PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4163, 24 July 1874, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, July 23. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at two p.m. Several notices of motion were given, amongst which was one from Mr. AVaterhouse, respecting the disposal of acquired land, either by leasing or otherwise. A motion was introduced by consent, and carried, that a committee of the Council should be appointed to inquire into matters respecting the Ward-Chapman correspondence and telegrams. The Hon. Mr. HART moved, —“For leave to bring in a Bill to relieve Returning Officers from responsibility in certain cases.” Thehon. member said these gentlemen could not vote, but if there was a tie, in the case of rival candidates, they had a casting vote. In other Colonies, he believed that they were independent men, who could afford to give votes independently of their appointments. Here, although such a case had not occurred to his knowledge, it might be that, in the case of a tie, they would feel almost compelled to give it in favor of candidates who supported the Government of the day. He proposed to take away from them the right of the casting vote, and allow the candidates to decide by lot—by putting two names in a box and drawing one—which the Returning Officer might read. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN said it was usual to allow an hon. member to bring in a Bill without committing the Government to its support. Leave was given, and the second reading of the Bill was fixed for that day week. The Hon. Mr. ACKLAND moved the recommittal of the Inspection of Machinery Bill. After some discussion in reference to whether a Bill should be re-committed without there being specified the clauses proposed to he amended, which the Chairman ruled was not desirable, the motion was amended and carried. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN pointed out that the Bill was permissive, and could only apply to any district after such application had been made through the Superintendents of Provinces. The Hon. Col. KENNY moved that the proposed amendments should be printed, otherwise hon. members could not tell what effect they might have. This was carried. In committee on the AVestland Loan Bill, The Hon. Dr. POLLEN said he had obtained the opinion of the law officers of the Government respecting the preamble, and they considered it to he in a correct form. He, however, should not object to it being amended. Hie Hon. Mr. AVATERHOUSB moved that several lines in it specifying the original sum authorised to be raised, and the amount of the premium, should be struck out, making it a preamble to a Bill for expending an unexpended balance. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN thought the preamble as thus altered would be too bald, and he suggested an amendment of a less sweeping character, but which would strike out the amount of the original Loan Bill. The amendment was put, and a call was made for a division, when the words were declared to be struck out. The Hon. Mr. AVATERHOUSE observed that the proposer of the amendment had voted against it. He thought it was unadvisable for an hon. member to throw down a bone of contention, and then when the division was taken, abandon it. The CHAIRMAN ruled that the mover of an amendment could not vote against it. The third reading of the Bill was fixed for this day, and the Council adjourned until the usual hour next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 23. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. ASHBURTON BRIDGE. Mr. G. B. PARKER asked,—" AVhether a representation from the inhabitants of the Ashburton District, on the subject of the construction of the Ashburton Bridge, has reached the Minister for Public Works; and whether their suggestions are likely to bo complied with.” Mr. RICHARDSON replied that since the receipt of the first representation from the inhabitants of the district, the Engiueer-in-Chief and himself had visited the district. The Engineer-in-Chief made inquiries upon the subject, and his opinion was that to place a larger bridge over the Ashburton than that proposed, would entail a heavy expenditure and be of no additional use. The representation was made [Mr. Oarruthers went on to say] under the impression that the railway embankment was so low that the river would pass round about it and flood the township. The embankment was quite high enough, and beyond that it would be properly protected. GERALDINE POST AND TELEGRAPH OPFICB. Mr. G. B. PARKER asked, —“AVhen the Post and Telegraph Office will be opened at Geraldine,” Mr. RICHARDSON replied that the delay had occurred through the inability of the department to get a site, which obtained, the office would he erected at once. LIGHT RAILWAY STOCK. Mr. STEWARD asked,—“ Whether