PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 5 October 1871, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

(From the "Daily Times" Telegrams). Wellington September 26th. On the motion for going into committee of Supply coming on, Mr. Stafford stated that he had not been in any way consulted regarding Mr. Creigh ton's motion, but Friday's division hadled to the formation of the nucleus of an Opopsiton, which was now formed. It would closely watch the conduct of the Government, and endeavour to secure that the general conduct of the finance of the country, both Departmental and on Public Works, should be prudent and economical. They were noc very numerous, and had great disadvantages to start with, but in 1865 a Ministry began the session with a larger majority than the present one, and yet found itself unable to carry its measures before the end of the session. The Government as now opposed had a. majority of 28, and it would be interesting to watch whether that majority increased or decreased. Now that there were two parties in the House, members who were yet undecided would be able Lo determine with which they would wish to be associated. / Mr. Macandrew moved a resolution in favour of a reduction being made in all salaries of non-political officers, whether under the Permanent Act, or on the Estimates, and over £400, by 25 per cent, on tlie excess above d£4oo, and also recommending the amalgamation of offices to as large an extent as possible. The Government intimated that they did not approve of the first part of the motion, though they did of the latter part. They would not, however, make it a Ministerial question, as it was" brought forward in a very different manner from Mr. -Creigh ton's motion. If such a reduction were made, Ministers did not wish their own salaries to be excepted. A long debate followed. September 27th. After ,i considerable longer discussion, Mr. Macandrew's motion for the reduction of salaries above £400, was negatived by 37 to 24. In Committee of Supply, Mr. Creighton moved a reduction of £1650 on the total of Class I. A desultory debate ensued, lasting till nearly 4 o'clock this morning. The Government at last accused the Opposition of speaking against time to prevent any vote beincr passed until Mr. Gisborne's Publi<? Works Statement had been made. Messrs. Gillies and Stafford demca any such intention, and expressed their willingness to take the discussion on the general financial policy on the various resolutions and Bills necessary to give effect thereto. The Government at last consented to report progress, on the understanding that they would forward no new business until the first vote on the Estimates was passed. Mr. Bathgate's motion for the appointment of a Banking Committee was agreed to. The " IndepSn^lent " this morning suppresses any report or mention of Mr. Stafford's announcementyesterday regarding the formation of an Opposition. . The Telegraph Committee are fully investigating the telegram libel case. Captain Pearce, of the Gothenburgh, was examined yesterday, and Messrs. Gifford and Gil lion had been summoned to give evidence. ,

September 28th. Mi*. G-isborne made his Public Works Statement last night. It commenced- with recapitulation of the various works in course of construction under the Public Works, Immigration, and Kailway Act, during the financial year, being chiefly a repetition of facts already contained- in Parliamentary papers. Captain Audley Coote's powers had not been sufficient for the conclusion of a contract. • The Picton and Blenheim railway had been entered into. The total, liabilities incurred for the Olutha Kailway to top 30th June were £58,413, £ 12,49 i had been paid as compensation for land. .The total cost of the line would not exceed £4500 per mile, exclusive of the cost of land. As regards the Canterbury railways, it was intended from the Ist October to-take* over .the works ueretolore carried .on by tKe Provincial Government, recouping the expenditure. A contract had been accepted for the construction of the railway from Timaru to Washdyke, a distance of 1\ miles, for £9018. The liabilities incurred during the financial

year for surveys in the North Island were £6818; and in the Middle £5054 : for construction of works in the Middle 151and,. £88,912. With regard to Immigration, the experimentof introducing Scandinavian immigrants had been very successful. The labourers employed on public works in the neighbourhood of their special settlement, had applied for land on the same terms as the Scandinavians had obtained it, ,and.

their request had been granted. The immigration was of two ciassea — nominated, and assisted. During the year the nominated immigration has been as follows ; — To Hawke's Bay, 500 persons ; Wellington, 400 ; Canterbury, 400; Otago 1000; and Marlborough, 100. The assisted immigrants to Hawke's Bay numbered 1000; tq Wellington, 1500; to

Canterbury, 1050; and to Otago 1950. The Government would ask the House for authority to refund £23,200 to Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, and Otago, on account of immigrants brought out by those Provinces prior to the passing of the Act. Turning to the future Board of Works, the first matter was the proposal that it should consist of not less than five members, a President, the Minister for Public Works, and the First and Second Engineers. The Disqualification Act would not necessarily apply to members of the Board. The general duties of the Board would be to advise the Minister, to exercise a supervision over the progress of the works, and to recommend what works should be undertaken after the present year. The Board"Vould also have substantial powers.

