GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1943, 14 September 1889, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Wednesday, The Public Works Act Amendment Bill was committed and reported with amendments.

The following Bills were read a third time and passed Public Health Act 1876 Amendment Bill, Waitohi Riverbed Bill, Riverton Corporation Empowering Bill, Geraldine Racecourse Reserve Act 1881 Amendment Bill, Waimate Public Reserve Sale Bill, Napier Harbour Board Amendment and Further Empowering Bill, Waimate Public Library Bill, Geraldine Public School Site Bill, Brunner Borough Enabling Bill, Timaru High School Act 1878 Amendment Bill, Wellington City Empowering Bill, Masterton Trust Lands Bill, New Plymouth High School Bill, Rating Act Amendment Bill, Nelson Foreshore Reserve Bill, Gisborne Harbor Act 1884 Amendment Bill, Dog Registration Act Amendment Bill, Licensing Act 1881 Amendment Bill, Timaru Harbour Board Land Bill, Government Leans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill, Educational Endowment Bill, Kumara Sludge Channel Bill,

The Worth Island Main Trunk Bail way Bill was read a second time, the Attorney-General promising to alter the clause referring to the disposal of lands at Taranaki. The Lincoln Agricultural Sshool Bill was discharged. On Thursday,

The Public Works Act Amendment Bill was recommitted and reported, and the third reading ordered for Saturday. The Naval and Military Settlers Valuation Land Bill was read a second time.

The North Island Main Trunk Bail\yq,y Loan Application Bill was read a third time and passed,

HOUdE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On Tuesday evening, The Premier msved . the second reading of the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill. He explained that its principal objects were to appoint a deputy Auditor-General, and to carry out the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee as to the investment of trust funds being controlled by a board, one third of the Savings Banks funds being invested in London, a course which, he said, bad always been followed by the present Government. The Bill also provided that the name of deficiency bills be altered to 1 that of exchequer bills.—Carried. The Public Debt Sinking Eund Act Amendment Bill, which provides machinery in connection with the Public Revenues Bill, was read a second time, and on its committal several motions to report progress wore lost. After some discussion the motion by the Premier to report progress was carried by 32 to 29,

The Public Beveuues Bill was committed, bat progress was reported. The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Claims Bill was rea|l a third time and passed. On “Wednesday, Mr Ballance gave notice to move on going into committee of supply, “ That it is expedient that the present parliament be dissolved on the expiration of the present session and -that a new parliament assemble as, soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.” The Premier made a statement that the G-overnment intended proceeding with the Public Health Bill, Licensing j Act Amendment Bill, Bating Bill, Westport-Ngakawau, , Bailway,, Extension Bill, Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill (No., 2), West Coast Settlement Bill, Land Transfer Bill, Native Land Court Act Amendment Bill. Property Tax Bill (fixing tax for the year), and Public Bevenues Bill. He said he saw no reason why the whole of the business should not he finished by Thursday night. Consideration of the report of the Honorarium Committee was resumed by the Premier, who moved for leave to bring, in a Bill of retrospective character providing that the honorarium should be unassailable in law or equity. After a considerable debate, the motion was lost by 59 to 13. The second reading of the WestportNgakawau Eailway Extension Bill to extend the railway seven miles at a cost of £3300 was agreed to and the Bill committed. Clause 1 having been committed, progress was reported. Mr Fergus moved the second reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act Amendment Bill to remedy a few defects .in the Act of 1885, also to enable the Westland Charitable Aid Board to levy a rate on on the Westland County Council.— Agreed to.

The West Coast Settlement Eeaerve Bill and Land Transfer Bill passed through committee without amendment,

On Thursday, Mr Lance brought up the report of the Joint Committee on live stock and rabbits. He regretted, that more progress had not been made in the pre* vention of scab, —The report was ordered to be laid on the table.

Replying i to questions, Ministers said that they would make enquiries as to the desirableness of establishing a Government brand to be placed on cheese exported ; Government had no power to stop the practice of sending money to Australia to the promoters of consultation sweeps on racing; Government had decided to pay a bonus of £lO to each recipient of the New Zealand Cross instead of giving land. After considerable debate the following resolutions, moved by the Premier, dealing with the San Francisco Mail service, were carried “ That in view of the expiration of the Ocean Mail service contracts in November and December next, it is desirable to make further provision for the conveyance of mails fortnightly between the colony and Great Britain, at a total cost net exceeding £28,750.” That in order to give further time for the development of the proposed Van-couver-Pacific service, the Government t be authorised to arrange for a renewal of the present services via San Francisco and by direct steamer for the period of twelve months.” Amendments limiting the cost to £20,000, and that no further subsidy should be given to the San Francisco service, were lost. The House rose at 1,19 a.m.