THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 247, 24 October 1872, Page 5

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By EIiECIEIC ( TELEGBAPH.i' (PKOM THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATIOH.) - " ' • ' ' . . - October 14. Mr Stafford gave notice of a motion asking * for information whether,-,. as the Ministry •was founded.. by Mr Yogel; and as' 'Mr Waterhouse was Premier, the '. Ministry w^ould, according to constitutional usage,' be dissolved if the Premier died or resigned-? -* Sir David Monro gave notice of motion to the effect that as the Governor appeared to doubt whether the House /would grant supplies in case of a dissolution, the House assured him that it would always be ready to perform its constitutional functions.,- ; „ The Municipal Corporations Water .Wqrks Bill, Tramways Bill, and, Quartz Crushing Machinery Inspection Bills, were all passed. ' The Life Assurance Companies Bill lapsed, the House not agreeing to the Council's amendments on it. ' Mr Ormond introduced the Oamaru and Mearewhenua Railway Bill. The County of Westland Act Amendment Bill, and Nelson Counties Bill were discharged from the Order Paper. .Mr O'Conor protested against the discharge of the latter, but was beaten, on a division, by 29 votes to 10. The Licensing Bill -was also discharged 1 from the Order- Psper. ; * The Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill was read a second time. - - ' The Legislative Council has struck oat the clause in the Maori Bill which, gives an additional memb&r. October 15. . The Commissioners Powers 'Act Amendment Bill, the Hooper and Norton Registration Bill, the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, the Dunedin Waterworks Loan . Bill, the Resident Magistrates Act Amendment Bill, the Southland Waste Lands Bill, the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill, the -Wanganui Hospital. Bill, and the Wanganui Wharf and Bridge Bills; have passed. ... ' ', The Public Interest Bill, the Dunedin Gas" and Waterworks Bill, the County of Westland Bill, the Local Revenues Allocation Bill, the Insolvency and Juvenile Offenders' Bills were discharged. • • • The Provincial Officers' Disqualification Bill was ordered^ to' bs* read a second time that day six mouths. On' the. orders jof the being called on for the resumption of the debate, on Mr Reynolds' ' insular separation resolutions, and Mr Steward's Grand Juries Abolition Bill, both were discharged. The Government "undertook to give effect as far as possible to Mr Bathgate's motion in favor of having the rolling stock for railways made in the Colony, and workshops established at Auckland and Dunedin. October 15. In reply to a question by Mr, Steward, Mr Yogel said that the Maerewhenua land, sale to the Hon. R. Campbell was perfectly legal. Land known to be auriferous; would not be sold. \ . , In reply to a question by Mr O'Connor, Mr Yogel said that the Government did not intend to appoint a Minister of Mines. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Yogel made a very short supplementary Financial Statement.- Ue> said the Government intended to carry, out. the proposals he originally made. TKey. did. W>%intend to make any'speciaJ^ capita,tioa ,ai£oV- ;- ance for the Alaoris, but' intended to r make the same allowance as before to Road Boards. " Since he made his original Statement, the' circumstances-. .pf,.', the .Colony- Jiad -been slightly altered.', The liabilities ani engagements, as far as had been ascertained to date,; were L 26,374, .which was 'reducible, by tea. asset not previously taken', into account, to'^ L 20.247. In addition tpthis,SuppleHientary.' Estimates to the extent, of, L 13 ,343 A would have to be provided for above, the original Estimates. To meet this there was the interest on the Trust Fund,. L 9000,, and the -surplus of LlO6l after providing .for. everything. This, he thought, would, be, suffi--cient, as though several items , would, „pro( - .. bably .excee!i.,the estimate, a large saving might be expected on the votes. The /Supplementary Estimates included LSSOO for'the extension , apd',. repair ' of- the. Government Buildings at Wellington, and LI SOO -for six months' subsidy' of , 'a Steam Service to,3?iji. The Government- intended to make a contract foir a two year'B.aervice, • ,'; ;i . : . '•-'•" Mr Gillies commented on, the remarkable 1 manner in which Mr Vogel's former visionary surpluß of L 25.009 had dw.indled.4owntQ.an equally visionary surplus^.of 'L'lo6l. H^e, le^, gretted that no special, .capitation allowance' would be made' on account of ' the Maori's, • which he contended. w*jM.Justly duetothe; Sorthern Provinces; -.-jEhLtiboiigiifc theßjir Sendee was a luxury' the. .Colony coukjjnot afford, and tha,^ it was not likely to prove of service equal tdits expense.' ' - , : Mr Wood regretted ihe proposed appoint 1 ' ment of a Civil Service Commission as-being of no practical use. Mr Stafford said the Government were not manly enough to state boldly hvhat public works they intended to proceed with daring the year. Neither money nor labor was available tp allow all to be proceeded with.

