GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4899, 30 July 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[from our special correspondent.]

GOVEK NMB N T Bl* 11. VI >' US, WF.T.LIN*GTO 1?, SatU I**l a}' McMAXUS'S PETITION.

The following is the text of the jeti'.ion of Mrs. Honora McManu;-, a widow, schoolmistress at the Thaiu.:. After the customary preamble, the petition sets forth ; —" I. That your petitioner's son was apprenticed to W. ,1. Roth under certain indentures. 2. That your petitioner's con was badly treated by \\\ J. Roth. 3. That W. J. Roth fraudulently altered the indentures. 4. That under those circumstances your petitioner intimated to your petitioner's son that legal steps would be taken to cancel the indentures. o. That W, J. Roth, the master, dishonestly and without leave opened tho letter to petitioner's son, and apparently in consequence determined to punish your petitioner's son without just reason. 0. That W. J. Roth unlawfully charged your petitioner's son with absconding. 7. That your petitioner's son was arrested by a constable without warrant, and lodged iu the lockup at Auckland. S. That your petitioner's son was brought before the Police Bench, presided over by \V. C. Daldy, Esq., and E. H. Isaacs, l£sq., on the illegal charge of absconding. 9. That W. C. JMldy, chairman of the Bench, would not permit your petitioner's son to offer p, word in defence or explanation to the Bench on the unlawful offence with which he was charged, while W. J. Roth was defended by counsel 10. That the said Justices inflicted the most unequal punishment to your petitioner's son of one month to the other 24 hours charged as afore«aid. 11. That your petitioner interviewed the Justices and represented to them their illegal, unjust conduct, but received no satisfaction whatever from them. 12. That your petitioner placed the case for legal proceedings iu the bauds of a solicitor whom your petitioner believes did not prosecute those proceedings in such a manner and iu such haste as would result in the proper redress, and that through such delay, and thc'so-called conviction not being quashed, the whole proceedings broke down, and your petitioner lost nearly £40 in law expenses. 13. Your petitioner, therefore, prays her evidence, and such as she may be ablo t» produce, may be taken as ppcedily as possible, as she has comc from Auckland for that, and trusts that your honourable House may cause such inquiry to be made into the wholo circumstances of the case as will moot all the ends of justice. Your petitioner, lastly, prays for such relief as your honourable House may sec lit to grant, and trusts that a great and just God will guide you in your decision. (Signed) Hoxora McMants." The petition is

drawn and engrossed by the petitioner herself, and it is said that in the committeo she addressed the members in a vigorous speech of some twenty minutes long, seeking for justice to her sou's character and to hersolt". It is stated that the Magistrates who tried the boy aro to be applied to for explanations, and that they are expected to offer proper remuneration to the petitioner. Mr. Rees and the petitioner face to faco in the committeeroom is said to hive been a picture. It was the angry mother defending her injured boy, and plying the lawyer with disagreeable questions, which, however, Mr. Rees answered with tact; and he bad also to meet sundry questions put by .Mr. Swanson, who is not always specially diplomatic or other than direct in his best style of speech. Probably it will be found that the three Magistrates— Captain Daldv, Mr. Isaacs, and Mr. Charles O'iS'eill—will be asked to offer explanations and compensation. Such is the rumour within sacred legislative precincts.

THE MINES BILL. | Nothing is to be gathered or calculated from the division of 45 to IS on the second reading of the Mines Bill. It was an Opposition mistake to divide at all in the state of the House, just as it was a mistake the other night for Ministers to call for division on Sir George Grey's motion to add Mr. Sheehan's name to the Native Affairs Committee. CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL. The debate on the Charitable Institutions Bill was keen last night, the majority of the speakers being adverse to its provisions. Ministers, however, profess to be able to carry it by a large majority, and Mr. Swansou rather soothed the feelings of opponents by insisting on the absolute necessity of some measure of the kind, and protesting against the bill being thrown out, as it would prevent Government from bringing in another on the same subject in the present session. PROSPECTS. After the Financial Statement, which comes on on Tuesday, parties will be more organised. It is expected that a good stron" Opposition will be formed next week; but even

then, unless some unexpected turn of tho wheel takes place, it is not expected that Ministers will be ousted. The question of leading the Opposition is a difficult one. Mr. Stafford won't join it, and at present he supports Government. Mr. Header Wood, it is said, has no desire for office, and has made arrangements for going to England at the close of the session. .Mr. Whitaker's supporters of the Auckland contiugent largely form the strength of the Government. After Tuesday we shall see.

THE HINEMOA. I understand the expenses of the Hinemoa do not exceed £0000 a. year for everything, wear and tear included. The Customs duties for the year have fallen about £30,000 to £40,000 as compared with last financial year. Nothing political is stirring. DISCLOSURES. The Canterbury Press lias a strong leader on the Herald's article re the Vogel telegram and tiic .action of the Government in endeavouring to compel disclosures. The Press says if Government do not call for a Select Committee of inquiry, the Parliament should. I hope the committee will be called for. There is an erroneous notion current among officials here, from the Commissioner of Customs do>vnwards, regarding the power of the Government under the Telegraph Act and the compulsory action which Government can exercise. Threats, scarcely covert, have been used, and I think it would be well for the Government, the Press, and the public really to understand what position they occupy under this extreme potver of examination which it is 2»'ofessed the Act confere.