PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 355, 19 September 1868, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

The Wellington correspondent of the Nelson Examiner usually a thoroughly reliable athority in such matters writes as follows, on the Bth inst. I am enabled to give you the following important information, which you may depend upon as being substantially correct. At the meeting of Q-overnment supporters, which I mentioned as having been held on Saturday, a committee was appointed to take into consideration the question of finance under the proposed new areations between General and Provincial Governments. The following is the substance of the report of the committee which has received the assent of most of the Government supporters. Ministers are to give ther reply, which is expected to be favourable to day. Wellington is to be relieved of £58,000 additional liability, by the colony assuming the mortgage debt on reclaimed land, Manawatu block, &c. Nelson is to receive £150,000 instaed of £90,000. Otago to receive £40,090. Westland will receive £15,000 Southland is only to contribute £9,000 instead of £12,000 per annum, as originally proposed. The above mentioned sums are to be paid out of the sinking fund, supplemented by Ireasury Bills. Three new bills to be introduced are: —1. To provide for simplifying the machinery of Provincial Governments by doing away with Executive Councils. 2. To. establish Timaru and Gladstone, Oamaru, and Wanganui as counties, the latter to be endowed from confiscated lands. [This bill

not to come into force until sanctioned by act of Imperial Parliament.] 3. A permissive County Bill without separation from provinces, but with a fixed endowment. The following are supplimentary telegrams to the same paper. Wellington, September 10. Mr Fox opened the debate on his resolutions with an excellent speech, and was replied to by Mr. Stafford with great force. Mr. Curtis and Mr. Reynolds supported Mr. Fox. September 11, 8 p.m. Government having proposed not to retain the Armed Constabulary in Hawke's Bay, a deputation from that province remonstrated. Ministers would not listen, and consequently Mr. M'Lean and Mr. Ormond have joined the Opposition, and will influence Maori votes. Government supporters met this afternoon, but nothing was done. All the Nelson members are in Opposition. Spoke to-day: for Government, Messrs. Kerr and Bunny; against, Mr Collins and Mr. Rolleston. The latter still speaking.