HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Tuesday, July 17.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 123, 27 July 1866, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Tuesday, July 17.

Mr. Stafford moved that his Excellency be prayed to issue a writ for a new election for Mount Herbert. Papers were laid on the table, showing returns of gold exported in 1865-66, and of number and names of natives killed at Opotiki within ten days of the arrival of the troops there. In reply to a question from Major Richardson, Mr. Stafford stated that the Government had no intention of bringing in any general measure, with regard to the establishment of municipalities, during the present session. Mr. Stafford pointed out the obstacles which have prevented the Comptroller's Act of last session, being brought into operation. The present Government would have to ask the House to legalize the expenditure by three Governments. Mr. Stafford informed Mr. Haughton that the Go-r vernment could not promise to give any retrospective action to the remission of the duties upon mining machinery and railway iron, as it would very much disturb the calculations of the Treasurer. The House then proceeded to the election by ballot of an Audit Committee. On the ballot papers being scrutinised, it was found that Messrs. John Williamson, Curtis, and Haughton were elected. The Speaker appointed Mr. J. Williamson chairman. Mr. Stafford, in reply to a question put on a previous occasion said that the Government would introduce a bill to permit of distilleries being established in five of the principal towns of the Colony. It was not, however, without great doubt on fiscal grounds that the Government did so. Mr. Whitaker moved that the House go into Committee on the Indictable Offences Bill, and explained the principles of it. He said that its object was to remedy certain defects in Jervis' Acts, which only gave power to magistrates to commit within thenown provinces, although they were anomalously appointed Justices of Peace for the colony. There was the. same error with regard to the Supreme Court ■ Act, which only gave power to judges of the colony to try cases within their. own districts. It was also intended to assimilate the power of' changing the venue in criminal cases to that in civil cases, and the Bill was drafted on- an Act in force in England, which was introduced there in consequence of the celebrated Palmer case, with which hon. members would be familiar." These were the three chief alterations in the law proposed, but he would be happy to^ give any further information if required, and he would now propose that the House go into Committe on the bill. Mr. Stafford seconded the motion, and the House resolved itself into Committee of the whole. The bill was considered in- committee, and 'clause 4 amended so as to give power, to Justices of the Peace to commit prisoners to a court in any part of the colony. ... The bill was then reported to the House, and the

amendment ordered to "be taken into consideration next day. ;■ '"'■*' ; The Partnership Law Amendment Bill and the .'^presentation,. Act Amendment Bill werel read a .second time. ' • ' ■ .' ; • The Districts Courts Bill j. to extend the j urisdiction .'t'o,i?2sd, was read'a /second time. The Criminal Law Procedure Bill, the Provincial Compulsory Land Taking Bill, and the Gold-Fields Act Amendment-Bill-,-were^read a second time. On the House resolving: itself into committee, to consider the expediency of authorising Government to make a. contract for the:reporting and "printing the debates nTbotb. Houses of,the Assembly, oh the basis set. forth in- the report, of the select committee upon reporting .debates, Mr. Fitzgerald moved; That a contract be entered into on the-basis of the report. He showed the importance of having the debates properly reported, said there was.a permanent Government staff in. Victoria, and in England the reports were collated from the morningcpapers. It was a part aud parcel of constitutional Government that there should be such a record. , -••;.- . ° •:■■■-'- A long debate ensued,, during which Mr;" Stafford stated"that he should vote for the motion, as an experiment. ■ : Mr. Macandrew thought local enterprise should do the work.. .. .: ; .■,: ■. . Mr. Reynolds proposed an amendment, that it vas inexpedient, in the: present financial position of the colony, to pledge the. Government to so large an expenditures an experiments ■ ■ ■ ■ On a division the ayes were 22, and the noes 36. On the amendment being put, Major Richardson said that he had another amendment to propose in lieuof Mr. -Reynolds' amendment. The amendment he had to propose was—That for the present session there he offered a subsidy to Messrs. McKenzie and Bull, equal to the salary of six reporters, for a period of three months, and notexceedceeding £3Q or j£+o per .week, on condition of their reporting the debates of the legislature in a form to be'decided on by the Government. The House again divided on Major Richardson's amendment, as follows: —Ayes, 25; Noes, 33. Mr. Fitzgerald said that.as the two former resolutions had,been..-negatived,-he would suggest the propriety of. negativing- Mr.. Reynolds? amendment, so as hot to leave a record on the books of the House, of the colony being unable to afford to pay £1500 for such an object ;as this. , He, would move that the Chairman/do leave the chair. Mr! Reynolds had no objection to allow his amendment to lapse. - , ' The amendment therefore lapsed.