(From the Star's Correspondent.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 373, 15 July 1874, Page 5

(From the Star's Correspondent.)

July 7. Mr Shepherd has tailed for tomorrow a motion asking leave to introduce a Bill to amend tlie Otago Wdste Laud Act. It merely amends technicalities in the existing Act, and is hknly to be opposed on the ground that it should have been introduced by Mr Reid.

On the House meeting to-day. Mr Curtis, amid applause, gave notice of his intention to introduce a Bill giving power to Nelson to borrow L250.00ft, to be charged against the revenues of the Province.

Mr J. L. Gilliea intends to ask if the Govern* ment have taken aay steps to investigate the charges made agaiast Judge Chapman, as contained in telegrams, asserted to be from Judge Ward, published in the ' Otago Daily Times }' also, for the production of all correspoudenoii, telegraphic and otherwise, relatiug thereto.

Mr Wales was introduced by Mr Reynolds and sworn.

Mr Steward asks if the Government intend introducing a Bill dealing with agrarian rights. ln reply to Mr Shepherd, the Government san they would not introduce a Gold Mining Bill, but would give MrSnepherd an opportunity of moving his. The Hon.. Mr a ate.rhouse takes charge of the Decease! Wife's Sister's Marriage bill. The report that our Government is anxious to re-ship the Asia's immigrants is correct. In the Parliamentary Papers appears a telegram, dated June 4, fiorn Mr^Maoandrew to the Premier, sayiug, " Can get no ship to take them Home " j and he then applie * for authority to spend L 230 in erecting a high wall round the females' depdc, to prevent them from climbing over and making themselves a nuisance to the neighborhood, which the Premier has sanctioned. i he immigration correspondence is causing a considerable stir in political circles The impression js that Dr featheraton ouirht to be recalled.

In answer to Mr Shepherd, Mr Yogel said that since the abolition of compulsory attendance by the postal officials on Sundays, the latter had represented that they preferred Sunday work to comiug back early on Monday morning to asrt the country mails. A bunus was allowed for such work, but no postmaster can compel" attendance on Sundays. The English mails would continue to be delivered to the .public on Sundays. Ln justice to. the hardest worked and least paid department, Mr Yogel hoped no alteration as to the legality would be made. It was not considered desirable to alter existing arrangements re forwarding and delivering foreign letters insuffiewntiy stamped, but there was no objection to adopting the English practice of returning such letters to the waters immediately Mr Shepherd has introduced a GjldUining Bill.

in introducing the Imprisonment for Debt abolition Bill, Mr Vo^'el saW it went as far as practicable— exceptions iv Clause 3. giving power to punish defaulting trustees, solicitors, and persons negating to pay salaries, being necessary.— Mr J. L. Gillies in seconding the motion, said imprisonment for debt should simply be wholly and effectually abolished. —Mr Sheehau complained that there was no distinction made between misfortune and the dishonest contraction of debts. Ihe committal of the Bill was adjourned to Friday, to enable Mr Uilliea to prepare hia prodosed amendments. Mr Yogel intimated that the Government had no iatention of iutroducing an Insolvency Bill this' session, because the differences of opiuion in the various branches of the Legislature gave no hope of such a measure pasbiug this Parliament. Mr Wales moved the Address in reply in a short, vigorous speech. He inclines to strongly support the Government, and was well received on rising and loudly applauded on resuming his seat. He made a decided impression. Mr Gibbs (Nelson) seconded. • here was hardly any debate, the House adjourning oet'ore rive o'clock till to-morrow. In the Mouse of Representatives, m reply to Mr Gillies'a question re Judges Ward and Chapman, Mr Yogel said the Government were taking no action to investigate the charges against Judge Chapman, and they were of opinion that they did not call for any representations on their part to the bovernor. * Judges'Chapmau and Ward had been so informed. How the telegrams got into the papers the Government could not say, but they had the assurances of Judges Ward and Chapman that nei her of them had. given the telegrams to the ' Times,' nor had he (Mr Yogel). The telegrams were nearly correct, and showed a large knowledge of the actual telegrams. The Government would not proauce the teiegrams on their own responsibility, but would do so if- the House ordered it..

