HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 51, 26 June 1858, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, April 29. t Present : Tho Speaker and sixteen members. Mr. East inquired of the Colonial Secretary if it A were the intention of Government to introduce any E measure for legalising distillation of spirits ; a measure j which he considered would prove to be of the utmost ( benefit to the agricultural interests of New Zealand. j Mr. Stafford replied, that Government had no < intention to bring in such a bill. \ Mr. East intimated that he would move for leave to bring in a bill for legalizing distillation. Mr. Stafford moved that the "Sheriffs and '_ Gaolers Bill" be read a second time. Upon which t some little discussion ensued, several honourable t members being desirous of postponing the question to \ give the matter more consideration. Messrs. Ollivier r _ and Hall thought that the custody of criminals, c without much better provision made, ought not to devolve upon the provinces, but that some central establishment for convicts should be provided by the General Government, leaving minor offenders to be dealt with by the provincial authorities. After some l further argument, Mr. Carleton moved an adjournment of the debate. Motion negatived, and bill read a second time and ordered to bo committed next Wednesday. " 1 Tuesday, May 4. j Present : The Speaker and seventeen members. 1 Captain Symond«, having been introduced by Messrs. j Stafford and Bcckham, took the oatli and his seat as a ] member for the Pensioner Settlements. ' The "Bishop of New Zealand's Bill," having been ' presented by Messrs. Swainson and Tancred, on behalf of the Legislative Council, was received and read a first time. Mr. Stafford laid on tho table— Correspondence between Mr. Sewell and tho Government relative to the New Zealend Loan ; Correspondence relative to ths appointment of Judges ; Statistics of New Zealand between the years 1853 and 1856, making honourable mention of Dr. Bennett, Registrar-General, for the vory careful and efficient manner in which he had prepared them. Mr. Ollivier asked the Colonial Secretary whether Government proposed to bring forward any measure for increasing the efficiency of the constabulary, and rendering the force applicable to the colony at large. Mr. Richmond said a limited number of police would be provided, and also a petty sessions police for the country districts. Mr. Ollivier asked the Colonial Secretary if Government intended to make any provision for a central House of Correction. It. was, he thought, necessary to separate offenders who were sentenced to a lengthened period of imprisonment from those confined for minor offences. * Mr. Richmond replied, that the Government had not come to any decision on the subject. It was one which was under consideration. Mr. Brodie asked the Colonial Secretary whether any land or other property belonging to Mr. Blackmore, late Sub- Collector of Customs at Nelson, had been made over to Government. Mr. Stafford, a 9 Superintendent of Nelson, haS drawn the attention of "the General Government to Mr. Blackmore's case. Goods belonging to Mr. Blackmore had been sold for the sum of £260, and also certain allotments in the township of Nelson, but that portions of the land had been reserved for public purposes. Mr. Brodie, pursuant to notice, moved on address to tho Governor, to obtain from the Superintendent of Auckland the correspondence and documents relative to the appointment of Mr. Wayland ns Clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court, tho late Census, and the issue of the Binary Writs. On the motion of Mr. RicnMOND, the house went into committee on the amendments made in the "Interpretation Bill" by the Legislative Council. Two of those amendments were adopted ; but on the third, a conference with the Council was requested. The "Bankers', Draft Bill" was read a second time; when, some little discussion having taken place, it was resolved to refer it to a Committee on some future day. The "The Boundaries of Provinces Bill" was read a third time, passed, and transmitted to the Legislative Council for their concurrence ; as were likewise the "Absent Debtors Bill," "Unstamped Instruments Bill," and Absent Defendants Bill." On the motion of Mr. Ollivier, the petition of J. P. Robinson and others, in reference to the case of L. Berlowitz, was ordered to be referred to the Committee on private grievances. Tho house then adjourned.

