GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4668, 30 October 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSS r OF REPRESENTATIVES; [press agency.] Government Buildings, Wellington, Saturday. ; THE COUNTIES BILL. . i The House resumed last night at 7.30, on the cbrisidefeation of the amendments made in the Counties Bill by the Legislative Council. Some were agreed to, and others not, and many'were appointed to confer with the other House. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. I The amendments made in the Publio Works Bill by the Council were agreed to.' BAN FRANCISCO" MAIL SERTICB.- j The appointed debate on the San Francisco mail service was resumed. i Mr, SHEEHAN amoved to add the following "to Mr. SteVens's motion, " And jih''tfte orcub of t»Uo contractor* electing to call at Auckland, and .desiring to d;ooon«»*.«, iko coatital service, that they be permitted to do so on making further reductions of £4000 from the snbsidy payable to them, the two colonies in such case undertaking to provide for thit service at their joint expense." i A sharp discussion took place, Mr. REYNOLDS 'insisting-that the company, should be bound to distribute the mails even if they used smaller boats. ; . Mr. STAFFORD argued that the resolution, as amended,' was in effect 'the same as the telegram proposed by Mr. Whilaker. . Mr. G. M LEAN pointed out Chat the convenience of passengers should be considered, and-that the New Zealand Government were entitled to say to New South Walee, "You must come to Auckland." Mr. WHITAKKB. spoke at considerable length, denning the amendment, and denying that the amended resolution was the same as his telegram. The - hon. gentleman' then went on to shew the inconvenient and unfortunate position passengers would be placed in if they were landed at the Bay at Islands; that in itself was one of the best arguments in favour of calling at Auckland, leaving it for the Government to make their own arrangements for the distribution of the mails. He had been told that £5000 would not be enough to cover the cost of distributing the mails, but he had the word of the manager for the Union Company that the mails could be distributed along the Weet Coast for £5000 ayear, while he said they could not be distributed .on the, Bast Coast way foe less than £12,000 a-year, because there would be insufficient employment for the steamers on that line of traffic. His own private opinion was that-unless they made some .concession the service would be abandoned. Mr. BURNS said the hon. gentleman wan treating the, question like a special pleader, not like a Postmaster-General. If the con tractors were to be allowed to depart' from their contract, the. colony ought to be compensated. . : The question was then put that the words proposed to be added (Sheehan's amendment) be so added. A division then took place, with the following result: —

Ayes (42). Mr. Atkinson Mr. Larnach Mr. Baigeul Mr. Lumsden Mr. Barff Mr. Minders Mr. Bowod Mr. O. McLean Mr. Brandon Mr. Nalie ; Mr. Hruca Mr. O'Eorko Mr. Bunny Mr. Hearce Mr. Carrington Mr.Pyka . Mr. Cnrtio ' Mr. Rees Mf.'JDlghan Mr. Richardson Bir R. Dougtaa Mr. Kow» Mr. Globs V Mr. Seymour ■ ' ; 81r G. Grey Mr. Sharp ' Mt Hau-.lia Mr. Sheehan (teller) Mr. Hlalop . Mr. Swanson Mr. Hunter ' ' Mr. Takamdana Mr. Hurethouae Mr.-TaWitl ■ Mr. Johnston Mr. Tola , Mr, Joyce ••'. ■: iir.Tribei. Mr. Kelly (teller) Mr. Whitakar Mr. Kennedy Mr. Woolcbck. . Nous (28. Mr. Andrew Mr. Kejd Mr. J. O. Grown (teller) Mr. Bernoldi ■ Mr. Borne (teller) Mr. Kolleeton Mr. I'e Lmutour Mr. Seaton ,, Mr. Fisher Mr. SUffqrd Mr. Mr. BteTene ■ Mr. Harp r Mr. Taiaroa.' i Mr. Kenny Mr. Tnechemaker Mr. Montgomery Mr. Thomson ' ! Mr. Marray-Aynaley Mr. Wason ~ - Mr. Orihund . Mr, W. Wood : Mr. Sheehan's amendment.waa therefore carried, and the resolution ae amended was agreed t0.,-.-., , ;- , ■ .-,■ ... . .■.:,■:■ .: v: f Amongst .the,-noes • were .1.0 ..Canterbury members, 9 Otdgb.'l 'H&WHe'a'Bij, 1 Marlborough, and 1-Wellington'.'' /' .' j_, ~ ■ OiMS<J,O4iIPiqATIO%ACT NO. 2. r ,, . I ' The disqualification Act No. 2, was brought down T; From tne"Council' with the 6th a«atibfi amen3ed,;so.tha£mo nrember >f either Houee or of. a , Prorincial oould be able to "take an office under the Grovernment. :r / ; i- ( l ,t..n"7/>0 After a good deaj of! objection,was taken, and .the amendment was agree d to by 31 ag^nst^fc.' , '' A ™ -^^f The amendmentti maSq iir to bill by the Legislative Council were agreed to.

THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The remainder of the sitting was occupied in discussing the supplementary estimates.

