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New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4901, 1 August 1877, Page 2

Though our telegrams of the morning sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday, are not important as recording any very great measure passed or rejected, yet they are very significant of what may hereafter take place. Notices of motion form a large item, and principal among these must be considered that given by Sir George Groy, to alter the existing state of things in the matter of Parliaments, and have representatives elected for three years instead of five, as at present. There is so much which might be advanced for and against this measure, that we choose rather to wait and examine in detail the arguments which may be advanced than to state any opinions of our own ; advancing, however, this much, that we believe that both this and the notice to move for manhood suffrage, given also by Sir George Grey, will prove to be intended for a "new departure" in party tactics, and. on this point some idea, however vague, may be formed regarding the policy of the Opposition, or of a very powerful section of it. Next in importance, and in reality of much more importance to some who caro not whether we are governed by Radicals or Republicans, is the question of Railways, and here we have Mr. Macandrew, ever alive to the interests of Otago, giving notice of a motion to form new railways iu that province, so as to open up the out-lying districts. If Otago is to have this great advantage, why not Auckland I and on this point we can but reiterate to-day what we said yesterday, that it is to be hoped that all Auckland members will unite in urging on the Government the necessity of the formation of such lines as that from the Thames to the Waikato. Sir George Grey, it appears, asked whether any steps had been taken to extend the present lino from Auckland to Mercer as far as Taranaki, and was answered by Mr. Ormond that the next piece of line which the Government intended to construct was to extend the present railway to the Waikato, a feat which he thought would not be accomplished under twelvemonths. By the Waikato Mr. Ormond probably meant the Upper Waikato, and that the railway was to be extended as far as To Awamutu, but his answer to Sir Georgo savoured somewhat of shirking the question. Mr. Swanson's motion that no cheques should be crossed which were drawn for a less sum than £20, had that amount of common sense which almost always mark his proceedings, for it must be obvious that a cheque paid to a man, a labourer, as he puts it, who in nine cases nut of ten haa no banking account at all, and yet which cheque must of necessity be paid through a banker, entails a largo amount of trouble on the payee, and may bo made the means of positive injustice. Mr. Swanson's motion was lost by 40 to 25, ami the amendments of Messrs. Montgomery, Murray, and Stout wero negatived on the voices without a division. The Government have declined, and perhaps wisely, to print all the suggestions offered by the County Councils and Road Boards regarding the amendments of the present system, on the ground that they were too voluminous, and they answered Mr. Stafford's question as to whether they intend to close the burying-places situate within towns, and find means for the proper drainage of Government offices, by saying that they hope to be able to do so. Other questions wero asked, and other notices of motion given, and the debate on the Charitable Institutions Bill, which is being met with a strong opposition from different quarters, was adjourned, with Sir Georgo Grey in possession of the House. It will be observed that the Auckland Highway Districts Validation Bill, rendered necessary by the late judgment in the Waitoa case, has boen passed.