THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (By Electric Telegraph.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 235, 1 August 1872, Page 6

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (By Electric Telegraph.)

July 23. The Otago Waste Lands Bill is ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.

Mr Collins gave notice of a Bill to reduce the gold duty to 23.

The House Committee reported the condition of the roof of the House to be unsafe, and recommended some temporary protection.

The hon. (John Hall took his seat in the Upper House to-day, and explained thai there was not any disrespect intended by the Government in nut having appointed a representative in the Upper Hoube earlier. It was owing to the distance of members from the seat of Legislature.

In the Assembly a motion was made for the returns of the Frisco Mail Service, and a notice of question given whether it is the intention of the Government to extend the telegtvph to the north of Auckland.

July 24.

In the House yesterday the Government promised to bring down an amended Goldtields Act, an amended Lunatics Act, and to reconstruct the Industrial Committee.

The Public Health Bill passed its second reading ; but the second readiug of the Permanent Officers' Salaries Bill, and ..the Public Trusts Office Bill, were adjourned. In reply to a question, Mr Yogel said the Wellington Board of Health intended to quarantine the Nebraska. Mr Yogel moved the second reading of the Life Assurance Bill, the object of which is to compel all assurance companies doing business in the Colony to deposit security for their ability to settle their policies to the amount of twenty thousand pounds. Messrs Gillies, Pearce, and Brandon advocated the compauies interested being allowed an opportunity of being heard. The second reading was adjourned until to morrow. The yharebrokers and Drawbacks Bills were read a second time, and the Canterbury Waste Lands Bill and Dunedin Cemetery Bill a first time. The House agreed to returns of the appointment of Immigration Agents, contracts entered into for the construction of railways, with particulars of each ; supplementary return of the officers appointed by the General, Provincial, and County Governments ; the amount of money borrowed, the actual water races in use, the mi'.es of railway opened, and the amount of the balance of loan.

Mr Shepherd moved the appointment of a select committee of inquiry into the administration of the Otago Waste Lands Act by the Otago Waste Lauds Board, in selling 20,000 acres of land to Messrs Cargill and Anderson ; committee to report whether such saleis legal; and whether injurious to the present and future development of the mining and agricultural interests of the district and Colony. In his speech in support of the motion, he said the land was fit for agricultural settlement. Mr Mervyn said the sale was not injurious to the public interests, and Mr Roid, following on the same side, read Mr M'Kellar's report, showing that the land was only suitable for pastoral purposes. Mr Shepherd, in reply, said it was probable Mr Iteid desired to injure the Teviot, because he was defeated there. He also said the reports read as to the character of the land were unreliable, and that such power as was exercised by the Waste Lands Board was dangerous. The motion was agr< ed to. Leave of absence has been granted to Mr Hallenstein for fourteen days.

Last evening the Premier, in reply to Mr Murray, said the Government had not de cided to take any active steps in regard to the advancement of money for the encouragement of native industries; but attention had been given to the deve'opment of fiisheries and coal fields, and a committee would be appointed to take the whole subject into consideration and make recommendations to Government.

The second reading of the Permanent Salaries Bill has been postponed for a fortnight. The Bill prevides for the annual appropriation of the salaries of officers appointed permanently, but will not operate in the cases of the present holders. A debate ensued upon the Bill to provide a public trustee. Mr Yogel explained the Bifi was to overcome the difficulty and inconvenience which the owners of property in Colonies experienced in finding a suitable trustee. Mr Gillies approved of the principle of the Bill, but thought one trustee not sufficient for both Islands. Mr Stafford suppored the Bill, and the debate was adjourned to Thursday. Mr Yogel made a longt speech on the second reading of the Assurauce Companies Bill, which he said extends certain privileges of the Government scheme to private companies. In his speech he severely criticised the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and accused it of having paid Greville's Agency for circulating among newspapers a high-colored report of its general meeting. Several speakers objected to the measure and the Treasurer's remarks upon assurance companies, and after some skirmishing the debate was adjourned. The Sharebrokers Bill, making the fees Provincial revenue, passed its second reading. To-day Mr Gillies moved his Bill to abolish imprisonment for debt, which was read a first time.