Wednesday, May 5. Present : The Speaker and eighteen members. Mr. Stafford laid several papers on the table viz : — 1. A petition to his Exf ellency and the House of Assembly from the Bettlcrs of Murihika. 2. Copy of declarations and documents transmitted by the Resident Magistrate to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Auckland, for the information of his honour the Chief Justice, on the 11th March, 1858. 3. Papers relative to thelate Acukland City Council, — by coJnmand of his Excellency. 4. Returns of the quantity and estimated value of the gold-dust exported from New Zealand, to the 31st March, 1858. G. Copies of all correspondence relative to the dissolution of the late Provincial Council ;of Auckland, other than that published in the Government Gazette. Mr. Stafford moved for leave to bring in a Bill for taking an account of the population of New Zealand. It was impossible under the system hitherto pursued to obtain returns with sufficient accuracy. Mr. Richmond seconded the motion. The Bill was then read a first time and ordered to be printed. Mr. Daldy moved, that it is desirable this house should, without further delay, have placed before it, a statement of the financial policy and estimates of the proposed expenditure of the Government. The hou3e had been in session for three weeks, and many bills had been brought forward, and yet honourable members were left completely in the dark as to the financial policy intended be pursued by the Government. Mr. Richmond in answer, reminded the honourable member that it was first necessary that the house should know what they were going to do before the question of expenditure could be entered upon. With regard to the supplementary estimates to be placed upon the tab]^, he (Mr. Richmond) must plead a personal excuse for the delay.' the'burden of Ms duties, besides attendance jupon committees, his health'-'hacTsomewhat failed. Mr. "Hall thought it was !high time the home should be put in possession of the intended financial policy. Mr. Carleton felt, bound to support the opinion of the honourable member for Christchurch country district, ne believed the present ministry to be hard working, and anxious to perform their duties conscientiously—reticence tvas their only fault. Mr. FoRSAiTn foresaw that much inconvenience might arise if the financial policy were laidjbefore the house at so early a period, and under present circumstances. Mr. Olltvter fully agreed will Mr. Hall that the time had arrived for a definite explanation of financial matters, for most of the Bills before the house referred to Provincial ''matters, and those who had Provincial interests to watch over, were naturally anxious to know at once what part of the scheme referred to the Provincial revenue. He hoped the Government would not lay itself open to some significant norn de guerre, which so many other ministries had provoked. One had been styled the " cuff and collar mintstry ;" another the " half-crown ministry ;" he hoped the present Government would not be characterized as the " bit by bit ministry." After some further discussion, the question was put and passed. Mr. East moved an address to his Excellency tho Governor, praying that he may cause such sum to be placed on the Estimates as may be sufficient to provide the New Plymouth Battalion of Militia with two field-pieces and' 300 Enfield rifles. There was no knowing when the militia at New Plymouth might be called into action, and he (Mr. East) thought that they should be well armed. Mr. Stafford said that Enfield rifles had been sent for from England, and were now on their way out. He (Mr. Stafford) would remark that this was another objection that might be urged against bringing forward the financial policy at so early a period of the session. A very strong remonstrance was sent home last May, with regard to providing adequate military defences for the colony, and no reply as yet received ; if that application were negatived, it might occur, even during the hst two or three days of the session, that most important items of military expenditure would be brought under consideration. The house then proceeded to tho orders ,of the day. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Coroners Bill were agreed to. The report of the committee on the Wool and Oil Securities Bill having been adopted, it was read a third time and passed. The Foreign Seamen Bill was also read a third time and passed. The house then adjourned. Thursday, May 6. There not being a quorum present, tho house was adjourned till Tuesday. Tuesday, May 11. Present : The Speaker and 18 members. Mr. Richmond, with reference to tho financial statement, intimated that it was originally the intention of the Government to divide it into two parts—retrospective and prospective. It wos impossible to place it before the house immediately, as, being a matter of facts and figures, it required careful preparation ; but it was their intention with the least possible delay to bring forward a full statement of tho financial position of tho country. The house then proceeded to tho orders of the day, the first of which was the second reading of the Census Mr. Stafford said that ths idea of this Bill was suggested from the defective character of the statistical statements recently placed upon the table of the house. Without some such machinery as that provided in the present measure, no accurate or reliable statistical records could be obtained. Means similar to those proposed had been adopted in England find some continental countries with the greatest success, securing voluminous and important information. The Bill was read a second time, and advanced a stage in committee. A deputation from the Legislative Council, consistin" of the Attorney-General and Mr. Cutfield, was announced, and presented a Bill to provide for tho Payment of Costs in Proceedings instituted on the part of the Crown ; also a Bill to provide for raising a Militia within the Colony, with amendments ; also a Bill to regulate the Execution of Criminals; These billa were read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time next sitting day. The Sheriffs and Gaolers Bill, the New Zealand Posts Bill, the Customs Regulation Bill, and the Election Writs Bill, were advanced in committee ; and the house adjourned. » A Good Test of Patience.— A man who can have his corns mashed without grumbling is undoubtedly possessed of a tolerably good disposition. One man, being once at a political meeting, said, in a pleasant manner, to a big burley fellow who was standing upon his toe, "My dear sir, are you not a miller ?" No, sir ; why do you ask ?" " Why, sir, the fact is, I thought \ou were a miller, and a very honest one, too, because you have been grinding my corns this half-hour, without taking toll." Imagination.— Thomas Fuller relates a cunou3 incident, which is truly characteristic! :— A gentleman, he says, having led a company of children beyond the usunl journey, they began to be weary, and jointly cried to him to carry them ; which, because ot thenmultitude, he could not do, but he told them he would provide them with horses to ride on. Then cutting them little wands out of the hedge, as nags for them, and a lar^e one for himself, they mounted, and those who could scarcely stand before, now, full of mirth, bounded cheerfully home. Medical Uses of Salt.— ln many cases ot disordered stomach, a teaspoonful of salt is a certain cure for cholic. Put a teaspoonful of salt in a pirt of cold water, drink it, and then go to bed. The same will relieve a person who has had a heavy fall. In an apoplectic fit, no time should be lost in pouring down salt and water, if the patient can swallow ; if not, the head must bo sponged well with cold water until the senees return, when salt will completely restore the. patient from lethargy. Salt will expel worms if used in food in moderate quantities. It aids digestion. Muoh Bait meat te injurioup. '