PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4196, 1 September 1874, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, August 31. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at half-past two o'clock. THE PROROGATION. His Excellency arrived punctually at three o'clock, with the usual ceremonies. A company of the. Armed Constabulary farmed a guard" of honor in front of the Legislative Council, and the Volunteer Artillery fired a Royal salute as His Excellency drove up, and again as he departed. The galleries were well filled with ladies and other spectators. Lady Pergusson occupied a chair in the body of the Chamber. The Lower House having been summoned and appeared at the bar, His Excellency read the following speech : Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of tub House op Repre--1 sentativzs, — I have to, thank you for the attention which you have paid: to the discharge of your onerous duties during the short but very arduous ' session which I am now about to terminate. This is the last occasion upon which I shall have the honor of addressing you from this fplace. I desire to assure yOu that, in resigning the high office which I have held but for a short, term, I am deeply sensible of, the constant courtesy and consideration which have been shown to me by all "with whom I have been brought into contact, whether in official or private relations; that in returning to a. private station at Home, I shall retain a deep interest in the welfare of this most promising community; and that I shall deem it not less a privilege than a duty to serve itsinterests, in so far as my humble means and opportunities may enable me. • I anticipate great benefit to the Colony from the State Forests Act which you have passed, providing as it does for theVsettirig" apart of forests which will not only be;of use in' maintaining the future industries of the Colony, but which may be expected to have a beneficial effect on its climato and upon the productiveness of its lands. Providing as the Act does machinery for the establishment of State forests, I am not disposed to regret a short delay in determining the actual positions of the forests. You have unmistakably committed the Colony to the establishment of State forests, and it will be' your duty to see that adequate lands are provided for them, from which sufficient revenues will be obtainable to do justice to your intentions. , '■'. - . ■_- You have passed many measures this session which will materially aid in carrying on the public service of the Colony, and in remedying defects which experience has proved to exist. I regret that the length of the session did not enable you to deal with the question of pro-: moting commercial intercourse with Polynesia. It is one which I hope will have your careful consideration ; and it.will be the duty of my advisers to bear in mind the large interest which New Zealand has in the' subject, with a view of bringing it before you on a future occasion. .'

The attention of; my advisers will be earnestly given to further, continuing public works and promoting, immigration. The re-establishment of the Californian. Mail Packet Service, in conjunction with .New South Wales, and the giving effect to provisions already agreed to" for the establishment of cable communication with other parts of the world, will also have the zealous attention of my adviseri. ; ■> "... Gentlemen of the House of Representa- . TIVES, — I acknowledge with pleasure the provisions you have made for the public service ; and it will be the care of my advisers to administer them with the utmost economy consistent .with* efficiency. . h ; »- Honorable Legislative 'Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— • This session will be memorable for the decisive step which has; been taken in the direction of abolishing the/form of Provincial Government in the North Island. The opinion of the House of Representatives has been expressed by the large majority which ,voted in favor of the resolutions; whilst the debates in the Legislative-Council have left no room to doubt that that Chamber is also favorable to the proposed policy. For some years past there has grown up the belief that the Provincial