LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3374, 15 October 1879, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, Last night.

In the Legislative Council this afterpoon, after the formal business was over, a letter was read from the Governor notifvinjj the Hon. Mr Whitaker's appointment.

THE POLICY,

Mr Whitaker made a short statement of the intentions of the Government. He said he had been appointed not because if wa:i necessary to have an Auckland man in the Ministry, bat to hare a lawyer and Government repreaentative in the Council. The principal efforts of the Government were this session to be directed to amending the electoral laws and abolishing the miners' rights franchise. The Government would also try to put the finances in proper order and to improve the present unsatisfactory state of native affairs. Electoral, finan,cial, and native reforms were their three objects. THE LATE ADMINISTRATION ■ The Hon. Sir F. D. Bell's motion for the appointment of a committee to inquire into all the railway contracts let during the last two years was carried after considerable discussion with an amendment; by the Hon. Mr Waterhouse that the committee should inquire and report as. to the deficiency of the Audit Department. The Hon. Mr Whitaker notified the introduction of bills to suppress gambling, lotteries, aud to amend the District Court Act.

1 he Council rose at 4 p.m., and agreed to meet next day.