Parliament.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 546, 22 July 1882, Page 6

Parliament.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

f. " . THURSDAY, JULY 13. Th« Council met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. The report of the West Coast Commission was laid on the Council ,table.r-?Mr HOLMES g-gmaflTffiffgoh. ~the Premier, "Whether any information has reached the Government relative to the circumstances under which a fine of L3O has been levied upon a Chinese family recently arrived in this colony; and if. it be the . intention of the Government to remit the fine, andrefuDd the sum paid?” Mr Holmes narrated the details of the case, which occurred in Dunedin, stating that tvvo of the persons on whom the fine was levied were born in the colony, the wife of the Chinaman having gone toCmna on a visit, taking her children with her.*-Mr OLIVER said the Customs authorities were bound to exact the duty, but the Government had not been asked to refund the sum thus paid. He was not aware whether a petition had been presented to the Legislature, but it should, in his opinion, receive favorable consideration.—The PREMIER replied mi the negative to Mr STEVENS, who asked, "Whether theJGovernment intend, during this session, to introduce a measure to provide for the administration of hospitals, orphan- • ages, and charitable institutions ?” — Mr Stevenß asked the Premier, "Whether the views of the Government on the subject of the future ocean mail services of the colony will belcommunicated to Parliament this session ?” —Sir Whitaker ' said, iu reply, that the Government had received some information on the subject by the last mail from England, and would be enabled to give defiuite information on the subject next week. —Captain Fraser asked the Premier, "If he has any objection to state the grounds on which Garrett, late a prisoner in the Lyttelton Gaol,, has been liberated without having served his time i?” The Premier said the prisoner had. been liberated because he had served two-thirds of his . time —the statutory amount, he was required to serve.—Captain Baillie moved, “ That a Committee, to consist of ten members, with power to call for persons and papers, be appointed to inquire into the present system of - legislation in regard to private Bills. The Committee to consist of the following members The Hon: the Speaker, the Hon. Mr G. R. Johnson, the Hon. Mr Menzies, the Hon. Dr: Pollen, the Hon. Mr Williamson, the Hon. M> Stevens, the Hon. Mr Oliver, the Hon. Sir G;S. Whitmore, K.C.8.. the Hon. Mr Wilson, and the mover. The Committee to have power to eonfer with any similar Committee appointed by the House, of Representatives.” He explained the necessity for the appointment of a Committee, and in doing so cited a case where LI7OO was charged for passing a Bill through Parliament.—Mr Reynolds said he knew of another case of overcharging, where a Corporation was mulcted to the extent, of L4CO in passing a . private Bill.—The motion was agreed to. —The Affirmation in Lieu of Oaths Bill was brought down, but no one was in charge of it.—Mr Miller wanted to know, as a point of order, whether the Council should be asked to go on with a Bill when they had passed one on the same subject. A conversational discussion ensued, and the Speaker said that the Bill remained in abeyance until some one moved its second reading. On the Railways Construction and Land Act, 1881, Amendment Bill being called en for third reading, Mr Menzies : pointed out that, the Bill would not only apply to the Rotorua and Helensville lines, but also to a branch line contemplated to be constructed from the Waimea line to Switzers, and that the Government had evidently been misinformed on the subject. This railway is set forth iti the schedule to .the Public Works Statement, as shown in the plan attached to the Statement. —The Premier stated :>;that ■ Mr Menzies had misunderstood the whole question, and explained the intent of the Bill as he had done on the occasion of its second reading.—Mr Reynolds* said, the survey had taken place some years since. The. Bill was then read a third time and passed,—The Justices of the Peace Bill was considered in Committee and passed with'some slight amendments, reported to the Council, ■ and ordered to be read a third time next. day.—On the Mining Companies Act, 1872, Amendment Bill being called on, Mr Wilson moved that it be referred to a Select Committee for consideration. On the ruling of the Speaker it was referred to the Goldfields Committee to be reported on.—Mr Mantell, on the debate on the Pensions Bill being resumed, ■aid the Bill was by no means an innocent measure, although the Premier had assured the Council that pensions could be recovered by action in the Supreme Court. The object of the Bill was to fplace Civil servants in the pillory before they could get the pensions to which they were entitled.—Mr Reynolds, in .replying, pointed out that pensions had been granted to persons who had no right to receive them, and some action had been considered necessary by the other branch of the Legislature to prevent a repetition. He read the correspondence on the alteration of the Pensions Bill which had passed between Sir Dillon Bell and Sir F.rskine May. He would accept no amendment on the Bill in Committee. The Bill had to be carried in its entirety or rejected as a whole. —Mr Wood Wanted to know whether the Council could not amend the Bill, whether Mr Reynolds chose to accept an amendment or not. After the past abuses which had taken place, the other House, as the guardian of the public purse, had a perfect right to legislate upon the matter. Credit should be given to tne other branch of the Legislature for a desire to do its duty, and no one had any right to assume that the House of Representatives would ever seek to prevent a Civil servant having a pension to which he was legally entitled. The Council then divided on the second reading. Ayes 12, noes'l3. The question was then put whether the words “six months” should be carried, but no second division was called for.

