PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4554, 9 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Pbe Press Association.]

HOUSE OF REPBESENTATIVES

Wellington, Yesterday. Mr Kelly brought up the report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Mr J7 E. T. Coyle, to the effect that the committee had no further recommendation to make beyond that made in two previous sessions, that the claims should be referred to arbitration. He moTed that the report be laid on the table. —Mr Fish, as an amendment, moved that it be referred to Government, with a request that the recommendation be given effect to.—Mr Bracken seconded, saying Government were treating the committee with a want of courtesy in ignoring its twice-repeated recommendation. —Mr Bolleston opposed. ■ Government did not admit any prima facie claim existed which, could be submitted to arbitration. If the committee would thoroughly investigate the claim themselves, he would abide by the result. He moved the petition, be referred back to the committee to ascertain what amount (if any) was due to the petitioner.—Mr Macandrew said'it was quite impossible for the committee to go into the details of the case.—Mr Driver suggested that the* matter should be allowed to go into a Court of Law on its merits.—Messrs Larnach and Sutton condemned the way Government treated the decisions of the Committee. —Mr Bryce defended Government.—Mr Kelly urged an impartial arbitration. Mr Bolleston accepted Mr Driver's ■ proposal that Government allow the petitioner to bring his case before a Court of Law on its merits, without interposing legal or technical obstacles.—Mr Macandrew thought it most unfair to throw the expense of legal proceedings on the petitioner.—Mr Holmes said unless, it was distinctly 1 understood that all legal defence was waived and the case taken into Court simply for the assessment of damages, the petitioner would be very foolish to go there.—Mr Bolleston said all the Government would agree to would bo that they should go into Court as a private individual would go. —Mr Fish said the petitioner would be perfectly satisfied with what was proposed. —•The matter then dropped..

In replying to questions,|§Mimßters said the question of allowiog" the Irish informers to land in the Colony was under the consideration of Government.—• The Government had no information as to an Act passed by the French Legislature, called the Transportation to the Pacific Act, but the Agent-General would obtain it, and the Government would take any steps found necessary.—Purchases of education reserves in Otago had to pay stamp duty before obtaining titles; there was no intention of altering this.—Gaolers had been instructed that where persons were to be removed from one gaol to

another they should not be informed of the intention before being actually removed. The erection of. a temporary light on Waipapa Point would only in crease the danger. The permanent light had arrived in Wellington by the Timaru, and would son be placed ir. the tower prepared for its reception.— Government denied that scab was increasing in the Colony, and would not repeal the special legislation on the subject.— Had no objection to renew the offer of a bonus for the manufacture of starchGovernment did not think there were any grounds for holding Supreme "Court meetings at Greymouth ; if, however, previous Governments bad promised such sittings the matter w onld be further considered.— Government had no information as to any claims by Mr W. Charleton, on account of his land at the Kawhia, purchased by Government at auction.—New regulations to remedy defect in the second schedule of the Supreme Court Act, 1881, were in course of preparation, and Government would be glad of any assistance from the profession in remedying errors.—Government had received reports of great irregularities in the management of Lyttelton Gaol, and these would be inquired into a3 soon as the Inspector'was at liberty. It was not likely a commission would be necessary.

The following bills were introduced and read a first time :•—■Maori Representation Act Amendment (TeWheoro), Caversham, South Dunedin, and St. Kilda streets Im« provement (Larnach). ."."- V; Mr Maqandrew moved that a free copy of Hansard should on application be sent to every householder who is a registered elector; the cost would not exceed £3000 for the session.—Messrs J. C. Brown and Dargaville supported the motion, the latter suggesting that the cost should be deducted from the honorariums.—Messrs Dick and* Shepherd opposed the motion.— The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. GOLD DUTIES ABOLITION BILL.

This bill Was passed through Committee and read a third time, on a division of 42 to 27. The division list was :—Ayes, 42: Bathgate, Bracken, Brown J. C, Brown J. E., Cadman, Daniel, Dargaville, DeLautour, Driver, Duncan, Feldwick, Fergus, Fitzgerald, Sir George Grey, Hutchison, Ivess, Joyce, Levestam, Macandrew, Mackenzie F;,W. McDonald A., McDonald, McKenzieJ., Montgomery, Moss, Munro. Petrie,; Seddon, Sheehan, Shepherd, Smith, Stevens, Steward, Swanson, Tairoa, Tawhai, Te Wheoro, Turnbull, Watt,, White W.-Noes, 27: Atkinson, Allwright, Buchanan, W. C, Connolly, Dickj Green J., Green M. W., Hamlin, Hursthouse, Lee, Johnston W. W.,Kelly, Mcllwraith, McMillan,Nicholson .Morris, O'Callaghan, Peacock, Pilliet, Postlethwaite, liolleston, Sutter, Sutton, Thomson H., Trimble, Whitaker, Wilson J. G.—Pairs :—Ayes : Pyke, Bathgate. Noes: Fulton and Beetham.

The House went into Committee to consider a motion by Mr Harris for ah address to Government to place on the Estimates a sum to construct a wharf at Howick, Franklin North. After considerable discussion, the motion was carried on a division of 33 to 32.—0n being reported Mr Harris moved that the resolution be agreed to.—Mr Macandrew explained that though he was opposed to such votes, and there were also thousands of more necessary works, he had voted for this as a protest against the policy of the' Government in sanctioning any such votes.— Major Atkinson said the Government would not accept this motion, not prepared to advise his Excellency to place any sums on the Estimates for any locaf works. No such works would be sanctioned, and he wished the friends of Goverment to distinctly understand this. —Mr Hutchison said there were votes for such works on the Estimates.—Major Atkinson denied it. —The House divided, the ayes being 24, noes 35. The motion was lost.

The Charitable Gifts Duty Exemption Bill passed through Committee, was read a third time, and passed.

On the motion for going into committee on the Religious, Charitable, and Educational Trust Boards Incorporation Bill, Mr Sheehan moved an amendment to refer the bill to a select committee to consider what lands the bill would affect, and the desirability or otherwise of the colony resuming those lands granted by it as endowments. —Considerable debate ensued. Mr ; Connolly individually urged postponing the bill until next session.—Mr Holmes approved of the bill, and looked on the proposed amendment as an insidious attack on the Middle Island en* dowments.—-Mr Smith supported the bill with certain amendments. —Mr Montgomery strongly opposed the amendment, as an attack on, Southern reserves.—Mr Dick agreed in'this, but thought the bill would be better for consideration by a Committee. —Mr Shepherd advocated resumption by the colony of all education endowments.—Mr Fish opposed the amendment, but admitted that one part of the colony was richly endowed, while the rest of it was neglected. In regard to secondary education, unless some better arrangements could bo made, he would not object to seeing the reserves for secondary education made available for the colony, but the question should not be raised by a side wind. Later.—This day.

Mr Turnbull was in favor of cobnializing all the education reserves.—Mr J. Buchanan moved the adjournment of the, debate, and complained of gross maladministration of trusts in Hawkes* Bay. —Mr Dodson complained of there being no provision for secondary education. Reserves were being administered for the benefit of the rich only.—Mr Maoandrew maintained that the reserves were the property of the Province which made them.—Mr Levestam claimed them as the property of the Colony.—Mr Montgomery thought all secondary education should be free.—Mr Swanson said these trusts were grossly maladministered. —Mr Stevens condemned the system of secondary education, and after considerable further debate, the motion for adjournment was carried, and the House rose at 1 o'clock. •> '.'■•' ' ;■'-••■:',-.