system in this Island does not really afford that amount of Local Government the people desire. The decision arrived at is memorable, also, for the desire : which the. Legislature manifests, that the Land Fund of the Colony should'be applied to suitable purposes, and, as far as possible, "be localised. ; That decision must effectually do away with . apprehensions in any part of the country, that change' in the Pro-, vincial system would mean an absorption of the Land Fund in opposition to the opinions, upon the subject which have been confirmed during a long course of years. I hope that the Provincial Governments of the North Island, loyally recognising the decision, of the House of Representatives, will," during the recess, exert themselves to the utmost to so manage the affairs of the Provinces as to enable the projected cbangeto-be effected next year with the least possible inconvenience. ' I am glad to be able to continue to remind you of the increasing prosperity of the Colony. I hope that the success which has attended your past efforts will, under the blessing of Divine Providence, continue to make itself manifest in the futuro ; and that you will live to see the result in New Zealand becoming the home of a large, prosperous, and contented population. Members then dispersed, and thej business of the session was over. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. - Monday, August 31. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. MEMBERS PRESENT. The following members were present : —The Hon. Mr. Vogel, Sir Donald McLean, the Hon. Mr. Richardson, the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, the Hon. Mr.' Parata, the Hon. Mr. Katene, Messrs. Curtis, Harrison, Kenny, Fitzherbort, Hunter, Pearce, Fox, O'Neill, Camngton, Brandon, Williams, J. L. Gillios, Webstor, Johnston, Ingles, J. B. Parker, J. C. Brown, Tribe, and Mervyn. MEASURES PASSED DURING TUB SESSION. The Speaker read the .following schedule of business' of the House of Representatives during the session : 1. New Writs Issued— During the recess of 1873 ... 5 During the session of 1874 ... 2 / 7 2. Select Committees— On Public Matters 8 On Private Bills 3 3. Standing Committees 13 Ditto on Private Bills 3 ' 4. Public Bills— Originated in the Houu — Received the Royal Assent ...72 Reserved for the signification of Her Majesty'B pleasure .). 1 Dropped or otherwise disposed of ... ... ... ... 33 Brought from Council — Received the Royal Assent ... 10 Reserved for the signification of • Her Majesty's.pleasure ...'2 _ Pending 1 —ll9 5. Private Bills— Originated in tho House ... 2 6. Petitions Received ..., ... 127 .7. Divisions In the whole House ? . • In Committee 17

' 8. Sittings ■ ' .Days of Meetings ■ 37 H. m. Hours of Sitting before Mid- ' night ... , ... -••'• 202 " 6 Hours of Sitting after ... ... 11 6 Daily Average ... 5 45 9. Votes and Proceedings:— ... Questions asked of Ministers ... 108 Entries in Journals — Of Notices of Motion ... ... , 505 . Of Orders of the Day 377 —BB2 Daily Average .„ .:. .». 23 10. Orders for Papers 25 11. Addresses 1 12. Papers Laed upon the Table— By Command ... ... ... 116 In Return to Orders. :.. "... 17 By Mr. Speaker ... ... 6 By Act ...' : .... , ... ... 10 By Leave ... ■• ■ ... ... 1 Papers ordered to be Printed ...119 Papers not ordered to be Printed 31 150 13. Rkfouts from Select Committees— Prom the Committee on Public Petitions ... ... ... ... 93 From other Select Committees ... 9 Prom Standing Committees ... 32 —134 LIST OF ACTS PASSED DOTH HOUSES. Appropriation. Auckland Waste Lands. Auckland Harbor. Bankruptcy Act 1867 Amendment. Borough of Thames Tramways. ' Burial Ground Closing: ■••■". -..•.'■-.' " Canterbury Marriages. Conveyancing Ordinance'Amendment, i Cromwell Waterworks. ~'■'.-. Clutha River Trust Reserves. -" City of Christchurch Drainage Debenture! Canterbury Water Supply. City of ■, Dunedin Gasworks. ', fc .', ~ Constitution of the Borough of Westport Proceedings Validation. .. Dunedin Waterworks. David Lewis Retiring Allowance. Electric Telegraph Act Amendment. Employment of Females Act 1873 Amendment. Excise Duties. ~ Government Insurance and Annuities. Goldfields Act Amendment (No. 3). Hawke's Bay Waste Lands Regulations \ ' •' Amendment. Harbor Works, " ' Hokitika Mayors. Harbor Boards Act Amendment. Imprisonment for Debt Abolition. Imprest Supply. ' Inspection of Machinery. Invercargill Gas Loan. Immigration and Public Works Lean. [ Immigration and Public Works. k Juries Act 1868 Amendment. -Justices of the Peace Act Amendment. 