Ayes.— Baillie, Brett, Fraser, Hart, Henderson, Lahmann, Pharazyn, Reynolds, Scotland, Whitaker, Whitmore, Wilson. Noes. —Buckley, Dignan, Holmes, Mantell, Martin, Menzies, Miller, Ngatata, Nurse, Peacock, Richmond, Stevens, Williams. The Council then proceeded with the Dog Registration Act Amendment . Bill. Mr Dignan proposed adding the following new clause : " Any aog seized by the police or by any local authority under the provisions of section 13 of the Dog Registration Act, 1880, and not claimed by the owner within 48 hours from the time of such seizure, may be sold and disposed of to any person, and shall thereupon become the lawful tfwner of the same; and the proceeds of any such sale as aforesaid shall be paid into the funds of the local authority.” After some discussion, progress on the BUI was reported. '1 he Auckland College and Grammar School Bill was read a Sscond time, and ordered to be committed next ay. The Council rose at 4.45 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THURSDAY, JULY 13. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m., and read the usual prayer.

PETITIONS. . Petitions were presented by Major Te Wheoro and Mr Taiaroa. NOTICES OP MOTIONS AND QUESTIONS. . Among the notices given were the following : Mr De Lautour to ask the Government to ascertain the intention of the Dunedin ILgh School Trustees with regard to the disposal of the High School endowment at Strath Taien ; Mr Macandrew to ask the Postmaster-General when the Government proposals with regard to a direct steam service with Europe, referred to in a former reply to a question, will be submitted to the House.

REPOBTS. Mr KELLY laid on the table the report of the Public Petitions Committee. Mr HAMLIN brought up the report of the Joint Committee on Bills on the Dunedin Water Supply Extension Bill. The report stated that the Bill was a private one. On the motion of Mr FISH the Bill was discharged. PAPERS.

Several papers were laid on the table by the Hen. J. Bryce and the Hon. T. Dick.

