House rose at 12.25 a.ra. The House met at 2.30 p.m, on Thursday. Replying to questions, Ministers said ; That Government were considering the propriety of placing a sum on the Estimates for the purpose of boring for coal, and if they decided on so doing the district of Forest Hill, Southland, would receive a share; that the Government would take an early opportunity of testing the feeling of the House as to whether Coroners’ Juries should be paid ; that Government did not propose to deal_ at present with the proposal of establishing direct communication with India; that dining the session only one application for employment had been received by the Goveroment from a person with one arm, and as yet no vacancy had occurred; that the Public Works Statement will be brought down without much further delay. Several other questions, of but local importance, were also replied to. Several motions for returns were agreed to. One of them was for a return of the number of persons who have escaped the Succession Duty since July 1884 by deed of gift; and another was for a return of all correspondence relative to the East and West Coast Railway. The Wellington Corporation Leasehold Bill, Timarn Harbor Board Loan Bill, The Presbyterian Property Bill, the Seaman Representation Bill, the Rating Act Amendment Bill, the Impounding Act Amendment, and the Evidence Further Amendment Bill were reported from Committee, read a third time, and passed. The Wanganui Harbor Bill, the Patea Harbor Board Bill, Hours_ of Polling, Licensing Act Amendment Bill, Financial Arrangements Bill, were read a second time. The Eight Hours Bill, which provided that 48 hours constitute a legal week’s work, and that special contracts could be be made by those requiring to work longer hours, was thrown, out on its second reading. The House went into Committee on the Distress Bill. An amendment was agreed to in danse 6 providing for exemption for distress to the amount of £25. Mr J. Ivess moved an amendment to abolish distraint for rent altogether, but this was lost. The Bill was reported with amendments. The House adjourned at 1.40 a.m,