THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7404, 12 August 1885, Page 6

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TCKBDAT.

fgX Council met at lift If-past two

READ SKCCND TIM*

The Christ College (Canterbury) Bill wu read a second time.

JIIDDLS island NATIYK mission. Mr. Taiaboa moved a motion affirming that the time had arrived when effect should be given to the report of the Middle Island Commission. WANGAKUI HARBOUR. The debate was adjourned. Mr. Pharazyn moved to suspend the standing orders, so as to enable the Wanganui Harbour Bill to proceed. The motion was lost by 25 to 13. MR. BTEYKSB.

Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Bt«vena.

LOCAL BILLS COMMITTEE. Mr. Shrimski rose to make a personal explanation, complaining that the Local Bills Committee had reported on a certain Bill which he had allowed to drop. The Speaker pointed out that the report of the committee waa that there was no such Bill before them. READ FIRST TIME. The Fisheries Encouragement, Life Assurance Policies, Customs Duties, and Westland and Grey Education Board Bills were read a first time.

STAMP AMENDMENT BILS.

The adjourned debate on the Stamp Amendment Bill was resumed by Mr. McLean'. The debate was farther adjourned. The Council adjourned at five p.m. until half-past seven p.m. The Council resumed in the evening. AUCKLAND COLLEGE RESERVES BILL.

The Auckland University College Reserves Bill was read a second time.

SAVINGS BANKS BILL. A motion that the Council go into committee on the Savings Banks Amendment Bill was carried by 23 to 9. The Bill was reported without amendment.

EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL. The Evidenoe Further Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at a quarter past nine p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday.

The House met at half-past two o'clock. LKAYB OF ABSKNCS. Leave of absence for a week was granted to Major Atkinson and Mr. Scobie MoKenrie. QUESTION'S. Replying to Mr. Fisher, whether any communication ha« been received from the home authorities on the subject of rendering Imperial aid in the construction in colonial ports of docks capable of docking Her Majesty's ships, Mr. Larn'ach »aid there was no intention on the part of the Admiralty to give any assistance in the matter. nXAN'CIAL STATEMENT. Replying to Mr. J. W. Thomson', if the Colonial Treasurer intends making a Supplementary Statement with the view of showing the bearing of the recent changes in finance on the financial proposals of the year, and if go, when. Sir J. Vogkl said he hoped to be able to make a Supplementary Financial Statement next day. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced : — The New Plymouth Exchanges Completion Act 1874 Amendment Bill (Mr. Ballance); a Bill to amend Wellington Gas Company's Act 1870 (Mr. Fisher); the Wellington Harbour Board Act J879 Amendment Bill (Mr. Fisher). R.M. COUBTS BILL. Thi House went into committee on Resident Magistrates' Courts Proceedings Validation Bill, which passed without amendment. HOSPITALS BILL. The House went into committee on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill. Considerable discussion ensued on clause 20, relating to the election of trustees by local bodies, and numerous amendments were proposed. A new clauie was added providing that four trustees shall form a quorum. A further new clause was added providing that the first meeting of contributors shall be held at Buch time as the Governor may appoint, and at such meetings oontributories shall elect not less than six nor more than nine trustees, and shall transact any other business relating to the institution.

Several other new clauses were added to the Bill.

Dr. Newmak moved an additional clause, that if an institution under thi» Act afford relief to any person who has not lived for sixty days previously within the Hospital district in which «uoh institution is situated, it shall be lawful for its trustees to recover the entire cost of such relief from the Board of the district in which the recipient had previously lived. Mr. Gui.sness moved to report progress on the Bill. The amendment was lost on the voices. A long discussion ensued on Dr. Newman's clause, which was eventually carried, the "sixty days "being altered to "six months," and the clause being made to apply to persons coming from another provincial district.

On the schedule being reaohed, Mr. Hob*s moved to separate the districts of Mangonui. Hokianga, and Bay of Islands, from the Auck and district, and form them into a separate district. Mr. Febccts objected to the amendment. Sir J. Vogel said the members interested were the best judges as to how the Bill would affect their districts. He might say that the Government would support the amendments made by the various members in the schedule.