Mr Gillies is now moving his resolution defining the powers and duties of Provincial and General Governments. He attacks the Government for appointing the Resident Minister in the Middle Island Under Secretary for Goldfields, aud other officers, without the consent of the House.

July 25.

In the House last night Mr Wakefield moved for a ieturn of the persons holding land under the natives. He insinuated that the Ministers were involved in land transactions. Mr J. E. Brown opposed the motion. Mr Reynolds read a letter from a North Island settler, published in the Otago Daily Times on October 11, stating that land had been acquired by Europeans on mortgage from natives in satisfaction of grog scores. Mr Buckland denied the statements in the letter. Mr M 'Lean said the .Registrar of I'eeds arid the Attorney -General were of opinionthattheGovernment werenot justified in furnishing such a return. The natives were protected from fraud by an Act passed last session. Mr Gillies eaid, as far as the Province of Auckland was concerned, the letttr was a foul libel. Several speakers opposed+he return as unjustifiably expensive and impracticable. The motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Wakefield demanded a division, but there was no second teller for the ayes, and consequently no division.

The Otago Waste Lands Bill, the Auckland Mineral Leases Blil, and the Dunedin Cemetery Bill passed their second readings After Mr Vogel's speech ®n the Constitufciom of Provinces, Mr Sheehan moved the adjournment of the debate until Wednesday next, which was agreed to. Mr Gillies moved for a return, showing the amount spent up to 30th June, out of the L 400.000 authorised to be expended on roads in the North Island ; also the expenditure up to the same date ont of the Middle Jd»nd r*Uw*y fund, which wai agreed tp.

Mr Johnston moved for a return of the travelling expenses of officials, which was agreed to. He also moved for a return of the amount of the penalties exacted from Mr Webb, which was agreed to. Mr Murray moved for a committee of inquiry into the resource? of the Colony, which was agreed to, ?3 a-lso was a committee to inquire into tha working of the New Zealand University Act;. In reply to a question put by Mr Stafford, Air Fox taid the Nebraska would proceed South to-day. In reply to Mr SteM-ardtbe Colonial Secretary stated that it was not tho intention of the Government to intoduce an Act to suppress larrikiuism.

Leave of ab' ence for a fortnight was given to Mr Ha'lenstein, member for Qaeenstown. A Bill to regulate plans of towns, as proposed by Mr O'Neill, was read the first time.

Mr Reid moved for papers relating to the Invercargrl and Mutaura and Dunedin and Balclutha Hues, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the reproaches made on several occasions against tha Provincial Government in respect to the Clutha line were justified. Upon the question of appointing a committee to inquire into the necessity of an electric cable to Australia. Mr Yogel said a Bill was prepared for enabling the Government to join the other Australian Colonies in a guarantee of interest to a company to construct the cable.

July 26. In the House last night Mr Curtis moved the second readinj ot the Larceny Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to simplify the existing Act. During the debate ho attacked th lawyers, and attributed the verbal technic dities and ambiguity of law to tlie-n Mr Gisborne read the opinion of the Attorney-(>eHeral, pointing out the defects in Mr Curtis's Bill. Mr Fox also criticised it ; and Mr Sheehan. of Auckland, defended the lawyers. Mr Gillies spoke in favor of remo ing obsolete technicalities, and using ordinary English. The Bill was referred to a Select Committee.

The debate on the Public Trusts Offices Bill was resumed. Mr Yogel said the fees would more than cover the cost of the office. The second reading was, on a division, carried, the voting being— ayes, 23 ; noes, 14. In reply to Mr Kolleston, Mr Yogel said the Board of Health at Wellington had decided to quarantine the .Nebraska for fifteen days. The Government had arranged to send on the southern mails to-day. The Health Officer, on inspecting the vessel, found evidence of smallpox cases having occurred between Auckland and Honolulu. There were still infected persons aboard, and their clothes and bedding would be destroyed. The debate on the Life Assurance Bill was resumed. Mr Brandon defended the Australian Mutual Provident .Society and Mutual Societies generally, and completely refuted Mr VogeFs attack on the Mutual Provident and Greville's Agency. Mr Fitzherbert condemned Mr Voxel's dispaiagement of private companies, ami touting by Government lecturers. Mr M'Glashan praised the Government scheme. Mr Yogel replied ; and the second reading was agreed to. The Provincial Councils Act empowers Councils to appoint tribunals to hear an I determine the matters prescribed, by increasing the jurisdiction of magistrates and justices, and regulating tho procedure of th-s same. The following are the subjects :Sc b in sheep ; sale of liqnors ; cattle trespass and impounding ; branding ; prevention of thistle growing ; making and repairing highways; valuation, assessment, levying, and recovery of rates ; constructing and maintenance of boundary fences. The Provincial Legislature is empowered to deal with these sul'jects, and to legislate penalties. The Real Estate Bill, introduced in the Upper House by the Hon. John Hall, provides that real est\te shall descend and be distributed as personal estate, and devises are to be treated as legacies. Should real estate or interest under the Act come to a married woman, in tho event of her death the estate to be treated as if she died a widow.

