THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 248, 31 October 1872, Page 6

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegram.]

(FROM THE NEW ZEALAND l'REr.h A&SOCIA-

October 19.

The clause giving the Governmentj.ower to purchase the Port Chalmers Railway excited considerable discussion, Mr Gillies and others urging that the purchase should be subject to ratification by Parliament. The clauoe parsed as printed Mr Bell declared that the general proposals of the H!l were highly unsatisfactory, and the time had arrived when it was necessary Parliament should each year be asked to make special appropriation for works intended to be carried out during the year. On the third reading, Mr Murray strongly protested against the whole Government scheme, asserting that the railway calculations were unreliable, and that- the works authorised would cost not less than six millions.

Mr Stafford declared that owing to the action of the Government and the policy of the House, he, with great regret, had made up his mind to wind up his private affairs and leave the Colony. Mr Gillies also spoke strongly against the Bill, which, however, passed without a division.

After a brief discussion, the Immigration and Public Works Bill was committed; and the greater part passed before the House rose.

Mr Rollestou protested against it and the Railway Bill, which was an imposition on tho Colony. • ' The prorogation is expected on Wednesday. Several members leave to-morrow.

In Committee of Supply, on Friday night, on the Railway Bill, Mr Stafford, in course of his criticism on the measure, spoke to the following effect:— "The money to be expended would, he hoped, last for two or three years more. He had been for the past year making arraugements to dispose ef bis property. Those arrangements would take two or three years still to complete, and then it would be a matter of indifference to him what became of the Colony, as he should have ceased to have any connection with or interest in it." The session is likely to close on Tuesday or Weclneaday.

