WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3023, 23 October 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

• Tuesday. GOVEBNMENT SPECIAL ORGANS. Mr McLean presented a petition from Messrs Holt and McCarthy, of the New Zealand Press Agency, stating that the Government have given a monopoly of wires to a few individuals, and praying that they may be placed on an equal footing. HOUSE COMMITTEE, A report of the Joint Hou.'.e Committee wag brought up; recommending that the members resident in Well'a.ilon during the recess be appointed a House Committee during that.period. Mr Richardson commented on the fact that the committee last year spent £4,C00 without .any check, and had claimed the authority of Mr Macandrew for many items, while Mr Macandrew denied all knowledge. Mr Swanson said many, Hems in the ! account incurred by tile .House Com-1 mitten during the recess showed gross overcharges. It was agreed that the report be printed and considered to-morrow. HANSABD IN MAOBI. The committee on the question of translating Hansard recommended that during the recess the Government should ■ obtain information as the expediency and cost of printing a portion of Hansard in the native language. THE LAW OV EVIDENCE. Mr Curtis asked the Attorney General if the Government will take into consideration, during the recess, the expediency of so amending the law of evidence as to admit of examination under carefully considered restrictions of persons on their trial for criminal offences. He said the Imperial Parliament had lately introduced such a clause into the bill.

The Hod. JR. Stout replied that the question was a difficult one. The Government doubled whether it would be advisable, but they would consider the matter during the recess, as well as the ezpe> diency of altering the present mode of prosecution. FISHEEIES PRESERVATION BILL. Mr Feldwick it to ask the Minister for Public Works if he intends to proceed withi. the Fisheries Preservation Bill this session. The Hon. Mr Macandrew said such a bill was likely to lead to considerable discussion, and at this laic period of the session probably the measure should be brought up next session. THE MARINE DEPARTMENT. Mr Gisborne asked the Government when the usual yearly report on the Marine Department will be laid before the House. y The Premier replied that the report had been delayed in the printing office. He hoped it would be laid on the table to-morrow. MB BABTON AND THE JUDGES.

Sir R. Douglas asked the hon. member for the city of Wellington (Mr Barton) whether, in the event of a committee or a commission of enquiry into the grave charges he has brought against Chief Justice Prendergast and Justice Richmond, he will have any objection to the committee or commission inquiring whether he, as a barrister, had conducted himself as a barrister should do; and, if the charges made by him are found to be false, whether he should not be debarred or suspended from practice p ' The Speaker said this custom of members putting questions to each other was frequent in the House of Commons within certain restrictions, but had not been taken advantage of in New Zealand. ,

Mr Barton replied that, as to the first portion of the question, in which it was assumed that the charge of misconduct as a barrister existed against him, he would reply that he was not aware that any such charges had been, or could be, made; as to the portion of the question in which the member for Marsden asked him to assume that he was capable of making charges against a judge knowing them to be false, he regarded the question as unworthy of the hon. member himself, and equally unworthy of notice from him. THAMES WATER SUPPLY BILL. The Thames Water Supply Bill was read a first time. \ THE LICENSING BILL.

In the course of $he discussion the Hon. Mr Sheehan, referring to the Licensing Bill, said he had caused.a bill to .be drafted this session, but when he considered the question he came to the conclusion that.it would not be right to regard the publicans generally on the, principle that they were rogues. He would not promise to draft another bill, but if he did he would make its provisions public before next session. Publicans' licenses being local revenues, if any reduction were made, those bodies would have a claim on the House for compensation. A fair solution of the difficulty would be to give local bodies power to raise what publicans' fees they deemed proper.

DISQUALIFICaTION ACT. At the half-past five adjournment, the House was in committee on consideration of the amendment in the Disqualification Act made by the Legislative Council. THE ELECTRIC TBLEJJBAPH ACT. Mr McLean gave notice of the introduction of a bill to-morrow to amend the Electric Telegraph Act.