PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3377, 18 October 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Special Wibe to " Stab."]

(Per Press Association.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Last night. Tho House met at 2.30. COUBT SITTING AT GISBORNE. Replying to Mr McDonald, Mr Rolleston said the Government did not intend to cause a sitting.of the Supreme Court at Gisborne, in Poverty Bay district. PAYMENT BY STAMPS. Replying to Mr Andrews, Mr Ilolleston said that he believed that the present system of payment by stamps at the several police courts caused inconvenience, and that steps would be taken to remedy the same. THE CHARACTER OF A J.P. Replying to Mr Ormond, Mr Oliver said he would lay the correspondence before tho House relating to the appointment of Cooper Smith as J.P., also a letter from the Justices of the. Wai pawn Petty Sessions Court, protesting against the appointment. Why'that letier was not replied to he could not say; -there was no record of any inquiry as to Mr Smith's previous character, and that it was not clear from the records who recommended Smith to the Licensing Bench of the Waipavra district. ' BAIIAV'AY CONTRACTS. Replying to Mr Ormond, Mr Oliver promised to la} r before the House a detailed statement accounting for the expenditure of £28,239 in the year 1877---7-78 and £'1-8,167 in the year ending the 30th Juno, 1879, as stated in the Public Works Statement on the Napier and Manawatu railway, also of the liabilities stated to exist at the same time on qccount of the same line amounting to £31,745. MX BIIEEHAN'fI TBAVELLING- EXPENBES. Mr Johnston asked the Native Minister whether the colony was charged with the cost incurred in conveying the late Native Minister from Auckland to Napier to enable him, to contest the Clivc election after he wa3 returned for Thames. Mr Hall, in the absence of the Native Minister, staled that although Mr Sheehan had power to charge these expenses he had not done so, but had paid them out of his own pocket. THE CITY WEST AUCKLAND. Mr Hislop, on the order of day being called on for the appointment of an Election Committee to try the allegations in the petition of Joseph Newman against the return of Dr Wallis and W. J. Hurst, moved that it be referred to a committee to enquire whether the forms of this House, and the requirements of Election Petitions Act, had been complied with by the petitioner, and to report to the House a ithin seven days ; and that the consideration of appointment of Election Committee be postponed till after such report, the committee to consist Of Messrs Bowen, J. B. Fisher, Fulton, Pitt, Stewart, Tole, and mover, four to form a quorum. A lengthened debate took place on the purely technical character of the objection raised that the one petition could aot, in accordance with the Act, embody the names of two members against whom it was directed.

Mr Hall thought that if the provision of the law could not be literally complied with its spirit could be by calling on Pr Wal'is and W. J. Hurst to say whether fwey would act conjointly or severally—if the former, there was no difficulty, if-the latter, two committees could be appointed. Subsequently Mr Eolleston moved an amendment embodying this suggestion. Several members pointed out that the strict letter must be followed in the construction of a Penal Act, others pointed out that the only security for costs as against the member could be given by petitioner. After considerable discussion. Major. Atkinson moved the adjourment of the debate to enable the Speaker to look into the authorities on the subject. The Speaker said he had, made the petition in question the subject of careful consideration, and he looked upon the objection as insuperable. • Eventually it was agreed that the names of the committee should bo left to be decided by the Committee of Selection. SIR GEOEGE GBEX"'s PETITIOK. The petition against"* Sir George Grey's return for Christchurch was next brought up, Mr Hislop stated a technical objection grounded on the fact that the declaration accompanying-the petition 1 had not been stamped in terms of the act. The objection was overruled, The Speaker announced that Mr Bichardson, the petitioner, had named Mr Moorhouse. to represent him, Sir G-. Grey named Mr Dorcnie Stuart, and the speaker appointed Mr Fulton to be chairman of committee of enquiry. Tho House adjourned at 5.30.