PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 17, 26 October 1871, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

Tuesday, October 17. PETITION of LUNDON AND WHITAKER. Mr. Shepherd brought up the report of the committee appointed to examine into this case. The report stated that the committee considered that the petitioners had a legal claim on the colony, and reermmended the payment of compensation to the amount of £1,480. Mr. Haughton gave notice that tomorrow he would move that the report bo adopted TRANSFER OF TQWERS BILL. Mr. Vogel, on the calling of the order for the second reading of this bill, said the business of the remainder of the session was so onerous that it was desirable to cut off every moment they could possibly spare. This was a measure which could not pass through the Assembly without a considerable amount of discussion, and therefore the Government had come to the conclusion that it would be more desirable to deal with the whole subject by bringing in a bill next session than to deal with it now. The Government would then bring down a bill which would not only deal with the matter more comprehensively, but would define what should be the exact functions of the Provincial Governments. That was the mind of the Government on the subject, and with these views he would move that the order be discharged. On behalf of members generally, he would say that it was desirable that they should

go on with the business of the llouso ■ with fis little unnecessary discussion as possible. This was no appeal on behalf v of the Government, but on behalf of the members, although he might say that the strain on the Government had been of a very heavy nature during the past three weeks, and they were of opinion that it was desirable that the session should be closed within the next three weeks. (“ Oh, oh,” and ironical cries of “ Why don’t you make it a fortnight ?” and “ Make it a week.”) He hoped lion, members did not suppose ho was making his remarks in any presumptive spirit. Mr. Stafford said the position was certainly a very peculiar one. The Government had been asked to bring down their policy, and had delayed doing so until a very late period of the session, and then they gave only a sketch of what they were going to do. They had beeu asked to bring down their bills, and after a great deal of consideration they did consent to bring down these bills, but they were no sooner placed on the order paper than the Government themselves asked that they should be discharged. A good many of these bills were discharged, but this bill seemed to be so good that it would be a pity to see it struck off the order paper. Mr. Wood thought the bill before them was just the one the Government should proceed with. Mr. Macandrew did not know whether the bill would be supported or opposed by the supporters of the Government, but lie did know this, that they were opposed to remaining here three months to discuss the questio*. Mr Gillies thought there was an absolute necessity for proceeding with the bill. If the Colonial Treasurer intended to go on with the Payment to Provinces Bill, he must necessarily have this Bill, because there were Provinces which could not go on, and it was absolutely necessary that some provision should be made to take over a Province which was in such circumstances; but if ho intended to withdraw the Payments to Provinces Bill, he (Mr Gillies) had not a word to say. On the question being put that the order for the second reading of the Bill be discharged from the paper, it was declared on the voices to be with the ayes. A division being called for, the result was : Ayes, 40 ; noes, 25.

the estimates The first item which drew forth any passing notice was the vote tinder the Customs head for the Collector at Hokitika. Mr Harrison proposed the reduction of the amount by LIOO, on the ground that the official was overpaid and underworked. The vote passed without reduction. When the votes for the Native Department came on, Mr Creighton protested against them as wholly unnecessary, but he saw Government were so strong that it was utterly useless to attempt any reduction : therefore he would not make any motion having that object. The next vote discussed was that for the Wellington Domain, L3OO Members on all sides defended the vote, on the ground that it was colonial in its character. Messrs Gillies, Reynolds, and Bathgate opposed the vote to the extent of going to a division, which resulted in a majority of 40 against 18. The subject of provincial charging for the carriage of inland mails was postponed. The item of L 3,500 for bank commission on remittances excited some pertinent inquiries from Mr Gillies and Mr Webster, in reply to which Mr Vogel said the charge was one of half per cent, commission, the Bank binding itself to keep ready in London an amount to pay interest and sinking fund every quarter, so that the colony had not to keep so much money in London as it would otherwise have to do. When they sent money home and it did not arrive, the Bank was always ready to pay the interest and sinking fund on the colonial accounts, for which they charge the half per cent. The vote passed. The vote for militia and volunteers, L 28,393 13s Gd, was postponed. The discussion on the lend fund, goldfields revenue, was withdrawn until after the discussion of the Payments to Provinces Bill. COLONIAL INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE. Mr. Creighton brought up the final report of the Industries Committee, stating that the report was a very important one. He moved that it be printed: Agreed to. MARRIED WOMEN’S PROPERTY BILL. The House went into committee on this bill. The debatable matter of the bill was contained in the clauses providing that women entering into any business should have the privilege of becoming insolvent. Mr. Creighton and Mr. Gisborne opposed the granting of the liberty. The clauses passed, and the bill was reported with some other amendments. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19. RUNANGA FOR THE NORTH ISLAND. moved that the Government be requested to send down to the House a measure by which a runanga will be granted to the districts of Bay of Islands and Mangonui ; the object of such Board to be the promotion of public works, education, and the carrying out of law and order. Mr. McLean was favourable to the suggestion, but said it was too late iu the session to carry out the mover’s wishes. MR. FIRTH AND TE KOOTI. Mr. Creighton moved, “ That copies of all correspondence in the possession of the Government arising out of the interview of Mr. J. C. Firth, of Auckland, with Te Kooti, not yet published, be laid on the table of this House.” He put the motion for the purpose of removing reflections cast upon the character of Mr. Firth, in an indirect way, by allusions contained in a memorandum of the Defence Minister relating to the meeting of Mr. Firth with Te Kooti. Mr. McLean, in explanation, said he would only be too happy to withdraw any aspersions he had made on Mr. Firth’s private character. During the exciting circumstances of the time to which the documents read by the lion, member referred, he might have used expressions of rather a warm and hasty character; but his intention was merely to warn Mr. Firth that meetings of the kind which had been held between himself and Te Kooti could not bo permitted to be held by private settlers without the knowlddge of the Government. He would not allow the matter to drop without saying that he fully recognised the value of the efforts of Mr. Firth as an old and respected settler. 'He never had any wish to throw imputations bn his character. The motion was then withdrawn. • THE HONORARIUM. Mr Henderson brought on his motion with reference to the honorarium, moving, “ That it is advisable to discontinue the payment of the honorarium of 20s per day to the members of the Legislature, and that the sum of £lO5 be paid to each member.” His object was—and he had made calculations on the matter to shorten the sitting of the Parliament, and he thought that by fixing the amount their sessions would be very much shortened, (To k mimed.)