GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1396, 24 September 1885, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The report of the Free Conference on the Land Bill was agreed to. The Customs Duties Interpretation Bill was read a first and second time, committed, and passed. The Wanganui Harbor Board Bill was committed. Dr Grace moved that the Chairman leave the chair, and this was carried by 18 to 15. On the motion of Dr Menzies, another Conference was appointed on the Mines Bill, and the Council adjourned at 3.30 p in. till 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 7 30 p.m. when the report of the Free Conference on the Mines B'll was agreed to. A message was received from the House of Represents lives announcing they had resolved that the insertion of clause 26 in the District Railways Purcnasing Bill infringed the privileges of th.it House, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary moved that the Council should not insist on its amendment, but insists

that, it was within its rights to make the said amendment. After a short discussion the Colonial Secretary's motion was carried by 17 to 15, The Hon, the Colonial Secretary moved for leave to introduce the Railway Limitation Bill. Mr G. R. Johnston moved the previous question, and this was carried by 20 to 12. The Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill was passed through all its stages. The Appropriation Bill was also passed athrough all its stages, and the Council djourned at 11.20 p. m. Tire Legislative Council met at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, when a message was received from the House announcing that they had agreed to the amendments made by the Council in the Municipal Corporations Bill.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE*.

The House met at 10 a.m. on Monday, when, in addition to the business given in our last issue the following was transacted The Hon. Mr Ballance moved the adoption of the Report on the Land Bill, and said the effect of those made as to education reserves were much as the provisions were at present. As for tendering for land, it had been decided that where there was only one tender for perpetual leases, that tender should be accepted at the upset price. The homestead clause had been restored with a modification that no more than 3000 acres of land should be taken up in any one district in one year. The purchasing clause in perpetual leases had been restored, but was not to apply to education reserves. The punishment clause, providing for imprisonment, had been struck out, and the fine of £2O in creased to £so.—Agreed to. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel moved, with reference to the amendments of the Council in the District Railways Bill—- “ That the Legislative Council be requested to appoint a Committee to consult with a Committee of the House of Representatives as to whether the amendments made in the District Railways Bill is a breach of the privileges ofjthis House, the Committee of the House of Repr*“ sentatives to consist of Major Atkinson, Mr Hamlin and the mover.” Mr Kerr moved that the amendments be considered that day six months. After a debate this was negatived, as was also Sir Julius Vogel’s motion, and the following, moved by Major Atkinson, was carried—“ That the insertion of the new clause infringes the privilege of this House, and this House trusts that this will be sufficient reason to induce the Council to withdraw their amendment.”

The Appropriation Bill, and Immigration and Public Works Act, Appropriation Bill passed their second readings. The House went into Committee on the Appropriation Bill. Major Atkinson asked whether there was anything new in the Bill beyond what was usual.

The Hon, Mr Stout said there was nothing unusual except an amendment to remedy a mistake in connection with ap propriations to the State Forest Account. The Bill was then passed with verbal amendments.

The House went into Committee on tlu Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill, which passed without amendment, was read a third time, and passed. The House adjourned at 5.15 p.m,, and resumed at 7.30 p.m. On the motion for the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, Major Atkinson made a vigorous attack on the actions of the Government during the session. The Hon, Mr Stout, Mr Wakefield, Sir Julius Vogel, and Mr Fisher followed, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. ; A message was received from the Legislative Council that they did not insist on the amendments in the District Railways Purchasing Bill, but maintained their right to make the amendments. The Threats and Molestations Bill was withdrawn from the Order Paper. The Hon. Mr Stout moved that the House meet at 4 p.m. to morrow for the prorogation, and the House rose at 1.10 a.m.

The House met at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Sir George Grey asked, if any applicacations had been received by the Government from Samoa, and whether they would accede to them. The Hon. Mr Stout said two letters had been received, but he had not yet had time to consider them.

Mr Coster was granted leave of absence for the session.

Replying to Mr Brown, if the Govern" ment would cause copies of the New Zealand Note Currency Bill to be circulated to all locol bodies, public libraries, chambers of commerce, agricultural and pastoral societies, and farmers’ clubs, the Hen, Mr Stout said there was no objection to circulate copies of the Bill. A message was received from the Legislative Council, requiring the attendance of members of the House of Representatives to bear the Prorogation Speech.

THE PROROGATION.

After the conclusion of the formal business of the Legislative Council, a Message was received from His Excellency the Governor intimating his assent to a number of Bills that had been passed during the session. Sir Wm. Fitzherbert then read the Governor’s Commission appointing himself and the Hons. P. A. Buckley and Sir P. Whitaker Commissioners to prorogue Parliament. The members of the House of Representatives were then summoned to attend, and they entered the Chamber headed by the Speaker and the Sergeant-at-Arms. The Commissioners then prorogued Parliament in terms of their Commission till the 19th of December at 4.30 p.m.

