GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 105, 14 July 1876, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

, .J, {Continued from page 3.) TUESDAY, JULY 11, At the evening" sitting', The debate on the Regulation of Local Elections Bill was resumed, and discussions occurred on various clauses. Mr Stout moved a new clause, " That no person shall be allowed to sell any spirituous liquors by retail within the ward of anyvpollmg -place during the hours of polling." Sir J. Voge'l objected, as he thought it- would only encourage the illegal sale of liquor. /He thought it better that' the question of total abstinence should be discussed on its own merits on some future occasion, but did not think Mr Stout's amendment would be effective. He would be glad to see all publichouses closed altogether throughout the year. The new clause was rejected. The Bill as amended was reported to the House, the amendments to be consi- ; dered on Thursday. 1 Sir George Grey proposed that a 1 resolution compelling him to elect whether he should sit for Auckland 1 City West or for Thames, be rescinded, [ in order that what; he maintained was [ the English practice should be followed, [ and be should be allowed a further time oi one week to make his choice. . i After a discussion, the niotioh was 3 carried on the voices. j • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12. In the Legislative Council, 1 The Hon.JVIr Hall moved that, havl ing regard to the large aggregate r amount of deposits in the Post Office • Savings Banks, it is expedient that the - terms upon which repayment of depor sits may be demanded should be-recon--7 sidered by the Government. He said j that the total amount of deposits in the Colony approached three-quarters of a . ~ million, and pointed out that in the; a 'case of a panic, and a general demand o being made by depositors, the Govern - : .' ■ . ■«■■-,,

ment would find it difficult to find the money, which would prove a blow tv the Colony. He suggested a saving clause in the regulations, such as is in force in Australia. The motion was carried. Jn tbe Honse of" Representatives, Mr Thomson asked if t_e Premier would inform the House as to the expense to which he was put when in England for telegrams to the Colony, as referred to by him in his letter to Dr Pollen of the 12th February last 1 The Premier replied that the only information be could give the honorable member on that poiut was that the Treasury bad sent him a return showing that I be -cost for telegrams sent tothe Colony while he was at Plome was LBOS 15s 'lOd. Mr Thomson asked tbe Colonial Treasurer whether the un negotiated bonds, or any portion of them, have been hypothecated, and if so, to what extent 1 the amount advanced on their security, and by whom advanced? Tbe Premier said that of the unsold unguaranteed bonds there hacl been hypothecated : — General Purposes Loan bonds (worth L 210,500), for L 200,000. cash ; Defence Loan bonds (worth L 52,700), for L 50,000 cash j— both in l he Bank of New Zealand. The Treasurer had also drawn on London for Ll 75,000 against the proceeds of bonds authorised to be sold. No portion of the LBO,OOO guaranteed bonds have been sold, but L 369.000 have beeu hypothecated (to the 30th April, 1876) to the Crown agents. "" Mr Thomson asked the Colonial Treasurer whether any portion of the guaranteed debentures have been sold, I and if so, to what extent, and the price ' realised ? | The Premier said that L 300,000 of ! tho guaranteed bonds were sold some years ago.*and that LBOO,OOO still remain unsold, The following-- bills were read a first 1 time .-—Wellington College Trusts Bill, Wellington Corporation Consolidation of Loans Bill, and Kaiapoi Harbour Board Bill. Mr Murray moved that the constitutional measures of the Government should be circulated without delay, and that the Bills to give effect thereto should not be passed sooner than one month from date of such circulation, in order that an opportunity may be afforded for the expression of public opinion upon their provisions. The Premier said that an arrangement had been come to between himself and the leader of the Opposition, that the financial debate would be taken on Tuesday next*, on the Counties" Bill. Mr Wason moved that a SelectJCommittee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of using brown and other native coal as fuel for steam purposes on lines of railway in New Zealand. He pointed out that the brown coal was used largely in Austria and Bohemia, and other parts of tbe European Continent, and he utterly deprecated the idea of spending large sums of money on seaborne coal if it was possible to make use of the brown coal at their 'own floors. The Premier thought a very great benefit would arise to the country from tho investigation of the Committee. He referred at length to the suitability of the New Zealand brown coal for the manufacture of patent fuel, and pointed out the immense industries which would thus be opened up. Mr Lumsden ridiculed the idea of occupying tbeir attention with the manufacture of patent fuel ; better to leave | that to private enterprise. If the. Government would extend one of their railways about 12 miles, they could be enabled to supply the whole Colony with as good coal as could be obtained, and cheaper than any patent fuel could be manufactured by squeezing water out of brown coaL The Hon. Mr Richardson said that the locomotives m use at present could, with a little alteration, be made to burn [ brown ..goal altogether. The* motion was agreed to. Mr Thomson moved that there be laid before the House a return showing in the case of each Province the adl vances that had been made on works in progress, on which ife is proposed to | charge interest out of the land fund. | The Premier said he had no objection. The Government proposed that interest should be charged upon works from time to time, as the money was expended. He noticed that the hon. gentleman had a series of notices of motion on the order paper, asking for following returns : : — Keturn shewing the sum expended on railway construein each Province on which it is proposed to charge 2 per cent, out of land fund of Provinces; return' showing in case of each Province the estimated revenue from railways during current financial year, amounting in aggregate to 'L44[sioQol r ; rexiirns showing liabilities of the "Colony on -30th June -last-J under Immigration and' Publib -Works Appropriation Acr, 1875. These would be prepared as promptly as possible. The motions • were then formally moved and -agreed to. '._"■•' Mr Reynolds moved that each return laid before either House ; should have the cost, of preparation printed- on the same. He did' this iii order:. that some check .might be placed oh the practice of calling for useless andyex:pensive returns..',': He.. knew^ohe ;of that class that cost LIOO. : ! 'i'S-'jyA-y.-Ap. After a discussion s the ■ taction yWaa

agreed to by 28 against 23. f.H Mr Steveus asked if the Government H would lay a staterm-ut before the Ho'usl H nf the ctni'i-ibutiMus towards the Coa 9 solidated Fund IV. mi different Pro 9 i'iiiiics, * 91 ihe Premier had no objection, bu) B suggested it wotrd be better to wait to: H the stateiiuuit in sh.- ordinary course, jIB

At thu evening sitting, ■•;* jH Sir George Grey Jinnounccd to the H House that " be had elected;., to 9 stand f(p|t]io Thames consti tueuci^andl JH moved th|ifa new; writ be issued by 9 telegraph for the election of a member 9 for Auckland City W__t. ■' 9 Agreed to. > 9 ■--■mil ii i w wnwiiMi ■ii mmmmmmmmmmm -■ . mm\