October 15.

/Every time that £he rmojiou for .going into' '6otifimi*vteeof Supply came' tin; he would' press: .the' question whether it was intended to .pro.: deed with the' Timarii-aud Tertiukivliue during 'the recesW The Government- was' literally •tearing its boasted great Golouial *-'chetne to tatters, and frittering jnoney away- by diverting it to looal purposes. ' - •"••' - Mr Reid defended himself; at length from Mr Vogal's. -charges in his nocjmfid^nce speech. He declared that he.-had formal .the' Public ' Works office in a most disorganised condition, tbe Chief Engineer being really in the position of a second-rate clerk; aud works beiug carried' on without his knowledge. He detailed what he while in t office had done with Mr Bragden, and indignantly repudiated the insinuation that any 'improper understanding existed between the ,late Government aud Mr Brogden. ■Sir David ivionro, as an amendment on going into Oonlmifcfcee of Supply, moved; — ' "That the House of Representatives having observed that his Excellency, in the recent correspondence with Mr Stafford, appears to have entertained doubts of its willingness to vote supplies in, the face of an announced dissolution, begs to assure his Excellency ■.that this House will at all times be prepared to adopt those proceedings which are in accordance with well-established Parliamentary practice, and with a due regai d for the prerogative of the Crown." He contended that the Governor, by the course he had adopted, had virtually surrendered to a majority of the House the prerogative of the Crown, and thafc if the House had refused ( jS ( upplies, it would have been assuming that attitude. ■ - - . s .Mr. Yogel, in reply regretted attacks of this kind being made on the Governor. If the Governor had granted a dissolution, great public inconvenience would have been caused, as supplies certainly would not have , been v . granted. He maintained that the Governor-had acted in a proper and constt- . tu,tional manner, with due regard to ,the jP'iib'lia interest. He explained, in regard to the notice of motion given by Mr Stafford, that Mr Waterhouse was in every respect Premier, and if he died or resigned the Ministry would of course be dissolved. The Government proposed ;to aliocate over the next two years L 50.000 to the South west Goldfields of Nelson, and the same sum to Westland, for roads, the money to come from the funds to be raised for railway purposes. .The amount already borrowed by the Colony 'was< quite insufficient to carry out all the works authorised, and when the payment in land and guarantee systems were abandoned, it became evident that larger sums must be .borrowed, but this would not be necessary for a year or two. • - The Electoral Bill and the Fisheries Bill rwere discharged. . 'The two newly- appointed Maori members took their seats in the Legislative Council •to-day. October 16. > Tie debate on Sir David Monroes motion lasted until an early hour this morning. Mr Yogel concluded his speech by saying that if a majority of the House really desired •a dissolution, the Government would be' happy to comply. They would, if requested to do so, convey an assurance of the fact to the.Governor, and it would probably remove his Excellency's main objection. ' Messrs Fox, Wakefield, Fitzherbert, and Gillies spoke at great length on the question. The latter declared that all hope of a fusion of parties was at an end, unless as one party of honesty, and the other not. Messrs T. L. Shepherd, Hunter, Luckie, Wood, fiolleston, M Gillivray, and Major Atkinson, also spoke on the question. Mr Swanson reproached the leading members of the" House for speaking by the hour on personal questions, v hen on the previous night a multitude of Bills of immense importance to the country were pitchforked through or out of the House without remark, and with barely a quorum present. - Sir ' David lUbnroasked for leave to With" draw-ihe motion, but Mr Vogei refused. -Bir David,. Mr Stafford, and party then walked out of the House, Major Atkinson alone remaining. In order to record a division, Mr Reynolds acted as teller for the ayes. The motion" was 'lo9t by 31 to 2, the noes being Major Atkinson and Mr Reynolds. There were nitife pairs. Messrs Swanson and Wood voted with the majority. The Auckland University Bill was rejected by the Legislative Council. October 16. Mr Fox's motion, on going into Committee of Supply, asking the Government to continue the temporary assistance, the same as last year, to the Wellington Botanical Gardens, was carried by 33 to 19. Mr Stafford asked whether the Government intended to proceed with the Timaru and Temuka Railway during the recess. Mr Ormond declined to give a definite promiseas to any line. ■ Mr Rolleston moved, " That it is desirable that the fc ouse 'should be definitely informed as to the works to be proceeded with during ,the recess." .