(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 350, 11 August 1874, Page 2

(Per Anglo- Australian Telegraph Agency.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

At the evening sitting of the House, in reply to questions regarding bills amending the Public Revenues Act and Immigration Loan Bill, the Premier said he would bring down next week bills providing for proposals made in the Financial Statement regarding the provinces and a measure relating to trade with the Polynesian Islands. He announced, in replying to Mr Fitzherbert, that he would not go beyond the second reading of the Immigration and Public Works Loan Bill until after he delivered ' tho Miimiciial Statement regarding Immigration. Mr Rolleston opposed the committal of the State Forests Bill. He said he had no desire to oppose the legislation, but wanted timo to consider how the important alterations made in the bill since it was brought down affected, the whole question. The Piemier said there was not the slightest complication caused. A child might understand the amendments made in all respects. Except that dealing with the three per cent, of land, the bill was unchanged. The object was not, as lie apprehended, to establish a new department, but to get the House to pledge itself unequivocally to the pioniotion of a scheme of State Forests. He was sure the whole country would respond heartily, and if the Superintendents of the provinces placed lands at the disposal of the Government for that purpose they would be grateful, and lie had no doubt the Provincial Governments would cordially co-operate with the Government in promoting the scheme in committee. Mr Macandrew suggested that the House should give £500 to the Dunedin Botanic Garden, which would distribute throughout the colony 500,000 plants for all time. Mr O'Conor suggested that Dr Hector should be appointed head conservator, as he had experimented a great deal with science in forestry. Mr Sheehan suggested sending New Zealand youths to Europe to learn forestry. The Premier observed that that would be the natural outcome. Mr Brandon caused the clause for salaries for conservators to be amended, so as to make them payable out of the State forests account. A number of slip' . technical objections were being raised, and the progress of the bill impeded. The Premier said it was the .old, old story — any excuse to gain time, delays in such cases being fatal. On Mr Swanson's motion, the time for granting foiest leases was limited to ten years instead of thh-ty. Mr Swanson also endeavoured to introduce a provision for inviting public tenders for disposing of leases, but was overruled by the arguments of the Premier and Mr Wales, and the discretionary powers was left in the hands of the Government. The Speaker read the report of the Joint Committee upon the Ward-Chapman breach of privilege case, the substance being that they fouud that Judge Ward gave the information to Mr Luckie, who telegraphed it to Auckland, and it was subsequently re-produced in the Tribune, and that the gentleman mentioned was entirely responsible for the publication. Mr Luckie apologised for having acted contrary to the usages of Parliament, and expressed his indebtedness to the gentleman from whom he obtained the information for allowing him to use his name as the person who supplied it. Mr O'Rorko moved that the apology be accepted. Mr Sheehan made some very spirited observations on the absurd ridiculousness of the whole proceedings. Why should the public not be made acquainted with the proceedings of" Select Committees the same , as they were of evidence given in Courts of law \ It would be a great benefit, and the Standing Orders required amendment in that direction. The apology was acceptod, and Mr Luckie re-en-tered the Chambers. The Auckland Waste Lands Bill, Dunedin Gas Works, and Dunedin Waterworks Bill were passed. The House adjourned j.t 25 minutes to 1 o'clock.