Mr ahepuerd moved for leave to introduce a "Bill to amend the Otago Waste Lauds Act, but it was opposed by Mr J. L. Gillies, who said he should have waited till Mr Reid's arrival. — Mr bhepherd explained chat he was acting with. Mr rUud's concurrence, and leave was granted on the voices. — After Mr {Shepherd had moved for leave, Mr Gillies got up and counselled the withdrawal of the Bill, saying that Messrs Macaudrew and Held were ueoained in uunediE, a and therefore a Bill embodying the recommendations of the Provincial Council could not

be ready for presentation. If Mr Shepherd's Bill were "rejected, it would prevent the introduction of one by the Provincial Government. — Mr Sbepberd retorted by sayiug tb.it iVIr Gillies nad drawa troin him an explanation whioli he had no intention of maning before he left Dunedm. He had intimated t<> Mr Reid the steps he proposed to take in this matter, aud, intea .ing to place the Bill in such a position that there should be no ohance of its being dropped, had telegraphed to Mr Keid, asking if tie intended introducing any land Bills beyond the one mentioned in the Council, and saying that h« would delay the first reading until Mr Reid rep ied. The amendment was trivial, and as he was quite a& competent to prepare a rtill of lanl — (loud laughter) — Mr Gillies's action showed not so much a desire to watch over the interests of Otago, as a desire at the same time — (rene,ved laughter) -to prove that he (Mr Gillies) was exercising a parental guard over his (Mr Shepherd's) political career. — On the voices the noes bad it, but the opposition was not pressed to a division, so leave was granted and the second reading fixed for Tuesday week. After Air Curtis had mov«d for leave to introduce the Nelson Loan Bill, Mr Yogel said he would take the earliest opp.ortunity of stating very decidedly the opinion of the Government on matters of that kind. (Cheers.) He would do so when making his Financial statement, not more than ten days heace, and he hoped the House would assist the Government by resisting the second reading of these Bills until after the Financial statement. — Mr Curtis agreed accordingly-

In the Council, in answer to Mr Miller, Dr Pollen said the Government would furnish a report by Mr Carruthers on the Oamaru harbor works.

Mr Waterhouse is now moving that the disposal «f lands under Settlements Acts should be regulated by Act of Assembly, not by the .Regulations, at will.

The Government day, as now arranged, the Government oppose, but are not likely to be successful.

MF Vogel, iv announcing the determination of the Government not to introduce a Goldfields Bill, jsaid such diversity of opinion existed among goldfields members that there was a difficulcy to know what the goldfields rea ly desired. It is understood the Government will s ipport Mr hepherd in carrying his Bill over the preliminary stages ; after which it will stand over and be circulated during the recess, and come up early next session te be finally dealt with. The Keply to the Address in the Council was moved by Mr Campbell, who said immigration should be rather increased than decreased. Twenty.fi ve years was required to test the_ i ife Assurance bonus scheme ; whereas it had only been in operation three. The Polynesian trade project entirely met with his approval. -I'here was no necessity fur con? titutional reform, and no serious differences- between the two Houses. The chief one was about the Loan. Bills, and the Oouno l's action, backed by the good sense of the country, had saved the Colony over L 1,000,000 Tbe Col my was too apt to follow Victoria, when it could teach them good government.

Mr Miller, in seconding it, said the GoTerament should concentrate their energies, on the public works , administration. He did not appiove of the Provinces controlling the railways. They would be better under one central control, and thea would pay not puly working expenses but a portion of the interest. The Colony must strain every nerve to secure .the Polynesian trade. There was no neceßsitty to alter the relations of the two Houses Mr Waterhouse followed in a savagely .bitter speech, mainly directed against Mr Yogel. He complained of the absence of great measures. Tae recess was most peculiar— a stream of Ministerial fating. Tte speaking was altogether unt.receclen.ted. it commenced in Utago, where there were many interviews between Messrs Mauandrew and V .gel, which excited curiosity in all politiciaa,, and resulced in a promise of half a million loan. Tie «ame thing occurred at Nelson, where L 20.000 was offered down, but was refuoed for a promise of 1.250, 000 when Parliament met. »hen, at Auckland Mr Gillies, having buried the hatchet, L 40.000 is advanced, similar promises were made at Napier. The Taranaki administration of public works was entirely satisfactory, owing to the energy of Mr Kichardson, than whom a better man they were unable to get. The immigration management had committed a breach of constitutional principle aud public policy. The present prosperity was entirely deceptive, and there would be a great crash before long. — Dr Pollen defended the immigration policy. He upheld the soundness of the present prosperity, and the present condition of the money market as compared with what was formerly the case. He completely refuted Mr Waterhouse's arguments. —Colonel Brett again distinguished himself by attacking the Volunt ers as being utterly useless. — The Address was then carried.

