Friday, July 13.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 119, 23 July 1866, Page 3

Friday, July 13.

Mr. Fitzgerald brought up the report of the committee on Reporting the Debates, and stated that two plans had been proposed, viz., that the Government should have its own reporting staff, or that the newspapers should provide reports for a certain sum. Tlie former had not been thought practicable at present ; with regard to the hitter plan, evidence had been taken from the proprietors of tlie newspapers in Wellington, and the committee conceived that it would be the better one for the present session. The Indictable Offences Bill was read a second time ; the Compulsory Taking of Lands Bill a first time ; and the Native Contracts Validation Bill a lirst time The House went inlo Committee of the whole House, to consider the giving leave to bring a Bill to impose a duty on Bonded Warehonses. Mr. Stafford said that further information would soon belaid on the table. He was certain that these duties were imposed in the other Australian colonies, and rightly too, tor a certain class was much favored by the establishment of these private bonded warehouses, and ie was only just that they should pay forwards the supervision. The duty proposed was fifty per cent, less than that in other colonies Tiie present Government entirely concurred in the advisability of having a customs department at Christchurch, as many merchants were there ; when the moans o com .mnicutio'.i between that town :md Lyttelton was improved, it would be a question then whether one staff would not anticipate their decision on that matter. The duties proposed were, £%Q up to a certain capacity, and £5 for every ten tons above that. Aftor some discussion the House resumed. Leave was given to bring iv a bill to regulate the granting of p.- -listens to officers and men of the Colonial Forces for wounds or injuries received on actual service, and to the widows and families of the some in certain eases; and the House resumed. A resolution to produce all correspondence in Mr. _. D'Oyley 's case was agreed to. Mr. Crosbie Ward moved, That a return be laid on the table, showing the present monthly cost, in pay and rations, of the Colonial Forces. Also, the number and monthly cost of the same force on Ist January, 1860, and the monthly increase or decrease in number and cost since that time. Agreed to. Mr. D. Eell moved, For a return showing the estimated daily cost of the sittings of both Houses of Assembly ; distinguishing the estimated amount of the honorarium as heretofore allowed to members, cost of lighting, firing and salaries of clerks or other officers temporarily employed during the session. Mr. Cracroft Wilson seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, William Fox was fined 10s. aad costs for drunkenness. The silver (i badge of merit" and the sum of £10 from the police reward fund, has been awarded to Constable James Carrol, stationed at the Dunstan, in acknowledgment of the gallantry displayed by him, in plunging into the Molyneux at the immineut risk of his life, to save that of a lunatic, who threw himself into that river on the morning of the 11th ultimo. .' Mr. D. Buchanan, a member of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, has beeu lecturing iv Melbourne on "The Life and Genius of Robert Burns," with tolerable success. His subsequent lecture, on "Australian Democracy," was not so successful.

A very well informed correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times" writing from Wellington says: — "The intelligence from Sydney respecting the share to be taken by New South Wales in the Panama contract is not altogether satisfactory. It is impossible that the Government of that colony should dispute the main point of their agreement, or should even wish to do so ; but there are minor points on which differences may occur, causing the contract to be kept open. The secret motive at the bottom of the present difficulty is, I believe, a desire on the part of Sydney to keep the terminus of the line positively aud permanently there. But Captain Benson and his family have come down here, and he has announced his intention of bringing the large oceau steamers no further than this port, and of employing branch steamers to Sydney as well as Melbourne. Wellington, in his view is the terminus of the line, and here, therefore almost all the expenditure of the company will take place. Sydney suspects something of this, and is said to be now holding back her ultimate consent to the contract, with the hope of arranging the question of terminus in her own favor. The Loudon correspondent of the Canterbury Press says that J. E. Gorst, Esq., M.A., late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and so well known as the former Native Commissioner, and Resident Magistrate of the Waikato, and the author of the celebrated work, entitled "The Maori King," has been elected member for the Borough of Cambridge, the former member Mr. Forsyth, having lost his seat in the House. The Advertiser states that an unfortunate difference has arisen between the Provincial Government of Wellington and Messrs. Kennard, the London contractors for the slip at that place, having reference to the nature of the foundation. The information sent from tlfe colony was that the bottom was firm, and that the foundation must be an iron framework or a wooden one, sheathed. The design has been executed for clean rock, and the foundation piles are made to be screwed on to it. A new desigu for a foundation has to be prepared and cast, aud much delay arises in consequence — both parties denying their liability for the extra expense. A further reference to England is absolutely necessary. The Independent of the 12th instant, says: — It appears that Mujor M'Bonnell.has some stiff work before him. The rebels iv the Ngafiruanui country, to the number of 400, have entrenched themselves in a strong redoubt, between Otapawa and Xetemnrai, where they have resolved to give battle. The gallant major will probably take the field during the ensuing week with . )0 men, and probably give a good account of the enemy. But we know, that when in Wellington ho urged upon the Government to give him 500 men — more Europeans and less Maoris — a request, which, we believe, he has since urged on the Defence Minister. We think it absolutely necessary that the Government should allow Major M'Donnell to raise a force of 500 men. We forget how many thousand troons General Cameron employed in his West Coast march, but at all events Major M'Donnell is fairly entitled to a force of 500, seeing that with that number he purposes to finish the war. We firmly believe he will do this, and surely when such an important object can be attained, it is a penny wise aud pound foolish system to refuse the means. Influenza has been very prevalent, both in Victoria and New South Wales. The D. S. Cross remarks, the Commissioners for apportioning the war charges on the North Island provinces have returned their award for the provinces of Auckland, Taranaki, aud Hawke's Bay. The Auckland award is £180,442 10s.; but it is subject to the following deductions, viz., Tuakau block, £18000 confiscated lands sold to Juue 30th, 18(55, £8,068 10s lid.; reducing . the award to £154,473 19s. Id. There are a few additional items to be added, but we believe these wili be counterbalanced by deductions, to what extent it is not possible to say with exactness. We believe iv the perfect fairness of the award, and it cannot be questioned by the South, seeing that the South had three voices to one on tho commission.

The correspondent of the D. S. Gross at Tauranga gives some details of the warning of the surveyors off the confiscated land. This, it seems, was in one instance done by a son of William Thompson, who handed to the surveyors a letter purporting to be signed by his father. It is surmised, however, that the letter is a forgery ; and as young Thompson is a scapegrace, and a rebel against his father, this is quite possible. The conduct of Thompson's son has been so bad, that his father has stated that several times he has been tempted to take down his gun and shoot him. The great native meeting at Tauranga had just commenced at latest advices; and as all the tribes having any claim on the land will be fully represented, it is to be hoped, that a definitive agreement will be come to, the knowledge of which will prevent the Hau-haus in the interior from interfering with the surveyors.