GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5628, 29 November 1879, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

PER " HERALD' , SPECIAL WIRE. [press association.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday.

Thr business in the Council to-day was of small interest. After a large amount of. other matter had been disposed of, the Son. Mr. Haut moved, " That a month aftor the beginning of next session a return bo submitted showing the number of electors in every district subject, and not subject, to the new Property Tax." The reprint of Statutes Bill, the Timaru Waterworks Bill, and tbe Wairarapa Racecourse Bill were read a second time ; and Hamilton Volunteer Hall-sito Bill, and Fenco tbird time. The Council then went into commifcteee on the Registration Bill, and had not made any important amendment up to adjournment at 5 p.m. In the Legislative Council, at the evening sitting, the whole evening was spent in committee on the Registration Bill. Many nmendments were made, but none vrere important. Mr. Wilson made an ineffectual attempt to abolish plural voting. The Council adjourned at 10 p.m. HOUSE OF ftEPJRESENTATIVES. I Fbiday. The House met at 2.30. BILLS PASSED. Messages were received from the Legislative Council that Hokitika Harbour Bill and the Masterfcon and Greytown Town Lands Bill had passed with amendments. Thene were agreed to.

QUESTIONS. Mr. Shephard asked, " (1) Whether, in the detailed statement of the liability of the Public Works Department under the heading railway b, provincial district of Nelson, the Stillwater Contract, Amberly - Bru'jinerton I railw a..-, £12,234, ought not to be k eluded ir- t(- j iii-i of Contracts in the provincial oiattrict of Westland ? (2) whether the item ia same return and under the same heading, Cook'a Strait railway, £7219, shonld riot have fcesu charged to vote 7 2, Nelson-Foxhill, in Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Act, IS7BT" Mr. Oliver replied that the. work was situated on the borders of the Weatland and Nelson districts ; that there was a slight error regarding the second part of the question. Being public works expenditure it did not much matter what particular vote it was charged to. Replying to Mr. Tomoana, Mr. Bkycf. said that, while the Government great importance to such a bill, they we? ,, ! not thia session introduce a Native Lancif 1..1 U. Replying (•;:• ,V*r. Hutchison, Mr. Hal; ■. the amount 3 paid for saddlery an i. saddlery requisites in Welling- | t>u, duiing U;e years 1878 and 1579, were .■C3 3s per rrr ath during the first-named yoriod, and £i-.i 8s duriDg the latter. That was an exceptionable charge, and the amount would in fun* re be considerably less. Replying to Mr. Richards in, M>. Halt, said that, under the Act of ISS7, the Government baa power to give authority to those persons who are, at their own cost, carrying on establishments for fish culture, to take trout and sahauj epwn from the rivers of the colony, and they v-iU be prepared r<? grant the necessary authority.

Mr. SmuMSKi asked the Government, " If they will take steps during the recess to have a mora careful exploration made than has hitherto been possible in the short interval of timo at the disposal of the Engineer- ;n-Ct<iei of the pasaes in the Kakaaui Ranges, w'.v'i the view of ascertaining whether a jyi*icfcicai route exists for a line of railway nnnr.eciing Central Otago -.vith Waitaki and South Canterbury *" Mr. Oliver was understood to r?p!y in the negative, adding that tbe (iovermrini; nas not yet satisfied that the line would Iμ) constructed at all. Replying to a question, Mr. Bkyce said that at present it would not be advisable to dispense with the eervicea of Dr. Buller, who had been retained as counsel in connection with native land purchases. Replying to Mr. Shruiski,

Mr. Hall said the members of the Royal Commission, appointed by Government to inquire into the management o£ the Auckland Hospital and Asylum, had not been paid. Replying to Mr. Shrinwki, Mr. Hall said, Government did not intend to take any action in referefence to the construction of a telegraph line from Oamaru to Ngaparu. Mr. Swasson asked the Government, " What action fchay had taken to give effect to the recommendation of the Waste Lands Committee, in case of the petition of the Auckland Naval Volunteers and Auckland Artillery Volunteers, preseatsd on the 22ud September, and reported on the 13th October, 1878 V A commission had been instructed to report on the petition of the Naval Volunteers, and no action had yet been taken with respech to pet : tion of the Artillery Volunteers, in consequence of the commanding officer having neglected making application in time. THE CHRISTCHITHCH ELECTION.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir George Grey was about to move that the finding of the committee, declaring that he had not been duly olected, for Christchurcn aud that Mr. Kichardson had been elected, be expunged as record of the House, when Mr. Maclean submitted that the motion had been entered. The Speaker ruled that the motion could bo entertained and Sir George Grey moved it accordingly. He read the decision by previous committee, finding that a candidate might be nominated for more than one seat. Such was the case when Christchurch election was qaestioned. On these grounds ho maintained he was justified in asking that the finding of the comaii tee, as it referred to himself, to be expunged from the records. As regards the second part of the report, the finiiing that Mr. Ricbardson wai elected, he held that it was invalid. The U'.v was that uulo3S :;oticc of dhqualinuntloi was to the electors before the election took pUco then in that ease the votes \\ ere not thrown away. In the other, while disqualification might be used for nnseating a member disqualified, the law did not go the length of holding that the next candidate in the polling Hat was elected. After a short discussion the question was put, and, on the voices, given in favour of the original motion. A division took place, /.yes, 36; Noes, 21. Tho followiug was tho division list :—Ayes : Adams, AUwright, Andrews, Atkinson, Bain, Bowc-n, Bryce, Colbeck, Gibbs, Hall, H. IC. Hirst (Wallace), W. J. Hurst (Auckland City West), Uurathouso, Keuny, Masters, McLean, Moutgornery, Murray, Oliver, Ormond, Pitt, Pyke, Richmond, Richardson, Rolleaton, Saunders, Stevens (teller), Studholme (teller), Sutton, Swansea, Tomoana, Trimble, Whitaker, Wallie, Wood. Noes : 21.—Barron, DoLautour, Finn, George, Grey, Hamlin, Harris, Hutchison, Ireland, l.undon, Mason, Reid, Shepherd, beddon, Shrimski (teller), Stewart, Taiuui, Tawhai, Thompson, Tole (teller), Wallis. The motion for going into committee w»3 accordingly currioJ. The SPEAKF.a then left the chair.

