GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1394, 19 September 1885, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

The Legislative Council met at 3,30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Local Bodies Contractors Bid was read a first time, as also was the Police Offences Amendment Bill. The Mortgage Debentures Bill was read a third time and passed. The Municipal Corporations Bill tv as referred to the Local B'lls Committee.

On the order of the Speaker (he Council then 'vent into Committee on ihe Land Bill, and several unimportant amendments were made.

The Committee adjourned at 5 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. in Committee, when progress was reported on (he Land Bill. The Local Bodies Finance Powers Bill was read a first time.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, requesting a third conference on the Mines Bill, and this was ordered to be taken into consideration next day. Sir Frederick Whitaker moved the second reading of the Auckland Harbor Bill.— Agreed to. The second reading of the Agricnllnral and Pastoral Societies Bill was moved by Mr McLean and agreed to. The report of the House Committee relative to the heating and lighting of Parliamentary buildings was agreed to, and the Council rose at 9.15 p.m. The legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. The Costley Training Institution Bill was read a first time.

Mr Campbell moved that a further conference be granted on the Mires Bill, the new manageis on behalf of the Council io be Messrs Richmond, MyLean and B irnicoal.—Agreed to. The Council again went into Committee on the Laud Bill.

New clauses were added providing for the relief of deferred payment pastoral tenants, for endowment, reserves being proclaimed subject to this Act, for Educational reserves being sold by the Board, forthe encouragement of seal fisheries by granting the lease of any part of the fore- i shore of the colony, and for forest protection by imposing a penalty for lighting fires. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill, the District Railways Purchasing Bill and the Special Powers and Contracts Bill were received from the House of Representatives and read a first time. The District Railways Purchasing Bill, the Special Powers and Contracts Bill the Local Bodies Contractors Bill, the Police Offences Bill, the Enforcement of 4 Judgments Bill, and the Local Bodies'* Pi nance and Powers Bill were read a second time without debate. The free conference appointed to further confer with the House on the Miners Act reported that they were still unable to agree. The Auckland Harbor Board Bill and the Agricultural Societies Bill were committed. Progress was reported on the former, and the latter was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned at 12.15 a.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIYE3. The House met at 2.30 p.ra. on Wed-f nesday. Replying to Mr Steward, whether the Government will advise His Excellency to appouit a royal Commission to enquire into and report during the recess as to the following matters, viz. (1) The points to which it isdesiiable to complete the various lines of railway sanctioned by Parliament ; (2) any further railway works which it is desirable in the public interest should be undertaken ; (3) the cost of each of such works ; (4) the order in which various works should be undertaken ; (5) the period over which the work of constructing the same should be extended j (6) the amount required to be expended during each year until the whole scheme is completed; the Hon, Mr Richardson said the matter would receive earnest consideration.

Replying to other questions, Ministei™ stated : That the present Licensing Actfl was working well, and it was not intended to amend it ; that Mr Hannay had reported unfavorably to any reduction of charges on freight to Cavershara ; That when any new cattle trucks were made they would be of a more suitable pattern than the present ones; that (he Government intended to issue regulations for granting rewards for discovery of new goldfields. (Sir George Grey moved for “h return showing the value of machinery imported into the colony for each year from 1880 to 1884, both inclusive. -Agreed 10. Sir George Grey moved for a return showing the various amounts voted since 1865 for the purchase by the Grown of native lauds, and showing also (he several sums paid out of such amounts to EuroW peans and Natives. —Agreed to. *

The Hon. Mr Richardson moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill.—The motion was agreed to.

The Hon. Mr Richardson asked as a matter of urgency, that the House should allow the Bill to be committed at once.

Major Atkinson asked the Premier what business the Government intended going on with this session. The Hon. Mr Stout thought they would not be able to proceed with the Criminal Code Bill, the Railways Cornmissiomjrs Bill, the Prisoners Probation Bill, alfrd the Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill, The Government proposed to go on with the District Railways Purchasing Bill, the Special Powers and Contract* Bill, the Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill, the Railways Authorisation Bill, the Property Tax Bill, and the Appropriation Bill. He thought if reasonable progress was made the prorogation would take place this week. Go the motion for going into Committee on the Special Powers and Contracts Bill, Sir George Grey moved that it be committed that day six months. He referred at great length to the new clause proposed to be inserted in ihe Bill for granting a block of land to Thomas Russell, of Auckland, in exchange for other land, on consideration that Russell paid the cost price of the land.

The Hon. Mr Stout, while of opinion that Mr Russell had no claim, hoped tli(p the measure would not be opposed as a whole on that account.

Mr Rolieston thought Mr Russell had a just claim, hut it was 3 matter for the House to determine.