< Mr Reid said that the Government should ' be able to estimate the cost of the proposed lines,- and put it into a schedule to the Railways Bill. • Mr Yogel said the Government intended to carry on all the works in the same spirit as the House had authorised' them. It would be fairer to commence all the works, and proceed. slowly with them, than, as the late Government had intended, push on a few, and leave others untouched. At the same time time, some would have to be proceeded with more rapidly than others. ' Mr Gillies thou«hi;_ such a policy would result in a mess, -and that, the Government were holding" over the heads of members the '■, .threats that *he progress «f. >srorfcs iv their districts would depend, oil tkeir votes. He ' thought -that notwithstanding the general ■ .authority given; an aetual^vote should be taken for each work. - Mr Murray it was absurd, with our present, means,' to talk of constructing all the lines, „ i . ■ ■ Mr. Carrington regretted that tbe Government had not .defined the Wain Trunk Line in each}. Island; in a Bill. < •' '„'; .Mr"M'Leans aid,o f course thoselines that 'were liefely to°'be'hidst profitable would be thejmost rapidly.pushed on. , .>;Ma|or'Atkinson thought the House should -have the information for. ' { . Mr RplkstoVs amendment was lost on a division by 36 to 31. •"• -",' The-'Houße.then w#»t i»t» Committee of Supplyi- On the Confiscated Lands-Dspartr-.ment vjote- qomiag on .for consideration, Mr ; . M'Lean.intimated that the Government in- , tended to, reorganise the whole department, ' an,d to appoint a mixed Commission regarding lands,' The vote was passed. Mr , Yogel announced that after matme d>liberati,oa,j the Government had abandoned the . intention of appointing a Civil Service Tfeey would on a •future -occasion say what they. intended to . 6,0 on the subject. "..'•',. ; ,-.• : , •■- October 17. i ■< Nearly- all last night was- spent over the ffetimateg. The' vote of L 5.500 tor Govern^ . ment buildings 'at Welllnfjtbn" Was -strongly" objected to by Mr Macaridrew, who moved tp reduce it to L 1,500., After- discussion, the' original amount passed. The ifcem •14,-500; for six months' subsidy for the Suez steam service, was opposed by Messrs Calder, Gillies, and others, supported by Messrs Sheehan, Williams, and others, and passed without a division. The item, compensation to Mr Smythies, LI, 000. was carried en a 4mnea by 22 jQ,l3, ; the,Gove#i»ent under-

taking not -to- pay- it unless Mr Smytbies ' accepted' it in. f nil satisfaction. "" The P.ublic Works Estimates still remain. The. Railways" and other Government Bills were read a second time under arrangement that' the' discussion will be taken on them to-^ay on* the motion for their committal. '■ In reply to a question by Sir David Monro, Mr" Ormond flatd-that' it was the intention of thfi Government to carry out during the recess the surv.ev of- the lme from MacrakLto Waikouaiti, and to have the working plans prepared. As it was part of the main trunk line,' it was intended to extend the survey to Dunedin. ' In reply to a question by Mr Reeves, Mr Ormond stated t^at the Government intended, after satisfying any claims Messrs Brogdenmay have under their present agreement, to execute all further public worlts on tae principle of the submission of the contracts to publio competition. ' ' Ml" Stafford moved :— "That the Colonial Treasurer having stated that the Ministry is formed by him and not by the Prime Minister, this House desires to be informed whether, in the event of the death or resignation of the. Prime Minister, the Ministry would, according to constitutional usage, be ipso facto' dissolved." He said that as Mr Yogel had already ansSvered the question, he did not desire to press it. He quoted precedents to show the practice, and taid he would' have- preferred to see Mr Yogel Premier in name as well as in fact. He was perfectly entitled to. the position, and from tbe position he had achieved in politics, it would have bee;n a proper and fitting position for him'to occupy. It would have