TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3631, 24 September 1873, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Monday, Sepeember 22nd,

la the House, at the evening sitting, on the question that the Licensing Bill be read a third time, Mr Pearce said that the Bill had been shorn of all its useful qualities. He was told it was the same as the Auckland Bill, but it was not advisable to alter the law of the Colony merely to establish uniformity with Auckland. He moved that the Bill be read a third time that day six months.—The motion was negatived, and the Bill was read a third time on a division by 27 votes to 15. The second reading of the Miners' Rights Extension Bill was negatived by 20 votes to

With regard to the Land Loan Security Bills, Mr Vogel said he hoped the Bills would be postponed till next sitting, and then the Government would assist in passing them with alterations. Borrowing would be restricted to sums obtainable from Banks and capitalists in the Provinces, and thus the fear of clashing with the Colonial credit would be removed. Also the borrowing would be restricted for works of a useful and necessary character. The requisite provi>ion would be made for Gaols, Lunatic Asylums, and Educational purposes. Thus amended, he hoped the Council would accept the Bills.

Major Atkinson moved that an amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Timber Floatage Bill be disagreed with. The Council had added a clause bringing the Bill into operation immediately in Auckland, but in other Provinces by proclamation of the Superintendent and Executive Council.—Mr Vbgel supported the Bill and amendment.— Mr Ptolleston and Mr Fitzherbert spoke against such special legislation for one Province.—Mr Sheehan protested that the Bill particularly affected Auckland, and yet Auckland was the only Province where the people were to have no voice in bringing it into operation.—Mr Swanson expressed the same views.—Major Atkinson's motion was carried by 25 votes to 15 4 Mr Vogel calling for a division. Managers were appointed to confer with the Upper House. The Miners' Franchise Extension Bill, enabling the possessors of miners' rights to v te for the election of .Superintendents, was read a second time, by 21 votes to 18. The Employment of Females in Factories Bill, and the Goldfields Act, 1866, Amendment Bill, were committed and read a third time.

Tuesday, September 23rd,

At a full meeting of Ministerial supporters held today, a resolution was come to to reduce the Provincial loans to a total of £380,000, to be expended between this and Ist January, 1875, the money to be expended in preliminary surveys and necessary works ; Otago to get £10,000. Wellington gets the largest share. The Opposition assert that they had a majority on the Provincial Loans Bill last night. Seven Loan Bills were introduced to-day, Viz., The Otago Loans Empowering Bill for loan of £310,000 ; the Wellington Loan Bill, for £175,000 ; the Otago Land Ordinance Bill, for £300,000; the Nelson Loan Bill for £110,000; the Marlbqrqugh Loan Bill, for £21,000; the Auckland Loan Bill, for £•745,000; the Hawke's Bay Loan. Bill, for £210,00 i. •

