PARLIAMENTARY EPITOME.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 861, 27 July 1867, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY EPITOME.

Tuesday, July 9. On this day the New Zealand Parliament was formally opened by His Excellency the Governor, whose speech has already appeared in the Herald. A series of parliamentary papers was laid upon the table; and Mr, Hall, in the House of Representatives, obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Steam Navigation Act. Wednesday, July 10. Legislative Council. — Hon. Major Richardson brought up the report of a select committee on the reply to the address. Hon. Major Richardson was appointed chairman of committees : — A Standing Orders, a House, and a Library and Printing committee were appointed. Major Richardson obtained leave to bring in a Bill intituled "An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Friendly Societies ;" also, an " Act to enable the Judges of the Supreme Court to examine into and ascertain the truth of the statements contained in preambles to Private Estate Bills, and to report thereon, and as to the reasonableness of such Bills, and their fitness to carry into effect their purposes." House of Representatives. — Mr. Atkinson j called the attention of the government to the fact that no revision of the electoral roll had this year taken place in Taranaki. Mr. Stafford explained that the appointment of Revising officer was now vested in the Judges, and that Mr. Justice Moore had neglected to appoint one for the Taranaki district. — Mr. Cox moved an address in reply to His Excellency's speech, which was seconded by Mr. Taylor. It was a mere echo of the speech. Mr. Reynolds moved an adjournment of the debate for 10 days, to give absent members an opportunity of being present. This was opposed by the government, which, however, consented to an adjournment till the following day.. A reporting committee was appointed on the motion of Mr. Stafford, who estimated the expense of reporting the debates at barely £1000.— The Steam Navigation Amendment Bill was read a second time. A Petition committee, and Standing Orders committee, and a House committee, were severally appointed.- — Mr. Carieton moved for correspondence having reference to the Native Lands Act Amendment Act. Legislative Council.— -Papers referring to the statements . made by Colonel Weare were laid upon ihe table. — Major Richardson obtained leave to bring in the following Bills : — a Bill to consolidate and amend the statute laws relating to accessories to and abettors of, indictable offences; a bill for regulating the business of dealers in old metals, and dealers in marine stores ; a Bill for the more effectual protection of Her Majesty's navy and victualling stores in New Zealand. — The reply was debated and agreed to. House of Representatives.'— Mx. Fitzherbert, in reply to Mr. Borlase, said that the government did not propose to discontinue the stamp duties. — Mr. Reeves asked why the present session had not been held at Christchurch, pursuant to resolution of the House. Mr. Stafford replied that, although one house had so resolved another had passed a resolution to a contrary effect, and that peripatetic sessions were attended with great risk and expense. — Mr. Carieton obtained leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the Native Land Act Amendment Act 1866 ; Mr. Hall obtained leave to bring in a Bill to constitute a medical board for the Colony of New Zealand, and to define the qualifications of practitioners in medicine and surgery ; Mr. Richmond obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend and consolidate the laws relating to Coroners ; also, a Bill to enable the pulling down of buildings to prevent the spread of fire. — A return of receipts under the Stamp Act was moved for by Major Heaphy. The reply to the address was then debated at great length, and a committee finally appointed to prepare a reply. They brought up their report the same day, which was adopted. Friday, July 12. House of Representatives. — Mr. Reynolds asked whether it was the intention of the government to propose any reduction of taxation ; Mr. Fitzherbert could not say at the moment, but such reduction would be a great boon, and circumstances might occur which would justify the government in making a proposal for the reduction -of taxation. — Mr. Borlase moved for a return of the cost of Resident Magistrates' and District Courts. — Mr. Wells moved for a return of Provincial loana authorised by the General Government. — The reply to the address was presented at 3 p.m. by the Speaker, and His Excellency's reply ordered to be entered on the journals of the House. Tuesday, July 16. Legislative Council.-- -The business was confined to the appointment of one or two committees and other matters of routine. House of Representatives.'— -Several questions were answered. — The reporting committee brought up an ad interim report.-— The House then went into committee for the purpose of considering the question, " That a supply be granted to Her Majesty ;" motion agreed to, and resolution reported. -—Mr. Yogel, pursuant to notice, moved, " That in the opinion of this House, the authority under the Gold Field Act should be delegated to the Superintendents of the Provinces within which the gold fields are respectively situate." The debate was a long one— the first great debate of the session. Mr. Stafford moved as an amendment that,