the attention of the Minister for Public Works has been drawn to tho desirability of taking steps to secure that the rolling stock employed on Provincial branch railways shall be of such pattern as that tho engines, carriages, and waggons can be used on the main lines ; and if it is intended to make provision to that effect.” Branch railways were being constructed in Otago of tho same guage as the main trank lines, and ho desired to know if tho rolling stock would be such as could bo used upon the main lines, and consequently do away with a transfer of produce. It would ho well if tho attention of the Government were directed to the subject to ascertain whether it was intended to prevent such a circumstance as rolling stock other than that which could Do made available for uso on tho main lines being

ordered, arising in regard to branch lines to bo constructed in the future. Mr. RICHARDSON replied that the attention of the Government had been directed to the subject. With regard to branch lines, under the control of the Public Works Department, the rolling stock _ would be similar to that used on the main lines. With regard to branch lines constructed by the Provincial authorities of Otago, he was not in a position to say whether the rolling stock for them would be available for the trunk lines, but he had no doubt from the usual foresight of those who had the direction of affairs in Otago that care had been taken to provide rolling stock of the class referred to. TELEGRAPH TO GISBORNE. Mr. W. KELLY asked,—“ When the line of telegraph to Gisborne, Poverty Bay, will be completed.” Mr. RICHARDSON replied, that, owing to the heavy weather on that part of the coast alluded to, great difficulty had been experienced in landing the material. It was anticipated that the line would be open within six months. REPORT. The SPEAKER laid on the table his report in reference to the claims of Wellington against the Colony, in respect of land at Manawatu. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Mr. RICHARDSON intimated that he would make his Public Works Statement to-morrow (Friday). BILLS. Leave was given to Mr. Pearce to introduce a Bill to authorise the Municipal Corporation of the City of Wellington to borrow a further sum of Twenty-five Thousand Pounds for the purposes of the Waterworks of the City ; to Mr. Bunny to introduce a Bill to provide for the reclamation of part of the Foreshore at Te Aro, in the City of Wellington ; and to enable the Corporation of the City of Wellington aforesaid, to raise a sum of £150,000; and a Bill to provide for the election of Mayor of the City of Wellington ; to Mr. Fitzlrerbert to introduce a Bill to provide for the payment for the Construction of Public Works in the Province of Wellington in Land or Money ; and to Mr. Macarrdrew to introduce a Bill to amend The Southland Waste Lands Act Amendment Act, 1873. ONEHDNGA RAILWAY. Mr. SHEEHAN moved,—“ That a return be laid upon tire table showing the receipt and expenditure and cost of maintenance upon the Onehunga branch of Auckland and Waikato Railway since the line was taken over by the Government until 30th June last.” Agreed to. AUSTRALIAN WINES. Mr. O’NEILL moved, —“That a return be laid on the table of this House, showing the amounts collected as duties on the importation to this Colony of Australian wines, during the year ended June 1871.” One of his objects in asking for the information was to see whether the Colony should decide in dealing with other Colonies for reciprocity to make some reduction of the duties on Australian wines. The advantage of introducing these wines duty free would he great, and would conduce as much as anything else to the sobriety of the people. Mr. REYNOLDS remarked that the Government were not prepared at the present time to take the question of admitting Australian wines free of duty into consideration. It was impossible to supply the return asked for, because the Customs Department made no distinction between Australian and foreign wines while most of the latter description of wines were imported via Melbourne. Motion withdrawn. SELECT COMMITTEE ON DISTILLATION. Mr. REYNOLDS moved, —“That a Select Committee of twelve members be appointed, with power to call for persons and papers, to report in eight days (five to be a quorum), to inquire,—Whether the proposed increase of Excise duties is inconsistent with good faith to those who have embarked in the business of distilling. Whether it would be expedient to altogether stop the distillation of spirits in the Colony; and upon what terms such measure could be adopted. The Committee to consist of Major Atkinson, Mr. Bryce, Mr. Hunter, Captain Kenny, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Reid, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. May, Mr. Tolmie, Sir J. C. Wilson, and the Mover.” Agreed