In the House to-day, Mr Vogel moved the question of Mr Webb's penalties. He explained that Mr Webb was originally liable, but he had sold his interest to a Company. He admitted his liability, but was not now in a position to pay the penalties. It was not usual to inflict penalties, excepting in the case of a fault. The new contractors were nob Burnside and Scott, but were in some way connected with Mr Hall, and if pressure ! were put on Mr Webb, it would prejudice the new contracts. The penalties amount to £10,000. The question was either to exonerate Mr Webb, or to leave the matter over for some time. The latter course would risk the amount. The Government would do what the House wished, but they suggested that it should give Ministers a discretion in the matter. Advices from New York said that while the money was recoverable, Mr Webb would resist paying. If the House decided to enforce the penalties, the fear of a law suit would not stop the Government.— IMr Macandrew thought the penalties should Ibe remitted. He moved the previous question.—Mr T, B. Gillies quoted a letter from IMr Vogel to Mr Webb, complaining of the Service, and urged the infliction of the penalties.—Mr Rolleston expressed similar I views. —Mr Fox spoke in favour of the remis sion of the penalties. He said the United States were more likely to grant a subsidy to the new line if the Colony acted generously. The matter was not like one of mere buying and selling.—Mr Steward supported enforcing the penalties, as the other course would be a bad precedent for ether contractors. Afterwards, perhaps, Mr Webb might be recompensed for extra services if such had been performed.—Mr Stafford said the Government having brought the matter before the House, were entitled to an expression of opinion. If it could believe all Mr Webb's letters, it might think fit to remit the penalties. Probably Mr Webb started the Service before he was ready, thereby incurring loss. This might establish a reason outside the actual question why it was advisable to remit the penalties. He would move a motion to the effect that the House is not at present aware of the reasons for the remission of the whole of the penalties, but desires to await further information before deciding —Mr Johnston said that except during the last few months Mr Webb had not tried to carry out the Service. The boats did not run to San Francisco, the Service was not done in the stipulated number of hours, and the sureties were not furnished. He preferred the motion proposed by Mr Stafford.—Mr Macandrew then withdrew his amendment.—Mr Vogel sdd he would accept Mr Stafford's amendment.— Mr T. B. Gillies thought the House should definitely express its opinion, and therefore he moved that the penalties be enforced.— Mr.RollestonsaidMr Stafford's motion inferred more than it said, and yet gave no answer. He would support Mr (Hllies's amendment.—Mr Cuthbertson supported the enforcement; of the penalties.—Mr Sheehan urged the matter being left alone, as being the more prudent course. If a lawsuit were commenced, it might be carried on for manjr years at great cost, and at last the Colony might not recover the penalties.—Sir J. C. Wilson thought Mr Webb the last contrac tor who should be treated leniently.—Mr Brandon supported Mr Stafford's amendment.—Mr Reid explained that he was not hi favour of the remission of the penalties, though he was not prepared to go the length of Mr Gilliea's amendment. He would at the proper time propose as an amendment, that the matter be left to thediscretion of the Government.—Mr Webster was in favour of the matter being left to the Government.—Mr Vogel said the House should decide as to the remitting of the peaalties, and the Government would then decide as to entering on a law suit. The course proposed by Mr Stafford was a good one. Mr Webb had had many expensive misfortunes, and the contract was orfginally a bail oue for him. Mr Stafford s amendment was eventually carried. On the question being proposed, that the House in the evening take up the Provincial Loans Bills, Mr Tolmie said that the Colony and the Provinces were going too fast. It was not probable they would get the money. The Loan Companies would not take their

debentures, while they were borrowing in London at the same time. If the Banks bought them they would do so to sell them in London, and the same power as before would be used. To consolidate the amount of borrowing, Provincial and Colonial, for a year, would amount to £3,800,000.—Mr Rolleston concurred in the remarks of the la-t speaker. He dwelt on the dangers following reckless borrowing, and an extravagant policy.—The motion was carried.

Mr Tolmie gave notice of a motion that during the recess the Government make the preliminary arrangements necessary to secure a modification of the existing laws, with a view to their consolidation during the next and following Sessions. In the Council, Mr Miller moved that on accountof ( ,'auterbnry andOtago receivingsucha large land revenue, they should construct their own railways. It would be advantageous for thtmi to do so. Danger existed that the railways would only be half completed, and then the wealthy Provinces would have to bear the burden of the whole railway system. —I)r Pollen said the Provinces would not undertake the responsibility. —Capt. Fraser said it would not be advisable for the Provinces to enter on new works, as the immigration system had broken down. There was not sufficient labour for the works now going on.—The motion was withdrawn.

The Treasury Bills Extended Currency Bill was read a second time.

The Colonization Company's Bill was discharged.