July 9. On the House meeting to-day, Mr Shepherd called its attention to some telegrams in the ' Auckland Star ' reflecting on himself, and said that jf similar attacks were continued, members would have to provide themselves with horsewhips — Sir Dillon Br;ll said the telegram refened to was offensive and insulting, and if the control of the gal cry had been in his hands he would have had to exclude the author of the telegram from the House. Members should be proieofcea from insolence and licease from such persons.

er Yogel Baid the Government had no intention of introducing a new Representation Act this session. July 9. The telegram Mr Shepherd referred to in the House appeared in the ' Auckland Star ' of July 2. The Speaker's reply was, that having been shewn the telegram, it was right to say its terms were insulting ; and that were the matter in his power, he would most certainly exclude the author (obesrs) from the reporters' gallery ; because he held it to be at leist due to mem bora that protection from such license and ioscnence should be afforded them.

M r Pox, in moving for copies of instructions issued to Kesideat Magistrates on Licensing Boards, asserted that, if those officials were publicans or were in the publicans' interest, they couid not have devised better means than they had in the creation of .districts to prevent the proper working of the Act.— Mr Yogel said the Bill the Government were introducing would only cure defects in the existing system, leaving it, to the House^ to say whether other legislation was necessary. He complained of the enormous cost of advertising applications. — Mr Shepherd instanced a case of. a person convicted of sly grog selling attending on a licensing bench-

On Mr Gillies's motion for the production of Judge Ward's alleged telegrams, Mr Vo^el expressed a hope that the tinie had come when tue scandal— for he could call it nothing els* — would be forgotoen ; therefore he hoped it would not be deemed necessary to uave the papers and telegrams bouud up with the proceedings of the House. The papers would be place! oh the table as early as possible.— Mr Fox concurred, hoping the matier wouid sink into oblivion as it stood it led people to meddle with it, and as th« current ot justice was not likely to be n disturbed, the quarrel might safely be. left to vanish into obscurity. It w*b apparent there was some channel to*

tween the telegraph department and the newspapsr, and it was the duty of the House to tike step* to discover it. The pablic must be cenvinced of the inviolability of t legrams. Mr Fox also referred in bitter terms to a former case, in which he himself was concerned, making a savage attack on Mr Gillies, and saying that he never regretted characterising 'he latter's conduct as doublydyed. Another matter that had been overlooked was the production ef the telegram* in Court. Judge Chapman's order was 1 ' highly improper and unconstitutional. The Government proposed to introduce legislation to effectually prevent the production ef telegrams in courts, except with the consent of persons interested. -Mr Gillies ( Auckland) defended the expediency of keeping telegraus, and also condemned the action of Judge Chapman in making the order. He said it w<is | absolutely imperative to have an inquiry, after Judge Ward's emphatic declaration that the published telegrams were' impudent forgeries. — Mr J. L. • Gilliea, in reply, said when the telegrams were produced he would apply for a committee to investigate the whole matter. It would be for him to consider what further steps it would then be necessary to take. Th'i new Electoral Bill provides manhood suffrage, with six months' residence ; miners' rights qualification to cease after September, 1875. I Mr Waterhouse's motion .re no further increase of loans is postponed till Tuesday. Mr Wakefield has given notice of a Property Income Tax Bill, Mr Reynolds of the introduction of the Dunedin Gas and Water Loan Bill ; and of his inteption to move the House into Committee of Ways and Means on Tuesday, to consider the following propositions : — That after July 1, 1875, the doty on Colonially distilled spirits be 7s ; after July, 1876, 8s ; after July, 1877, 9s. In reply to Mr Stewart, Mr Reynolds said the Government would erect a lighthouse at Moeraki, the department having reported it more suitable than Cape Wansbeck. July 11. On Tuesday the Government will lay on the table papers on the Fiji question, with a view of ascertaining the views of the members on the desirability of adopting some scheme by which the trade of those islands may be secured to New Zealand, and with the ultimate object of forming a eraud confederation. lam informed on the best authority that if the majority of the members are favorable to the proposal the Government will submit such a scheme this session; if not, it will be left over for a future time. The abolition of Imprisonment for Debt Bill comes into force on the first of October. On the second reading of the Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Yogel sugge»ted that the English plan oi discussion of the Estimates immediately they are brought down, instead of waiting for the Financial Statement, should be adopted.— Mr .Thomas B. Gillies agreed to the suggestion, and recommended the alteration of the Standing Orders inglyThe participation of insurants in GoTern« ment Life Insurance in profits is not to take effect until ten years after the establishment of the institution — -viz , 1880, and then every five years thereafter. Mr Yogel moved the second reading of the Telegraph Amendment Bill ia a lengthy speech, saying the principal objects were to protect the operators from the consequences of sending libellous telegrams, and to define the conditions under which telegrams may be produced in Law Courts. The debate was adjourned till Tuesday.