THE ESTIMATES. The Native Affairs Department—sal.ities and cont.'r.gengies, £15,742. Mr. BiIYCE said there ivere a good many things iu this department with which ho was dissatisfied, and he would attempt a very considerable retrenchment, failiug which ho would retire from olliee. Replying to Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Bkyce said the Government had already taken step 3 to check tho spread o£ contagious diseases among natives at Little l\iver. On tho item of general contingencies for tho purchase oE food and clothing fur natives ; also for rewards and presents to native chiefs and for encouragement of agricultural pursuits, &c, £0,000, Mr. GiSBOSME moved that it be reducod by £2000. ilr. Buvce opposed the reduction on tho ground that a sum of £2000 out of the vo!-; had been spent befure the urgent Govern"mnnt took olliee. Tho deb.'tto was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7-30 p.m. The vote as printed was put and carried. Native Land Court, £12,120. Mr. Uamlin proposed that tho item, Chief Judge (also Judge, District Court), £1000 bo reduced £200. Mr. Header Wood supported tho reduction, but suggested that the remodelling of the whole department ba left with the Native Minister. The reduction was agreed to. Mr. George proposed that the item, five Judges at £000, £3000, ho reduced £500. The total as reduced £500 was agreed to, and passed.

Too Native Lands Frauds Protection Act IS7O, £14SS, was passed. Miscellaneous services, £13,360. Mr. Header Wood objected to the item, printing judgments Native Land Court, £500, and moved that it be reduced lo £250. Eventually the vote was paseed as printed. Lands and Mines Department vote : Crown Lands Department, £16,579, the vote was passed ; Crown lands miscellaneous services, £H,664, passed ; Coalfields, £413, passed. General Survey £8S,500; Photographic and lithographic printing branch, £2110. Passed. Colonial Treasurer's Department: Treasury, £6532; laud tax, £5955; miscellaneous services, £7123. Passed. Commissioner of Customs Department: Customs, £34,262. The collector, Auckland, £600, was reduced by £50. With that reduction the vote waa passed, j Miscellaneous service: £10.101. The I item to provide for bonus to be given to exporter of rabbit skins, £SOOO, was objected to, and a motion made that the amount ehonld be reduced £5,000. The item as printed was carried on tho voices, 'the vote as printed waa put and carried, Marines and Harbours, £33,326: The item Hinetma, including expenses while laid-up for six months, £5000, was objected to by Mr. Andrews, who moved, " That it be struck out." Neither of the Government steamers was adapted for the purpose, and much more suitable steamers, more especially than the Hinemoa, could be got. Mr. Satjndees supported the proposal for striking out the item. Major Atkinson said the money was nearly all spent. It was intended to lay the steamer up. The motion for striking out the item was lost on the voices, and tho vote as printed was passed.

Commissioner of Stamps Department, £5451 ; Landsand Deeds Registrar £14,595; miscellaneous service, £455; were passed. Defence Department, Militia and Volunteers, £39,557. Mr. llislop moved, " That the item officer commanding South Island, £100, be struck out." The item was retained. The item capitatioa allowance for iS T orth Island, £9562, was objected to, and a motion made that it be reduced by £800. The committee divided. Ayes, 33 ; noes, 22. The item was reduced as prcpased. The item for Constabulary and cefeuee. £254.047. Mr. JBall proposed to reduce it by £4000. J The vote was as proposed. Item, expenses of members, £21,575. A. motion was made to reiluee it by £2157. '' !!<•• notion was lost, aad the item passed as ■^riiuxl, T'. tlouse had not adjourned wheu the laat .'f our mesaagi s was despatched.