PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 461, 20 October 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(IIY TKI.EUHAI'U.) Wku.inoton, Oct. 20. In the House of Representatives yesterday, In reply to Mr. Thomson, Sir George Grey said the Government intended to enforce the penalty for the non-comple-tion of the Balclutha line within the contract time, unless special reasons to the contrary were shown. Ho could not say when the Clinton section would be completed. In reply to Mr. Woolcock, Sir George Grey said the Government had not timo during the present session to take any action in connection with the question ot the franchise or representation as affecting the Lower House. In reply to Mr. Woolcock, Sir George Grey said the Government had no intention during the present session to create a Minister of Mines. Mr. Bowen asked the Minister of Justice whether lie would cause inquiry to be made into the cahe heard before the Resident Magistrate at Christehnrch, when a woman was sent to prison, with hard labour, for stealing th.wcrs from the Canterbury Domain. He. remarked that the decision struck him as being very severe, unless there were special circumstances in tiie case which did not appear in the newspaper reports. Several of the decisions in the Christehnrch Resident Magistrate's Court lately had shown eccentricity, and the punishment awarded in this instance appeared excessively heavy. Mr. Sheehan said he had sent for a copy of the depositions, but had not yet received them. All he knew of the circumstances was gathered from the newspapers. There was some misapprehension with regard to the sentence, and he was informed it was only for 2J hours' imprisonment, without hard labour. A number of new Bills were introducod, including the Oamain Harbour Board Amendment Bill by Mr. Shrimski. The Manawatu Land Orders B'M was read a second time. The following Bills were read a third third time -.—Public Health Act Amendment Bill, Public Reserves Sales Bill, Special Contract Continuation Bill, Dunedin Gaol Street Bill, Lyttelton Harbour Board Land Bill, and Education Reserves Bill.

On the Honso resuming, at 7..'W p.m., the Poiisonby Highway Hill was road a third time and passed. J. 11 Committee on the Manawatu Lytnd Orders Bill, the amount of the compensation was reduced from 200 to 100 \wv cent. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Slaughter-houses Bill was considered in Committee, and several minor amendments having been made, the Bill was passed. The Wakapuaka Telegraph Sito Bill, Law Society Act Amendment Bill, Wellington Loans Consolidation Bill, and Auckland Provincial Council Library Bill were passed. The Auckland City Endowments Reservo Bill was read a second time. The House adjourned at 0.40 p.m.