The amendment was carried on a division by 36 to 27. The House rose at half-past fire p.m. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m. Mr. Lies moved to omit Raglan, Waikato, and Waipa from the Auckland district.

Agreed to. Mr. Smith, for Mr. Cadman, moved to separata Coromandel from the Auckland district.

Agreed to. Mr. Grace moved to omit Tauranga and Whakat&ne from Auckland.

Agreed to. Mr. Beetham moved to omit Wairarapa from the Wellington district. Mr. Fisher strongly protested against the oouree that was being pursued. He said a fatal mistake was being committed in allowing the districts to be cut up in this manner.

A lengthy discussion followed, during which it was pointed out by Mr. O&uond that it was much to be regretted that the only Bill which was brought down by the Government dealing with Local Government should be destroyed in this miserable way. He contended that the Government should have brought in a clause before any divisions were made to make seceding districts contribute.

Mr. Stout said the division lists would ■how that the Government had voted in the minority on the motion for separating the districts.

The motion, after some further discussion, was pat, and lost by 34 to 29. Mr, Locke moved to separate Cook County ftom the Hawke's Bay district.

Agreed to. Mr. Smith moved that Waipawa should be separated from Hawke's Bay district. 'Mr, Osmond strongly opposed the motion, which elicited a lengthy debate, in whioh a large number of members took part. The motion was carried on a division by 37 to 22.

Mr. Fergus moved to report progress. He said by the vote just given the committee did not know its own mind. He considered the Bill was virtually destroyed by the action taken by the committee.

Mr. Rolleston supported the motion for reporting progress. He thought it was a perfect farce going on as they were doing. He contended that members had reasonable grounds for complaint against the action taken by the Government on tha Bill.

Captain Russell also thought progress should be reported, so as to enable the schedule to be -re-cast.

. Mr. Fglton pointed out that Government did not know their own minds on the matter, as they voted in opposite lobbies on it. He suggested that progress be reported bo that Government may ascertain their views on the Bill. Mr. Stout said he had voted against the last alteration, because he found the members for the district affected by it were .against the proposal. His colleagues, however, felt bound to wpport it

The motion for repotting program was lost; on the voices.

Mr. L&vestam moved that Bailer and Inangahua be struck out of the Nelson district.

Agreed to. Mr. Suddon moved to strike out the words "and Grey" from the district of Westland, and to insert "the counties of Ross, Hokitika, and Kumara."

Agreed to. Mr. Duncan moved to strike out " Wait*ki" from Otago district, and to iniert " other districts. ' Agreed to. Mr. Pykk moved to atriks out "Vincent and Maniatoto," Agreed to,

Mr. Brown moved to «trike out " Tua> peka," and insert " other districts." Agreed to on a division by 35 to 29. Mr. Fjchgus mored that " Lake" be struok out of Southland district, so m to insert other words.

Agreed to. Mr. Hirst moved to strike out 41 Fiord and Wallace" from Southland.

The motion was lost by 30 to 26.

The remaining schedules having pasted without amendment, Mr. Stout said he purposed to recommit the Bill for consideration of clauses 5, 6, 7, and 8, and the first schedule. STATE FORESTS BILL: The House went into committee on .New Zealand State Forests Bill. In clause 26, providing that railways be made, Mr. Rollbston hoped Government would not press this clause, as it was not required. Mr. Stodt said he would be willing to take the decision of the committee on the clause.

Sir G. Grey suggested that the clause should be withdrawn.

Mr. Turnbull also advocated its withdrawal.

The clause was struck out on the voices. Mr. Hursthouse moved, "That clause 32, providing for compensation under the Forest Tree Planting Act, 1871, be struck out"

After some discussion the clause was retained by 32 to 21. Several amendments were proposed in the schedule and lost.

Mr. Bbckland proposed to strike out the rule in the schedule, providing that persons allowing cattle or animals to wander in any reserve, or destroy timber, trees, or shrubs, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5. The amendment was lost on the voices. BILLS PASSED.

The Resident Magistrates' Courts Validation Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The New Zealand State Forests Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at five minutes to one.