PARLIAMENT.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6057, 20 May 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(BT TELEGRAPH.) Wellington", May 19. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Buckley presented a paper relative to the leading of special settlements. Mr Swanaon presented a petition from 797 residents of New Zealand cowDlainicg ihat special favors were shown to Cardinal Mnran, and honors heaped upon him bj Government on the occasion of fcha 1 prelate's recent visit to Auckland.. Mr Buckley hoped the petition con^ faiiod nothing of an offensive character flther to the Council or to the holy Roman Empire. Of course the hon. member who presented the petition was responsible for the wording of the document, but he desired that hon. membern should not be placed in a false position. Mr Swanaon replied that he was not aware that the petition contained anything of an offensive character. The Couucil decided that the petition should be road. It complained that a Government steamer had been despatched from Auckland to meet the steamer in which Cardinal Moran arrived at Auckland ; that special favors were shown him, and special honors heaped upon him by the Government, and that upwards of 20 policemen in uniform formed part of the prt^esaion. The petition expressed a hope that as there was no state church in iha colony similar favora should not again be bestowed on any dignitary of any church visiting New Zealand. wlr Buckley considered that as the petition bad been read the names should < a'a") be read. Mr Swanson had no objection to this course being pursued. He believed the signatures were genuine. The motion. for reading the names of the (signatories wra seconded by Colonel Brett, but not put, and tho subject dropped. M> Buckloy gave noh'ce on next day of sitting to mc;e that a Cjmmittee consisting of the Speaker, Measrsß.ullie,Fr»s9r, Roavea, JRoynolds, Colonel Brett, Dr Pollen, and the mover, be appointed to draw up a congratulatory acidre'i to her Majesty the Queen on tho occasion of her Majaaty's jubilee. Mr Buckley introduced the following Eilla, which were read a first time, the second reading being made ordera for Fi-iday next : Defence Act, 1886, and Police Force Act, 1886. The formal presentation of the Addresi-in-Reply to the Governor then took place, and on resuming tbe Council adjourned to Friday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.39 p.m. The Speaker Bald he wished to expre3B to the HouhB bis deep regret at the death cf Sir Thomas Erskine May, news of which had been received by that day's cable. Replying to questions, it waa stated thafc it wa°< hoped that a new Representation Act altogether would not be required, but only to deal witfh those districts where increase of population required it. — That no information had yet beeu received of the eontence of four months' imprisonment of Jno. Gilchrist, at Ashburton, for cruelty to a dog. — That a bill would be introduced empowering tho Native Lands Curt to subdivide landa granted to Maoris in the South Island. — That no tenders had yet been received for leasing the seal fisheries. Several bills wero introduced and read a first time. Sif George Grey moved a eeriea of reßOlutions on the New Hebrides question. In doing so he referred at groat length to the whole matter, and entreated the Houso to take such steps aa would prevent Franco from oblainicg possession of the Islands. Mr Stout defended the action the G >vornment had taken in the matter, s»id said they had repeatedly represented to the JHome Government the necessity of taking some action in the New Habridea question. He said Sir George Grey had uot pursued the proper course in moving his resolution without consulting the Gjyernraent, He also aeked the Houae to consider what effect the resolutions just moved by Sir George Grey would have on Lord Granville, especially as Sir George Grey had an old feud with Lord Granville, and had just referred to that gentlemen as a trickster. He moved as an amendment that a Committee be appointed to canaider what action New Zsalaud should pursue on the New Hebrides question. JVI&j jr Atkinson said ha hoped Sir George Grey would withdraw his resolutions till more information was obtained. He would never be a party to bartering tho New Hebridea for any other islands. Meisra D^wnie Stewart, Macandrew, Montgomery, and Baetham, also spoke on the question. The debate waa interrupted by tho 5 30 p.m. adjournment. The House raaumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Hobbs regretted that any party feeling had be^n imported into the matter. Mr Fisher thought Sir George Grey waß entitled to great credit for bringing tha matter forward. If he wont to a vote on the question he would support him. After Borne desultory discussion, Mr Dargaville moved tho adjournment of the llonae. This waa negatived. The Premier thou withdrew hia nruendmenr, and Sir George Groy hits motion, the litter explaining his roferoncj to Lord Granville aa a protest against the colonists boiug influenced by the frovrna of furoign Btatosmen. The Premier gave notice of motion 'q move to-morrow for a committee to consider tha whole question in relation lo New Zealand -wid the Pacific lalands, Tho Lost Debentures Bill wa9 road a second time, and the Houaa adjourned at 8.30 p.m.