GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1384, 27 August 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The report of the Select Committee on the Government Printing was presented. The Committee recommended the appointment of a Commission to enquire into the matter. The Joint Conference on the School Committees Election Bill reported that they had been unable to come to any agreement. Mr Hart moved that the report of the Committee to whom was referred the Stamp Bill and the Deceased Person's Estate Bill be taken into consideration. —Mr Richmond moved the previous question, and this was carried by 23 to 10. The Land Bill and the Imprest Supply (No. 3) Bill were read a first time, and the Property Law Consolidation Bill and New Plymouth Exchanges Completion Bill a second time. On the motion to go into Committee on the Otago Dock Trust Bill, Mr McLean opposed the measure and moved to adjourn the debate, which was negatived by 21 to 11.-The Bill was then committed and reported without amendment. The New Zealand State Forests Bill whb committed and reported with amendments, and the Council adjourned at 5 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30. The Coroners' Act 1867, Amendment Bill, and the Town of Invercargill Loan Consolidation Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 8.45. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. on Moddav. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel introduced ■1 Bill to amend the Friendly Societies Art 1882. Replying to Mr Hurst, tha Hon. Mr Stout said he was not at present able to any what Bills the Government intended going on with this session. It would depend on the progress made at that sitting. ;•,..! The Divorce' and • Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill was committed,: The Hon Mr Tole moved a new clause, lhat tha Bill should not be retrospective in .five, which waH agreed to. Mr Samuel moved A new clause, that (lie husband and wife could potition for a divorce where the part'es hud b'en separated seven years.—Negatived after a long debate. Mr Saii)Liel;mov'.-d,ti further, nnw clause, lhat a peiition for divorce may be presented by husband and wife if .either hits, mtiee the celebration of marriage bauriH. been cuvict/'d of an indictable offence and imprisonad for not less ih;m seven. yeare. —Agreed to. Mr Samuel moved a new clause providing that divorce may be asked for on tha grounds of either the husband or the wile being confinedin a Lunatic Asylum f<>r seven years continuously. The proposal lead to a long discussion and numerous proposals that the Spoiker leave the clause and progress be reported were negatived. Mr Kollestou said that clauses of this kind shou'd undoubtedly be brought down in a separate Bill. He contended iho Government had put them in a false position by the manner in which thoy had treated the question. The Government know there was not the slightest <ham>of the Bdl passing, and it was only waiting time discussing it furth'T. After considerable discussion the motion to report progress wua carried.

The House went into Committee of Supply. An Imprest Supply Bill for £300,000 was passed through, all its stages. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Government Officers Guarantee Bill. He said the Bill was a<most similar to the one papsed in 1879 One of the principal alterations iu lha Bill was to bring i the Civil Servant! within its operation.—The motion wai agreed to. The House went into Committee on the Justices-of the Peace Act Amendment Bill. > - ( In clause 20, rota of justices,_an am«nd'ment was proposed to make the Bill applicable to Boroughs.—4greed to. In cause 21, providing that a Justice twice absenting himself from attendance should vacate his office, the Hon. Mr Tolt moved ,un amendment that the Justice should make an explanation oi hisnon ; attend/,ncei ,witliiu; one rrionth', and if no MXplaViHtion were'given,, he should bo -struck off the Commission., The clause woB- agreed to, and the Bill was read' a third time and passed. Progress was reported on the Rating Act Amendment Bill, and the House rose at 2,a.m. ' ' The House met at 2.3 Q p.m. on Tuesday. Replying to questions, Ministers stated : That Government were considering what steps they should take with regard tn the Northern Qoldfields, and; would probably state their decision before the end of the session ; that Government s did not thiuk it advisable to put a sum on the Estimates for the purpose of sending Home a gentleman to bring out a further supply of samon ova, but a sum of £2OO would be devoted to the general encouragement of the ova. | The Hon. Mr Richardson introduced the Public Works (No. 27) Hill. Mr Rolleston asked whether the attention of the Government had been called to an outrage which bad taken place at the Hutt last week, and whether the police had been called oh to take up the i matter. The Hon. Mr Stout said his attention had not been called to it. He was not [ aware of what the police were doing. I Major Atkinson moved the adjournment of the House. Mr Stout contended it was not the duty of the Government to institute enquiries of this nature until the matter had been brought under their notice. After some further discussion th« motion for the adjournment was lost. [The case referred to «as one in which a iminwas first assaulted and then tarred.] The House went into Committee on the Government Officers' Guarautee Bill, which was passed without amendment. The House went into Committee on ths Mortgage Debentures Bill. Clauses 1 to 58 were passed without material alteration. On clause 59 being reached, providing that a company may, for the purpose of issuing debentures in Great Britain, obtain a certificate from the Heg'strar, the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel moved that clauses .09 to 78 (issue of debentures in 3reat Britain) be postponed, which led to some discussion. Major Atkinson having expressed his .willingness to support the Bill with the exception of the clauses proposing to make the Agent-General the Registrar, the Hon. Sir Jvlius Vogel said he would a::reo to eliminate the 'words " AgentGeneral," and to substitute "some person appointed by thd Government." The clauses mentioned were then postponed, and the remaining ones pased without discussion. ; The House went into Cpmmitte on the Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill, which passed with slight,amendments, and was read a third time and passed. The House went into Committee on the Land Transfer Bill. Clauses Ito 37 were passed without discussion.' The Government Officers' Guarantee Bill was reported; read a third time, and passed. ' The House adjourned 'ot 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30 p.m. Progress was reported, on the Land Transfer Bill. The Hon. Mr, Richardson introduced the Railway Commissioners' Bill, aud in doing so made his Public Works Statement. ~, -, ..m..„-,ii I Major Atkinson said there was one very important omissiontin the Statement, which was that no reference was made to the : -acquisition' of land for settlement along the North Island Trunk Line of Railway. <■■ ■ ■:••;.> The Hon. Mr Richardson said his colleague would make a statement on that matter. ' ' ' The Hon.'Mi Ballance said it was pro-posed-to ask'f<|r a vote of £70,000, wh'ch it was hoped, would be 'snrrbmnl for ihe purchase of the land of the railway for ih'eyar. : Mr Ormon,d asked i what wa« 'Vie position of, the East..and W'f»t!Coast Railway for which ih was proposed to ask for a •rote of £1,50,000.. . ~;: , The Hon.-Mr Stout,s-iid the Government h.id no other information than that vbich was already in po»sosHion of the House. Mr Oimond also asked what the liabilities of the colony were in respect to ilefeuca. Tiie'Hoh; Mr Stout said hi'3 colleague would explain the position in the m-itur of defence', when the vote came on for discussion. ■'" —• 1 Air'Br>ee asked jvhothpr the Minister of Pnbiic Works intended taking the second riding of iheKailway Commit'. •i'irtnrs B'll, as by-doing so it would affirm the principle of'ihe Bill. The Hon.-Mr-Richardson said he would 'ako an adjournment with the Bill, The House went into Committee for further consideration of thf Land Traorfer B : ll, in wlr'ch some sl'ght amendments were made, and piotjr.>ss waa icported. The House rose at 11.15 p.m.