Messrs Turnbull, Moss, Thomson, Bryce, and ethers having given their opinion on the measure, Sir Gen. Grey withdrew his amendment. The Hon. Mr Ballanco said that no Bill of this kind would ever meet with the approval of till sides of the Floiiso, as some members would naturally favor particular Hues which others would With respect to Russell’s claim, all bo cauld say was that an agreement was certainly entered into with Russell that if h« stood aside in regard to a certain block of. land he should have the opportunity of selecting another block as an equivalent. Replying to the proposal to grant 40 acres under the Bill to Te Kooti, he (Mr RiMance) contended that the course he was adopting it that respect was a tight one.

The motion for the recommittal of the Bill was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. On the House resuming at 7.30, Mr Fyke moved that a fresh Conference be appointed to consider the Mines Act Amendment Bill. The motion was agreed to, the Conference appointed being the Hon, Mr Stout, and Mess r s Bevau and Guinness. , i The House went into Committee on the District Railways Purchasing Bill. ""'V'A groat many amendments were proposed and lost, among them being one that the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway should be struck out of the schedule. The Wairaate Railway was struck out of the sohedule and The schedule was then passed as amended. K Ihe House went into Committee for the further consideration of the Waimate Plains Railway Rating Bill, which was passed with slight amendments,. The House went into Committee on the Special Powers and Contracts Bill. Air Rolleslon moved that clause 9, providing for a grant of 40 acres of land toy. T? Kooti at Alexandra, be struck out. j

The Hon. Mr Ballance defended the clause, and hoped the House would retain it. He explained the question was one of administration, and the Government were anxious to keep Te Kooti where he was. The clause was struck out. On sub-section 11, granting to Mrs Robert Graham the right of acquiring tits fee simple of ten acres near Late Rotorua, and the right of acquiring some land adjoining, not exceeding 300 acres, Mr Rolleston and Colonel Trimble objected to the grant.—The clause was passed. Governor to issue Crown grants to Mr Thomas Russell, of two allotments of land of 6000 and 1487 acres each, in Waiharabeka Easi and West respectively, was on the motion of Sir Geo. Grey struck out by 33 to 12, Clause 22a, providing two town sections should fall into the possession of the Crown, unless claimed by tlie heirs of the late Mr Howell (who was the owner) within twelve months, was passed by 25 to 18. The Bill was reported as amended. Progress was reported on the Railway Administration Bill. The District: Railways Bill was recommitted to consider the schedule, and then adjourned till next d iy, The Waimea Plains Railway Bill and Special Powers and Contracts Bill were read a third time and passed. The House rose at 3.35 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. Replying to questions. Ministers stated; that the wattle was being planted in various places in the North Island by Dr Hector ; that the whole of the correspondence with Rear-Admiral Scott, on the defence question, would be laid on the Table if required. On the question being put that the resolutions be reported from Committee of Supply, Mr Seddon moved that a sura of £SO be granted for payment of the Chairman of the Goldfields Committee. Agreed to without discussion. The District Railways Bill was then recommitted, and, on the motion of Mr Steward, the Waimate Railway was added the schedule. —After a debate the motion for the third reading was put and carried by 33 to 28. —Mr Rolleston spoke strongly againft the Bill, A division was taken on the motion that the District Railways Bill do now pass : Ayes 27, noes2l. The Hon. Sir Julius Yogel said, with the permission of the House, he should read a telegram he had received on the subiect of the San Francisco mail service from the Postmaster-General of New South Wales. The telegram was as follows My Cabinet objects to the proposed Honolulu mail service, but will submit to Parliament any proposition to contributenot more ihan £IO,OOO forafour weekly mail service between San Francisco, Auckland, and Sydney, you retaining all contributions from the other colonies.” The resolution which he would propose on the following day was that the Government be authorised to contract for a service between Sydney, Auckland, and Honolulu, or Auckland and Honolulu, with efficient provision for the carriage of mails to and from San Francisco, so that the lime should not exceed 20 days, at a coat to the colony (not computing the estimated receipts from other colonies) not exceeding £IB,OOO, and failing such arrangements being practicable, to contract for a service between Auckland and Sydney, or between Sydney, Auckland and Honolulu, at the same rate of time, at a cost to the colony (not computing the estimated receipts from the other colonies) not exceeding £23,000.

The House went into Committee for the further consideration of the Railway Authorisation Bill, which was slightly amended, reported, read a third time, and passed. The Hon. Sir Julias Vogel introduced the Property Tax Bill,

The House went into Committee for the further consideration of the Public Works Estimates.

Vote: Immigration, £30,373. —The item £IO,OOO for Highland crofters was struck out, and the vote as reduced, £20,373, (hen passed. The House rose at 1.15 p.m.