THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 22 August 1872, Page 6

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Aug. 12. The Provincial party say that Mr Curtis's resolution is being misrepresented. There is no intention to take the control of immigration and public works out of the hands of the General Governmeut, but simply to demand that the Provincial machinery be utilised, and that the General Government allow eoopuration and consultation with Provinces to avoid waste, delay, and abuse of patronage.

Aug. 13. Mr Curtis's motion appears on to-mor-row's order paper. It will not be withdrawn, and the Government make it a Ministerial question. The extreme Provincialists will be defeated. The caucus meeting on Saturday was a failure. {Some wished Curtis's motion to be withdrawn. Mr JReynolds's separation motion will be met by an amendment to the effect that it is not prudent to make any great constitutionnl change at present in the face of ihe large colonising policy and public w orks being carried on. The Budget will be brought forward on Tuesday next. Papers laid on the table this afcernoon, relative to the Mataura and Jnvercargill JKail way, show that Forest and Company and Proudfoot, Victorian contractors, offered to construct two hundred miles (?) of railway annually at 12$ per cent, below the engineer's estimate; to deposit 24 per cent, security ; to r ceive pregrtss payments \ipon the completion of each ten miles. Notwithstanding this, the Invercargill and Mataura Railway contract was given to Mr Brogden, whose tender is above the engineer's estimate. The matter will come before the -Utilise. r Aug. 14. There was a caucus meeting of the Otago members of both Houses to-day re the Otago Reserves. Seventeen members were present It was agreed by most to press for the whole of the Reserves, reserving mineral rights for public uses. There is a strong feeling against Mr Curtis's motion, and it is believed it will be rejected by a considerable majority. In the House yesterday, Mr Sheehan gave notice of motion for inquiry into the Civil Service. In reply to Mr Bradshaw, the Government invited new clanses in the Gold Mining Act re accidents. Mr Yogel introduced a Bill providing for the service of legal notices by telegraph. The Decsased Wife's Sisters Marriage Bill was further considered in committee, and the Dunedin Gas and Waterworks Bill postponed. The Highway Boards Empowering Act was further considered, and an amendment by Mr Bunny carried on a division by 38 to 13, that rates be levied on annual value of the value to selL The Northern Otago District Public Works Loan Bill was read a first time. Mr Shepherd moved that L 300,000 for the supply of water on goldtielda be allocated between the Provinces and the county of Westlaud. Mr Reeves said the Government proposed to distribute the money between Otago, the West Coast, and the Thames goldfields. The matter was referred to the Goldfields Committee. Mr Wood moved his motion're the Session at Dnnedin. Mr Gisborne said tho Government found the cost amounted to LSOOO, whereas the House only anticipated the cost would be L2OOO, and their removal would seriously delay public works, and cause great inconvenience. It was therefore decided to afford the House an opportunity of re-considering its decision. Mr Reid considered the apology lame, and referred to the expenditure by th«* Provincial Government of Otago ou the faith of the General Government's assurance that it would be in nuenced by the nature of the accommodation afforded. Messrs Reynolds and Bathgate followed in tho same strain. The motion was withdrawn. On the motion of Mr Reynolds, the Immigration Committee was instructed to enquire into the working of the immigration scheme so far as Otago was concerned. The Bill's Committee have decided that the Dnnedin Gas and Water Works Bill be a Private Bill. It is consequently lost for this session. August 15. In the the House last night Mr Curtis moved his resolution re General Government utilising Provincial machinery, in lieu of his motion on the order paper,* which had been shelved. The Public Works and Immigration Policy was not satisfactorily administered from one centre. He quoted the reso'.utions of the public meeting at Auckland against the delay and waste by the General Government, and said his resolution was misrepresented. It simply affirmed the necessity for the General Government availing itself of the assistance and experience of the local authoiitips. Mr Fox said the resolution proposed reversed the Public Works Policy of 1870. wncn the House affirmed the fundamental principle of leaving the sole control and responsibility to the General Government, and quoted speeches from Hansard. He read leading articles from newspapers. The Government would not treat the motion as one of want of confidence, but if carried they would resign.-— '(Cheers.) ' ■ Mr Gillies said the resolution did not contemplate interference with the powers of the General Government, and upheld the Superintendents. He said the resolution • implied a protest againßt ma' administration ; and referred to definite cases of faulty administration by the General Government in the Province of Auckland. He deprecated party spirit. Mr Webster delivered a telling Bpeech against Provincial institutions, and com-