af|ertfte word '"t^^p^l^^'^iisitlai^ ; under' exceptional circumstances'' be J in?serted. The debate was finally adjourned till next, day, on the motion of Mr. Mac^ , andrew, who called himself the " unfortunate and somewhat notorious individual who led to that discussion, 1 ' and said that, after the filth and abuse that had been heaped upon him, he could not. restrain J&foself wifchin * proper bounds if he spoke that night. — Mr.JG. Graham moved for a return of the sums expended in conducting the East Coast campaigns. Wednesday, July 17. Legislative Council. — Dr. Buchanan obtained leave to bring in a Bill to authorise the Bishop of Christchurch to convey certain lands to church trustees.— Major Richardson obtained leave to bring in a series of Law Bills, viz. — A Forgery Bill, an Indictable Offences Act Repeal Bill, an iOffences against the Person Bill, a Larceny Bill, a Coinage Offences Bill, and a Malicious Injury to Property Bill, The gallant Major explained that the government had secured the aid of a legal gentleman, who would, at next sitting, be prepared to irirtoduce and explain bills brought forward by the Government. 9 House of Representatives, — Mr. Stafford obtained leave to bring in a Representation Act Amendment Bill — the object being to augment the representation of the district of Westland. — Mr. Hall obtained leave to bring in a " Bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Resident Magistrates, and to the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace in their civil jurisdiction."-— The House went into committee of supply, and resolved that a sum not exceeding £200,000 be granted for the public service, byway of advance to be accounted for.— The Governor was mpved to issue a new writ for the Pensioner Settlements, in consequence of the resignation of Colonel de Quincey.— .The next order of the day'was the adjourned debate on the motion for the delegation of powers to Superintendents, whioh was opened by Mr. Macandrew. Mr. Stafford repeated an f offer made by him the previous evening — to delegate the powers in question to the Provincial Executive of Otago. The debate was not a nice one ; Mr. Carleton said he had never known the House to be so far dragged through the mire. Mr. Yogel replied at midnight, and the division which followed shewed the following result:—For the amendment, 28; against, 24 ; majority for the amendment, 4. We append the division lisfc : — — Ayes. Mr A. S. Atkinson Mr McLean Mr H. A, Atkinson MrMcNeill Mr Baigont Mr Ormond Mr Braashaw Mr Parker Mr Bunny Mr Reeves Mr CarglQ Mr A. J. Richmond Mr Carfeton Mr J. 0. Richmond Mr Cox Mr Taylor Mr Eye 3 Mr Wells Mr Farmer Mr J. 0. Wilson, 0.8. Mr Eitzherbert Mr Wood Mr Hankinson Mr Haughton Tellers. Col Haultain Mr Hall MrLudlam Mr Stafford Noes. Mr Ball . • Mr G, Macfarlan Mr Borlaso Mr T. Maofariano Mr Brandon Mr Main Mr Burns Mr Mervyn Mr Campbell Mr C. O'Neill Mr Clark Mr J. O'Neill Mr Dignan Mr Paterson Dr Featheraton Mr Reynolds MrGGraliam n Mr Williamson MrHeaphy,. V.C. Mr Hepburn , fellers. Mr Hull Mr O'Rorke Mr Macandrew Mr Yogel Thursday, July 18. „, ... ,-js^5 fcawft/o. ouu,«uec ...—— ii ae bate" tQolsf place, on a motion by Colonel Kenny, that the legal business of the government could not be satisfactorily conducted without the presence of a member of the legal profession, recognised as representing the government, ending in the motion being agreed to. It appeared that the government had some difficulty in obtaining the assistance of a member of the profession. House of Representatives. — Mr. Reynolds [ moved a resolution in favour of vote by ballot. A good many spoke to the question, including Mr. Stafford, who expressed himself as individually in favor of the ballot. »The resolution was ultimately withdrawn. —Mr. Haughton obtained leave to bring in a Gold Duty Act Amendment Bill, having for its object a reduction of the export duty on gold, by 6d. each year. — A debate took place in committee, upon the honorarium of member?, upon a motion by Mr. Cracroft Wilson that the sum' paid to each member shall not exceed 10s a day and £50 for the' session. After a long debate, an amendment by Mr. Reynolds— that the chairman report progress — -was carried, on a division, the ayes being 31 and the noes 9. — The Appeal from Justices Bill was read a second time. — The motion for the 2nd reading of the Medical Practitioners Bill led to a discussion of some length, ending in an adjournment till the Wednesday following. — The Coroner's Bill was read a second time. — The House went into committee of supply on the British Australasian mail service, and a debate ensued, which ended in a resolution authorising £50,000 as the contribution of New Zealand.— The Fire Protection Bill was withdrawn, other provision being intended to be made. — On the motion of Mr. Hall, a committee was appointed to inquire into the operation of the bankruptcy laws. Fjjiday, July 19. Legislative Council. — The Hon. Mr. Harris asked the government if it was their intention to introduce a Divorce Act this session. Major Richardson answered no, butthat if a private member did so, the government would give its cordial assistance. — The Hon. Mr. Harris, who had consented to act for the government, moved the 2nd reading of the legal bills before enumerated, which was agreed to, and several of them considered in committee. House of Representatives. — The Supply Bill and Coroners' Bill were considered in committee. — Mr. Reynolds obtained leave to bring in an Independence of Parliament Bill, prohibiting the appointment of members to any government office. — Mr. Stafford obtained leave to bring in a Gold Fields Act Amendment Bill, intended to give legal effect to the promise of the government on the delegation question.— The House adjourned till Tuesday the 23rd inst.