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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4155, 15 July 1874, Page 2

The indebtedness of the Colony is a subject about which so much has been said in an indirect manner that to have the question plainly asked, —are we to go in for more loans, or rest satisfied ?—is sure to have good results. The motion which Mr. Waterhouse brought before the Legislative Council yesterday was to this effect: —"That this Council would see with regret any increase to the general indebtedness of the Colony, except for the purpose of completing undertakings already authorised, until such time as the, works now in progress are so far completed as to enable a reliable opinion to be formed as to the capability of the Colony to meet the annual expenditure thereby required, without having recourse to a degree of taxation which might injuriously affect the industrial resources of the Colony." Last year, and the year before, we had long discussions on the large amount of borrowing which prevailed, the inability of the country to pay even the interest xipon its large public works, and the general- insolvency to which the country was -tending. Several lion. members were clear-headed enough to see that most of this was "much ado about nothing." Now we have the whole matter put in the form of a moderately intelligible resolution, and members asked to Bay "yes" or "no." It is only just to Mr. Waterhouse to say that on this occasion ho waß most moderate and unimpassioned in his statements and figures. Members who had expected a scene were disappointed. Yesterday he actually held out some prospect of our not sinking into that irretrievable ruin and disgrace which he asserted our prodigal habits would bring us to in a decade in Iris speech on the Address. The result may be imagined. The motion was lost " on the voices." : The Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill was the subject of some discussion in the Houso yesterday, on the second reading. Mr. Luckie took, exception to the power proposed to be conferred on any person who saw anothor person committing a breach of the Act, though it might be accidentally, of apprehending and carrying him before a justice of the peace, while a penalty, double that usually imposed, or two months' imprisonment, might be accorded to anyone who resisted apprehension under the circumstances. He regarded such a power as dangerous to personal liberty, and in that view was supported by Mr. J. Shephard. Mr. "Vogel stated that there would be ample opportunity in committee to discuss the details of the measure. He would consult the - Attorney-General as _ to whether there was any special reason for fixing the penalty in tho Bill in the case alluded to at the amount now stated in the Bill, and also aa to the clauses of which notice had been given by Mr. Fox, as to which he had not yet been able to communicate with the legal advisers of

the Government. With regard to the suggestion of • Major Atkinson, he reminded the House that though it appeared a simple thing, and likely to answer the purpose in view, to post the copy of a telegram immediately after the message was despatched, it might not be practicable to carry it excepting at some cost. If that courae were adopted, there would be no opportunity of checking the business of the smaller offices, and seeing that the proper amounts were received or charged. At present, about thirty thousand telegrams were received monthly at the head office for examination. He estimated that to check and re-post those telegrams would require a staff of five or six clerks, but as females would be particularly adapted to the work the cost, including stationery, would not exceed £I2OO a-year. But for the expense there would be no objection to some such plan. He was not, he said, disposed to make the proposal himself, not being quite sure that the proposed change would accomplish all that was expected from it, and he would prefer that some hon. member should take action in the matter in committee. Telegrams, it was to be remembered, were at present held accessible to both sender and receiver ; but letters posted .were not accessible to the sender after their delivery. On the understanding that the objection taken by the honmember for Nelson, and the proposal of Major Atkinson, would be fully discussed in committee, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday next.

The Kegulation of Mines Bill was read a second time in the House of Representatives yesterday, on the motion of Mr. Richardson, but is not unlikely to meet with considerable criticism in Committee. The general feeling of members seemed to be of approval of the measure. Mr. Buckland and others thought the Bill was calculated to do a great deal of good, and that the Ministry, for introducing it, deserved the thanks of the country. Mr. Tribe, on the contrary, thought it was a mischievous Bill, and calculated to do more harm than good—an opinion which seemed somewhat to astonish the Minister of Public Works, who explained that it was based on English legislation of so late a date as 1872, and on the latest Act on the subject in Victoria, the clauses of which had been taken seriatim and adapted to the circumstances of New. Zealand. Mr. Shechan remarked that one class of mining —that in qxiarries—had been entirely lost sight of, although more accidents occurred in quarries than in any other kind of mining ; but was answered by Mr. Eichardson that the law as it stood provided for the regulation of mining in quarries. Mr. O'Neill observed that no attention had been given to the recommendations that had lately been forwarded to the Government on the subject of accidents from defective boilers, adding that the qualifications of those who were entrusted with the charge of boilers, and other machinery, should be examined as well as the boilers and machinery. To this Mr. Richardson answered that another measure, applying especially to accidents through defective boilers and machinery was prepared, or in preparation. Mr. J. Shephard proposed that the clause leaving the operation of the Act to the will of the Provincial authorities, should be omitted ; and recommended the division of the measure into two Bills, one to deal with gold-mining, and the other with mining for other metals and minerals. Mr. Steward thought there should be regulations for lighting mines, the prevention of fire-damp, periodical inspection, &c. Another member (Mr. Tribe) thought the only good thing in the Bill was the clause restricting the employment of women and children. Altogether, for a measure which appears to be generally approved of, this Bill has the prospect of considerable " clouting of the cauldron" in committee.

Mr. Reynolds's " little Bill," the Municipal Reserves Bill, which was read a second time in the House last night, and will be taken in charge by the Committee on Friday, met with some adverse criticism, especially from Mr. J. L. Gillies, who thought that the title of the Bill'was a misnomer. It did not, he said, convey the real meaning of the measure, which was one really to interpret wl\at was the meaning of the words " objects of utility" as applied to reserves. Many reserves had been made, and a good many by Provincial Councils, for objects which were so described ; but it appeared that doubts had since arisen as to the meaning of that phrase, and the AttorneyGeneral and the present Government held that it was much more limited than had previously, been supposed. He could not see why the scope of the Bill should be confined to one class of reserves and should not be extended to include lands set apart and handed over to public bodies for hospitals, parks, &c. He argued that if it was improper for Provincial Governments to have the power of proclaimingreserves, that power should be abolished ; but if they had that right no Executive Government should be allowed to interfere. Mr. Mervyn thought the rights as to reserves of towns not yet incorporated should be protected as well as those which were ; and was assured by Mr. Richardson that the Bill provided for the cases the hon. member for Mount Ida alluded to.

WHEN the Supreme Court Judges Bill was before the House last night for the second reading, Mr. Vogel took occasion to refer to the case of Sir George Amey, for whom insufficient provision had been made, seeing that Sir George had come out to New Zealand under large expectations held out to him by Mr. Laboucherc, who was then Secretary of State for the Colonies. Mr. •J. E. Browne thought that a new Bill should be introduced to regulate the scale of retiring allowances to Judges.