QUESTIONS. Mr STEWARD asked the Minister for Public Works, “ (1) Whether he is aware that, during the suspension of traffic across the Upper Waitaki Bridge, consequent upon its damaged condition, large quantities of grain have accumulated at the Hakateramea siding, and that the owners are exposed to great loss and damage through there being no fenced-in yard ? (2) Whether, on being assured that this is the case, he will cause a fence to be erected, so as to obviate the loss and damage above referred to?”-The Hon. W. JOHNBTON said this was entirely a private line. Captain MACKENZIE asked the Government, "If they will recommend that the provisions of the Arms Act, 1980, should be relaxed or dispensed with so far as concerns the sale and purchase of sporting arms and ammunition in districts in the southern part of the Middle Island which are infested with rabbits ?” His motion referred to small storekeepers in the country in the South Island who sola gunpowder for the purpose of killing rabbits.—The Hon. <T. BRYCE said the Government were not indisposed to relax the provisions of the Act. This had been done completely in the case of blasting powder. In a short time the Act might be further relaxed, or even repealed, . Mr FELDWICK asked the Minister of Lands, "Whether he considers it advisable that persons who, in their private capacities, follow the business of land agents, and advertise themselves as such, should be or remain members of Waste Lands Boards ? ” —The Hon. W. ROLLESTON said the Government did not consider such persons should be members of Waste Lands Boards. If such persons were members of Boards at the present time the Government would consider what action should be taken. Major HARRIS asked tae Minister for public Works, "If he will instruct all stationmasters between Mercer and Auckland, on the Auckland and Waikato Railway, that return tickets to Auckland shall be supplied at single fares on Fridays?”—The Hon. W. JOHNSTON said the question of the reduction of fares would-he considered at an- early date. Mr BEETHAM asked the Government, “ If it is their intention to take steps for the due protection of the ports of the colony without delay’’’—The Hon. J. BRYCE, said the question was under the serious attention of the Government. Mr HAMLIN asked the Government, "Whether Colonel Seratchley, R.E., was authorised to prepare plans for the batteries which he proposed should be erected at the several ports ; and if such authority was given, have the Government received the plans and an estimate of probable cost ?” Colonel Scratchley had said that some time must elapse before his scheme could be carried out, but had stated that steps could be taken earlier for the defence of the six principal ports of the colony.—The Hon. J. BRYCE said the plans referred to had been received, and had been referred •to the Engineers for the North and South Islands to have an estimate of the cost prepared. This estimate had not yet been prepared. The hon. fentleman was probably aware that a sum of j 44,000 was placed upon the Estimates to pro vide for the defence of the colony, and this vote had to a large extent been exhausted, only about L9OO now remaining. He would like to say by way of explanation that considerable disappointment had been felt by the Government —not altogether during the time he had been in office—at the fact that Colonel Seratchley was not able to come here as expected to organise the defence force of the colony, and to go into the plans in detail. That would account for the delay that had taken place. He could only say, as he had said in reply to the last question, that the subject was now, and had been for some time, under the serious consideration of the Government, and theyj would give immediate attention to it. He would probably be in a position at an early period to make a statement to the House upon the subject. Mr SUTTON asked the Minister of Lands, “ Whether his attention has been called to the necessity of making fresh appointments to the Waste Land Board of Hawke’s Bay ; if so, when he will make the necessary arrangements ? ” —The Hon. W. ROLLESTON said an appointment had been made which did away with the difficulty.

Mr HAMLIN asked the Government, “ Whether they have received a copy of the evidence taken by the Naval and Military and Local Forces Land Claims Commission ?” —The Hon. W. ROLLESTON said no transcribed evidence had been sent in, though it had been taken in shorthand. The notes were in the possession of the Government. Mr IYESS asked the Minister of Justice, “ Whether the Government will direct the Resident Magistrate in charge of the South Rakaia District to hold fortnightly sittings of the Court, instead of monthly, in order to meet the wishes of the inhabitants of that district, who at present incur serious delay and loss when bringing cases before that Court ? ” —The Hon. T. DICK said no complaints had been received by the Government on the matter. He would, however, look further into the matter.

Mr J. C. BROWN asked the Colonial Secretary, " That a serious case of poisoning having been reported at Christchurch, by using preserved tinned meats, he will now cause to be published for public information and the preservation of human life, a translation of the official notification from the French Government which appeared in the " New Zealand Gazette” of the 24th November, 1881, regarding the danger attendant upon the use of articles of preserved food contained in tins ; also, if he will issue the necessary instructions to the Public Analyst to cause a selection of tinned preserved meats or foods to be procured for the purpose of testing for the presence of poisonous matter in the contents thereof ? ” —The Hon. T. DICK said the hon. gentleman having read the circular in English, it would appear in