been both more seemly and more satisfactory to have had At the head of' aHairs a gentleman holding ,ahL acknowledged political position, thau one whose extraordinary vacillation in having taken- office a few days after his positive declaration that he wojld never do so, had weakened' his position in the public estimation. Mr Waterhouse had never dohe anything to entitle him to the 'position of Premier, nor had he ever submitted himself to the test ©f public approval in tbe Colony. He (Mr' Stafford) had been anxious to secure Mr Waterhouse as a colleague, but he would have thought it an insult to the people of the Colpny to offer him the Premiership. He bore high testimony to the character and position ©f ' Mr Fox, and contrasted Mr Waterhouse unfavorably with him. Mr Yogel ■ briefly replied, repeating that Mr Waterhouse was to the full extent Premier, and the existence of the Ministry constitutionally depended on him He maintained that- the appointment was quite in accordance with precedent. Mr Fox defended Mr Waterhouse's appointment, and referred in eulogistic terms to his South Australian career. He declared for himself that though out of office he had no intention of retiring from the House. His chief olvject in not taking office was to allow of the introduction of new blood. After a few remarks by Mr t.uckie aud Mr Shepherd, t c motion was dropped.The Legislative Council's amendmonts'iu the Highway Boards Empowering Bill, were agreed to by tho House on a division, by 39 to 16. The' House disagreed to the Council's amendments on the Maori Representation Bill. A conference has been appointed. The Hawke's Bay Native Land Alienation Bill, and several other private measures have passed. The Miners' Franchise Extension bill was thrown -out by 24 to 22. The Northern Otago Public Works Bill passed, L24.0U0' being^- allotted for Oamaru, and L30.0U0 for Moeraki Harbor Woiks. The Nelson Boundaries and Roads Bill Was discharged.. Mr Yogel intimated that although the Government refused to answer Mr iiollestou's motion on the previous day, they intended before the session ended, to indicate as far as possible what works would be more immediately pushed OH, and intended also to limit tuepovrersof section Bight of the Railway Bill, by introducing- a schedule limiting the amount authorised to be expended on each line. October 18. In reply to a question by Mr Stafford, Mr Yogel said that after the Appropriation Act was passed and party conflicts were ov r, the Government would be willingjto afford members who deaired a dissolution an opportunity of recording their opinions. In re^ly to a question by Mr Calder, Mr Yogel said that he was not yet able to state the names of the proposed two additional members of the Cabinet, but he hoped to do so before the session .ended. The Public Trust Office Bill finally passed both Houses. The Payments to Provinces Bill passed the House of Representatives, the operation of tbe Read Boards grant being limited to the present financial year. A n amendment by Mr Kelly, to distribute the Native grant on the basis of population, was negatived by 33 to 20. A new clause, abolishing the keeping of a special account between the Provinces and the Colony, was introduced at Mr, Fitzherbert's suggestion,' The Legislative Council rejected the Deceased Wife's biater Marriage Bill by 23 votes to 9. October 19. The Oamaru and Maerewhenua Railway Bill passed. ' ' "" On the motion to go into Committee on the Railway Bill, Mr Ormond made his Public Works Statement. As to railways, he said the estimated amounts were only estimates, as the surveys, in many cases, were not sufficiently advanced to enable accurate calculations to be made. The amounts. were simply as near as possible, witla tne information avainble, and subject to alteration -Irom variation of the ' labor market and other- .causes. Except in the case .of the "Vfaitara Railway, which was exceptional #n' .account of i£s political importance, the .'Government woujd .construct no line unless -.the Chief Engineer gave his certificate thas it would pay working ex* penses. Ths estimated cost includes Jand, engineering < and office ■ expenses, stations, rolling stosk, sn4- everything complete. Tbe sums stated after the 'number ,of miles in each, case is tbe-ajtfou&t required to complete. . In; "addition to t amount .already .authorised^ for/the line^-AtUikland to Rivelr-head^r-l? miles,:. 