HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (From our Special Reporter.) Government Buildings, Wellington, Wednesday.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 648, 15 July 1876, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (From our Special Reporter.) Government Buildings, Wellington, Wednesday.

Very littlo business of goner.il intoi«3b was done on Wednesday. The Jlouae met at 130. In answer to a question from Mr Thomson, the Pro i liter stated that the expense to which he had been put when in England far telegrams to the colony was LSOB 15s 10J.

T (I E Utf-N EGOTI ATED BONDS. Mi 1 Thomson nslced the Colonial Ti«xsurer whether the unnogotiuted bonds, or any portion of them have been hypothecated, and if so as to what extent the amount advanced on their security, and by whom advanced. The Pramier said that of the uusold bonds tharo had been hypothecated for General Purposes, Loan bonds worth £210,500 for £200,000 cash; lAefonca

Loan bonds, £52,700, worth for £50,000 casb, both in the Bank of New Zealand. The Treaßuror baa also drawn on London for J£1?U,000 against proceeds of bonds which hare been sold, but £269,000 have been hypothecated (to the 30th April, 1876) to the Crown Agents.

THE GUARANTEED DEBENTURES. Mr Thompson naked the Colonial Treasurer whether any portion of the guaranteed debentures Imvo been sold, and if so to what extent, and the price realised ? The Premier said tlmt £200,000 of the Government bonds had been sold some years ago; £800,000 still remained unbokL

THE DEBATE ON TITE GOVERNMENT PKOPOSALS. Mr Murray moved, " That tlie constitutional measures of tho Government, should be calculated without delay that the bills to give effect thoroto shoald not bo passed sooner than one month from the date of such circulation, in order that opportunity may bo afforded for the expression of pub lie opinion upon their provisions." Tho Premier said the Government were working haul to bring down the bills. He hoped to be able to do it on Friday. An agreement had, however, been come to between himself and the leader of the Opposition, that the financial debate would be uken on Tuesday next}, on the Counties Bill.

COST OF PRODUCING RETURNS. Mr Reynolds moved, " That each return laid before eitker House should have the cost of tho preparation printed on the jamo. 11 He did this in order that some chack mighs be placed upon the practice of calling for useless and expensive returns. Considerable discussion ensued, and ultimately a division was taken and the motion agreed to by 28 against 23. Thursday. As yet very little beyond skirmishing between either party in the Hous^ has taken place. The attack oh the Govermeut outpost of Piako, and the heavy repulse met with by the Opposition have rendered them extremely cautions as to coming to conclusions with the Government in anything like a pitched battle. Still, if the Opposition is to continue anything worthy of the name, it cannot long avoid joining issue with the Government — and by mutual consent an armistice has been agreed upou until Tuesday, before which timothebc l ilgovernoieutmeaiuro,Counfe i J Bill it is termed, will be in. the hands of members. Meantime, the Opposition ia working night and day to get together and organise a practicable party, Somo of the Otag.in members have staited the question of separation — two colonies with a federal government — and yesterday a caucus of Canterbury members was held, which was attended by all tho member* •except Air Richardson. From what has transpired, it does nob scorn that Otago will have aay hearty concurrence from Canterbury with the movement, The lattjr, without pledging themselves to separat on, expressed a willingness to confer with Otag.in members inputting the finances of the Colony on a more satisfactory footing, and some little dissatisfaction with the Government policy as shadowed in the budget speech was expressed, but as Mr Staff ji\l was notibly amongst the dissatisfied, it is extremely improbable that any ■course they may take will embrace separation in its programme. Nothing definite is likely to<some of these caucuses for the amalgamation of local parlies into one strong block. There is a want of homogt'neousness which readers it extre.nely difficult to fuso sub parties into one strong body of Opposition, and in. this lieu the strength of the Government. The interests of the Auckland awl Otitgiu Opposition party are widely diverse, at least, s> fir sr>, tkiit the concession that woul 1 satisfy the one (re the laud £nw\) will never be grunted by the other,* and between C'aut«rbnry -and Otago :iu<l Canterbury aad Ajickhuml, there is but a very divided bond of sympathy which, ii* tho case of Otngo, Ikis been considerably weakens I by tho addition of an Q Lagan rauii, Mr Goo. Mcf.ie.iu, to the Cabinet. T.ie members who attended the Canterbury caucus are not tho only ones dissatistiwd with the financial B pencil, which is thought far too vague, anil, whon cuefully studied, to fall far short iv compr 'hensivenoss of what a government policy in sash a crisis should bo ; but then it is linvd to say what better c mid be done, and this the Opposition will have to show. There certainly will not be a thitfd of the House in favour of separation, mostly new raembjrs, for tnen of older political experience know tli.it it cannot practicilly bs carried into effect — that the financial separation between the two islands is a simple impossibility, as loxg as the public creditot remains. If the Government can hold its own fairly through the debato which commences ou Tuesday, it is safe for the session. It is said that the full revelation by the Native Minister of "nil" that took place between himsolf nnd Tawhiao will score a strong point in favour of the Ministry, h>ir George Grey, last uight, in the House, declarol his intention to sit for the Thames. A writ for the eloction to City West was this morning issued by telograph. Friday, Sir D McLean said the Government were going to introduce a bill for regulating, the disposal of natire land. The counties bill was read a first time. On lecommittal of tho local election's bill, several slight amendments were made. An amendment was raide in slauso 3, moved by Mr Whitaker which will bring bill into operation in some cases only on tho writtou request of at least two-thirds of the members of the local governing boJy in any district. The Government accepted the amendment, and it was carried on the voices. Clause 3 was amended to give longer notice of olection. Clause 3-i was amended so as to give the Returning Officer a casting voto in case of candidates having an equal number of votes. The bill reported with amendment wns read a third time and passed, A lon_»debate ensued on the Local Options Bill, canied on between Templars and moderate drinkers. The debate ondej by Sir Julia*

Vogel asking 1 for an adjournment in consequence of the death of Dr Featherstone. Business to-day is merely of a routine character. The demise of Dr Featherstone has cast general gloom on the House, Sir Julius Vogel, Fitzherbert, John Hall, and Stafford are said to be probable candidates for the office of Agent-General.