“Hansard,” and would be very widely distributed. The Government would get what other information it could on the subject, and cause it to published. Mr MUNRO asked the Government, " Whether, during the recess, they will cause a survey and estimate to he prepared of a road from Blackwater Creek, Buller-road, to Archer’s Punt, Reefton-road, so as to further open up the coal field and agricultural land known to be there, and further to avoid the unnecessary detour by the Inangahua Junction, and thereby materially reducing the distance for waggoners travelling between Westport and Reefton?”—The Hon. W. JOHNSION said he would undertake to have a survey made. Mr PETRIE asked the Government, “ Whethev they will cause a geological survey to he made of the coal measures on .the north bank of the Grey River, and extending northward to the Razorback ?” —The Hon. T. DICK said the Government would be glad to carry out the wishes of the hon. member. Mr W. C. BUCHANAN asked the Government, " Whether, in view of two recent accidents on the Wellington-Masterton line of railway, they will discontinue the running of mixed trains on that line ?” With regard to the first accident an inquiry was made, and he did not think it was ever ascertained what the cause of the accident was. He did not know the result of the second inquiry, but he knew that more than two accidents had taken place. —The Hon. W. JOHNSTON said he would take every possible precaution against danger to life, and would take the hon member’s suggestion into consideration. Mr SHRIMSKI asked the Government, “Whether the site set apart for a Customhouse at Oamaru has been let by the Government ; and, if not, will they take steps to prevent persons occupying the same ? ’ —-The Hon. H. A. ATKINSON said he would. take steps to have the ground let or to to prohibit persons using it. „ Mr DANIEL asked the Government, If they will cause inquiry to he made into the best site for a wharf about to be erected in the Riverton Harbor ; and whether they will instruct the Marine Engineer to >eport on the same ?”—The Hon. H. A. ATKINSON said he would be very glad to assist the local body if he could do So. „ _ , Mr WRIGHT asked the Minister for Public Works, “If he can state when the suspension bridge at the Gorge of the Rakaia is likely to be finished; also what steps are being taken to make good the communication over the south channel of the river?” The Hon. W. JOHNSTON said the work would be completed in about three months. Step 3 were being taken to bridge the South Channel.

NEW BILLS. Leave was given to introduce the following new Bills, which were read a first time and ordered to be printed:—The Borough of Hamilton Boundaries Bill (Hon. T. Dick); second reading fixed for Tuesday next. The Westland High School (No. 2) .Bill (Mr Weston); referred to the Local Bills Committee. A Bill to amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876 (Mr Hutchison); second reading fixed for Wednesday next. MOTIONS. Mr SHEEHAN moved, “That the Select Committee appointed to report on certain cases tried before the Election Petitions Courts consist of the Hon. Mr Dick, Captain Morris, Mr Turnbull, Mr Wynn Williams, Mr Fitz Gerald, Mr Weston, Mr Conolly, Mr Shrimski, Mr Macandrew, and the mover. Three to he the quorum ; to report in three weeks.” —Carried. * Mr J. GREEN moved, “That all papers in any way connected with the reque-t of certain settlers and ratepayers in the northern portion of the Waikouaiti County, that the same may be separated from the southern portion thereof, as also a copy of the ratepayers’ roll for the present year, be laid before this House. ” —Carried. Mr DANIEL moved, “Fora return showing the several amounts paid to each person under the Civil Service Act, 1866, as gratuities, and the pensions allotted under the said Act during the last financial year, and of which the gross amount is L 30,352, as stated on page 6 of the Estimates, under the head of ‘ Permanent Charges.’ ” —Carried. WESTLAND EDUCATION DISTRICT SUBDIVISION BILL. Mr SEDDON moved the second reading of this Bill, saying that its principal object was economy. Educational matters on the West Coast of the South Island were far from satisfactory, and there was a general desire there that such a Bill should become law. It was highly necessary that the Board should be prevented from interfering, and that Committees should be left to carry out the functions which the Legislature intended them to perform. Mr PETRIE opposed the Bill, and defended the manner in which the education system was administered by the Westland Board. He did not agree with the statement that if the district were divided into two the departmental expenses would be less. He trusted that hon. members would not consent to the division of a small district, which would not be able to get along at all if it had to provide for two Boards. He therefore moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr WESTON thought the best solution cf the difficulty would be for the question to be fought out without any reference to the House. The whole thing arose out of jealousy between Greymouth and Reefton, and the House might as well interfere between husband and wife as between those two places. When those districts saw that the Legislature would not interfere with their grievances, they would learn, like married couples ought to do, to quarrel and make it up again. Mr FITZGERALD was in favor of a division of the Westland District, for. the feeling between the two portions was so bitter that it was impossible that the cause of education could prosper while they remained united. If a separation took place it was his opinion that each of the two new districts could support itself, and that the expenses of management would be very small. Mr MUNRO supported the Bill. Mr MACANDREW thought the Hon. the Minister of Education should favor the House with his views on the subject. The Hon. T. DICK said he had not much to say, but he had been sorry to see the state of affairs on the West Coast. So far as he was aware, the feeling had become so intense between the two parties that it seemed advisable to allow them to separate. If this were done, however, care should be taken that there was no unnecessary expenditure in connection with the arrangement. On a division, the motion was lost by 37 votes to 21, and the amendment that the Bill should be read that day six months was carried on the voices.