The second reading of the Drawbacks Bill was adjourned.

The House went into Committee and passed the Imprest Supply Bill, granting supplies of LIOO.O )0 out of the Consolidited Fund, and L 30.000 out of the Defence Loan, &c.

In reply to Mr Swanson, Mr Fox announced that it was not the intention of the Government to introduce the Education Bill this session, an<i expressed the opinion that it would be better co leave the question to Provincial Governments.

The Minister of Public Works, in reply to Mr O'Neill, said that it was intended to construct the water supply for the Thames for L 47.000.

The debate on Mr Collixs's motion for the reduction of the gold duty has been adjourned. Mr Shepherd seconded the motion, and suppsrted it in strong terms. Mr Vo<?el move I an amendment to refer the question for the consideration of the Goldfields Committee. Mr M'Glashan supported the re-d-action. Mr Harrison objected on the ground that it would make it impossible to carry on the Westland Government. Mr Mervyn objected that the rt-fe euco to the Committee would simply shelve the question. Mr Fox invited expressions of opiuioi s of the Superintendents. Mr • acandrew said the duty was indefensible, and Otago could do all necessary things without it. Mr Curtis did not think the reduction would be an unmixed blessing to the miners. Mr Gillies supported the amendment. Mr Creighton supported the motion. Mr White was speaking in favor of the motion when the hour for adjournment arrived. It is doubtful if the motion will pass. Mr Gillies moved the second reading of the Bill to repeal the sixth section of the Highways Fmpowering Act of last session, providing for acreage rate instead of valuation. ' The debate was adjourned. In the adjourned debate on the Life Assurance Companies' Bill, Mr Gisborne denied that the Government desired to deal with private offices. The object of the Bill was to extend to them the same privileges 88 the Government office enjoyed, and to exact security for the fulfilment of the companies' obligations in the Colony. [The above telegram was received too late for publication last evening.] (from greyille and company.) Wellington, July 27. In the House yesterday, Mr Fox said there was no intention in the part of the Government to introduce the Education Bill this scsssion. He referred to the conflict of opinion in the House last session, and to the sectarian differences and difficulty of devising a satisfactory measure in the absence of any suggestsons from the country. The Government originally took action in consequence of the inefficiency of the Provincial systems, especially that of Auckland ; but there had been renewed zeal exhibited by the Provinces since last session and the Government desired to see whether the Provinces would not deal with the difficulty, and so give time for sectarian differences to subside. The House passed the Imprest Supply Bill of L130.0C0.

The Tramway Bill, to enable local bodies to construct tramways without General or Provincial liability, was read a second time.

The Public Health Bill was committed and slightly amended, as was the Life Assurance Bill. In connection with the latter, Mr Vpgel promised to consider the adyisabi-

lity of introducing a clause providing for progressive deposits proportionate to a company's business.

The Maori Repr?sentation Continuation Act, and a Bill to legalize marriage with a •deceased wife's sister, were read a first time.

A selectjcommittee was appointed to consider the establishment of a branch mint.

Mr Yogel promised to instruct the Customs officers to admit, duty free, in separate parts, agricultural implements now admitted free.

A return of the cost of immigrants was agreed to. In speaking to the question, Mr Ormond said the Agent-General, by the last mail, reported that 2,000 immigrants had started in the commencement of April — one-fourth of the number being Scandinavians, and the remainder from the United Kingdom. Ihe motion for the reduction of the gold duty was further adjourned.