GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 131, 11 August 1870, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, August 3rd. In the debate on his representation resolutions last night, Mr Fox announced that the Govenment had resolved to increase the" riumber of the House by two, giving an additional member each to Auckland and 1 the West Coast. Westland County and Westland North would' thus have four members beteen them. ' ' Mi* Swan objected to only one additional member being given to Auckland, as not being enough, and moved for two. ' ' ' Mr 'Reynolds thought that Auckland was entitled to three more mefmbers, one of whom should be taken from Taranaki, and the other two from Wellington. ' ' ' ' The Governmentproposal that Auckland should have 16 '■members, was carried by4l to 21. ' ' Mr Reynolds moved that the number of members for Taranaki should be* reduced to two, but tho motion' was lost by 43 to -1 Mr Reynold's then moved that the number of members' for ' Wellington should be reduced to 7, but 'the proposal was negatived by 40 to 3. • The other resolutions were passed, except that relating to the Maori representatives, which was withdrawn for reference to a committee." ' During the debate some very strong personal recriminations occurred be"- { fcween Mr Gillies and Mr Yogel. Mr Gillies accused Mr Yogel of riding a high horse which had an ignominious fall. Mr Yogel replied by chaffing Mr Gillies to try his strength and lead the House. Ho also spoke of Mr Gillies's conduct as beiug' dogmatic aud pugnacious, and said that he would in future treat his' remarks" I 'with the contempt they deserved. 1 Mr Barff moved for five members for Westland, but'-lnV propbsitibn 'did not meet with a seconder. The Defence Loan Appropriation Bill was read a second time on 'a divi- 1^ sion by 48 to 7. The Noes were — Messrs -Carleton, Swan, Munro, Brbwn, Collins, Jollie, and Wilson. The last named gentleman avowed' himself to be converted to Separation by the Bill. • ■ ' k The Reciprocity and Pacific Islands Trade Bills were read a - second time. The Immigration and PubhVWorks Bill was postponed, as it had oulyjust been circulated in its revised form. The Otago Road "Boards Ordinance Validation Bill was read a 'second time. Mr Macandrew is now moving his resolution regarding tile San Francisco service. August 4th. Mr Macandrew moved his resolution regarding the' Sau .Francisco mail service to-day, filling up the blanks with "90 hours" and " £10,000." Mr Creighton seconded the motion. Mr Ktzhe'rbert str&igly supported the idea of* New Zealand contracting for au efficient service, and thought that the expenditure of the £50,000 required by Mr Webb would -prove amply reproductive. He thought that such a service was necessary to give full effect to the financial policy of the Government, and thfat the colony could well afford it. The port of call should be left 'to the decision of the contractors. '' ' ' " The opinion of the House seemed to be strongly in' favour of this last suggestion, and' Mr Williamson expressed it to be 'his conviction that Mr Hall would not be able 'to carry on his contract, but that Auckland would be blind to its dwn interests if it did not carry on the seTvrce oil its own account. ' ' Mr John Hall thought that America would not subsidise a line terminating in New Zealand. ' * ( *■ The debate ' was, adjourned for a week, as Mr Yogel intimated that he expected important correspondence on the subject. ' " ■ The Public Works and Immigration : Bill was read a Second tfcae: Mr Richmond opposed it as being ill considered, and inconsistent 'in its provisions. All that was 'proposed to be done Within the nex£ year could be authorised* 'by *a short Bill, and the larger one left for the 'consideration of the new Parliament. ' ' ' ' ' Mr Wilson moved that the Bill be read that day' bus? months.' v v " Mr Eitzherbert and"* Mr Hall supported the Second reading of the Bill, and on a division,; the amendment was lost by 45 to" 7. ' ' '" Mr Haughton accepted the previous question with regard to his manhood suffrage resolutions. Mr Stevens asked why the sentence of death passed upon Smyth, the Lyttelton wife-murderer, had been commuted. Mr Fox replied that the reason was

