HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 260, 2 November 1868, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, October 7.

Several Bills were brought up from the other* House, and read a first time. Or Pollen moved that the Council do not agree with the reasons advanced by the House of Representatives for disagreeing with the amendments made by the Council in the Protection of Animals Act Amendment Bill. Agreed to.

Mr Collins brought up the report of the committee on claims for losses sustained through the escape of the Chatham Island prisoners. On Mr Stafford's motion concerning the necessity that Government business take precedence of any other, which Mr Fox opposed, he (Mr 1 Stafford said, speaking of a dissolution—' When the.excitement that hangs over the native question is removed, and the colony is restored to its normal state ot peace, then might be the time to advise a dissolution.' Mr Potts moved ' that it is desirable Government should take steps to ascertain the present condition of the forests of the colony, with a view to their better conservation.** A most interesting debate ensued, and the motion was unanimously agreed to. Mr Stafford agreed to Mr Fox's motion for a 'return of the names of all officers and men of the constabulary force whose commissions have been cancelled or who have been dismissed since the force was raised, and the reasons for such cancellation or dismissal, and the dates thereof.' Mr btafford explained that the word 'calumnious*' used by the Native Minister did not refer to statements made by honorable members, but to what had appeared iu the newspapers. Mr Vogel's motion on Commercial Treaties, by which New Zealand in conjunction with other Australian colonies would be enabled to enter into negociations with the United States for the free admission into that country of wool, the produce of those colonies, was agreed to. Mr Stafford, iu the course of his observations on this subject, said that the Imperial Government had left the colony, in theory, to manage its own affairs, and in practice that theory was never disputed when the colony had to carry a burden, or find the means for doing so; but when the colony asked for the most trifling thing, such as running up a flag on a pole to benefit it, they would not doit. Some time back it was asked that a ship-of-war on this station, lying idle in harbor, might make the survey of a harbor between America and the colonies in the Pacific, and plant the British flag on the island of Opara, the colony paying all expense. The Imperial Government gave a cold red-taps denial, and six weeks afterwards the French flag was hoisted on the island, which was necessary as a coaling station for the steamers between New Zealand and Panama. During Mr Ball's observations on his motion for the establishment throughout New Zealand of a uniform system of primary education, he gave the following facts relative to the cost of education in the various provinces, in 1867. Auckland, £3902 (now 0?); Taranaki, 0; Wellington, £2714 ; Hawke's Bay, £1330 ; Nelson, £5680; Marlborough£l37s(nowO?); Canterbury,£67sl; Otago, £11,698; Southland, 217. The Otago goldfields Representation Bill wa» lost on divisiou by a majority of 14. Messrs Baigent, Parker, and Wells for, Mr Collins against. The Election by Ballot Bill was read a third time and passed. The House went into committee on the Libel Bill, when a motion that the ' Chairman leave the Chair,' was carried by a majority of 2, Mr Collins voted with the noes, being the only Nelson member who voted on the occasion. The Dunedin Waterworks Bill was reported to the House. Several bills were committed, several read a. second time, and the following were read a third time:—lmmigration, Bankruptcy, Marlborough' Reserves, .Municipal Corporation Amendment, Goldmining Claims Drainage.