Tuesday, 27th June.

Otago Witness, Issue 1597, 1 July 1882, Page 12

Tuesday, 27th June.

Major Harris took his seat in the House of Representatives as member for Franklin to-day. Two petitions were presented to the House to-day — one by Mr Fitzgerald from the publicans of Westland praying for a remission of the beer tax, the other by Mr Bracken from the Freethought Association, Dunedin, against Bible-reading in schools.

The second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr Dick, wa's carried this evening after considerable debate. A sally by Mr Bracken at the expense of Mr M. W. Green, as to the class of hotels of which the latter has experience, seema to have caused the House some amusement. Pretty strong opinions were expressed of the necessity for amendment of the Act, particularly in the direction of rendering the committees elective instead of nominative.

The greater part of the evening sitting was wasted in an aimless debate raised by the Opposition on the financial policy of the Government. No result was gained by it except delaying the pressing business of passing the Estimates. As it was, only one item was dealt with before the House rose.

A deputation consisting of the following members of the Lower House— viz. : Messrs Hutchison, Shephard, Levestam, Seaton, White, Sutton, Cadman, Bracken, Feldwick, Buchanan, and Ivess — waited on the Colonial Treasurer to-day on behalf of the various friendly societies throughout the Colony, to plead for their being relieved of certain fees which are considered oppressive and burdensome. The societies complain chiefly of the charges levied for registration, actuarial investigation, and Government audit, which in some cases are very heavy, and are alleged to have a tendency to cripple the efforts of deserving and struggling societies. Major Atkinson, in reply to the deputation, expressed the warm interest he took in the welfare of such societies as a means of promoting thrift and providence, and promised to give his best consideration to the request, which, if he found it practicable, he should be happy to grant. The Native Reserves Bill still continues a serious difficulty ahead. _ Ministers believe they can and will carry it, but some of their staunchest supporters will vote with the noes, which is awkward. I hear that Mr Kelly's amendment— " That the bill be read that day ! six months" — was moved hastily, under a partial misconception, and thafc he was actually -taking a different amendment to the 1 Speaker, and one which would have directly traversed tho bill, when it was suggested to him, as he passed, that his end would not be achieved by his amendment, and that another would effect it, on which, acting under a momentary impulse, he moved accordingly. The Maori members were at first strongly opposed to the bill ; but since its character and effects have been explained' to them, they are &11 in its favour, except Mr Taiaroa, who stoutly holds out. The Natives like to act together on all questions affecting their people, and it is doubtful whether Taiaroa's obstinacy will not carry with him the three votes of his coloured colleagues in spite of their personal liking for the measure. Of course, had the amendment been moved by the Opposition, Ministers could have rallied their whole party to their support 5 but this is not so easy as against a member of their own carop, and is

an illustration of the disadvantage of having no organised Opposition party. The Joint Statutes Revision Committee recommend.fchat the Fisheries Bill be passed as reprinted from last year, with the addition of an' interpretation clause defining. " salmon." ' The Goldfields Committee recommend that the Gold Duty Abolition Bill be passed as amended, the amendments being— (l) that the Act do not apply to the North Island until the assent of local bodies be obtained ; and (2) that the Governor-in-Council may make regulations as to collecting gold duty. The Government have telegraphed to county councils asking, the amount of their overdrafts on the gold duty, which is proposed to be abolished. I understand it is proposed that Government should grant a subsidy of £2 for each £1 subscribed by associations for procuring diamond drills for gold prospecting purposes. Tho House has been occupied this evening, first with the Licensing Amendment Bill, and then with a debate on the Financial Statement, which is still going on. Mr Montgomery again prayed for the Public Works Statement, and Major Atkinson chaffed him on his nominal leadership. It is a standing joke that Mr Montgomery is elected over again every Saturday as the Opposition leader. Mr M. W. Green inflicted a tedious string of platitudes arid trite ' fallacies on finance, and Mr Sutton is now speaking 1 . The following members opposed to the Government are- understood to have formed a separate little party, assuming the distinctive title of the " Greyite party," their object being to favour the leadership of Sir George Grey :— Messrs De Lautour, George, Joyce, Cadman, Feldwick, Sheehan, M'Donald, Tole, Dargaville, and Grey. Of course they have decided, however, not to interfere at present with the so-called "Opposition" party, of which Mr Montgomery is the publicly-recognised leader ; but to bide their time, and in due course to bring forward Sir George Grey's claims. They [ are said to calculate on 30 more joining them after a little more experience of Mr Montgomery's leadership. LAND TRANSFER. , In reply to the Hon. Mr Stevens, . | The Hon. Mr WHITAKER said Govern i ment had prepared a measure consolidating and' amending the land transfer laws; that during the recess it would be distributed amongst those interested for suggestions, and be brought in next session. The question of land transfer assurance fees on Crown grants would be dealt with. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Duncan, The Hon. Major ATKINSON said it was proposed to insert a clause in the Local Government Bill for enabling county councils to pass bye-laws regulating the width of tires of vehicles used on roads within counties. Replying to Captain Mackenzie, The Hon. Mr ROLLESTON aaid the sale of the School Commissioners' reserves, situated in Mataura district, advertised for sale, would be carried out in accordance with the mining regulations. Replying to Mr De Lautour, The Hon. Mr ROLLESTON said Government had not any information showing the necessity to make provision for enforcing the 10th and 11th 'sections of the Mining Act, or otherwise preventing stock belonging to persons located 'upon mining townships in Otago being driven off and sold in consequence of the late sale of pastoral leases, Replying to Captain Mackenzie, The Hon. Mr JOHNSTON said Government were not in possession of any representation to the effect that the absence of traffic at Gore to justify the appointment of a man in charge there was because the public were prevented from using the goo^s-shed, as there was no man in charge of it. Further inquiries would be made, and "if found expedient an appointment of the kind would be made. Replying to Mr Duncan, The Hon. Mr DICK said Government was I watching with interest the outcome of the establishment of an agricultural college at Lincoln, Canterbury, and the result of that in1 stitution would guide them as to the propriety of Government taking steps for the establishment of similar institutions elsewhere. Sir G. GREY considered the reply unsatisfactory, and moved the adjournment of the House to enable him to urge the necessity for making provision in the Estimates for the current year for the purpose. He also took occasion to deprecate the proposal of Government to introduce such ravenous animals as the ferret and polecat. Under certain conditions, these animals became positively dangerous to human life. ! The Hon. Major ATKINSON explained that the subject was being discussed under abuse of a rule of the House. Government was not prepared to discuss the subject. He had already announced that they had under consideration the appointment of a Minister of Agriculture, and that should be accepted as a guarantee of good faith on the part of Government.

Replying to Mr Duncan, The Hon. Mr JOHNSTON said tho Wind-sor-Livingstone lino would, in anticipation of the grain season, be completed up to the tunnel.