3 Licensing Act 1873 Amendment. Land Transfer Act 1870 Amendment. Municipal Reserves. Marlborough Waste Lands Act 1867 Amendment. ...i . Merchant Shipping Acts Adoption. .Municipal'Corporations Acl Amendment. New Zealand University. New Zealand Forests. Nelson Waste Lands. Naval Training Schools. New Plymouth Exchanges Completion. New Plymouth Harbor Board Endowment. Napier Harbor Board. -•NatiTe'T/and AcfAmendmentu • Offences against the Person Act Amendment. Oamaru Hospital Reserves. , Oamaru Harbor Board Land. Otago Provincial Public Works Advances. Otago Reserves, Otago Waste Lauds Administration. Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits. Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits Act 1870 Orders in Council Validation. Oyster Fisheries Act Amendment. Poverty Bay Lands Titles. Presbyterian Church of Otago Lands Act 1866 Amendment. Public Revenues Acts Amendment. Petty Sessions Act Amendment. Provincial Public Works Advances. Railways. Regulation of Mines. Regulation of Elections Act Amendment. Supreme' Court Judges Act Amendment. Taranaki Waste Lands Act Amendment. Taranaki Iron Smelting Works Lands. Taimaro and Waimahana Grants. Volunteer Act Amendment. . Westland Loan Act Amendment Wellington Special Settlements Act Amendment. Wellington Hospital Loan Wellington Waterworks Loan. Wellington Mayors. Wellington Eduaation Reserves Act 1871 Amendment. Wellington Land Payments. Whakataki Grants. Wanganui Mayors. Westland Waste Lauds Act Amendment. Wanganui River Foreshore Graut. Walsh and Others Pension Acts Amendment Wilson Gray Pension. LIST OP BILLS DROPPED OR - OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Auckland Improvement Amendment. Ahikouka Claims Rehearing. Canterbury Public Domains Act 1872 Amend-

ment, Civil Service Acts Amendment. Clyde Waterworks. Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage. Goldfields Act Amendment (No. 1). Goldiields Act Amendment (No. 2). Grass and Forest Fires Prevention. Highways Boards Empowering (No. 2). Hooper and Norton Registration. Municipal Corporations Gasworks. Nelson Waterworks Loan. Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872 Amendment (No. 2). Post Office Savings Banks Act Amendment. Protection of Animals Act Amendment. Railways (No. 1), Southland Waste Lands Act 1873 Amend* ment. Te Aro Reclamation. Volunteer' Land Act 1885 Amendment Act 1873 Amendment. Wellington Volunteer Scrip Act Extension. • ]N THE HOUSE OF HEPBE3ENTATIVES. Awahuri Native Grantees. Dunedin Gas and Water Works. Excise Duties (No. 1). Gpld Mining. ' Highway Boards Empowering Act 1871 Amend-' ment (No. 1). Manawatu Land Orders. Nelson Public Works Loan. Ota<ro Waste Lands Act 1872 Amendment (No. 1). Plans of Towns Regulation. Pacific Islands Trade Encouragement. Qualification of Electors. '• .Registration of Births. PENDING. Wellington Burial Ground. RESEIIVED ACTS. New Zealand Extradition. Provincial Fencing Laws Empowering. Real Estate Descent. ntIVATE ACTS. Colonial Bank of New Zealand. ■ Lyttelton Gas. THK VOI.UNTBERS. Mr. PEARCE asked. Sir Donald McLean whether he would .cause not only the report that had been lately presented to Parliament on the subject of the Volunteers, to bo printed, but also his reply. Ho waa not aware of what the tenor was, either of the report or of the reply, but ho was sure there would be considerable anxiety to know both. Sir DONALD 'MoLEAN said thiro was no difficulty in the matter. Tho report would bo printed, and the reply as well. They would appear with . the rest of. tho Parliamentary papers of the session. Mr. PEARCE said ho would like, further, to ask the attention of the Government, during tho recess, to tho propriety of providing a gymnasium in Wellington for the use of the Volunteers. The members of that body gave up a great deal of time to their duties, and it wa« only proper that their exertions ehould bo rewarded.

