PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5199, 15 September 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Peess Association.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Yesterday. Mr Hart moved that leave be given to himself to waive his privilege of Parliament so far as to permit of his being served with process out of the Supreme Court, and doing and suffering whatever might be necessary consequent upon such service. He explained that, his motion was in order that any claims there might be against him could be brought forward during his lifetime, and not after he was dead, when he would be unable to answer them.—The motion was agreed to. Consideration of the message from the House, relative to the examination of Mr Bryce before the Native Affairs Commit? tee, was postponed till Wednesday. The Public Works Bill was read a third time and passed ; the Counties Bill was reported with amendments; and the Council went into committee on the Land Bill. At clause 10 progress was reported. The Enforcement of Judgments' Bill, and the Municipal Corporations Bill were read a first time, and the Qounpil rose at 10.40 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wellington, Yesterday. The amendments made by the Council in the Hospital aud Charitable Institutions Bill were agreed to. Mr Hamliu desired to make a personal explanation. He bad been informed about ten day 8 ago that Mr Te Ao had stated in the IJouse that be (Hamlin) had endeavored to influence his vote on the late no confidence division. He desired to say that neither directly nor indirectly had he sought to influence a single vote. He hoped be knew the position he occupied in the House too well to take such a course, and he must therefore characterise the statement made by Te Ao as absolutely without foundation—Mr Te Ao reiterated the statement, and said that Mr Hamliu stated that if the Maoris voted in a block they would not haye a seat in the House two years bonce. It was strictly correct that Mr Hamlin had not asked the natives to vote one way or {the other; Mr W. F. Buckland also had said, that if the Maoris yoted in a block they would have to go outside the House. —-Mr Hamljn explained that what he did say was that pative members might find they were mating a mistake, but that they had a perfect right to rote as they pleased. The House went into Committee on the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. la clause 2, definition of contract, Mr W. White moved that a clause be Substituted, providing " that no proceed*

ings shall bo taken under section 63 of the bill, except with ihe written consent of. 1 the Attorney General, and that all penal* ties] shall (after deducting expenses), be paid into the borough funds." —-Tile new clause was agreed to, and the bill read a third time and passed. The House went into Committee on the Enforcement of Judgments Bill, which was reported with verbal amendments, read a third time and passed. The House went into Committee to consider the following resolutions :—" (1), That in the opinion of this House the portion of New Guinea annexed to the empire should for the present be created a Crown colony, with the view of ultimately being annexed to Queensland or created a constitutional colony ; (2), that aid should be given by tbe Imperial Government to the new possessions by placing at the disposal of the Government a war vessel for this use; (3), that for a term of three yenrs, from the Ist day of June, 1886, this colony will undertake to pay its share of £15,000 a year proportionately to population, on the condition that the other colonies of Australasia join in the contribution on the same terms." He explained that the resolutions were brought in merely to gi»e effect to what had previously been agreed to by the House. The Government had thought that to make New Guinea a Crown colony would be the best course, and that it would be best for the colony to be anuexed to Queensland. —Mr Newman considered it sheer waste of money to pay £2700 towards the management of a block of land 8000 miles away.—Sir G. Grey said he should move to omit the first two resolutions.—Mr Montgomery said no opinion had been expressed in the House last year that New Guinea should be a Crown colony; why then express such opinions now? He should vote against the first and second clauses.— Mr Stout said the matter had been submitted to all the colonies, and each had expressed an opinion, and the Government had given an opinion, but stated that the matter bad not been submitted to Parliament. If this Parliament declined to give an opinion, it would place them in a wrong position.— Mr Trimble thought the third resolution the most objectionable of all. He considered the resolutions were brought down too late ia the session to be dealt with.— Mejor Atkinson agreed to the first resolution, but did not altogether like the third. He thought it was absurd to contend that a colony like New Zealand could not afford the contribution asked. He disapproved of the proposal to limit the obligation of the colony.-—Sir G. Grey contended that they should wait for a report on the whole subject before expressing any opinion on it. He moved an amendment to the first resolution, " that no decision should be come to as to the form of government to be given to New Guinea, or as to the future disposition of that colony, until a report has been received from Major-General Scratchley after personal enquiries into it."—The amendment was lost by 40 to 25.—Mr