It was intended to push on the constriiotion of roads through native districts in the North Island, and in the districts to ' the north of the city of Auckland, to the extent of £100,000, if possible. It was intended to take over the Kaipara railway from the Province of Auckland, conditionally on the Province providing for the expenditure of £25,000, extending over four years, in works in the northern district. The two principles that would regulate the construction of railways were, first, their ability to pay working expenses, and, second, the power of local rating. The railways were divided into three classes, viz., main lines, feeder lines, and coal main lines. The main lines were — Auckland to Waikato; Wellington to Napier and Now Plymouth ; fnvercargill to the north part of Canterbury ; Win ton to Kingston ; and Nelson to Cobden. It wa^ advisable that the Assembly, during the present ses r sion, should give authority for the construction of these lines, reserving the right to determine from session to session what portions should be constructed each year. The following lines were proposed to betaken this year :—lnvercargil: — Invercargil to Matanra, 40 miles, by gaurantee; Moevaki to the Waitaki 40 1 miles ;" Rangiorato Wai para 20 i- miles ; Winton to Kingston, 90 miles ; Wei

lington to Masterton, 70 miles; Napier to Euatamoha, 53 miles ; Auckland to fiercer, 47 miles ; Auckland to Kaipori, 17 miles ; Nelson to Foxhill, 21 miles ; Dunedin to Clutha, 51 miles ; Blemham to Picton, 23 miles ; total, 449 miles. It was estimated that it would take five years to finish these lines, at a total cost of £1,699,000, annual liability being 5| per cent.

In the case of the coal mine lines, they would eude.'ivoure to make the *"-"•■ +o be borne by tie miners, but the Board woutct na-^V*"?-** assist them by advances on suflioient secuniy. The Government would immediately ask for provision for lines from the Brunuer coal mine to Greymouth, and from the Malvern Hills to Rolleston ; and they would further assist the construction of a line from the T&nvakawa (Bay of Islands) mines to the port.

With respect to the feeder lines, they would bring in Bills providing machinery) to enable the residents in any district contiguous to a main line to petition the Board of Works for the construction of a branch line. Stipula tion would be provided regarding the extent to which the petition would require to be signed, and empowering the Government, on the recommendation of the Board, to authorise, the the constructien of a^feeder branch, conditional on the residents being subject, if necessary, to a local rate to cover a fixed proportion of the annual charge on the line. All deficiencies on the cost of railways would be recovered from the Province, or by a local rate. It was intended to take land as security for the lines from Wellington to Masterton, and from Napier to Ruatamoha, and to use the land for the purpose of settling immigrants by special settlements, the proceeds of which would be credited to

the railway fund. A tramway from Manawatu to Wanganui would be constructed forthwith, and other similar works would be undertaken on the rocouiraendation of the "Board.

In constructing railways under guarantee, it would be necessary to

contract with persons of large means. It was false economy always to accept the lowest . offqr. Accordingly the Treasurer had entered into arrangements with Mr. Brogden. The Gfoverntnent intended to ask for authority to accept Contract No. 2, wifcli certain modifications to be agreed upon when Mr. Brogden arrives in the Colony. The chief of these modifications be to make the contract include the lines already authorised, or to be authorised this session. The Gro'vermnent thought it inadvisable to pay-- for the lines in land, as at present- it was' better to use the land for purposes of settlement. They would accordingly propose the substitution of money for land payments, except the giving of 20 acres for each adult male immigrant introduced. The lines to be constructed must be authorised, and provision made to enable the G-overnment to purchase the lines by debentures within a specified time after completion. - With regard to the acquisition of land for railway purposes, a Bill would be introduced to prevent extortionate demands.

With regard to the Water Supply •to the Gold fields, the .Government concurred in Mr. Haugh ton's report that it would be, . better to assist private persons, after* uproper investi- [ gation, than to undertake the works on

their own account. They therefore proposed to enable money to be advanced on the recommendation of the Board of Works. The Governmeut might, however, undertake the Thames waterworks.