17 miles already contracted at. authorised amount, are to be complete*), in September 1373. Rjverhead to Auckland, 23 miles, L 67,,500 : The surveys will be ready iby March, \yhen the. Government will be ready to contract, if the line is likely to psy, and be completed, in three years. Auckland to Merce*, 48 miles : L 132.500, including a brWv^i ,t,O' Qriehunga ; the greater portion is already 'csß,^fafcted' for; to be completed in September, l&jfyl Napier to Waipukurau, 45 miles, 1)29,000 ': . Ljß KJlea are . already under contract, to be completed by September, 1873. '"« W^tara-to Wauganui, 11 miles, L10,5d00 Tobe commenced immediately ; he hoped that • the survey of the 'remainder of. t&e, line- would be completed by next sf.Bpj.ga. '.-& was intended that its construction shoujd proceed simultaneous y with the settlement' of thejß'ouniiry through which it passed ' Wellington' to Masterton, 70 miles, L 38,500 : 20 mihjs already* surveyed, and part under contract ; to be completed by November, 1873 ; it was proposed then to . let an additional 20- miles, and the whole line to be completed in four years. > Manawatu to Wanganui, 50 mjleg, L 90,00 0: A tramway only is now authorised, but the proposal was to substitute a railway between Wanganui and Rangitikei, and a tramway thence to Manawatu, 13 miles di railway, Jio'bp com- ,

menced immediately ; the rest according to the state of the la.o r market ; the construction of the line to be conditional on the Province giving land as security for the additional L 90.000 required. " Nelson to Foxhill; 20 miles, L 24.55 0: Surveys are now ready for contract; to be completed in two or three years. Picton to Blenheim, 19 miles, L4G,000, including an extension. Raugiora to the north bank of the Kowai, 15 mile 3, L 20,500 : Survey to be completed by January, and to be constructed within two years. Addiugton to < angiora, 17 miles, LI ,001) : already constructed. From Selwyn to Rakaia 11 miles, including the Kakaia Bridge, L 40,000 : Nearly completed. Kakaia to Ashburton, 20 miles, L 24.000 : Survey completed ; line to be completed in tv/o years. Ashburton to Teniuka, 32 miles, L 115,040, including three bridges : Survey to be ready in March ; the line to be completed in three years. Teniuka to Timaru, 12 miles, L 7000: urvey to be ready in January ; the Hue to be completed in two years. Moeraki to Waitaki, 40 miles, L 99.000. - Surveys ready ; to be pushed on expeditiousiy, and finished in three years. JDunedia to Clutha, 51 miles, L 70,50 0: Contracted for, and to be finished by September, 1875. Tokoraairiro to Lawrence, 20 miles, L 56,00 0: Survey ready by March ; to be commenced immediately, and continued concurrently with tne line Tokomairiro to Clutha. Xnvercargill to Mataura, 30 miles, L 37.000. Under contract, and to be completed by September, 1874. Winton to, Kingston, 70 miles, L 51.500 : Survey ready by March, and the railway to be cairied on in four secions, and completed in four years. Waitaki Bridge : L 25,000 would be. required, the bridge to be completed as fast as possibje. Coalfields lines, 8 miles. L 2,500. ' Brunrier to Greymonth, 7 miles, L 26.230. Moant Rochfort. L 60.00 0: To be commeuced as soon as arrangements are made for working tin mines profitably. Canterbury branch lines : Raugio-a to Oxford, Kaiapoi to Eyreton, Racecourse to Southbridge, Waimate to main line, Malvern to Rolleston, would be commenced immediately, and carried on simultaneously in accordance with the understanding with the Provincial Council. The estimated cost now for the whole of the above works is L 3,661,516, as against L 2,719,010 formerly approp. iated, or a dif ference of L942,50G, which was accounted for thus : The rise in the cost of iron, L 450.000 ; Rakaia Bridge, not formerly provided for, L 40.000 ; liangitata, Orari, and Haul's Bridges, not formerly provided for, L80,t)00; increased rate's for work, L.247,230; total', L 517.230. To ' this was to be added : approximate estimate for purchase of land, L 192 900 ; engineering and office expenses, L157,7ti0 ; grand tutai, L1,10'7,890. The average cost of the railways would then only be about LSOOO per mile, including everything. It was inteuaed to ask for LIO.OOO for the survey of new lines, principally at intervals in the main line irom Chnstchurch to Dunedin, extension of Mercer to Waikato, and main line on the west coast of the North Island ; also, to ask for power to purchase the Port Chalmers line. After debate, the Railway Bill passed into committee, and was r*»ad a third time.