NELSON COLLEGE ACT, 1858, AMENDMENT BILL. Mr SHEPHARD moved the committal of this Bill, explaining that its object was to establish a college for girls in connection with the Nelson College. The motion was carried, and the House went into Committee on the Bill, which was reported without amendments, read a third time, and passed. OTAGO HARBOR BOARD FURTHER EMPOWERING BILL. On the motion of Mr H, S. FISH, the House

went into Committee to further consider the Otago Harbor Board Further Empowering Bill The CHAIRMAN said the amendment hefore the House was that clause 2 should be amended by the reduction of the amount to he borrowed from L 300,000 to L 200,000. A division took place, and the amendment was carried by 53 votes to 14. At 5.30 p.m, the Chairman left the chair.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MESSAGE FROM THE COUNCIL. . A message was received from the Legislative Council transmitting the Railways Construction and Land Act Amendment Act, 1882, and asking the concurrence of the House with the same. The Bill was read, a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS. Mr FISH asked for a suspension of the Standing Orders to enable him to move that the House proceed with the Otago Harbor Board Further Empowering Bill in Committee. The SPEAKER said it was necessary that 64 members should be present to consent to such a course. The number present was seven short of that number.

FENCING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr SMITH moved the second reading of the Fencing Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, saying that he would be prepared to fully explain its provisions in Committee, and accept any reasonable amendments. Mr STEVENS said the Bill would meet with general favor from all the bush settlers in the North island. Mr BEETHAM said the House should be very careful in interfering with the Act of 1881, which had been fully considered on every point at the time it was passed. Mr PYKE was of opinion that the Bill was likely to interfere with private rights, and he would oppose. Mr W. C. BUCHANAN did not think the Act ought to be passed as it stood. Mr HURSTHOUSE considered that the Bill might he the cause of great hardship, and he would therefore move that it be read a second time that day six months. The Hon. J. BRYCE said the portion of the Act sought to be amended had been fully considered last year and during previous years. There were parts of the colony where the provisions sought to be introduced would be highly suitable ; but in country that was not covered with bush it might cause a great deal of mischief by rendering legal the destruction of bush that had been planted and cultivated at great cost for purposes of shelter. Mr SMITH thought a clause could be introduced providing that belts of timber for ornament or shelter should not be cut down.. The present Act said that there should be a clearing of 12ft each side of a fence, but that is frequently found to be insufficient, and a clearing of half a chain on each side, as provided by his Bill, was quite necessary. He thought that those who nad taken up bush land from the Government were fully entitled to the relief which this Bill gave them. The motion for the second reading of the Bill was carried on the voices, and the Bill ordered to be committed in a month. HAWKERS AND PEDLARS BILL. Mr M. W. GREEN the second reading of the Hawkers and Pedlars Bill. Mr LEVESTAM said it was almost unheard of for an hon. member to move the second reading of a Bill without explaining it. There were many things in the Bill that required a great deal of explanation. The Bill stated that the hawkers’ license fee was to be L 6, but the Bill did not say who was to get the L 6. He would vote against the second reading. Mr J. C. BROWN said the Bill was a short one of very few clauses, and easily understood. Mr BRACKEN said the Bill had been introduced because hawkers suffered a very great hardship by having to take out a fresh license in each district ©r borough. No other class bf traders in the colony were treated so unfairly as hawkers and pedlars. Colonel TRIMBLE regarded the Bill as an unwarantable interference with an Act which had not been found to work badly. The hawkers were dealt with under the Counties Act and the Municipal Corporations Act. The new Bill said something about hawkers being forbidden to carry and sell spirits, but they were not allowed to do so at present. The Bill said that certain ordinances of the Provincial Council were to be repealed, and he did not think many hon. members knew what the effect of this would be. He moved that the Bill should be read a second time that day six month. Mr PYKE seconded the amendment. On a goldfield if a man moved his store from one gully to another he had to pay for a fresh business license, and yet it was proposed that hawkers should be allowed to run over the country and compete with them by paying one license. He thought hawkers often caused a great deal of mischief by inducing women to purchase articles without the knowledge of their husbands. He knew of one hawker who had tried to get up a raffle for Bibles, bnt the police stopped the disgraceful affair. It was also a well known fact that these men did carry spirits about with them. Mr FISH said he knew there was great complaint among hawkers at having to pay so many licenses. At the same time he must admit that it was hardly fair that a man by paying a small fee should be able to go about the country and trade to the disadvantage of those who had paid rates and taxes. On the whole he felt inclined to support the amendment. Mr DE LAUTOUR hoped the Bill would not pass, for he did not consider it a just one. What did the hon. member mean in clause 5 by providing that forgery should be a felony, and then forgetting to provide>ny penalty for forging licenses ? Mr DUNCAN thought the few words said in favor of the Bill by the hon. member for Dunedin Central were sufficient to condemn it. He supported the amendment. Mr H. THOMPSON contended that there was not the slightest necessity for the Bill that had been introduced. Mr SHRIMSKI defended the hawkers, and said many of them were more respectable than a great many shopkeepers. It was only natural that the shopkeepers should desire to keep all the trade in their own hands. After some remarks from Messrs Levestam and Sutton, Mr M. W. GREEN said he had been charged with having been guilty of the extremes of brevity and prolixity. (Hear, hear.) He was not awiSre that he had ever been guilty of prolixity. (Laughter.) In not making any remarks in introducing the Bill, he thought he was consulting the feelings of hon. members, and there was ample precedent for the course he had taken. He contended that the Bill would result in a limitation of hawking, owing to the fees imposed upon hawkers who went outside a provincial district in which they took out a license. He could not see that any objection to clause 5, which made tin forging of a license a felony, could be raised. He urged on the House that the Bill was not one of mere sentiment, but one that was urgently necessary for the relief of a large class of persons. He hoped hon. members would allow the second reading of the Bill to pass.

