General Assemly of NEw Zealand.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 899, 1 October 1866, Page 5

General Assemly of NEw Zealand.

HOUSE OP HEPUESENTATIVES THURSDAY", SEPTEMBER 20. Tho SpEAicEit took tho chair at 2 o'clock.

-PETITION'. Mr. Bkyce presented a petition from John McGregor, of Wangnnui, stating that the petitioner had sustained losses during the native war in 1847, and had been engagod as guide to the troops for six months. He therefore prayed for compensation. llio Hon. £. \V. Staitoki), on behalf of the Government, rocommended tho petition, arid it was ordered to lie on the table.

- I'ANASTA bkuvice. Mr. Reynolds, without notice, asked when the Wot eminent pi oposed, aud in what shape, to bring on the question raited by tho Government of Newmi ir ,"' reference to the Panama Service ? tton- -Toiin Hai/l, in reply, said that the Government had no occasion to bring on the question. t Mas a matter which tho Government had considered very carefully, not only tho correspondence tlist hurt taken place between the New Zealand and fliow South Wales Governments, referred to by tho lion, meinbor, but all correspondence that had taken place. Ihe Government had no intontion of opposing the claim of New South Wales that Sydney should bo uiado tho terminus of tho lino.

MEETING 01' TIIE AS3RMHT.Y. Mr. Kr.YNOi.Ds, without notice, begged leave to " 10 T°.—" Xhat, in tho opinion of this House, it is not desirable to extend the appropriation beyond the oulh June JBG7; and this Houso hereby protests against the introduction of snch a clause into tho Appropriation Act."

The question being put, whether tho lion, member should have leave to bring forward his motion it was decided in tho negative. Mr. Hkv.vqlii.s then gave notice that ho would bring forward .hi- motion next day. DEIiTOKS AND CButhtdus ACT, l'ho Hon. E. \V. Staffoud movca,—"Wor leave | to bring in a Bill intituled 4An Act for further Amending tho Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Act, 186_>, and Amending tho .Debtor# and Creditors Act Amendment Act, 1805." Leave given ; tho Bill was brought in and . rend a first time ; second reading waa fixed for next ! day. POSTPONEMENT. Several notices of motion were postponed. LAND OUIIF.R IN- TAHANMvI. Tho Hon. J. P. JRicjimo.vi) moved, —For leave to bring in a Bill to enable tho lioldars of certain land orders to select land in tho province of Taranuki." Leavo wis given ; tho Bill brought up, read a first time, and ordered to bo printed. Second reading was fixed for tho next day. HUIIOI'SAN" AND NATIVE CASES. Mr. Cai/rton moved—" For a return in continuation of Rntum IX, No, 10, Appendix to Journals of tho Hi - 1863, of all cases between ifiuropeane uud N..: ; i tried in tho Native Resident Magistrates and Wir.j Circuit Courts in tho Districts ot tho Bin Islands and Mongonui, Circuit Court cases. IIAWKES BAY lASII LAWS. I Mr. Dillon Bell, in tho absence of Mr. Ormond, moved —" For leave to bring in a Bill to extend the' operation of tho Land Laws of th<i Province of llawkcs Bay to land acquired or horeafter to be acquired under "Tho Native Lands Act.", 1805." Leavo was given, the Bill brought up, read a first time, and ordered to bo printed. Second readiog waß fixod for Monday noxt. AUCKLAND ItBSRIIVKS ACT. Mr. Wiutakek moved, " For leavo to bring in a Bill intituled 'An Act to repeal tho Auckland Reserves Act, 180*.' " Leavo wa9 given, tho Bill brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be printed. « Second rending was fixod for Monday next. THE MANiWATU. Mr. Fitzgehai.b in moving,—" For eopios of any correspondence on the subject of tho state of affairin the Mauawatu sinco tho date of the last oorres pondence, siid ho brought his motion forward to obtain some information from tho Government on the subject, and to obtain an assurance from thom that a breach of th o peaeo would not take place in rospect of the purchase of the Manawatu. He did not for a moment think that n goneral war would bo restored, but if any obstaclo wore thrown in tho way of tlio natives in establishing their rights in tho Bupreme Court, it would tend to alienate them, and l)e productive of very ovil cffect*. Reports were now in circulation to tho cffcct that tho natives had boon interfered with by persons in tho employ of tho Government, and ho would liko to know whether , such assertions were correct.

