GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1509, 22 May 1886, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tbe Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Hon. Mr Buckley presented a paper relative to leasing of special settle ments. Mr Swanaon presented a petition from 797 residents of New Zealand, complaining that the Government steamer had been despatched from Auckland to meet the steamer in which Cardinal Moran arrived from Auckland, that special favors were shown him and special honor* heaped upon him by Government, and that upwards of twenty policemen in uniform formed part of the procession. The petition expressed a hope that, as there tv as no Stute Church in the colony, similar favors should not be again bestowed on any dignitary of any church visitiDg New Zealand. After a short discussion it was proposed by the Hon. Mr Buckley and seconded by Colonel Brett that as the petition had been read, the names of those who signed it should also be read, but as it was not pressed the motion was not put and the subject dropped. Mr Buckley gave notice that.on the next day of sitting he would move that a committee consisting of the Speaker, and the Hon. Messrs Bailli ■, Eraser, Pollen, Reeves, .Reynolds, Brett, and the mover, be appointed to draw up a congratulatory address to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of Her MajestyVjubilee.. Mr Buckley introduced the following Bills, which were read a first time, the second readings beio» made orders for Friday next:—Defence Act 1886 and Police Force Act 1886. The formal presentation of theAddreai in Reply to the Governor then took place, and on resuming the Couocil adjourned to Friday. HOU3E OF REPRESENTATIVE.-*. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Speaker said he wished to express to the House his deep regret 1

at the death of Sir Thos. Erakine May, the news of which had been received by that day's cable. , . Replying... tq questions,, it was stated that it was hoped, that a hew Representation Act altogether would not be required, but only to dearwith those districts where the increase of population required it; that op information had yet been received of the jetitence of four months' imprisonment of J. W, Gjlohrut, at Ashburton, for cruelty to a dog;; that » bill would be introduced em^ewieringtWNative lands 'Court to subdivide lands* granted to the Maoris in the South Island; that no tenders bad yet BeeTJ received for leasing the seal fisberie&K' Us. • '\>\ : Several Bills were introduced and read a first time... ■• ._.■# ; 0 t -•■ Sir George Grey; moved ft series pfj resolutions'fori the $T ei w Hebrides In doing so he teferrW at great length to the matter- aha* ehtfeate'd-'the House to take such steps as will prevent Frnnce from obtaining the Islands, Mr;Stout defended the- action the Go. verflmentihad t&keri inj.the matter, and said they, had repeatedly.represented to the Home Qoy.erntn.ent. the necessity of taking some action in t|e Hebrides queftion. He moved .''tis ah amendment that a committee be appointed to consider what action N«W Zealand 'Should pursue in the New Hebrides question. Majors Atkinson said Ke hoped Sir George Grey Would withdraw his resolution till more information was obtained. He would, never be a party to bartering the New Hebrides for any. other island. Messrs Downie. Stewart, Macandrew, Montgomery, Beetham,, .Hobbs, and Fisher also spoke On the question. Ultimately the Premier withdrew his amendment and Sir George Grey his motion. • ; The Premier gave notice', to move on Thursday for a committee to consider the whole questibn of the relations of BTew Zealand to the Paciic islands. The Lost Debentures 'Bill was read a second time and the House adjourned. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, • Replying to questions it was stated that no report had yet been received from Mr Enorpp as to his explorations . through the East Oeast District for suitable lines for roads *nd railways ; that the vote of £l5O was not found sufficient to repair, the Martin's Bay truck, and the matter was now under consideration of the Government; that i Bill had been introduced having for its object the reduction of the gold duty ; that Government' were aware of the difsalisfaciiou - that existed amongst policy holders of the Government Insurance Association, but Government could not yet say what course would be pursued, but the matter would have to ba dealt with 'this"session. ' Several Bills were read a .first time. Mr Montgomery moved that a return belaid before'",this % House., showing the number of allotments and total acreage of lands in each [and. district surveyed' and now, ready for occupation on the homestead by stem. The motion was agreed to. " , ■ Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations;BilL It was an amended reprint bassed By its? Council last session, with a few amend-V merits. Among the .alterations was the/ incorporation of the Public Health Act i with the Bill, a clause ■ encouraging town 'districts to become boroughs, Mayors to I be ex officio J.P.'s,»nd new provisions reg-irding the disqualification of contractors and others.—The JJill was committed for Tuesday next., ; - The Lost Debentures Bill was passed through Committee, read a third time and passed. - Mr G. F.:Richardson moved for plans sho wing the blocks of land proposed to be given to the Midland Railway Co. There would not be enough, he argued, for the company along the route of the line, and they would have \o select elsewhere.—A long-debate ensued, and two amendments were proposed.—Sir Qeorgs | Grey, Mr Fisher, and others objected etrongly to large tracts, being reserved from settlement.—The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel stated that he had no interest in the Midland Railway'Company. —The Hon. Mr Stout said a map was Id existence clearly showing the districts from | which the blocks were to be chosen, and there was at least seven times the quantity that would be required.—Both amendments and the original motion were lost and the subject dropped. In reply to Major Atkinson the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said he could not definitely fix the date when the financial statement would be delivered, hut it would beat an early date. The Hon Mr. Stout read the cable messages regarding the New Hebrides, confirmatory of Renter's th*t the English Government had refused France permission to annex the Islands, having previously announced that his motion for a Committee to confer on the question would bo postponed till the following day. The House rose at 10.30 p.m.