With respect to Immigration, the Government proposed to take the sum of £250,000 for the current and ensuing financial year. The period was made two years, as the contracts and arrangements required to carry *on the services rendered it indispensable that they should not be confined to so short a period as a single year. The Board of Works would have entire charge of the introduction and settlement of immigrants, subject to the direction and veto of the Minister.- When land was taken as security for railways, it would be used for purposes of settlement, and in the provinces against whose land fund tho cost of the railways was charged. Equitable compensation would, be. given for land taken for settlement. The provision requiring the Superintendent £0 initiate immigration would be altered, and the General Government would have the rigth, checked by the Board, to say what number of immigrants should go to each place, and how they should be settled.

With regard to the telegraph, there was every prospect of the Government being able shortly to extend the wires to Auckland and New Plymouth, when the construction of other lines would bo proceeded with.

The distribution of the Road Boards Grant would be settled by the Assembly.

The Government believed their proposals to be characterised by frugality, prudence, and foresight, anl their policy was to spend money in useful, permanent and reproductive investments.

In Committee of Supply Mr. Creighton's motion to strike oft* the Colonial Architect was negatived -by 46 to 26. The total of Class I. was carried with a reduction of £300, moved by Mr. Gisborne.

Mr. Murray's Agricultural Improvements Loan Bill was negatived on the second reading by 3 i to 27. -The Government intimated that owing to the press of business, they did not intend to introduce a Permissive Bill. If any private member did so, the question would be au open one with the Ministry. The Legislative Council, to-day, appointed a Select Committee to euquire into the sale, by the Otago Government, of 50.000 acres of land to MiV Clarke. ' , September' 29th. The debate on the seroud reading of vax L?'^?rJ*9nA Bill was resumed. Mr. Bathgate spoice^^^ Jn _ port of the Bill. '

Mr. M'Glashan briefly supported the second reading, although not approving of the details of the Bill. " He advocated free selection.

Mr. Reynolds opposed the Bill.

Mr. Yogel entered into a long his-T tory of the land legislation in Otago/, strongly opposing the Bill, and iittaking its supporters ia a bitter and personal manner. H3 declared the late exteusive sale of land to Mr Clarke to be a daringly illegal act, and said that, probably, as the purchaser would not be able to get a good title to the land, the province would/ get the balance of the purchase money. .The present Bill was rampant with repudiation, and was au attempt to sell the same thing twice over. He had-con-sulted the Attorney-General regarding it, and read his opinion, which showed that the Bill would materially prejudice the position of the pastoral tenants as compared with the posiHon under the present laws. The AttorneyGeneral also declared the clauses to be so contradictory as to be unintelligible. For himself, he (Mr. Yogel) thought the time had come when they should not allow Otago to stand in the way of a good law being passed. Just as boroughs convicted of bribery were disfranchised, so the Asstnbly should deprive Otago of the power it had abused regarding the land laws, and give it a good law in spite of itself. Mr. Mervyn supported the Bill. Mr. Reeves supported the second reading. He said the pastoral interest was undoubtedly and naturally opposed to settlement, yet speedy settlement was esseutial to tho successful working of the policy of the House, for if railways wore to be made through sheep runs instead of through a peopled country, that policy would be fraught with disaster. The Bill might be faulty and* in need of amendment in Committee, but that was no reason why they should depart from the invariable rule of the House, .to i*ead a second time all Land Bills approved of by the Provincial Councils. The time was now coming when men would have to speak their minds tind declare which side they took, and those who deßired the settlement of the country would then get rid, in an equitable and fair manner, of the greatest difficulty wifch which the Colony has to contend.

Mr. Wakefield warmly supported the Bill in a long speech, chiefly directed to the question of general settlement, and showing ho.w inconsistent Mr. Yogel was in opposing this Bill, the professed object of which was. to provide that settlement which was essential to the success of his own policy.