to. PRODUCTION OP PAPERS. Mr. SHEEHAN moved, —“That copies of the memorandum by the Native Minister, and reports from the Under-Secretary to the Government, mentioned in His Excellency's despatch, No. 73, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley, be laid on the table.” Mr. VOGEL replied that there was a difficulty in the- way of producing the Undersecretary’s reports to the Government, because they had been sent to England without any copy of them being taken. Ho did not know whether the report of the Native Minister was in the same position ; but if not, there would be no objection to laying it on the table. Motion carried. NABEBY SLUDGE CHANNEL. Mr. MBRVYN moved, —“That, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that the Sludge Channel at Nasehy should be deepened, in accordance with the recommendation of the Provincial authorities of Otago.” Since this matter was lost before the House, he had been informed that the decision arrived at by the Government was come to in consequence of a misconception of the facts of the case, and that they were quite prepared to reconsider their decision. As no practical purpose could be attained by now raising the question at any length, he simply moved the motion pro forma in order that the Minister of Public Works might make any statement ho thought desirable. Mr. RICHARDSON observed that since the motion had been put on the Order Paper information had reached the Government which placed a different complexion on the whole affair, from what he personally had understood the people interested in the district intended it to be, and as he now understood it from a very hurried glance at the papers, the Government might be able to meet the wishes of the people of the district. The Government would reconsider the whole matter. Motion withdrawn. RETURN OE EXPENDITURE ON NASEBY SLUDGE CHANNEL. Mr. MEBVYN moved, —“For a return of all sums of money expended upon tbo construction of the Sludge Channel at Nasehy, and supply of water to the Mount Ida goldfields ; also, the amount of liabilities due on account of existing contracts.” Agreed to. RETURN. Mr. HARRISON moved, —“That a return be laid upon the table, showing the cost charged upon the Consolidated Revenue of each Resident Magistrate’s Court and each District Judge’s Court in the Colony, the number of oases tried, and the amount of revenue derived from each court during the past three years.” Agreed to. GOLDFIELDS AMENDMENT. Mr. CURTIS, in moving tho second reading of the Goldfields Act 1866 Amendment Bill, explained that while the ordinary affairs of tho Province of Nelson were administered under a system of responsible Government, tho powers which were delegated to the Superintendent of the Province under the Goldfields Act of 1806 were not so administered. The affairs of the Nelson goldfields were the most important affairs the Superintendent and Provincial Government of Nelson had to administer, and the Provincial Council thought it was desirable that they should bo administered in tho same way as the ordinary affairs of tho Province. With that view he entirely concurred. Mr. BUCKLAND said it was desirable that tho same principle should he extended to other parts of tho Colony than Nelson, and ho intimated that when in committee he would move to that effect. Second reading agreed to. PLAN OF TOWNS REGULATION RILL. On the second reading of this Bill, moved by Mr. O’Neill, Mr. RICHARDSON said he had given his attention to tho matter with tho view of bringing in a Bill on tho subject, but he found it hedged with so many difficulties that ho was unable to give the necessary time to the matter. However well a town might ho laid out originally, it was impossible to prevent

the subsequent making of lanes sucb as existed in Melbourne. After the second reading had been agreed to, Mr. VOGEL said the Government had anxiously considered this matter on two occasions with the view of giving effect to such a plan, and also to the consideration whether such a measure as obtained elsewhere could not be introduced ; but the decision arrived at was that it was one of these measures which, while having theoretically very much to_ recommend it, could not practically be given effect to, and seeing the great progress the country was making, and the number of small towns growing up, which, though called towns, were really villages, it might prove rather a hindrance to the progress and advancement of the country. While the GoVernment were willing to carry the Bill beyond its present stage, and did not object to its being committed on Saturday, they hoped that meanwhile the mover -would very much alter the Bill, or else allow it to lapse. Mr. O’NEILL replied that he had waited patiently year after year to see if the Government would do something, and had taken the matter up because they