GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1771, 2 August 1888, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Tuesday, A message was received from the Acting-Governor referring fthe question of alleged disqualification of certain members of the Council back for further cohBideration. A numb r of Bills were read a first time. 5 ' ; . The Land Act Amendment Bill and the Mount Somers Road Board. Empowering Bill were read a second time, • : The and Military Settleyjß > and Volunteers Land Bill and the Contracts and Promises Bill were committed end re* ported with amendments, " / Mr Stevens moved (hat the Nelson Foreshore Reserves 8.1 l be read that day three months.—Carried.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Monday, Mr Fergus introduced the Disorderly Qonses Suppression Bill. Farther consideration of '.the Otago Central Railway Bill was postponed till Tuesday evening. The Slaughterhouses Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee and passed, with slight amendments reported, aud substquently was read a third time and passed. The Fair Root of Land Bill was further considered in Committee, amended, reported, read a third time, and passed, Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Industrial Schools Act 'Amendment Bill. He explained that no'additional burden was cast on the State; merely a fresh allocation of ex-sting liabilities waa made. Messrs Taylor, Goldie, and Jones opposed the measure, On the grquud that it placed further burdens on local bodies. The debate was adjparned.

Tbs State Forests Act Amendment Bill wee peeled through iia remaminf sieges, and tke House'rose at 12.50 n.m. On Tuesday, Replying to qiieetione, it was stated that Government would oontioue to make local government aU integral part of It sir ■ * policy, but could not promise to bring down a Bill next session ; tint the ques- ’ tion of taxing professional incomes would ' bo considered during the recess; that the charges against the Chief Judge of the Natire Lands Court were now before the Native Affaira Cou mittee; that Government did not propose to give any faciii* " ties for considering the question of snbstUnting “ working average” for ‘I strict - average ” attendance in public schools j > tbit a atatsment would be msde In e dsy or two as to the Bills Government intended to proceed with this seseion ; that , » cablegram had been received from the Agent-General to the eteot that the only ; claese reapacting which there had been : any difficulty had been accepted by the Midland Kailway Company, and that it was expected that the contract would be signed in a day or two. Mr Richardson moved the second reading of the Sheep Act Amendment Bill. • He explained that it wss brought In in consequence of a decision recen'ly given = in the Supreme Court. The Bill provided that inspectors shall give notice .to the ' owners of scabby sheep to clean the tame within six months, and the owner, on conviction, is liable to a penalty if the sheep ere not clean three months after, ’ The House went into Committee on the Public Reserves Salas Bi'l.—Dr Newman •eked the Minister to agree to striking ont the Ministerial reserve in Wellington, three acres and a-half. He said- that there were verv few reserves in Wellington, and he hoped that his request would be acceded to.—Lost by 44 to 14, and the schedule wee agreed to, The Ellesmsre Lake Lands Bill was committed and passed, without amendments. The River Boards Act Amendment Bill was passed, with additional clauses and second schedule. The Bill was reported, read a third time,.and passed. . Mr,Fergus moved the second reading of the Coroners Act Amendment Bill. He i aaid that the principal object of the Bill was to reduce the fees paid to coroners.— Agreed to. ■ Mr Fergus moved the second readiag of • the Offenoee Against the Person Bill. He said thlt the Bill raised the age of consent to eixteett years. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 pirn, adjournment. , ■ On resuming at 7.30, MrVerrall,' member for' Ashley, took the oath end hie seat. The debate on the Offsnces Against the Person Bill was adjourned, to enable Hie Otago Central Railway Bill to be farther considered. The Premier, on behalf of the Government, aaid that they bad decided to lay two alternatives before the House. The first wee that Government should push the line on to Middlemarcb, which could not be done under two years. In the recess the Minister of Pablic Works and himself would visit the south, aid, if they came to the conclusion that the line ought to go further, they would bring down recommendation* next session, The second was that the Government •hquld still continue the extend the Hne tp Middlemarch, and then lake up thji-Bill or introduce another to enable tbs line to. be- completed to Clyde. Insteed, however, of granting larid they : would give, the Government line up to hell the value of work done by any company. government would undertake to open up land for settlement along the but they saw great difficulty iu granting land for the construction of the , line. In Committee be would move to report: progress, and if that were carried .it : would he understood that the House accepted the first alternative. The House went into Committee. - The Premier moved to report progress, in hccordance wltb his statement. After a long discussion, much of it vary acrimonious, the Iromiet’s motion was carried by 28 to 24. The House adjourned at 12.45 a.m. |