A great many reductions were made, 1 .All the ohargM on the consolidated funa and the Auckland services were passed. T Law and justice was reduced from £19,470 to £17,970. J The compensation to the Inspector of LuTiatio Asylums was reduced by £1400. The bonus to the Colonial Architect (£500) was struck off by 26 to 24. f A long and animated discussion ensueA upon the allowance to Sir Julius Vogel fo • service in England, £2750. It was strut; out by 21> against 21. | ufAlfcXO ft Dlllfle Mr. SHEEHAN said it looked much, lik i bribery. A motion to strike it out was negatived. Mr. MONTGOMERY wanted it reduced 5 per cent, to shew the sense of the House, and this was also negatived. The House sat till 2.30 this morning, and will meet again at eleven this morning. ,- v Bm,B t. i : The 'Auckland Beach TLosd Grants Bill No. 2, was passed. | ' Sir Robert Douglas's Crown Grants Bill passed. ! Saturday, j The Honip, met., at- eleven o'clock this mornfug. •'■' j: MNISTBRIAI. CHANGES. In L-eply to Mr. Motuuly, I • Tho PREMIER said, regarding the Ministerial changes during the recess, that the Native t.Minister .and ;;Mininter,r.of ojßublio Works would retire, and one of these port folios would be taken by Mr. Ormond. tho other gentlein-;a would be was not yet deeded. 1 ! ' J -.3efowj i going l of-' ■Mr. MONTGOMERY moved that £50,000 s'hosld be appropriated fo; the erection of cohool builduigs thronghout the colony. | ■ TheFßEMlEßopposed, Hesaidthemillion was to be borrdweafofexoertwn specified purposea, and that was no time to make such a change in its application, even if it were posaible to take such a train out of the million. He asked that the motion stand over till Mr. SHEEHANand Sir GEOItGirGREY' supported the motion, which was agreed to' on the voices. am G. ORE? AND THE GOVERNOR. ' Sir_GEORGE GREY raised a question of ■ privaegf, bdeed on ; fHe JacViihat ? tfie'«ovßrf < nor's Private Secretary had informed him by' lefcfcpr that the Governor would not forward more correspondence C6"r medications Tisiess furnished rs' iripEc&te :.".•» trgued considerable leng ,i. against s: ;'■ jl«.te a rule,. eud which he hiul never enfo- ;■ -i *•' iring the' tiwenty-su: yef jb hfljeaa Govic.- :-a At the ' j«arliest neii tf ;■. j.ok he would bring the mati.fr before the House. fIAPTATW T>UA DON'S ITATTO 1..HC1 OT.ATM.

■ Mr. TOLiS if ! secl'ithe ( had any obj;c';ion. to'appbfut a commission to inquire into tho Piako land claim of Mr. George I Hβ pointod out; that the lace Attorney-Ccftieral ytive it ait his opinioh tliatthe clf\iraVaiflfair,"i..ft* ; E>.' McLean had said the and that the Premier hueself ha<? said tl r>t there seen' ad to b: u grievaniM7. Sir. ieadon bad not been il-lowed-'to'appsatl} a-'person «r by «onciix>r before the Public Petitions Committee, and tho Government should settle the matter by referring it to an impartial commission of enquiry during the recess, sby>whose decision Mr. Beadon would feel bound.

The PREMIER said the Government certainly would object to appoint such ia commission. The matter had been settled, and Mr. Beadon had not a shadow of a claim.

The House adjourned for an hour at 1.15' p.m. to-day. The Houso resumed to-day at 2.15. APPROPRIATIONS. The Supplementary Estimates and ail the remaining votes were passed unaltered. The immigration and public -works appropriations were also passed without alteration. THE PUMPING ASSOCIATION PLANT. The House went into committee of the whole to consider the propriety of introducing' a clause into the Immigration and Pnblio Works Appropriation Bill for the purpose of enabling the Government to i>-in£'. oyer ,to the County of Thames the mortgages held ozttne rumping AaauviaUuu { plant. • The resolution was agreed to V PUBLIC WORKS AND IMMTCfRATION. In Committee of , Ways and Means, a resolution was passed voting £2,320,286 for' purposes of public .wurksanaimmigration.! RATING BILL. * "• - The-Legislative Council insisting upon their amendments in the Rating' Bill, a free conference was decidedto be held between both Houses. IMMIGRATION AND, PUBLIC WORKS APPROPRIATION BILL. The Immigration and Public Worka Appropriation Bill was passed through all its stages. TARANAKI GREAT SOUTH ROAD. . In committee, the item £2500 for Ta'raoaki Great South Road was passed, and the House adjourned till half-passed 7 o'clock. Sunday. The House resumed last night at 7.30. SUPPLY. In the Committee of Ways and Means f'-.-j following resolutions were agreed: to To-• wards making good the supply granted to ; Her Majesty, £1,264,432 out of coneolidn<; JU ; fund; £40,000 out of ways and mear.a in connection with defence- loan; £11,004 granted out of ways and. means for State forests, to be transferred to consolidated fund ; £304,226 to be granted out of land fund of New. Zealand; £11,063 to be granted out of confiscated lands account; £13,140 to be granted out of New Zealand. (?) APPROPRIATION BILL. The A ppropriation Bill was read a third time and passed. COUNTIES BILL. | The conference of both Houses on the Counties Bill .was unable to agree. A newcon fercrice was appointed. The result was that the Premier announced that they had; agreed on this basis :—Connty Chairmen to be elected by the.Council, and not to be dis-J qualified from sitting in the House of Representatives ; the ordinary loan clauses were struck, out; special loans, limited to four times.the rateable property in. the connty, were permitted, leaving the increase in the overdraft as provide! by the Counoil. The. other amendments were only trivial. . At midnight the Houße adjourned till 2.30 on Monday.