After some further discussion a division was taken, and the amendment, to the effect that the Bill should be read a second time that day six months, was carried by 56 votes to 16. GOLD DUTIES ABOLITION BILL. Mr SEDDON moved that the Speaker should leave the chair in order that the House might go into Committee on the Gold Duties Abolition Bill.

The Hon. W. ROLLESTON said the matter had been pretty well thrashed out for years past, but still the Bill was one that required the most careful consideration. If the Bill were passed, the House was really taking over the liabilities,of the counties for a sum of L 30.000. In the future, provision would also have to be made for necessary works in gold districts, and he for one would be found advocating that provision should be made for them out of the consolidated revenue of the colony. Mr J. O. BROWN said the Bill was one which commended itself to hon. members, and he thought it would be passed by a large m I pYICE said the Hon. the Minister of Lands had scarcely put the case fairly, for the balances of liability were continually fluctuating. He had good reason to believe that the L 30.000 referred to was not the debit balance, but the credit to which the Banks had agreed to allow the counties to draw. It seemed to him that quite a needless alarm was being raised. If they had the whole returns before them he thought L12.,000 would represent the whole of the liability, out of which only a proportion was secured on gold revenue. He was, however, glad to hear the hon. member for Avon state in a manly way that, if the gold duty were abolished, he would he in favor of supplying other revenue to goldfield districts. It was high time that this special taxation on a special class was done away with. Mr PETRIE said if the Minister for Mines had taken the stand on a former occasion that he did now, the whole question would have been discussed on a broad basis. The return that had been placed before them was a most misleading one. Even supposing it were true that the liabilities amounted to L30.0Q0, he would remind hon. members that the gold duty amounted to L 60.000 per annum. Mr MUNRO said that when the debate on the second reading of the Bill had taken place, it was asserted that the miners were not in favor of the abolition of the gold duty, but since that time there had been a pretty general expression of opinion in favor of it by means of public meetings or otherwise. Mr HURSTHOUSE supported the second reading of the Bill, and said he had some amendments to move in Committee. Mr CONOLLY opposed the Bill, arid said that in doing so he was acting in accordance with the opinions of a number of his. constituents, who were miners. If the abolition of the gold duty was to he optional with the local bodies of the North Island, he could not see why a similar right should not be left in the hands of the local bodies in the gold districts of the South Island. Mr SEDDON said the miners would he glad to pay a road-maintenance rate if the duty on gold were abolished. The tax was admitted on all sides to he unjust, and they did not deserve the name of representatives of the people if they did not abolish it. There was L 20,000 a year derived from goldfields, but apart from gold duty, which it was not proposed to touch at all. The local bodies had had fair warning last session and the session before. On a division being called for on the motion for going into Committee, the result was ayes 34, noes 40. WIDTH OF STREETS AND ROADS BILL. On the motion of Mr W. J. THOMSON, the House went into Committee on the Width of Streets and Roads Bill. The Bill was reported with a few small amendments, and it was resolved to consider them in a week. At 10.25 the Speaker left the chair for half-an-hour, resuming it at 10.55 p.m. MAORI REPRESENTATION BILL, NO. 2. On the motion of Mr TAIAROA,. the order of the day for the second reading of the Maori Representation Bill, No. 2, was postponed until after order of the day No. 12, in order that it might come on immediately before the order for the continuation of the debate on the Maori Representation Bill introduced by Mr Hobbs. VAGRANT ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