pared the Colony to a small engine with a number of useless cog-wheels working in conflict Mr Harrison opposed the motion, and attacked Mr Curtis's Superintendental administration. Mr Collins defended Mr Curtis, and opposed the motion. Mr Rathgate condemned the whole administration of the General Government, especially the immigration promised Otapo and the neglect of Scotch immigration. He condemned letting contracts without public tender. He said the Matanra Sailway contract given to Mr Brogden was L30.Q00 or L 40,000 above engineer's estimates. Air O'Borke moved the adjournment of the Bouse, which was agreed to. Mr Stafford's supporters meet to-day to decide what action they should take with regard to Mr Curtis's Provincial resolutions, whether to move a distinct amendment condemning the general administration or await the financial statement t> move a vote of want of confidence. Great anxiety is felt by the Provincialists regarding the intentions of Mr Fitzherbert and Mr Macandrew. The downfall of the Ministry is considered inevitable. 1r Mr Stafford has prepared an amendment to Mr Curtis's motion, expressing direct want of confidence in the Government. ' The party who are supporting Mr Curtis'a motion see themselves defeated; and.M*Fitzherbert, ? to burke discuoalon, nas just moved the previous question. A notice of motion was given to-day by Mr Brown, Canterbury, for a Bill, disqualifying Superintendents and Provincial Executive officers from having a seat in the Assembly. * The following is Mr Curtis's motion as set down on the Order Taper :— " That, in the opinion of this House, it is expedient that i the Colonial Government, without divesting itself of responsibility for the proper conduct of works, authorised by the General Assembly, or ef the sole control over all moneys voted by Parliament, shall avail itself of the services of the existing provincial organisations, and the duties of resident ministers and general agents of the Colonial Government shall, in their respective Provinces, devolve upon the Superintendents and Executives as agents of the Colonial Government, unless otherwise determined by the Colonial Government upon its responsibility . "

Wellington, August 16. Mr Fitzherbert concluded his speech On Mr Curtis's motion yesterday by stating the Provincial party declined to receive th 3 challenge thrown down to make it a Ministerial question, and moved the previous question. Mr Macandrew seconded. The Government was much disconcerted, but accepted the amendment. The debate conseqently lapsed. It is understood that Mr Stafford will give notice of a direct vote of want of confidence to-day or Tuesday.

Angust 16. Mr Stafford gave notice to-day for Wednesday — (1) That in the opinion of this House the administration by the present Government of the Public Works and Immigration po'icy has been unsatisfactory ; and that the habitual absence of Ministers from the seat of government during the recess, which results in their conducting important operations without frequent opportunities of eonsuiting with each other, prevents that concert and unity of action between the several departments essential to efficient direction of public affairs, either executive or legislative, and largely increases the cost of Government. (2) That in order to administer the public work and immigration policy in the most efficient and economical manner the Colonial Government should retain full responsibility of the proper conduct of all works authorised, and the sole control over all sums voted by Parliament ; but should, when practicable, avail itself of any existing Provincial or other local machinery in supervision of execution of such works. Aug. 17. A powerful majority has been formed to carry Mr Stafford's motion. Nearly forty votes may be counted upon. The majority of the Provincial party have gone over to Mr Stafford.

ARTICLES OP IMPORTATION THAT MIGHT BE PRODUCED IN THE COLONY.

The following is a comparative table of some of the imports and exports of last

Shocking Accident. — We have to record another case which illustrates the danger of lcaviug loaded firearms within the reach of children. On Thursday afternoon, a settler at Wickliffe Bay, named Garrick, went from home to go to his work ; and shortly after his departure, Mrs Garrick, , having occasion to leave the house- for a few moments, left her thiea children to the care of her eldest son, who is about six years old. He appears to have lost no time in 1 carrying out a proposition he made to the younger ones of showing them .how to play soldiers. Going to a> desk where caps were kept, he obtained one, and getting from an out-house "where it wa 1 ? placed his father's fowlingpiece, put the cap on the nipple, and, return* ing tO'-the houses, pointed'the gun at one of his sisters, aged two aud a-half years, and fired. The report of ' the discharge brought Mrs Garrick to the spot, -and she-entered tho house in time to Bee her child draw its last breath. The shot had entered the poor littlo thing's abdomen.— £for, 19,

year : — Imported Article. Value Coals (93,867 tons) ... £121,151 Butter (493 cwts) ... J , 558 Beer (bottled) 53,264 gallons) ... 33,138 „ (in bulk) ... 4,812 Cheess 735 Eggs (198 packages) ... 1,084 Flour 85,329 Fruits (bottled) ... 7,909 „ (dried) ... 10,555 „ (»reen) ... 26,147 Furniture (2036 packages) 22,690 Fish (salted) 7,854 „ (preserved) ... 21,300 Grain (barley) ... nil „ (malt) 19,817 „ (oats) 21 „ (wheat) ... 47,431 „ (maize) 27,139 Hay 478 Hops 29,461 Leather 21,347 Mats and Hugs ... 8,626 Printing paper ... 21 , 924 Provisions (salt beef)... 2,270 „ (bacon and hams) ... 4,855 „ (salt pork) 136 „ (preserved) 562 Soap 7,315 Timber (sawn) .. 23,729 „ (laths and shingles) . ... 3,544 „ Hogs) 4,051 „ (palings) ... 6,734 „ (posts and rails) 1,020 Twine 4,027 Vegetables 5,667 Wine 62,153 Woollens . ... 85,247 Exported Value £1,612 12,426 2,494 192 4,023 nil 12,095 18 44 nil 394 7 90 23,784 3,294 73,138 03,871 25 8 §0 10,205 336 nil 2,705 723 705 2,676 583 14,200 165 5,602 nil nil nil 16 1,869 1,321