sSirDO3SrAI.DfMoLEAN.said the Govern, ment would be quite prepared to provide a gymnasium. They were quite ready to'give an equivalent for services rendered by the Volunteers. The report, to which the hon. member alluded, found fault with the want"of efficiency, which was shown by - some portions of the Volunteer Force.' It- was stated that there were a great many names on the list of. members, but'that very.' little was done in the way of drill, or to maintain their efficiency. There was, in fact, a great want of work. It was proposed that a new system should be introduced.' There should be mtore drill, and, where necessary, a continuous drill of at least six days at a time. Healso thought that there should be a reduction of the numbers, both of the Militia and of the Volunteers. The rate of wages was now high, and naturally attracted the young men of whom the force was composed. Attention would also be given to the military training of boys at school. The'system might not be applicable to all the island, but it would in parts. Hitherto a good deal of money had been spent on the Defence I\ rce, for which there was no return. There had been considerable negligence in some cases, and an absence of the paternal feeling in the management of regiments. A small and thoroughly efficient, force was what he desired to see, and not to keep on paper large returns, which meant little. PAPEKS OKDEBED. Mr. HARRISON asked whether papers ordered during the session, and not brought up on the adjournment, of the House, would be added to the papers of the session ? The SPEAKER said he had not observed that there was any discrepancy between the number of papers ordered and those produced. If there were any, as the hon. member seemed to think, they would come into the ; papers of next session. It wpuld not do to add them to those of the session now about to close. PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. •>-'' : Mr. O'NEILL hoped that the attention of the Government would be given during the recess to the enforcement of the Public Health Act/ ■'An important clause of the measure would come into force on the Ist of June, 1875. He quoted the remarks lately made at 'Dun-' edin by Dr. Bakewell to show how greatly the elements of health were neglected in private houses, even in such young towns as the capital of Otago, and how much the Government was called upon to enforce the provisions of the Act. " Sir DONALD MoLEAN said he had no 1 doubt the attention of the Colonial Secretary would be given to the subject during' the recess. "' ■ .' THE. SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. Mr: VOGEL informed the House that Mr. Thomas Russell had proceeded to Sydney at the request of the-Government, to re-arrange, the California mail service. Mr. WEBSTER asked in what capacity Mr. Russell had gone to Sydney ? '.',:' Mr. VOGEL said Mr. Russell had made the arrangements in England in connection with the contract. He was familiar with the details ;he knew all,the persons affected ; and ' he and Mr. Saul Samuel were _ thoroughly, acquainted with the whole subject. . Mr. Russell went in no official capacity, but simply at the request of the Government. x I A COLONIAL EXHIBITION. Mr. HARRISON said he saw on the Estimates a sum of £2OOO for a .Colonial Museum in London. He quite agreed with the propriety of that vote, but thought that during the recess it might be worth' the attention of the Government whether another Colonial Exhibition would not be A desirable thing to encourage. Nine,years had pas3ed...since the.last Colonial. Exhibition had been held at Duaedin, and he thought that the country would' favor the idea of another next year, or the year following. Such an exhibition would have a good effect. Next year, if the: Government saw the way clear, they might make a proposition for the advancement of the arts and industries of New Zealand. Mr. VOGEL. said these matters generally originated in private enterprise, and then the Government was asked to asnst the object with a subsidy. Perhaps that course might be again followed. MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY. His Excellency's Aide-de-Camp, Captain Fergusson, was then introduced, to convey His Excellency's commands for the attendance of Mr. Speaker, and members of the Chamber in the Legislative Council. The Speaker, followed by. the members who were present, then proceeded: to the Chamber of the Legislative Council. ..•:.. On the re'turn of the Speaker he was congratulated by the Premier, and other hon. members, on the termination of his labors, and the business of the session came to an end.