On the motion of Mr O’CALLAGHAN, the report of the Committee on the Vagrant Act Amendment Biil was agreed to, and the Bill read a third time and passed without discussion.

NATIVE COMMITTEES EMPOWERING BILL. Mr TOM OANA moved the second reading of this Bill, saying that he did so. at the earnest solicitation of many of the Maori people. The object of the Bill was to enable Committees to deal with matters which arose in their districts. At present these Committees dealt with persons who were addicted to strong drink, but the Natives frequently refused to pay the fines. The Committees also dealt with personal disputes, and disputes with reference to land, but they could not enforce their decisions, and that was why he desired the Bill to pass. The Hon. J. BRYCE said the Bill was one which should be introduced, if introduced at all, under the approval of the Government. It was a Bill to which he could not assent in a hasty manner, for it proposed to. allow of the erection of Courts of Justice in a very loose and imperfect manner, and these Courts were to consist of Natives. This, he contended, would interfere with existing institutions.. It was proposed to give these Courts a jurisdiction up to L2O, and power to inflict penalties. These Courts were to deal with one section of Her Majesty’s subjects, and this he regarded as a most objectionable feature. Justices of the Peace were to be called on by the Committees to carry their decisions into effect. The matter was one which required serious consideration, and should not be settled without debate. Proceedings in ordinary Courts of justice were to be barred on the certificate of the Chairman of these Committees, and their decisions were also to he considered by the Native Land Courts. Mr TURNBULL said the Bill had been read and admired by many hon members, who regretted that such a measure had not been introduced by the Government. The real effect of the Bill was to place the Native Minister in a dominant position with regard to the Maori race.

Mr MOSS said the Courts it was proposed to create were really Courts of Arbitration, which were very much wanted among ourselves.

Mr SHEEHAN said he would support tlie Bill, which had passed the House last year by consent.

Mr. TAIAROA said the Bill was necessary to give effect to the decisions of Native Assessors and Committees. —Mr STEWARD supported the Bill as an honest effort on the part of the Natives to assist in the government of the country. —Mr TAWHAI also supported the Bill, because the whole of his constituents were in its favor. He appealed to the Native Minister, and to all members to consent to the second reading.—Mr WESTON thought the proposal was really to establish a Court of Arbitration, Nothing could be fairer than the

rafeDiiwSfj’lYSs 5=2? f[ STSTSSiS SE knew that they must abide by the general *&3 •S.'ST-dEJ-ihvi tsS sja^»r43ss: GOMERY considered the Bill likely to lead trood results. After other members had spoken, the Hon. W. ROLLESTON said he considered it as being of a mischievous character.—Mr M. W. GREEN spoke at some length in its favor. The second reading of the Bui was eventually carried by 38 votes to 24, and it was ordered to be committed on August 3. The House rose at 1.10.