GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1395, 22 September 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2,30 p.m. on Friday. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary laid oq th« Table the repot t o£ th® Auditor on

the accounts of the Inangahua County.— It was resolved that the report be printed. On the motion of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary it was agreed that the Council at its rising adjourn till 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The Railways Authorisation Bill was read a first lime. The Hon the Colonial Secretary in reply to Mr Pharazy n said it was not proposed to remove restrictions on the importation of stock at pres-eat. The Local Bodies Contractors Bill was considered in Committee and passed. Resolved by 17 to 16 that the Council do not insist on its amendments in the Mortgage Debentures Brill; The Land Bill was recommitted to consider various clauses and the Bill was held over to be reported later on. The following Bills were then committed : Wairuea Plains Railway, Police Uffenceg, Enforcements of Judgments, New Plymouth Exchanges Completion, Costley Training Institution, Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill and Special Powers and Contracts Bill. At 5 o’clock the Council, being still in Committee, adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The following Bills were reported from Committee read a third time and passed ; —Waimate Rating Bill, Land Bill, Enforcement of Judgment, New Plymouth Exchanges Completion, Costley Training Institution, Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill, Municipal Corporations Bill, and the Auckland Harbor Board Bill. In Committee on the Police Offences Bill, Mr McLean moved that the Chairman leave the chair,—Carried by 16 toll. Progress was reported on the District Railways Purchasing Bill and the Council rose at midnight. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday. The Threats and Molestation Bill, and the Railways Authorisation Bill were read a second time without debate. The Council went into Committee to consider these Bills, and they were read a third time and passed. The Special Powers and Contractors Bill was further considered in Committee, on which progress was reported. A free conference was reported to confer on the Land Bill. At 5 o’clock the Council adjournad and resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Property Tax Bill was put through all its stages. The Council went into Committee no the Special Powers and Contracts Bill. The Bill was afterwards reported and passed. It was reported that the House disagreed with the amendments made by the Council in the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill and it was agreed not to insist on ttiem.

The District Railways Purchasing Bill was further considered in Committee.

At 1.30 p,m. the Council was adjourned till 10 a.m. on Monday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIYEB, In the House on Friday, Replying to questions, Ministers stated : That it was not intended to take any further steps on the report of the Royal Commission in Caldwell’s case ; that if haulage rates on the Dunedin and Port Chalmers line were reduced it would not increase the revenue; that Government •did not think they could do more than was done by previous Government as regards imposing an additional tax on persons residing out ofj but owning land in, the colony ; that the regulations as to serge suits for volunteers had been repealed ; it was not intended to increase the allowance to volunteers ; volunteers would be allowed to purchase stores from Government at cost price; the Government did not intend to terminate the duty on volunteer clothing ; it was not proposed to unduly encourage volunteers as guards of honor. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel moved that the House go into Committee to consider the following resolutions :—“ 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 whole time between Auckland and San Franchco shall not exceed 20 days, at a cost to the colony (after computing the estimated receipts, if any, from the other colonies) not exceeding £IB,OOO, and failing such arrangements being practicable that the Government be authorised (o contrast for a service between Auckland and San Francisco, or between Sydney, Auckland and San Francisco at the same rate of time, at a cost to the colony (after computing the estimated receipts, if any, from other colonies) hot exceeding £23,000.” He explained at great length the present position of the service, and the arrangements that were in progress for its continuance since the House passed <he former resolutions. He said the House Mould sec from the papers laid on the I’ab'e the results of negotiations. The Union Company had tendered for the service for £30,000, the Company to receive all contributions from other colonies, but this would be at a greater cost to the colony than his present proposal, which was only for £IB,OOO. Other tenders had been received, with a terminus »t Sydney instead of Auckland, and at a coat' of £'25,000. He thonghr the Government could not possibly have accepted those terms without committing a breach of faith with the House, and they had then to see what other terms could be made for the service. They considered that if the terminus was not to be at Auckland they should get as efficient a service as possible at as low a rate as could be obtained. Mr Macandrew moved Government be authorised to contract for a monthly mail service between Auckland and San Francisco, at a cost to the colony not exceeding £30,000 a year for three years; the length of the voyage not to exceed 20 days.” A long discussion ensued, when Mr

Macandrew’s amendment was negatived by 29 to 25, and the original motion was then put and carried on the voices.