The Ofcago Loan Empowering Bill provides that certain lands may be set aside on security for a loan of £300,000, but only £10,000 is to be raised up to the end of December, 1874. The Provincial Legislature is empowered to pass a Loan Act for certain purposes. Interest and principal are not to be made payable beyond Australasia, and the Colony is not to be liable for Provincial loans. The Provincial Loan Ordinance is nofc to give security over the ordinary revenue. The proceeds of the lands mentioned in the second schedule are to be applied to the payment of the money raised. All proceeds of the sale of land are to go to the Loan account. 15 per cent, of the land fund is payable to the Loan account. Except the gold revenue, moneys at the credit of the Loan account are not subject to appropriation. No moneys at the credit of the Loan account are to be withdrawn, except under wairant signed by the Superintendent of the Province. The Provincial Auditor is to certify. He is to have power, under the Provincial Audit Act, 1866, and the Amendment Act. The Provincial Au ditor is to be guilty of a misdemeanour if he unduly certifies any warrant, except in accordance with the Act. If the error is unintentional, the Provincial Auditor is to be liable for the amount wrongly withdrawn from the account. If the Superintendent refuses or neglects to make or sign a warrant authorising the issue of the money out of the Loan account, for the payment to any person of any sum to which he is entitled, the personinterestedmayapplytotheSupremeCourt. Debentures issued under the Provincial Ordinances are riot liable to stamp duty. The Ordinance is to fix the maximum rate of interest and discount. The terms authorised are not to include a higher rate of interest than six per cent on the moneys realized. The debentures are to bear a notice of the nonliability of the Colony. The Provincial Ordinance is to be reserved for the Governor's assent. The Ordinance is not to accept existing securities. Tae first schedule is for the construction of a railway from Tuapeka to Dunstan, a distance of sixty miles, at an estimated cost of £300,000.. The second schedule includes all those waste lands of the Crown lying parallel to and within a distance of ten miles from each side of the Tuapeka and Dunstan railway, throughout its whole length, estimated to contain 75,C00 (?) acres.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(from our own correspondent.)

Wellington, September 23rd. The Government believe that Mr Russell's mail contract is made with Mr lj ezekiah Hall, and not with. General Burnsrde.

' It is probable the result of the Dunedin agitation regarding the Mussel Bay workshops will be that a merely Provincial workshop will be established, instead of one for the Middle Island.

It is believed that the Wellington Loan Bi)l is sure to pass the Council, but th- fate of the others is very doubtful. 'The Wellington Bill is the only one with, a complete schedule of works approved by the Provincial Council.

In the correspondence from the AgeutGeneral this evening laid on the table, Dr Featherston says on June 13th: —"If it is intended to be an absolute instruction to allow 18 clear superficial feet to each statute atlult instead of 15, as provided by the Passengers Act, 1855, [ can readily comply; but I would point out that Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners, after an experience ta which I presume the Hon. Mr O'Rorke will not pretend, have fixed 15 feet as an ample provision. I need not add that to cany out the Hon. Mr Oliorke's suggestions would involve a very serious extra c.»st to the Government, as it would materially reduce the capacity of vessels for the conveyance of emigrants." Referring to Mr O'Korke's instructions, he says :—" Had no such restrictions been imposed the number of emigrants despatched would have been considerably greater, and the delay in withdrawing the instructions in question will, I fear, materially interfere with my sending out the aggregate number of immigrants ordered in your last despatches." On July 12th he writes:—"Merchant after merchant has come home for the express purpose of making arrangements with some other firm, but the result has always been that they have come to term* with Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co. lam not, of course, justified in giving names, but the fact is suffioieutly notorious. The first thing the representative of the Auckland Freight Company did was to wait upon Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co., and propose that they should combine in iaisingthe rates of freight to Auckland by some 20 or 25 per cent.— a proposal to which Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co. acceded, but which I prevented being carried out as far as the Government was concerned. Mr Turner, the agent of tbe New Zealand Shipping (Ji mpany, had not been many weeks, or rather days, here, before he also felt it necessary to enter into a written agreement i with Messrs Shaw, Savill, and 00. in regard to the rates of freight. Here, aja'n it was attempted to charge the Government 30s per ton for railway plant, instead of 25s a ton, which I had hitherto paid. Mr Turner has been obliged to charter a ship from Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co., and he finds considerable difficulty in chartering the number of vessels her. quires. I understand further that proposals have been sent out by Mr Tamer to the New Zealand shipping Co. to buy up Messrs Shaw, Savi 1, and Co." On July 9 oh, Dr ITeathorston writes :—" As to coal miners, I held several meetings in tbe town of Merfchyr, end received about 30 applications ; but could hear of no coal miners wanting employment ; and so prosperous and well paid were all the colliers about Merthvr, Doylass, Tredegar, and other places in the neighbourhood, that the terms I h,td to offer them appeared to be without attraction. The Welsh are a very reticent people, and I had the greatest difficulty in inducing some of them to state' what wages they were really earning. However, from other reliable • sources) viz., the paysheets) I learnt that there were hundreds of colliers making from 12s to 14s per. diem, and the majority about 7s per day of eight hours." 'On July 10th Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co., write to the Agent General as follows :—" We understand your Government has entered into a contract in the Colony with the New Zealand Shipping Company for the conveyance of all their emigrants for the remainder of the present year under tile-con-ditions of our contract for last year, at £14 10s per adult. We are at a loss to understand for what fault of ours the Government has taken the arrangement of such matters out of your hands and given their emigration business to a new Company direct at an increased price,

