Essence of Parliament.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3306, 26 July 1879, Page 2

Essence of Parliament.

Through the wires being down we hare, got behind in our Parliamentary in teJIU; gence, and to bring it up to date we are obliged to condense it considerably. j On Thursday afternoon the v no-confi-dence debate was resumed, Mr Turnbull' strongly defending the j Government policy, while Mr Wakefield followed' in a tirade against the Native Department. After the Hon. Mr Macandrew's speech in defence of the GoTernment several other members spoke' pro and con.

Mr Stewart, new member forDunedin, took his seat.

Sir W. Fox presented the following petition:— •" The humble petition of the' undersigned residents of the Thames, in the Colony of New Zealand, sheweth

?hat it is currently reported here and in the city of Auckland that William Eraser, Esq., Resident Magistrate of the Thames District, and Colonel of. Colonial Forces, has been proved to have been guilty of cheating at cards at the Auckland Club, in Auckland aforesaid, and for such offence has been expelled from the Club. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Honourable House will please to cause inquiry to be made whether such report is true, and, if so, to report to the Honourable House whether a Magistrate guilty of such an offence is any 1 nger fit to hold Her Majesty's commission of the peace.—Your petitioners, &c.,—(Signed), H. E. Campbell, solicitor, Thames; P. K. Donnellt, miner, Thames."

In reply to a question, the Minister of Lands-said he would submit a plan of the lands acquired and under negotiation through which the North Island Railway would run. House adjourned at 1.20 On Friday, after a number of questions had been asked Ministers, leave was given to introduce the following bills: By .Mr V. Pyke, a bill to amend the Waste Lands Act, 1877, and the Crown Lands Sale Act, 1877 ; by Mr Thomson, the Church of England in New Zealand Corporation Bill.

In reply to a question by Mr George re the Land Tax Statistics,

The Premier gave the following iuformation :—The total number of properties in the colony was 87,105, and some persons owned one hundred properties ; £500 in Talue. The revenue to be derived from the Land Tax would amount to £100,000, notwithstanding the depreciation in the Talue of property'; and if delay had not taken place, the valuation would have realised 20 per cent. The total estimated value of properties was £90,566,679 and the amount of mortgages, £21,764,292, which included a large sum lent on the security of live stock. It was believed that £10,123,286 might be estimated as foreign capital, and £11.640,712 as colonial capital. The total interest was £1,845,676, or 8J per cent. The total coat of the department so far had been £23,094, and it was estimated the current years expenditure would be £8560. ;

- r An;, adjournment took place on; the motion of the Premier for the purpose of passing an Imprest Supply Sill for £300.000. .-..,..,-: -, i •

! The adjourned debate on the Address in Reply was then taken. Mr Macfarlarie opening the ball by accusing the Premier of broken promises on the score of retrenchment. He said the native land purchasers had corrupted the Native Department. i ' > ; Mr Carringtori said that having heard all the opiniohs uttered, he for,one could :not'desert his party at presenti [A. vpice'r Which party P] TheGoverfament;pa.rtyJ Mr McMinn ssid he came to the House' to support the Gfoverhme.nt, from what he had seen and heard he felt he could no longer do so conscientiously, and could not therefore do so at all. ;\ '

• ,Mr Tole in a good speech cut up Mtofaflane and walked into Fox. With reference to the latter he said : The only claim Sir William Fox had for the; Premiership; so far as the past two year's' ex- • perience went, was his connection with a small social bill called "Local, Option," which had given the House' more trouble than a little, and had now been relegated to a minor member in the hope of its adrancing a stage. . i / The adjournment took place at 5.30. , At the, evening sitting the debate;,was continued by Mr Tole, who asserted that the Government retained the confidence of the country. ' ,\; ; Mr Barton defended the Premier frdm the attacks he had been subjected to by various speakers, and accused the Opppsi tipn of seek ing self-a ggrandi semen tat the expense of the colonists of New Zealand. He-defe.9ded / the : lfativ ; e;]^inistc < r.fr.bm |li* attack upon him, by the Opposition, who did not shrink from assaulting even his private character^. _v J M r Tomoana said his people were in trouble because of the; treatment- of Earatiana, against whom a bailiff had been sent where, no such officer had? : ;gone before. He should support the Opposition for that reason (laughter), and hoped; they would decide this matter at once, j Mr Hamlin said the Government party were backed by public opinion, and challenged the Opposition to go the country," when some of them would never return: within these walls. Those who vrere noted for, condemning the Government! were doing so from a desire to pet into, power, and create a large war expenditure. He read in Maori and English a telegram; ha had received from Eewi, of Waikato,, that evening, urging that Government should have time to work out their policy frith the Maqjlri people. . : :L Mr Feldwick.having spoko in support of the amendment, the House adjourned till 2 30 on Tuesday next.