did nothing. The Bill was then ordered to be committed on Wednesday. DECEASED WIFE SISTER’S KARRTAGE. On the third reading of this Bill being moved, Hr. VOGEL said he wished to express his individual Opinion that it was a very great pity that this Bill should pass. He could not think it would add to the reputation of the Colony. It was quite true that a Bill of a similar tendency had been passed in other Colonies, but there was no doubt it had been passed there in obedience to a large amount of pressure in respect of individual cases. The question was one that was being fought out in Great Britain by those who had given an immense amount of attention to it, and it -would he quite time for us to alter our law "when that of Great Britain was altered. These marriages would be looked upon as more or less of a shady charactei*, and he did not think they were making New Zealand attractive to immigrants of all classes by passing this law. Hon. members who supported the Bill should have sufficient courage of their opinions as to he willing to wait for a year or two, until such time as they were able to bring the conservative opinion of the Mother Country into the way of adopting these social reforms. He should vote against the third reading, and although he might be one of a small minority, be should feel pleasure in recording his vote on this occasion. He ventured to hope, notwithstanding the decisions arrived at by the House, this law would never be placed on the Statute Book of the Colony, until it became the law of the whole Empire. Mr. FOX entertained quite a different opinion from the Premier. He could see no reason whatever, nor had it ever been established to his satisfaction }vhy the prohibition existed. They had no right to look at the question from a religious or theological point of view and to base argument on the Mosaic law, as rvas frequently done, but from what was for the good of the community. Sir. J. 0. WILSON hoped not only that the third reading would be agreed to, but that the Bill would soon pass the Upper House. Mr. O’NEILL said the Bill, if carried, would be dangerous to the morality of the Colony, and create division in some of. the closest family relations. He moved that the Bill be read that day six months. A division being called for, there voted ; Ates, 34 : Messrs. Atkinson (teller), Brandon, J. C. Brown, Bryce, Buckland, Carrington, Cuthbertson, Eox, Gibbs, J. L. Gillies, T. B. Gillies, Jackson, W. Kelly, Kenny, Luclde, May, McGlashan, Montgomery, Murray, Ormond, 0. Parker, Pyke, Reid, Richardson, Richmond, Seymour, J. Shephard, Steward (teller), Swanson, Wales, Webb, Williamson, Wilson, Wood. Noes, 17 ;—Messrs. Bluett, Bunny, Curtis, Ingles, Macaudrew, McGiUivray, Mervyn, Munro, O’Neill (teller), O’Rorke (teller), Pearce, Reynolds, Sheehan, Stafford, Thomson, Vogel, Williams. The amendment was therefore negatived, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH AMENDSIEMT BILL. This Bill was further considered in committee, and two amendments proposed by Mr. Vogel—one making it compulsory on the part of the Telegraph Commissioner to produce a telegram when requested to do so by the sender or receiver of the message ; the other making it compulsory on any person summoned before a select committee or royal commission to give evidence as to the contents of a telegram becoming improperly divulged to give sucb evidence on receiving at the hands of the chairman of the select committee or commission an indemnity, which shall servo as a bar to any penalties, criminal or otherwise, to which he might render himself liable by so criminating himself or others—were agreed to, and the Bill was reported. OTHER BILLS. The Wellington Hospital Reserves Loan Bill and the Wellington Special Settlements Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed ; the Oamaru Hospital Reserves Bill and the Regulation of Minos Bill were committed. When the last-mentioned Bill was under discussion, Mr. Reid moved an amendment on clause 4, to the effect that the expenses of carrying out the provisions of the Bill should be defrayed out of the sums voted by the Assembly. On a division there voted' —Ayes, 20 ; noes, 20 ; and the Chairman of Committee (Mr. Seymour) gave his casting vote with the ayes, and the words so added were ordered to stand part of the Bill. When the Municipal Corporations Gas Bill was in committee, Mr. Cuthbertson obtained leave to add a new clause authorising the Bill to be applied to Invercargill, on proclamation by the Governor at the request of the Superintendent of Otago. The Conveyancing Ordinance Amendment Bill and the Offences against the Person Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The Nelson Waterworks Loan Bill and the Provincial Fencing Law Empowering Bill were read a second time. The House then adjourned till the usual hour next day.