Mr. Haughton declared that the present Acts worked well if they were honestly administered. The House should pass, this session r resolutions

similar to those proposed by Mr. Car-; gill in the Provincial Council, and pext session an Act based upon them, fer Mr. Steward supported the Bill.jß Mi\ Stafford said that no precedent existed for the objectionable course pursued by Mr. Yogel in reading the At-torney-General's opinion. Mr. Yogel professed to speak as' a private member, but the House knew that no private member could have that opinion for himself. He believed that Otago had never such a good land law as that of 1859, aud since the;l he had taken no part in Otago legislation, though often pressed .to do /so. He did not think the present Bill was a fair settlement of the various interests concerned. It perpetuated what he believed had been the curse of Otago — the having a political Waste Land Board, which strained' the law instead of merely administering it. The Legislature, whether General or Provincial, should, settle the policy of the law, and then its administration should be purely judicial. He was anxious to see the system of deferred payments as a tentative proposal, but objected p its application to the whole Province. 'He quoted instances of declaration of Hundreds and his own run in Otago, to show in how unfair and impolitic a manner the land laws of Otaa> were administered. There was no precedent to refuse to read a second tiro such a Bill as the present one. To iif use to do so would be an affront to a large smd important section os the cor munity. He reverted to Mr. Reeve '» assertion that the policy of'the Gov< nment would end in ruinous disaster if not accompanied by settlement. \ Mr. White supported the Bill, and nfter some further talk, Mr. Bunny raovdlj the acliournment of the debate. I < This Avas opposah' as in the present state of the busin«s,__an adjournment would be equivalent to the shelving of the Bill. The Jbate became rather personal and disrderly, and was ultimately adjourned/at 1.30 a. m. to-day, on aya v division, bye 4 to 2& ' It was ordered, howevejnfco be resumed tonight. / ' Mr. Yoqff has given notice of his Governmet/ Bills? vThe following are' the new /"ties proposed : _Grain and pulse, 9/pev lOQlbs ; graXand pulse, manufa/tuved or ground, lsper-iQOlbs ; rice, 3/per 1001b\; timber, 2s per 100 feet and laths, 2s per 1000 ; rail/ 4s per 100 ; posts, 8s per 100. /The Chinese Immigration Committee Jhave obtained an order to print the. evidence already taken. They ,%yill not 'COme/io, any ...decision \mfcil ■ answers to .their enquiries are : received from the Australian Governments. J

Mr. Fox has given notice to move an address to Sir David Moriro, thanking him for his c. nduct as Speaker. ; "\ Gin the motion for going into Cominffctee , on ' the Education Bill, Mr. Colder spoke at some length. He declared the Aided School clauses to be l^coinj a, ible with a true or lasting system of* national education. He j professed to have no sympathy with the purely secular theory, but would leave the question of Bible reading to the decision of the local Committees. He advocated t'«e postponement of the measure to next session, to allow public' opinion regarding it to mature. In Committee^ Mr. Wakefield'a amendment on Clause 3 was negatived. On Clause 5 Mr. Swanson proposed an amendment disqualifying pjergymen'or ex- clergymen from holding the office of Inspector. Mr. Fox accepted it, and Me^rs Macandrew, Rolleston, Calder, and Reynolds opposed it. . The debate is not yet finished.

The Sydney fcrc-tnne-teliers appear to be a long way before their brethern of the black art in' Melbourne, while the " past, present^' and future" is a trade on public credulity that it is so profita.ble in the northern metropolis that its professors can afford to give gratuitously their valuable services to those who can afford to pay them. Competition, however, is pretty keen among the readers of the planets on the Sydney aide, for one warns the Jmblic uto beware of ignorant pretenders who profess to be members of his pi'ofession, but who are only chai-latans, who .bring his art into disrepute." This worthy dubs himself." the only qualified astrologist jit present practising in New South Wales." Another " diviner '[ tacks to his advertising announcement"" consultation for the poor, free.". Business must surely be brisk and money-tnakiug easy in a city where even the poorest may, in forma pauper i, call spirits from the vasty deep at pleasure, and enjoy a pleasent half-hour's chat with their mouldy relatives on the joys and sorrows of futurity. An irascible old gentleman was taken with sneezing in the ears lately. After sneezing in a most spasmodic way eight or ten. times, he arrested the paroxysm for a time, and extracting his handkerchief, he thus indignantly addressed his nasal organ :— " Oh ! go on ; you'll blow yonr infernal brains out presently !" Said a loving wife to her husband, " "Will you never learn, my dear, the difference between real and exchangeable value 2" The husband, tired of political economists in petticoats, replied, " Ah, yes, my dear, I know your great learning and many virtue^ That's your real value. But I k^o^ also, that none of my married friends ' would change wives with me, That's your exchangeable value."