GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1940, 7 September 1889, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ( On Wednesday, On the motion of Mr Wilson it was agreed That the evidence taken by the Ward-Chriatie Correspondence Committee be printed! The Kaianui Reserve Bill, the Wi Pero Land Bill, and the Potatu Jurisdiction Bill were read a third time and passed. The report of the Conference on the Criminal Evidence Bill was agreed to. On Thursday,

The amendments made by the l Governor in the Public Reserves Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. The second reading of the Eating Act Amendment Bill was carried on a division by 13 to 10. Mr Stevens moved that the amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Selectors Land Revaluation Bill be agreed to. —Lost, after a debate, by 19 to 3. The following Bills were read a second time: Public Works Act Amendment Bill; Timaru Harbour Board Land Bill; Waitohi River-bed Bill. HOU3B OP REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday, A number of Bills were read a first time. The Local Bodies Loan Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, and the House went into Committee on the Bill, which was reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The Native Land Frauds Prevention Bill was further considered in Committee. New clauses were added providing that a Trust Commissioner may use evidence taken before another Trust Commissioner, and that all lands which passed the Native Lands Court before 1888 shall be free of the restriction limiting the title to twenty owners, if sold in areas not larger than 5000 acres, or leased in areas of not more than 10,000 acres. Clause 5, providing that the Trust Commissioner shall enquire into the nature of the consideration paid for any alienation, and shall refuse a certificate if he thinks the consideration is not reasonably sufficient, was thrown out by 37 to 31. Progress was reported, . The Natiye Meetings Bill was discharged from the Order Paper. The House went into Committee of Supply on the Estimates and the following were carried-Mines Department, £1520; Geological and Meteorological, £3250; Stock branch, £29,289; Miscellaneous, £13,250; Crown lands, £15,910; Thermal Springs, expenses, £500; Coalfields, £150; Survey Department, £66,210; Miscellaneous Services, £2652 (reduced by £l2O, an expense incurred in the investigation of grasses); Rates on Crown Lauds, £15,598; Native Department, £17,937. The House rose at 2.15 a.m. On Thursday,

The Speaker announced that he bad received from Mr Hislop his resignation of his seat as member for Oamaru. The Premier moved that the writ be issued for the return of a member for the electoral district of Oamaru. He expressed regret that bis late colleague should have thought it necessary to take this step. —Mr Ballance regretted Mr Hislop had taken this step, but thought perhaps it was the right one. Mr Turnbull thought Mr Hislop would have failed in his duty had he adopted any other course.—Sir Geo. Grey could not condemn Mininsters, for he believed they had done what they honestly believed to be right.— The Premier made a few further remarks and the motion was carried.

' In replying to questions Ministers said that Government did not see their way to allow a rebate of duty as an encouragement to the manufacture of spirits locally. 'Train arrangements at low fares would be made during the Dunedin Exhibition. Government would invite suggestions from Education Boards as to improvements in the syllabus tor primary education. The Government would try to make arrangements for a sham attack from sea on one of the fortified ports. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Grimmond moved as an amendment that the House regrets that the Minister of Justice should not have recognised that, in fairness to his late colleague, an explanation by himself of his conduct in connection with the WardChristie case was due to the country. —ln reply to the Premier Mr Ballance said that he approved of the motion.— The Premier said that in that case he should at once move the adjournment of the House and refuse to go on with other business. He would inform the House to-morrow of the view the Government took of this motion.—The motion for the adjournment of the House was carried, and the House adjourned at 7.55 p.m.