that the jury seemed to have been hurried to arrivo at a verdict by the judge's intimation that if they did. not quickly agree they would be locked up oVer Sunday. ' The Judge also seemed to haye 1 wrongly charged, the jury as to the unanirnfty of the medical testimony, since Dr'Turnbull'a evidence was contrary to of the' other medical men." Eurthe^ the J^udge, in his correspondence with the Government, had intimated it' to be his' b'el,ief that the prisoner' mi^ht not have intended to kill ' his wife, though' boi;h morally and he was guilty 'of murder. ' Mr. Gillies moved the following resolution : — " That it inessential to the independence of Parliament and the efficiency of the public service I,'1 ,' that colonial officers receiving salaries under an appropriation of the Colonial' Legislature, except those who hold' political offices, should not in futurje 'be eligible for ' appointment to the Legislative Council or to sit in' the House of Representatives ; and that no member of the Legislative Council or House of;, Representatives should be eligible for any office 1 of emolument under Government for a period of one year after his ceasing to be a member of Parliament.' 1 " Mr. Yogel and Mr. Fitzherbert opposed the motion, and ' Mr. Eox moved the omission of the last paragraph. Mr. L'udlam proposed to extend the disqualficatjion to pi'ovincial officers, except superintendents." Mr. Gillies said he would agree to that, and the debate was then adjourned. 1 Mr. Stafford positively denied that there was any truth in the rumour that he was likely to be appointed Immigration Agent for the colony, or anything else. The House is now in Committee of Supply. Mr. Reynolds withdrew his motion as to shaping the financial policy so as. to admit of the financial separation of tjie two islands. He " said that h\e saw the House was ' determined to support"' the Government financial 'proposals^ so that there was ' no use in his moving his motion. ' ' Mr. M'lndoe has 'given notice of a resolution : — '' That it is desirable that the constitution of the Legislative Council be assimilated to that of the' House of Representatives." ' * Mr. Haughton has given notice of a resolution :—": — " That it is desirably that the Native Race be represented in the Legislative Council.", August sth. Last night and to : day the" House sat in Committee of Supply, And the 'greater portion of the Departmental Estimates were passed, but nothing of importance occurred. August 7th. Nearly the whole of the Estimates, except those of the' Native aud Defence Departments] have been passed. Considerable exception was taken to the growing practice df removing official salaries from the direct control of the House by placing them 011 the Civil list. Mr Branjgan'y was instanced as an example, as well as tliose of the Government Agents, who receive L7ooeach. Mr Rolleston made a bitter attack on Mr Ormond, 1 saying that the reasons fbr the hitter's remarks about Bumbledom were now quite intelligible. Mr Gillies alsp attacked JVIr Ormoad, who defended himself, saying that the .'Government Agency and the Stiperiutendency had both been forced on him. He looked upon the liLtter as entirely subordinate' fd the ," former office, and he only accepted ifc. to enable him the better to fulfil his duties as Government Agent. He had, never altered his opinions on the' subject, of Provincialism, and he Would nexl; session bring down a Bill reducing Superintendents to 'their proper level. as the servants, not the masters, of the Provincial Councils. He could not afford to undertake the Government Agency without payment, but he felt deeply humiliated by the attack wHich had been made on him by a crew who lived on the colony. Mr Stafford sympathised with Mr Ormond, who had, he thought, been insulted. Mr. Hall said that Mr. Ormond had only himself to blame, as no one had ever made more virulent or unjustifiable attacks upon others. Mr. Eo.x and Mr. Yogel warmly defended Mr. Ormopd, and said that his services to' the" colony had been incalculable. Mr. Rolleston said he did not regret what he had said, as Mr. Osmond had attacked him and Superintendents generally first, and* without provocation." TRe Chairman at last put a stop to the' discussion.' Dr. Mi?nzies, in the Legislative Council opposed the Ot^ago and Southland Reunion "Bijl, but he only found seven supporters. It may be interesting to note the ■quantity and' "value of coals imported "into the colony of Njsw Zealand during; the last two years. In 1&68 no iess than 87,854 1' tons w'ece imported, valued at £154,628. In 1869 the' quantity was 92,586| tons, valued a£ £131,9i1. This shows an 'increase in 1869 of 4,732 tons over 1868^ but' the value is placed at a less figure for 1869 than for 1868. It will thus be seen that for the two years we imported 180,441tonsof coals valued at £294,569. The questions arise whether we cannot save' this annual expenditure with other countries by turning attention to our own coal-bods • ■ • >_ '