BUSINESS OP THE SESSION.

The following is a schedule of the business of the House of Representatives, and of Bills passed in both Houses during the session Sehct Committees on public matters, 5 ; on private Bills, 5 ; total, 10. 'standing Committees, 11 : ditto on private Bills, 3; total, 14. Public Bills originated in the House and received the Royul assent, 75 ; reserved for signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure, 1 ; dropped or otherwise disposed of, GO ; total, 145. Bill- biought from the Council and received the Roy .1 assent, 7 ; dropped or otherwise disposed of, 3 ; lolA 10.

Private Bills originated in the House received the Royal assent, 3 ; brought fnm the Council and received the Royal assent, 1. Petit ions presented from Europeans, 331 ; from Maoris, 101; total, 432. Divisions in the whole House, 79 ; in Committee, 209 ; total, 288. Days of meeting, 69 ; hours of sitting, 395 ; daily average, 5 hours 43 minutes. Notes, and proceedings Questions asked of Ministers, 431; entriesin journals, 1310 ; total, 1741 ; daily average, 25. Orders for papers, 73 ; papers laid upon the Table by command, 103; in return to orders, 62 ; by Act, 50 ; by leave, 34 ; total, 251. Papers ordered to be printed, 84. Reports from Select Committees : From the Public Petitions Committee, 199; from the Native Affairs Committee, 91 ; from the Waste Lands Committee, 38 ; from the Goldfields, and Mines Committee, 23 ; from the Local Bills Committee, 24 ; from other Committees, 44 ; total, 419. LIST OF PEBLIC ACTS PASSED BT BOTH HOUSES. Public Acts Administration Act 1879 Amendment, Adoption of Childrens Act 1881 Amendment, Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act 1877 Amendment, Appropriation, Auckland Railways Land Compensation, Auckland University College Reserves, Bankruptcy Act 1883 Amendment, Canterbury and Otago Marriage, Cemetery Act 1882 Amendment, Coroners Act 1867 Amendment, Coatley Training Institutions, Counties Act Amendment, Customs and Excise Duties, Customs Duties Interpretation, Deceased Persons Estates Duties Act 1881 Amendment, Distress, District Railways Purchasings, Education Act 1877 Amendment, Employment of Females and Others . Act 1881 Amendment (No, 1), Enforcement of Judgments, Evidence Further Amendment, Financial Arrangement Act 1876 Amendment, Fisheries Encouragement, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1881 Amendment (No. 1), Goldmiuing Districts Act 1873 Amendment,Hospitals and Charitable Institutions, Immigration and Public Works Appropriation, Imprest Supply, Imprest Supply (No. 2), Imprest Supply (No. 3), Industrial Schools Act 1880 Amendment, Justices-of the Peace Act 1882 Amendment, Lands Transfer, Life Assurance Policies Act 1884 Amendment, Local Bodies Finance and Powers, Mercantile Law Act 1880 Amendment, South Taland Half castes Grant, Mines Act 1877 Amendment, (No. 2), Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment, Mortgage Debentures, New Plymouth Exchange Completion Act 1874 Amendment, New Zealand State Forests, Otago Dock Act 1883 Amendment, Palmerston North Burgess Roll, Patents Act 1883 Amendment, Post Office (postal notes), Presbyterian Church Property, Property Assessment, Property Law Consolidation Act 1883 Amendment, Property Tax, Public Reserves 1881 Amendment, Public Revenues, Public Work Act 1882 Amendment (Nos, land2), Rabbit Nuisance Act 1882 Continuance, Railways Authorisation Rating Act 1882 Amendment (No. 1), R M. Courts Proceedings Validation, River Boards Act 1884 Amendment, Savings Banks Act 1858 Amendment, Shipping and Seamans Act 1877 Amendment, Special Powers and Contracts, Stamp Act 1882, Amendment Waimoa Plains Railway Reserves 1881 Amendment, Westland ana Grey Education Boards, Whitmore Enabling. The prive Acts passed were : —Christ’s College Canterbury, Congregational Union Incorporation, Napier Gas Company’s Act 1871 Amendment, St. Mary’s Property Leases.

Looal Acte passed : —Auckland Harbor Board (No. 2), Borough of Invercargill Loans Consolidation, Christchurch. Market Reserves, Christchurch Public Works Loan Validation, Dunedin Cattle Market Reserve Leasing, Dunedin Drill-shed Reserve Act 1876 Amendment Act 1884 Amendment, Gisborne High School, Napier Harbor Board Empowering, Otago Harbor Board Leasing, Patea Harbor Board, Sydenham Public Works Validation, Timaru Harbor Board Loan, Wellington Corporation Leaseholds, Wellington Public Streets Closing.