PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2696, 7 October 1871, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

{(JIIOAf OVil OWjTtiOUKESpOXOKST.) \Vei.ux(!Ton, October 6. Mr Vogel to day gave a sketch of the policy of the Government Bills. The Government of Provinces Bill is to enable Superintendents to have a s?at in Provincial Councils ; and on the expiration of the present Councils, the new ones will consist of the same number of members as each Province returned to the Assembly, but the reduction will apply V Hawke’s Bay. Marlborough, oriiaranaki. No fresh election of Superintendents would be occasioned by the change, neither would the resignation of a Superintendent involve the dissolution of aCouiv.il. Another Bill would transfer to to the Governor the administration of the affairs of any Province, on the request of its Government and Council The Paym nts of Provinces I’epeal Bill would ca ry out the arrangement detailed in the Financial Statement. A Public Works and Immigration Fund, into which all revenue for those purposes will go, and from which all payments will be made, is to be established. The Board of Works would be composed, as stated by Mr Gisborne but the three nominated members who would retire annually were eligible for re-election, and in respect to them and the President the Disqualification Bill would bo inapplicable. A second npdt;; the direction # tUP first one, would be established, qpd tips laP ter body would have the direction of goldlipids works. The Government, on the re. commendation of the Board, would have the p .wer to take the laud of any Province for the purpose of s ttlement, on paying the Province in cash the upset price of the land, less the compensation to the pastoral tenants. With the land, the Colony would re- ■- lii ve the Province of a proportionate share of the consolidated revenue. When land was required for railway construction, and

the owners failed to agree with the Board regarding compensation, the Government would appoint a person to hold a court to determine, with the assistance of a commissioner appointed by a judge of the Supreme Court, what was a fair compensation. No a peal wouhl be possible from this decision, and the Court might refuse compensation altogether if it thought the construction of the railway would improve rather than deteriorate the value of the property. _ The claimant would have to pay the costs, if he previously refused to accept a fair amount of compensation offered by the Board. With regard to the main line of railway, the Government would have the power to decide whether they would charge the cost on the land fund, or take land as security, or partially both. Cn the completion of the line the Governmect would capitalise the amount and fix an annual charge, deducting a share of the stamp duties and any balance over working (xpenses, in cases where the annual charge is not recoverable from the Province. 'The Assembly, if it thinks fit, may recover the amount by a local rate on the property benefitted by the line. If the land taken is insufficient, the Board may from time to time take more. The cost of the coal mine lines will be charged against the lines, but four years will be allowed for the development of branch feeder lines. If a district petitions the Board for the construction of a line, the Board, on being satisfied as to its utility, may construct the line, imposing a local rate to cover half the annual cost. October 7. In Committee (f Supply last night, clauses 2, 3, and 4 of the estimates up to Provincial charges were passed. The question was raised that the latter bo made Colonial charges. .... The San Francisco Mail Service discussion has bicn postponed. Mr Stafford stated that the Opposition would oppose the vote. Mr Shepherd made a attack upon the conduct of Mr Warden Bcetham, as returning officer during the late elections, and is well dressed down in the Independent for his cowardice and bounce. Mr Vogel’s statement yesterday was exceedingly well received. The Opposition arc unable to get a hold of it in any way. Wellington, Oct. 7. The rumour about Mr Maclean having joined the Ministry is said to be without foundation.