Trimble asked whether Government would accept the decision just given for ail three resolutions. He would suggest that the House leave the whole matter over till next session.—Mr Ballance said Government would accept the decision of the House. Ob the motion that the House go into Committee to consider the granting of a subsidy for the Australian cable, Mr Sutter moved that the House go into Committee that day six months.—Sir J. Vogel said that some years ago a contract was made at a low amount, by which they secured the construction of a cable between Sydney and Nelson ; the total cost of subsidy was £7500, of which New South Wales contributed £2500, and New Zealand £5000. Government had recently received an intimation from Sydney that unless the subsidy was renewed the charges would be greatly increased. He said the proposal was to reduce the Press rates to 3d' a word, and ordinary messages to 6d per word, or 5s for ten words. He thought it very desirable that the colony should possess cheap rates of telegraphing, and held that £5000 was an amount which the colony could well afford for thia purpose. The aor end men t was lost by 42 to 30, and the House went into Committee on the resolution.—Sir J Vogel moved, "That Government be authorised to undertake and continue a cable service for ten years, provided the charge for press messages shall not exceed 3d per word, and for ordinary messages od."—Mr Hurst moved an amend* ment to make the time 5 years.—This was

agreed to.—The Colonial Treasurer assured the House that the subsidy should not exceed £5000.— The resolution as amended was then put and carried by 41 to 26.

The House went into Committee of Supply, \7hen Mr Richardson said he desired to express his deep regret at the death of Mr George Blackett, whose career in the public service he spoke of in terms of great commendation,—Messrs Levestatn and Samuel bore tribute to the good qualities of the deceased, both as a citizen of Nelson and as a competent engineer.

Surrey of new lines of railway, £3,000; agreed to. Public Works Department, £24,931; carried. Roads, bridges, and wharves north of Auckland, £66,224. Mr Richardson explained, in reply'to agues tion, that this vote could be reduced by £10,000. —After some discussion, the f ote, reduced by £15,000, was reduced.

This day. Class 5 : Koads, Bridges, and Wharves, north of Auckland, £62 224; rote was rerlucpd by £15,000. Main roads, £45,000 ; several amendments were mad (o reduce this amount, b,ut a)I were negatived, and the vote agreed to, Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges, £83 974; Ministers said (hey would take £1.0,000 off this rote, which was agreed to. Grants in Aid, £268,329; Ministers suggested £2§,o{|Q should be taken off this voteagreed to. Minister of Lands (roads to open* up land for sale), £70,072; agreed to. Minister of Mines (roads and goldfields), £50,000; the Premier moved that it bo reduced by £5000, the reduction being agreed to. Water Races: Mr White moved be it reduced by £15,000; carried by 4S to 31. Judicial', |q3,22f; Mr O'Callagban moved to reduce the item by £4000, the Premier accepted this, and the rote then passed. Postal and Telegraph, £8322; passed. Customs: Mr Holmes moved to strike out (he item £4006, one-third of the' estimate of the c(isfc qf a new Customhouse at Auckland, and the amendment vcas carried by 31 to 24. Survey and Panting Office, £6000; Mr Richardson said £4000 might be struck off, and that potjrse was adopted. Lunatic Asylums £23,000; carried. Hospitals and Charitable Institutions, £13,000; carried. Quarautibe Station, £500; rote carried. School Buildipgs,

£68,220; carried. Lighthouses, £10,440; Mr Newman moved a reduction by £20G0, and it was carried. Harbor Works, £5570; vote carried. Harbor Defences, £250,000; Mr White moved a reduction of £50,000, Mr Ballance accepted the amendment, and the vote as reduced was passed. Postmaster General aud Commissioner of Telegraphs, £259,000 ; vote carried. Minister Native Affairs, £70,000; carried. Charges for raising Loans, £60,000; carried. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 3.20 a.m.