Afternoon Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3902, 1 July 1881, Page 2

Afternoon Sitting.

Wellington, Thursday. In the House to-day Mr Moss presented a petition from the Auckland Licensed Victuallers asking for certain alterations in the Licensing Bill. ■ Dr Wallis gave notice of motion in favour of the retention of the freehold franchise and the restoration of leasehold and ratepayers' franchise.

Mr Reeves gave notice to more for the appointment of a Commission during the recess to report on the goldfields of the Colony with a view to their further development, and also on the other mineral resources of the Colony. Dt Walhs gave notice on re committal of the Licensing Bill to move the omisßion of clause 64 and the substitution of a clause providing for compensation when the renewal license was refused by the operation of Local Option. : ■ The Public Petition Committee reported they were unable to recommend the prayer of the Bible in Schools Association petition to the favourable consideration of the House. '"

Beplying to questions put, it was stated Government knew, of no circumstance to warrant the calling upon them to explain why, under the railway tariff, a truck load of timber being charged lOd per mile for the first 75 miles, and reduced to 2|d per mile the next. A bill for creating a new land district on the East Coast, co-terminus with the registration of titles district, to be under the control of a Waste Land Board holding sittings on the East Coast, would probabably be introduced. LOCAL SELF GOVEBNMEKT BILL. Sir George Grey introduced a bill providing for the establishment of a better system of local self-government.

On the motion that the second reading be fixed for July 13, he explained he had purposely fixed on a distant date, as he was desirous of affording Garernment an opportunity for explaining their proposals on the subject. Replying to. the Hon. J. Hall, Sir G. Grey said he would lay the draft bill on the table as soon as the Mouse knew what the financial proposals of the Gorernment were likely to be. Messrs Fox and Eolleston urged that the draft should be submitted at once, but the Speaker ruled that if the drift was put into the hands of the clerk in time to be printed and circulated for its second reading the requirements of the case would be satisfied. ; FIBBT BEADING. The following bills were introduced and read a first time :—To amend the Mining Company, 1872; to enable Kaikoura

County County to reclaim lands and rest them in the Council for harbour purposes; to ameud the Miners' Act, 1878, and the Borough of Hamilton boundaries. PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE. The following bills passed through committee : —Auckland Exchange of Synagogue Site ; Wellington Queen's Wharf, and Stokes Port Chalmer's Cemetery; Port Chalmer's Drill Shed;/ Oamaru Harbour Board. With thff exception of the Wellington Wharf Bilfi the others were read a third time an|j passed. I The House will, on Wednesday, resolve itself into Committee to consider tlk c Address to His Excellency, asking i 0 place upon the Estimates a sum of £lsw) t claimed by H. Farnall, for services yfe n ' m dered and money expended in the£, er . formance of his duties as Immigr^ t i on Agent in Belfast for the Province o f Auckland and for the colony. /