Tho lion. J. 0. RiCHJto.vi) assured tho hon. gentlemen that tho Government would take care that no ntitivo who had any claim would he obstructed in any way in bringing his claim before the Supremo Court. Tho Hon. Mr. Stafford Bait] that before his Excellency tho Governor would bo advised to issue a proclamation extinguishing tho native (itlo in the Manawatu, tho Government would find out whether mutters had been arranged to the satisfaction of the natirca intcreatoL J After some little discussion, tlia motion was put and agreed to. THE ABAWA TRIBE. Mr. G-eoiige Gkaiiam moved, "That the petition of Poiliipi Tnkairangi and other chiefs of tho Aruwa tribe, bo ordered to be printed." Agreed to. THE NORTITERK ISLAND. Mr. "Whitakbu, aftjr reiterating the opinion that ho had givon utterance to whon tho subject of the annexation of Poverty Bay was brought forward, moved—"That leave bo givon to bring in a Bill to divide tho Northern Island of Now Zealand into two provinces." Tho Hon. Major Richardson thought that at this late stage of tho Session a question of such great importance should not bo introduced. After some discussion as to the propriety of bringing forward motionß of such a nature at the ond of tho Session. I Tho question was put and declared to be lost on , the voices. j A division was called for with tho following resul£: i —Ayeß, 22 j noes, 33. WAIKATO MILITARY SETTLERS. Mr. Nkwman moved, —" That in tho opinion of tin's House, tho Waikato Military Settlers shouid 1 have the opportunity of bringing their claims for back pay hoforo tho Supremo Court without any special obstruction boipg imposed by the Crown." The motion, on boing put, was negatived on a division. Ayes, 21 j Noes, 30. POSTAGE. Tho resolution of tho Committee of tho wholo House in reference to the imposition of rates of poatago was reported 'UP'*- 0 ' 1 Tho hon. Mr. Hall brought up a Bill in conformity with tho resolutions. j Bill read a first time. | ATTOHNE Y-OENERAL HILL. Tho Hon. Mr. Hall, in moving the second reading of this Bill, explained that its object was to render it unnecessary that tho Attorney-Genoral should be considered a political officer. Mr. Dillon Bell callod attention to a difficulty that was likely to arise if a certain clause should be allowed to pass. From time to time questions arose which required answers from a rosponoiblo Ministor, but if the clause ho alluded to were passed, the Attorney-Gener.il would not bo allowed to hold a seat in either House, Mr. Brandon thought the Attorney-General should bo a political office. Mr. Reynolds remarked that tho Attorney-General should ho paid a salary of £2,000 or £5,000 a-year, and that he should not take part in any legal proceeding, aB betweon private parties. After a few remarks from the Hon. E.W. Stafford, the Bill was read a second time. AUCKLAND WASTE LANDS AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill wa9 considered in Committee, and reported with amendments. TITS TELEGRAPH. Mr. Bell called attention to the delay that arose in tho transmission of messages by telegraph. A message had been dolivered at Dunodin at 3.20 p.m., and he had receive:! it at 10 p.m. Mr. Hai/l oxplained that the amount of bu ness was greatly in oxcess of what was anticipated. Tho Government were at prosent making arrangements to havo tho staff increased. ways and means. The Houbo wont into Committee of Ways and Meanß to consider tho following resolution :—" That it i 3 expedient to imposoa duty on spirits manufactured within tho Colony, find for that purpose to amend tho Distillation Prohibition Ordinance." The pleasure which thq Government intended tQ

introduce would bo merely a temporary one. Xt would be necessary to confino distilleries to where tliey could be looked after; and it was not to ho. supposed that small bush distilleries could be established. The amount of duty proposed to be gall 64 ° n SpiritS distillod in tlle Colony was 8s per The resolution was agreed to and reported. Xho House thon adjourned at 10 65 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21.' i ho &PKAKETI took the Chair at 2 o'clock. PETITION*. Mr. Beattchasit presented a petition from certain ' .\ orß ' n the Province of Marlborough, complaining ot tho frequent changes of Buperiutendents, and praying that something might be dono to remedy tho grievance.

taeanaki ieon sand. Mr. John Williamson asked leave to put a question to the Ohairmm of the Committee oil the raranaki Ironsand Petition, ffe had been requested to a«k the hon. gentleman whether the remarks in the report brought up respecting the leasee, had reference to that gran od by the General Government, or to those granted by the Provincial Government of 1 aranaki.

Mr. O'Rohkr replied that tho report of the Committee had reference to the lease granted by the General Government, and not to the leases granted by tho Taranaki Provincial Government.

Jt T lttEß LAW CONSOLIDATION BILL. The Hon. J. Hall moved the second reading of this Bill, explaining that the object of it was to consolidate the existing Acts relating to Juries, and make a few amendments in the lawMr. J. O'Neill asked, whether it was intended to make some payment to petty and coroners* juries. Mr. Dick suggested that a clause should be inserted to exempt the servants of the Provincial Governments, or, at any rate, fcJio heads of departments from serving on juries as well as the servants of the General Government.

Mr. Cakleton opotro. against the payment of jurors, on the ground that, it was a duty they owod. to the country to servo on juries. Tho Hon. John Ham, saitl that the Bill did not propose to pay Coroner's Jurics, but it did propose to pay something toiurors attending the quarterly sittings of the Supremo Court. The hon. member B^i 1 aUW more ren *arks on the objects of the

The second reading was agreed to. MfBLIIOHOUGK "WASTE LANDS BILL. This Bill was furthor considered in Committee. TREASURY BILLS HILL. Tho Houso went into Committee on the motion of ho Hon. W. FirzHHRBST, to consider of leave being given to bring in a Bill raising tha sum of £150,000 by Treasury Bills. After a few remarks from the Colonial Treasurer urging that the Bill should be read a first time that day, to which Mr. Fjtzoeuald replied, deprecating such a course, leave was given to bring in tho Bill; tho House resumed, and the Bill was read a first time.' AUCKLAND LOAN, Tho following Bill was also brought in and read a first timo: —A Bill to panction a certain Loan proposed to be raised by the Superintendent of Auokland. WELLINGTON LOAN. The following Bill was brought in and read a first timo : —A. Bill to Banction a certain "Loan proposed to bo raised by tho Superintendent of Wellington. ADJOUENMKNT. The Hon. Mr. Stafford moved—" That tho House at its rising at liolf-past five, adjourn till Monday next." On tho question being put, the Houso divided. Ayes, 25 ; noes, 20. Tho Houso adjourned at half-past five.