HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—Tuesday.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 336, 9 July 1874, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— Tuesday.

Mr Wfilos, of OUgo, took his oath and scat in the House to-day. Mr Gillios gave notico of motion to ask the Government whether they took any step to investigate tho c]iarges made against Judge Chapman aa contained in a telegram published in the Ota^o Daily Tunes, purporting to be copies of tologvams sent by Judge Ward to the Premier; and whether thoGovernmont would object to tho laying of i lie telegrams, _ancl correspondence relating to the subject on the t;ililc of tho 11 ouse. In reply to Mr L. Shepherd the Piom.cr intimated

ili.it it -won M ))" lii.uhisxblc for any postmaster to have powei loi uiup 4 the .iHeud.mce of suboidinates to deliver niak ou Sundays, and generally it "was not desir.ib'o :o ni.thc any change in the present arrangement Eg.irding Sunday. In ivj)ly to Mr C. O'^Neii the Premier said the Government (id not intend to introduce any Goldiielcla Bill cluing the present Session. He thought the goldiields \ emulation was more properly the function of tic provinces than of the colony, but that if the hoi member chose to take charge of such a bill, he hopal the session would last long enough to give him ai opportunity to have the subject ventilated. Mr KeynoMs, in reply to Mr C. O'Neil, regarding the reduction of the duty on Australian wines, said that thi3 colony only received one definite reply, from Tasmania, to the circular regarding reciprocity, which had been sent to all the Australian colonies. In the meantime it was impossible to take any action until the question of reciprocity had been settled. The Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill was read a second time, the Government intimating to members that sufficient time would be given to consider the provisions of the bill before the third reading came on. The usual Sessional Committee was then appointed.. The address in reply was moved by Mr Wales, and seconded by Mr Gibbs. The speeches of both member were well received. The address of his Excellency will be considered to-morrow. Mr T. B. Gillies moved for a return of persons employed during the financial year, under the land purchase operations, in the North Island; the inquiry to include the quantity, positions, and prices of land purchased by each person. The Hon Julius Vogel said the Government had no objection to afford every information in the matter, except that which might be likely to prejudice such a very delicate operation as land trans actions with the natives sometimes were. He die not deem it desirable that the House should ask the Government for more- information in these matters /than they felt it was expedient to give. Mr Gillies objected to that view of the question as he had asked only for returns regarding the com pleted transactions, and consequently this could noi be detrimental to the public service. It was agreed that a return,, giving the required information, should lie prepared.