NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 125, 30 July 1866, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wednesday, July 18. Mr. Vogel presented a petition from the proprietors of the Bank of N. S. Wales', complaining of an Act of last session. Mr. M'Lean presented a petition from the natives of Poverty Bay and Waiupu, requesting annexation to Hawke's Bay. Mr. Stafford complained that petitions on private grievances could not be considered unless the Government recommended them. The Speaker said his ruling had been given in accordance with Parliamentary practice Mr. Stafford stated, in reply to Mr. Campbell, that it was the hope of the Government to see the Lands Registry Act, 1860, extended all over the colony; and that it was. the intention of the Government to in - troduce a registration Act during the present session. The Arms Act Continuance Bill and the Indemnity Act Bill were read a first time. Leave was given to introduce the Adulteration Bill and the Fraudulent Making of Merchandise Bill. It was ordered that there be iaid on the table a return showing how the interest and sinking fund upon moneys raised under the Three Million Loan Act was borne by the several provinces of the colony, during ' the year ended 30th June, 1866. The amendments made in committee, in the Indictable Offences Bill, were agreed to, and the bill was read a third time and passed. The Military Pensions Bill was read a second time. The amount of pensions ahead paid is £2206. European officers and men £736, Native do. £273, widows and families £217, temporary. pensioners £279. The Building and Land Societies Bill was read a second time. - Several Bills were considered in committe. The Law of Partnership Bill, and the Commercial Law Procedure Bill-were read a third time and passed. Thursday, Jdly 19. ■ Mr. Stafford, in reply to questions, stated that Gc•vernment had a bill, concerning Provincial Audit at present under consideration. . In reference to compensation, to friendly natives <

Mr. .Stafford said, the Government would not; receive any: special "claims for compensation from natives unless the claim-, had .been already judicially proved. Mr. Hall moved, : That in the opinion of this House the absence of an efficient machinery for the administration of the jurisdiction of the Court of ViceAdmiralty in, the s3verarproyinces..is7a source of great inconvenience and injury Jo Her Majesty's subjects within this colony: That the Government be requested to take, with as little delay as possible, such steps as will enable the Judges of the Supreme Court within each province* to exercise such- jurisdiction. Mr. Stafford said that .the Government recognised the necessity, of .some, such step as. this, and had drawn the attention of the ..Secretary of State, to it. . After .one or two other remarks the motion was carried. After a discussion, a motion of Mr. Stafford's for the appointment of a committee to consider and report on designs for a new chamber, was carried. Mr. Macandrew carried the following .motion :— That the order of reference to the Select Committee on the Gold-fields Acts be extended as follows : — And that inasmuch as the administration of the Goldfields has been delegated to Provincial Executives* the committee be further instructed to consider and report as to whether the power of legislation might not also with advantage.be- extended to Provincial Legislatures ; or whether the administration as well as the legislation ought not to be in the hands of the General Government. The Legislative Council having passed the Sale of Poisons Bill, it was read a first time. The Newcastle Crown Grants Validation Bill, the Arms Act Continuance- Bill, and Friendly Natives Contract Confirmation Bill, were read a second time. Fjriday, July 20. Mr. Stafford said that the Government would recognise the claim- of the Bank of New South Wales, but the how and the when required grave consideration, because the .Government had not determined that the colony should pay the debts of Southland to the bank, unless it was agreed that the Provincial- and General Governments' debts, should be consolidated. He thought the bank should have an opportunity of coming in under the Act, and being paid by instalments like.-the other creditors. Mr. Stafford informed Mr. Graham that the Government would assist any member in drawing a bill to protect birds and other animals! In reference to the Post-office Savings Bank Act, 1865, Mr. Paterson informed Mr. Hall that the arrangements for carrying out the Act were nearly complete, and Savings Banks would be started in some of the larger Post-offices within a month by way of experiment, previously to their introduction all over the country. Clause 7 was expunged from the Districts Courts Bill, on the ground that it would give a too extended jurisdiction to the court in criminal cases, such as burglary, horse stealing, and sheep stealing. The Indemnity Bill and the Adulteration of Food Bill were read a second time. It was ordered that returns be laid upon the table of the expenses of the General Government Printing Office, from the Ist July, 1865, to the 30th June, 1866. It was ordered that a copy of Major Fraser 's despatch, 2 ist November, 1865, and a return of the number of Maories transported to the Chatham Islands, be laid upon the table. It was ordered that there be laid upon the table of the House, all correspondence connected with the asserted defalcation in the accounts of the late Queen's bailiff and sheriff of Dunedin, Mr. Foreman. Mr. Dick introduced a bill, which was read a first time, to consolidate and amend the law relating to the waste lands of the Province of Otago.