October 21. The Immigration and Public Worka Bill passed through Committee, and was read a third time. On the motion being made for the House to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Wakefield moved :— "That this House is desirous of being more definitely informed, before the close of the session, as to the two appointments in the Ministry still prospective!/ vacant out of the eight announced as intended to be made, or as to any intended paid appointments of Natives a3 a Board of Advice to the Commissioner of Native Reserves, or as to any paid appointments of Natives to advise the Government generally as to Native affairs." Mr Yogel said that the Government would afford the informations as to the new members of the Cabinet before the session ended. Mr M'Lean said it was intended to appoint two Natives to advise the Government, and also a Native Board of Advice to the Native Trustee. He was not prepared to say who were the Natives to be appointed. On a division, the motion was negatived by 35 to 17. In Committee of Supply, a number of items were passed. Mr Vo el intimated that Mr Woodward would be appointed Public Trustee, bis present oflieo not being filled up, and Mr Batkin becoming Secretary to the Treasury. The Oamaru and Marewhenua Railway Bill was thrown out by the Legislative Council. October 22. The whole of last night was spent in Committee of Supply. All the Estimates, including those for Public Works and Immigration, were passed, except two small items proposed to be charged Provincially to Auckland. To this, Mr Gillies remonstrated, and after debate it was agreed to make them Colonial charges. The Government withdrew the proposed additional LSO to the salary of the Westland Land Commissioner. On the item, Agent-General's Department, Mr Reynolds drew attention to the fact that Dr Feathnrston and Mr Morrison were Directors in the new Bank. Mr Ormond said the Cabinet had considered the subject, and determined that seats on the Directory were incompatible with Dr Featherston's and Mr Morrison's official positions. A debate ensued. Mr Bell declared his conviction that Dr Feathcrston would not submit to such dictation, and that at home it would be said the Colony was in the hands of the Bank of New Zealand. Messrs Fitzherbert, Stafford, aud others expressed the opinion that Dr Featherston was perfectly right in acting as he had done. Messrs Bathgate, (Jillies, and others thought it should not be allowed. In the Legislative Council, the motion for the second reading of the Railway Bill was negatived by 13 to 12. Mr Waterhouse immediately moved the adjournment of the House. The motion can again be brought on to-day, and it is believed the Government can command a majority in a full Council. In full Council this afternoon, Mr Waterhnuse obtained a suspension of the Standing Orders, to enaMe him to-night to again move the second reading of the Railway Bill. Mr Wafctrhouse having obtained the suspension of the Standing Orders in tbe Council, Mill move to-nigbt that the Railways Bill be read a second time. Mr Sewell has given notice of an amendment declara-tory-of an opinion as to the policy of Public Works which the Council is prepared to endorse. In the House of Representatives, Mr Yogel announced that Mr O'Rorke had joined the Ministry, and that the election of a new Chairman of Committees would take place before the session closed. Mr M'Lean announced the arrival of the Luna at Tauranga from the Chatham Islands. No disturbance had occurred at the Chathams. The resolutions embodying the recommendations of the T ocal ltdustries Committee were adopted by the House. These resolutions include the encouraging of the development of coal mines ; the offering of a bonus for the production of pig iron and steel ; the paying of an export bonus on cured fish; the encouragement of sericulture ; and the holding of an exhibition of flax-dressing machines eighteen months hence, with prizes of L3OO, LIOO, and LSO respectively for the best flax-dressing machines complying with certain fixed conditions. A deputation of goldfields members, consisting of Messrs Sheehan, Shepherd, O'Neill, aud J. C. Brown %vaited on the Premier today to urge the Government to reconsider their decision not to appoint a Minister of Mines. Mr Waterhouse promised to reconsider the matter. October 23. The Council, after several hours debate, passed the second reading of the Railways Bill, by 15 to 12. 'I he Bill afterwards passed through Committee, but notice was given of several new clauses. The Otago Waste Lands Bill finally passed. In the House of Representatives there was a long debate on the Manawatu-Rangi-tikei Crown Grants Bill, which authorises the issue of grants for the Native Reserves made by Mr M 'Lean in settlement of the Manawatu dispute. Mr BitiiiecVjerb proposed a new clause, referring the claim to compensation by the Frovince for those reserves to Mr Dillon. 8011. Mr Fox, as an amendment, moved that Mr Bell should only investigate the claims and report to Parliament, instead of giving an absolute and final decision. The amendment was lost by 28 to 21. The >ative Council Bill was withdrawn after a debate. The Auckland Improvement, and Hawke's Bay Lands Commission Bills, were finally passed. Mr Yogel this afternoon announced that Mr O'Rorke would join the Ministry tomorrow. The Government intended to propose Mr J. Evaus Brown, of Canterbury, as Chairman of Committees. Mr Swanson gave notice of an amendment, that it is not necessary to elect a new chairman until the next session. Tho prorogation takes place to-morrow or Friday. October 23. On the second reading of the Appropriation Bill being proposed, Mr Stafford, in a brief speech, recorded his emphatic protest against the unconstitutional policy of the Ministry in depriving the representatives of the people of tbe power of from year to year determin # iug what may be expended. This, he contended, was done by entering into contracts in excess of appropriations. Of tbe two millions supposed to be applicable to railways, nearly half a million was already spent on other purposes ; and to complete the works already authorised, at least two millions more than was yet authorised to be raised would be required. The House, he said, had become a mere machine for registering the edicts of the Ministry. Mr Bathgate replicnd, contending that it would be quite impossible ever to have railways if the contracts were to be limited to a single year's appropriations. He thought Mr Stafford's speech was quite unworthy of him, and that the Public Works policy -was likely to be more successful in the hands of tho present Govcrnracirt tbao in Mr Stafford's.

Mr Yogel also replied to Mr Stafford at some length. He said that the Railways Bill was the authority of Parliament for the works proposed to be constructed ; yet Mr Stafford blamed them for obtaining what he blamed them for doing without, lie thought Mr Stafford's conduct was very inconsistent, which arose from a mental conflict between approval of the policy and discontent at the Government by whom it was administered. Ihe Bill then passed through all its remaining stages. The Kaihvays Bill has passed the Council with some slight additions, which were not opposed by the Government.

October 24.

The prorogation ia fixed for to-morrow.

The Mining Companies, Privileges, and Hawke's Bay and Marlborough Rivers Bills passed last night. The House only sat for a couple of hours, and the other business done was unimportant. In tbe Legislative Council the Immigration and Public Works Bill was read a second time, and considered in Committee.

The Immigration and Public Works Bill has passed.

Mr O'Rorke has been sworn in as Minister of Lands and Immigration.

Mr Yogel stated that he was unable to make any further Ministerial Statements except that Mr Bathgate, by attending to the duties of the Stamp Department, would save LSOO a year, by rendering unnecessary the proposed new appointment of Deputy Commissioner.

