PARLIAMENTARY.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 531, 14 October 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

; Wellington, Wednesday evening. There was . no sitting of the House ! to-day, owing to the Members' ball. The whole of the silting last night was occupied with a discussion on the Representation Bill. The Government intimated jat the outset they i would not object to a | modification of the boundaries, but would not consent to any alteration in the number of members. Sir Dillon Bell, Speaker, attacked the Bill as devoid of principle, and *aid Mataura had more right to another member than Napier or : Waitaki. Mr Macandrew agreed with [ the last speaker. Mr O'Neill first moved that an extra member be given to the Thames to make three altogether. Mr said the House should give an extra member to the Thames and another to Dunedin, dropping all the rest, and the House would pass the Bill at once. Thereupon a very long discussion ensued. Tairoa gave notice to move for a native member for Waikato. Clause two was postponed, three and four passed, clause five occupied the House the remainder of the sitting. Major Jackson said if they would not grant the extra member to the Thames, they should join a portion of Waikato to the Thames and then grant the other member. Mr Andrews sup ported this, but Mr Buckland opposed. Sir George Grey made an earnest speech in favor of Mr O'Neill's motion, and spoke of speaking all that sitting and the next day, and so on in Committee until the Government had jusenfad to *> reasonable and just a .request. Mr Dignan wanted an .extra member given to Coromandel instead of the Thames. Mr Lnckie panted out that it would be impossible to say where it would stop if they once gave way. Sir George Grey having made another speech, Mr Bo wen said he might tell him at once the Government could not accede to Ms entreaties on behalf of the Thames. Mr May supported Mr O'Neill. Upon a division, Mr O'Neill's amendr mentwasJost by 37 against 21. Mr Sheehan then moved that Coromandel have one member. The amendment was lost by 30 to 23. Mr Kelly moved that the proposal to give a member to Napier be omitted and the Southern part of the East Coait be substituted in the cltuat. A

discussion upon this was kept np till nearly balf.pait two. The Ministry agreed with the f amendment. Mr Sheehan moved to report progress. The Government not objecting, progress was reported. The House adjourned at 2.40 a.m. A motion has been carried in the Upper House urging the Government to conduct purchases of native land with scrupulous integrity, and to exercise the greatest care in the selection of agents. A motion was lost in the Upper House to the effect that the Piako Land Exchange Bill No 2 should be withdrawn, and that the Government should assist Mr Whitaker in arranging with the natives for the survey of the land for which he has been awarded a Grown Grant by the Land Claims Com. ! , missioner. The Lower House has decided to allow the ratification of the San Prani cisco contract to remain an open question until next session. Five amendments, censuring the Government for exceeding the powers given by the House, were rejected. A motion was finally carried I that" the entire cost of the service should not txceetf £40,000, and that the Government should modify the contract accordingly. The Pacific Mail Company therefore have the option of accepting a reduced subsidy, or of inducing New Spttth Wales to make up the. difference in amount,