GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1377, 11 August 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council mot at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. The Wellington Corporation Leasehold Bill was committed and reported, as also was the Timnru Harbor Board Loan Bill. Progress was made in Committee wi'h the Otago Harbor Board Leasing Bdl. ; The Presbytery Church Property Bill was considered in Committee, and progress was reportedDr Pollen moved the second reading of the Impounding Amendment Bill. Mr Menzies moved that it be referred to the Wnate Lands Committee, and thi* was carried. The Dunedin Cattle Market deserves Leaning Bill was read a second time. The Council adjourned,at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF KEPRESENrATIVES.; The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. Replying to questions, Ministers said : That it was not intended to make any money compensation to. t1i0...,3 1 1i»g. Point Coal Company, but they thought an ex tension of ,the lease .for. 50,years wonld meet the case, and this had been granted; that, Government did not intend 'to take .toy further action in regard lo tin petition of Michael Farey. The Hon. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Native Lands Court Consolidation Bill. -Hi! hoped there would be no objection to a]lo»v the Bill logo to the Native Affairs Coin mittee, to be considered with the Native Lands Disposition dill. Its provisions couid be cooa'dered when it came back from that Committee. The motion for the second reading was curried on the voices, and the Bill was referred to the Native Affairs,Committee. The Hon. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Wesrland andGreymouth Education Board Bill.—Agreed to. The Hod. Mr Stout moved the second readiDg of the River Boards Act 1884 Amendment Bill.—Agreed to. The Hon. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Coroners' Act 1567 Amendment Bill, providing that a' Coroner's jury shall consist of six persons, and a verdict of four shall be sufficient. After some discussion,,in which Major Steward, Messrs Turnboll, Suiter, Seddo",

and Duncan took part, the Hon, Mr Tole auid he had no objection to postpone the committal of the B 11 for a week. The motion for the Becond reading was then agreed to. The Hon. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Act Con. tinuance Bill, which was to continue the operations of the Rabbit Nuisance Act 1882.—Agreed to. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel moved ths second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Bill. He explained that the Bill was togive. effect to the resolution passed by the Committee of Ways and Means. It also provided for a change in the excise duty, and the duty on tobacco, of which he had previously informed ths House. Mr Moss protested against the Bill, and contended that it should have been proved that such taxation was oeceissary. He moved that this House will rturina the following week resolv« itself i.Jt<> a Committee to cousider the position of country. Mr Wakefield thought before the Bill was passed the House should have further information on it. He did not think the way proposed would assist the manufacture ,of tobacco. He also greatly deprecated the increased duty on Australian wine, which was proposed by the Bill, and he considered the duty on that wine, from a fical point of view, was so small that it was not worth consideration. After Messrs Peacock Lake, Bryce, Sutter, Turnbnll and Hurst bad sp^ke'?, The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said tin-, Government had no idea that a Bill gy'ng effect to n resolution of the Home w uld have assumed such dimensiois. H w■» not prepared with a Finarciai Statement, in order to correct t'lefiguies referring to revenue and expenditure but he might R9y broally that there was a surplus of £30,000 over the estimates in the F nuncial Statement. He hoped the Govrrnment would not have to increase the proposals they had made as to the property tax. If any increase ij that tex were made it would be slight. He thought it would be a pity not to give the assistance now asked by the Bill for the encouragement of the tobacco industry. As for the loss to the revenue, it would not be a large one. The motion for the second reading was then put and carried on the voices, ths amendment bein* lost. The Public Reserves Act AmeDdmer.it Bill, Gold Mining District Act Amendment Bill, the Shipping aid Seaman's Act Amendment Bill, Middle Island Half-caste Grants Bill, and the Rating Act Amend, ment Bill, were read a second time. The Hon. Mi Tole moved the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill was for the most part a consolidation Bill. There were a few clauses which »vere brought in for the purpose of compelling Justices to attend at Courts when required. One of the clauses provided that Justices when twice absenting themselves from office when required should vacate their office. The motion for the second reading was agreed to. The Fisheries Encouragement Bill passed through Committee, was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The House went into Committee on th» Life Assurance Policies Act,lßßs Amendment Bill, which was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 1.20 a.m.