Mr Brown has retired as a candidate for tho Chairmanship of Committees, and the election is postponed to next session. October 25.

Parliament was prorogued to-day, at two o'clock, by his Excellency the Governor, who delivered the following speech : — Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —

In bringing to a close this session of Parliam .nt, I have to thank you for the care and attention yon have devoted to the public j business. lam glad you have been able to ■ pass so many large and important measures calculated to promote the social welfare, commerce, and good government of the Colony. B/ the Public Health Act, you have greatly strengthened the hands of the Government, by enabling it to take the needful precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases ; while you have m the Municipal Corporations Waterworks Act passed a measure, calculated beneficially to promote the health and comfort of the inhabitants of large towns. Tho Drawbacks Act will afford considerable relief to the mercantile community, and remove the obstacle to tho increase of that commerce with the islands of the South Pacific, which the Colony, from its geographical position, ought to be able to command. I congratulate you on having passed the Public Trustees Act. Although somewhat novel in its features, it will supply a great public requirement, and will, I trust, prove of advantage to the Colony. Its initiation during the recess will engjge the careful attention of the Ministry. The Public Works Amendment Act, in which you make further provision for carrying out the beneficent policy of colonisation show s you are determined to promote to the utmost of your ability the progress of the Colony. The provision you have make for the benefit of the West Cojvst of the Middle Island is proof that- you fully recognise the wants of that important district. Ths .Railways Act makes provision^ for carrying out the works previously determined upon by Par'iament ; and although the additional cost now sanctioned appears to be considerable, it is explained by including the expense of engineering and departmental work not before included, and the purchase of land, together with the extra cost of iron atd the estimated additional coot arising from the mc- eased price of labor. It is especially gratifying to notice that when all those amounts are added together, the average cost of railways will be only about L 5.090 per mile, or L9O more than was originally estimated when the Public Works and immigration proposals were first submitted to Parliament. The 764 miles of railway which you have authorised at this rate must largely develop the resources of the country. It will be the duty, as it will 1 believe be the aim, of Ministers to construct these works with all the speed that the state of the labor market and other considerations will probably permit. The 'I ramways Act is an important supplementary measure to your railway legislation, and will, while opening up the country, at the same time provide railways with a network of feeders to their traffic. I regret that the measure introduced by the Government with a view to providing greater security to life assurance, has not passed into law. I hope, however, that eventually this or some similar measure may receive the sanction of Parliament. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— I thank you for the supplies you have granted for the public service, which shall be administered with all due care and economy. I am pleased to notice the increased attention which is being devoted to administrative and financial questions. By the Public Revenue's Act you have provided a. mucH more efficient system of control over tie public moneys than previously existed, and I have little doubt that the measure will prove evtremely beneficial. During the recess it is the intention of the Ministry to investigate the condition of the Civil Service, in order to decide to what extent administrative and economical reforms are paacticable. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen* of the House of REPRESENTATIVES — The abundance of employment which existed, and the readiness with which the recently introduced immigrants ha,ve been absorbed by the labor market, prove the wisdom of Parliament in recommending active measures of colonisation. It will, be the earnest endeavor of my Government to endeavor to carry out the conciliatory policy towards the Natives which has been so successful during the last few years. I have felt great pleasure in summoning, in Her Majesty's name, to the Legislative Council the Maori Chiefs Mokena Kohere, of the East Coast, and Wiremu Tako Ngatata, of the West Coast. In bidding you farewell, I desire to congratnlate you on the general and growing prosperity of the Colony, 'i he official statistics recently published by the Imperial Government show that New Z°aland, although only thirty-two years have elapsed since it became colonised, is already fourth in rank and importance on the long list of the British Colonies in its public revenue, in its trade (including imports and exports), and in the other elements of material progress. It is now surpassed only by the Dominion of Canada, by Victoria, and New South Wales. It may be confidently expected that, through the blessing of Providence and the energy and industry of its population in developing the vast and varied metaliferous resources of this country, New Zealand will, soon rise to a still higher place amoug the Provinces of the .fc'nipire. - In Grenfell lately, Edwards, tho pedestrian, walked seven miles in s§m. 20s, Young Austin rap ten miles ia OSm. 36*

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