GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1373, 1 August 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, . The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Mr Peacock presented three numerously signed petitions in favor of the East and West Coast railway scheme. The Congregational Union Incorporation Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Ac'and moved for a return relating to the cost of Government railways, and the motion was agreed to. Mr Stevens resumed the adjourned debate on the second reading of the Bank of Issue Bill, urging that ihe matter should be carefully considered by a select committee.—Mr Holmes, thought New Zealand ought to be proud of its banks, which had, so far, treated the country well.—Sir F. Whitaker moved that the Bill be read a second lime in six months. —Mr Bathgate replied to the arguments against the Bill.—The Bill was thrown out by 21 to 9. The Council adjourned at 5.5 p.m. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, With respect to a motion of which Col. Brett had given notice relating to tin Christchurch Hospital, the Hon. the Colonial Secretary stated that he had received a letter from Dr Stewart announcing he had commenced an action for libel against the Wellington Evening Press, and he therefore, asked Colonel Breit not to proceed with the motion.— After a short discussion Colonel Brett read the papers, in which very serious charges were made. Another short discussion ensued, and Mr McLean moved the previous question.—On the question being put : “That this question be now put,” it was answered in t he negative, and thus the matter whs sei tied. The Public Works Bill was read a second time. The Land Transfer Bill was committed and progress was reported, the Council adjourning at 4.25 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE*. The House met at 2.30 p m. on Wtdnesday. Replying to a question Sir Julius Vogel stated that Government intended : to extend the present concession in regard to excise duty on tobacco for ten years from December next. After that provision would be made by which the import duty on manufactured tobacco would be reduced Is, 6d per lb, while an excise duty of Is per lb would be imposed on manufactured tobacco. Several other questions of little importance were also replied to. Mr Pvke introduced a Bid to provide for the encouragement of schools other than State schools. The Hon. Sir Julius Yogel gave notice that'on Tuesday he would move that a Select Committee be appointed to consider the question of the construction of the East and West Coast and Nelson Railways, and to make recommendations regarding the same, with power to call for persons and papers, three to form a quorum, and report within ten days

.such Committee to consist of M jor Atkinson, Messrs Cowan, Fraser, Garrick, Hursthouse, Macandrew, Menteaih, Mitcbelson, Major Steward, and the mover. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Savings Bank Act Amendment Bill.—Agreed to. The House then went into Committee on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill. In which a number of amendwere made and progress was reported. The House went into Committee on the Companies Act and Foreign Companies Act Amendment Bill. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel explained the alterations to this Bill. The Government proposed to give power to companies to change from unlimited to limited liability Companies always provided that the capital was not loss than. £50,000. Limited Liability Foreign Companies were to have a capital if £50,000. The Bill was not to apply to mutual insurance companies, but if any mutual insurance company insured any person who was not. a shareholder, that company would come under the Act. One or two amendments were proposed but the clauses passed without alteration, and Mr Turnbull gave notice that he should move fr.r the recommittal of the Rill in a fuller House, which Sir Julius Vogel said he should not object to. Clause 16, providing that the Act was not to apply to certain mutual insurance ' companies, provoked stormy opposition. Messrs Su l ter, Montgomery, and Barron spoke strongly against it, but it was passed by 21 to 20.—0 n the Bill being reported, Mr O’Callaghan gave notice to propose a new clause to the Bill. The House adjourned at 1.30 a.m. ; The House met at 2.30 ,p.m. on Thurs- . ..... Replying to questions, Ministers stated: That the Government could not see their way to place a sum on the Estimates for he erection of a wharf at Ho wick; that no reason had keen shown for having the i ail way line fenced from Poxton to Motuiti. Tlife Napier Harbor Board Empowering Bdl, the Sydenham Public Works-Loan Validation Bill, the Wanganui Harbor Board Bill, and the Patea Harbor Board Bill passed through Committee, and were read h third time and passed. The Dunedin Drillsbed Reserve Act Amendment Bib, The T’auranga Harbor Bill, and th« Net market Reserve Amendment Bill were read a second time. Mr McArthur moved that a return be laid before this House of all expenditure by the General Government on roads and bridges from the Ist April, 1882, to the 21st March, 1885, the expenditure separately for each financial year and for each country under separate headings. —The Hon. Mr Richardson said the return would involve an expenditure of about £2OO and would take some weeks to prepare. He .asked that the matter might stand over for a time in order that another return on the same question, in course of preparation, might be laid on the table.—On the motion of Major Atkinson the debate was adjourned for a week.

Sir George Grey moved the committal of the Law Practitioners' Bill, which was lost on a division by 2G to 19. . 9he motion for the second reading of the Auctioneers’ Bill wps negatived by 27 to 24, and the Bill was thrown out. The Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill passed its second reading. The House went into Committee on the Employment of Females and Others Act Amendment Bill, in which some amendments were made. One or two clauses were struck out. The House went into Committee on the Financial Arrangements Act Amendment Bill which passed with an additional clause. M, J. B. Whyte moved the second reading of the Spencer Water Rights Restoration Bill-. H<; explained the Rill was merely brought in to restore certain rights to Mr Spencer. —After a: long discussion the Bill was read a second time, and ordered • to be referred to the Local Bdls Committee. Mr Hobbs moved that the amendments made,by the Legislative Council in the Gaming and Lotteries Act be not agreed to. The firai amendment was that peri sons taking' parr, in a lottery were to forfeit not more than £lO. He moved to amend that, portion of clause? allowing sweepstakes to be got up on a racecourse pot expending £5, and that the contributions iberetpdo no exceed ss, Mr Samuel moved ai an amendment that ibe whole of the amendments made by the Council be agreed, to', amendment wae carried. The House then w.ent info Committee on the Mines Act Amendment Bil', which was reported witn slight amendments. In the course of the debate the Hon; Mr Uarnapli stated that the question of a rcdnciiun of the gold duty would come before the House at a later date. There was also a a universal cry for a reduction in the price of licenses and Government felt • bound 1 to take some notice of the representations made. The House rose at 12.30 a m.