The House then went into Committee on the Supplementary Estimates, when the following items were passed : Legislative Department, £4131 ; Geological and Meteorological, £282 ; Punting and Stationery, £3OO ; Miscellaneous, £1229 ; Treasury Department, salaries of officers dispensed with, £1458 ; Miscellaneous (Colonial Treasurer’s Department,) £8142 ; Subsidy of pound for pound on rates collected in goldfields counties, £IO,OOO ; District, Resident Magistrate, Wardens’ Courts, £265 ; Prisons (salaries), £B3B ; Shorthand reporting in Supreme Courts, £600; Conveyance of mails, £50,000 for direct steam service ; Customs Officers and Services, £IOO ; Marine and Harbors, £1210; Land and Deeds Registry (salaries and other charges) £126 ; Public Schools, £250, for lent of Education Office at Dunedin ; Southland Boys'and Girls’ School, £500; Payment of the late J. Sheehan’s Executors, to cover balance of bis official account at the Bank, at Napier, in terms of the Arbitration Award of the 12th August, 1885, £278; Minister of Mine?, £4660 ; Working Railways, £1.068; Volunteers’ salaries, £l4B ; Stores and magazines, £lO ; Miscellaneous, £854; Gown lands, miscellaneous, £4B ; Waste Lands Committee (award in the case of Hubert Joseph Budd and Mrs Oakes,) £356 ; Survey Department, (verdict and costs in the case of in the case of Coyle v. Queen,) £2600 ; New Zealand State Forests, £BIOO ; Immigration Officer, Christchurch, six mon'bs, £167 ; Railways, £9437.

The Land Bill was received from the Legislative Council with amendments. The Hon. Mr Ballance said he proposed to ask the House to agree to some of the amendments and to disagree with the others. He explained the nature of the various amendments and said the clauses lie disagreed with were 87, 106, 106, 131 • 132, 113,133, 144, 150 a, 161, and 337 a. Some of the amendments made by the Council he considered were decided improvements. He moved that the House do agree with the amendments, with certain exceptions,—Agreed to. The Hon. Mr Ballance moved that a conference to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the amendments be appointed, to consist of the Hon. Mr Stout, Mr Rolleston, Mr Macandrew and the mover.—Agreed to.

The House rose at 2 a.m. The House met at 13 o’clock on Saturday, Replying to Mr Rolleston, Mr Ballance stated it was intended to settle all outstanding claims under The Forest Trees Planting Act immediately atter the House rose.

Replying to other questions, Ministers slated That there were about 85 Armed Constabulary at the works at Otago Heads, and that it was intended to keep a permanent artillery force of 25 men at Olago Heads, to accommodate which buildings were now being erected—of these 25 men 10 would be there as a torpedo corps ; that when the Customs Bill was passed it was clearly the intention of the House to allow cotton and dress prints free, but attempts were now made by importers to bring in most expensive prims duty free, and duty was being charged on prints invoiced at 5d per yard and upwards ; that the Hon. the Treasurer had recently informed the House that Don Von Haast would be the only paid Commissioner to the Colonial Exhibition. There might be several other Commissioners appointed, but they wore not to be paid.

The reply to the last question evoked a lively discussion. Mr W. F. Bupklaod said he could produce evidence to show that Dr Bailer had been promised by lbs Government if.h* squared the native vote to be made either a Commissioner at the Colonial Exhibition or a Judge of the Native Lands Court. He contended that the Government were kept on the Benches by the promise of a Commissionership at London. The House then went into Committee of Supply for the further consideration ofjtbe Supplementary Estimates, when the following votes passed:—Roads to open up lands before sale, £12,360 ; roads on goldfields, £l3,7bo—reduced by £ISOO ; waterworks or. goldfields, £B2oo—reduced by £SOO ; harbor works, Hokitika, £ISOO ; telegraph extensiou, £6300 ; purchase of native lands, £IOOO (rents due on Himatang* blocks) ; Armed Constabulary, field force, £25,000. The other amounts under the heading of “ unauthorised expenditure ” were agreed to without discussion.

A message was received from the Legislan'va Council insisting on theip amendments in the Land Bid.—The Hud. Mr Billai'Ce moved tliat a cnnferi nee be appointed, to consist of Messrs Stout, Ilolleston, Macmdrew, and Ballance, to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the amendments.

The Hon, Mr Gloat moved the second reading of the Local Bodies Contractors Bill. Ho said the Bill was bought in to relieve persons who. had inadvertently broken the law by supplying goods to local bodies of which they are members. This was agreed to, rind the House went into Committee.on the Bill, which was read a third time and passed. The Property Tax Bill and the Costley Training- Institution Bill were read a second time and passed through their final stages. The amendments made in the Auckland Harbor Board Bill by the Legislative Council were rejected by 30 to 16. The Hon, Sir Julius Yogel withdrew the Appropriation Bill and Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bills which had been read a first time.

The House adjourned at 9.30 and met at 11.30, and 11, 11.45 p.m. and no agreement having been arrived at by the Conference on the Land Bill adjourned until 10 a.m. on Monday.