and under a contract much less onerous thant tne oae under which we have lately been working. We make no comment, bufc simply beg to state that in the event of the government feeling inclined, at the conclusion of their present contract with the Shinping Company, to authorise you to conduct the emigration from this side on the besfe terms to be obtained, we shall be prepared -io^o r f°r their «mi6rauta at the rate of x.U 12s per adult, if under such a contract as we had last year, or at the rate of £13 103 per adult, if under a contract similar tothe one we have had this year." Dr Featherston telegraphs to Mr Reynolds, under (fate London, 4th September, as follows : "Sailed—August -Denny, Wellington, 157 sou's ; Hovingdean, Napier, 259 souls j Chile, Auckland, 85 ; Cardigan Castle, Canterbury, 252; Headman and Zealand:*, Otago, 417."

INTER PROVINCIAL NEWS. Wellington, September 23rd. The Independent alleges to-day that there was a disposition on the part of the Government yesterday to allow the proposals* for Provincial borrowing to stand over until next session, and that a canvass was made amongst the Government supporters to induce them to agree to this course. The Government are now determined not to depart from their programme, but will submit tothe House a series of Bills, authorising certain Provinces to borrow under the terms and general conditions contained in the original Bill thrown out by the Upper House. "

The tender of Mr John Beaton, Welling! ton, for the erection of the Taranaki Steel and Iron Company's furnace, has been accepted. The amount is £3219. A cablegram has been sent home for the price of firebricks-. The number of shares in the National Insurance Co. applied for here is 23,879.

AuckLAND,. September 23rd. The plans of the Harbour Board estimate the cost of the proposed dock at £78,000 L and the revenue from the land reclaimed afc £3659. Engineers have been appointed to investigate the question as to whether the; land in Auckland Harbour is ris ng. By the capsizing of a boat in the harbour-to-day, a fisherman, named Fahey, -was drowned.

The p.s. Paterson, which sails for the South to-day, takes a large quantity of railway sleepers for Wellington, and telegraph, poles for Napier.

Napier, September 23rd. »& SCOO shares in the National Insurance C«3s^ ■were applied for here. /■•*"

New Plymouth, September 23rd. The brigantine Ottawa, from Lytfcelton, has been totally wrecked here.

Wanganui, September 23rcL 3000 shares in the National Insurauce Co-, were applied for here. Heavy thunderstorms took place last nighfc.

Timaru,'September 23rd. 1900 shares in the National Insurance Coy were applied for here.