N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 16

N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12. The House met at 2 30. THE OAMAHU HABBOUB BOABD,

Mr SAUNDERS brought up the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Oamaru Harbour Board Loan Bill to the effect that the position of the board appeared to be such as to render it advisable for Parliament to abstain from encouraging further financial operations by the board outside the means it already possesses. The committee, therefore, recommend that the bill referred to be not further proceeded with. Mr JACKSON PALMER moved—" That the report be referred to the Government." Mr G. HUTCHISON (Waitotara) moved as an addition—" That it be an instruction to the Postmaster-general to take steps to recover from the Oamaru Harbour Board the money due to the Post Office Trust fund."

The Hon. J. G. WARD said the matter required to be gone about in a most careful manner, and the Government were determined, if possible, to recover this money. They were taking the advice of the ;law officers of the Crown on the subject, and the whole matter was receiving most earnest attention.

After some discussion, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said the present position was principally due to the action of the Railway Commissioners, who carried goods from Dunedin to Oamaru at much too cheap a rate merely to cut off sea traffic from Oamaru. He thought it only right that the people of Oamaru should be called upon to pay the money they owed to the Post Office Trust Fund. The motion as amended was agreed to. BEPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Replying to Mr Meredith, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said he should make inquiries as to whether it was advisable to recommend that judges and those persons in aotual charge of live stock previously entered as exhibits should be given free passes on the railways to and from shows. LAND AND INCOME TAX.

The Land And Income Assessment Bill was farther considered in committee. Schedule A, clause 5, exempt lands in the bands of tenants liable to tax. A|ter a lengthy discussion the clause passed. Part 2, clause 1, mortgagee to be taxed on mortgages. The Hon. J. BALLANCE moved to exempt banking companies or a building and investment oompany from the operation of this clause. Mr RHODES protested against such exemption, and said he should divide the House to show that the Government were in favour of helping the banks. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE defended the Amendment, and said banks were differently situated as compared with companies. He pointed out that when a bank lent money it was treated as income. The Hon. Mr BALLANCB had no objection to insert a provision giving mortgagors power to compel mortgagees to register. Mr G, HUTCHISON asked the Premier to separate the amendment, and pat the exemption of banks first. . fc , This was agreed to, and the proposal to exempt banks from taxation for mortgages was carried by 43 to 16

The exemption of building and investment societies from tax for mortgages elicited a lengthy discussion, sereral members alleging that those societies charged 10 and 12 per cent, for money lent, and protesting against them receiving exceptional advantages. Other members supported the amendment strongly. The amendment was lost on the voices.

Mr SHERA moved to exempt any savings bank constituted under any act of the General Assembly.— Ayes, 31 ; noes, 31. The .CHAIRMAN gave his casting vote with the noes ' in order to give the Committee an opportunity of considering .the matter again. Clause of mortgage. • The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved to amend the clause requiring a mortgagor to compel the mortgagee to register his mortgage.— Agreed to.

Schedule B, graduated tax on land. Sir JOHN BALL said it was useless to attempt to make any alteration in this schedule considering the majority possessed by the Government. He wished to say, however, that the amount of taxation purposed to be levied on particular properties was excessive and unjust. It was not based on any fixed principles whatever, and Hince the Financial Statement was delivered,, the taxation on properties of £100,000 in value had been doubled. Those properties had beea bought by the present owners in accordance with the law and without any conditions. He held that the taxation proposed passed the line at which taxation ended and confiscation began. It was both unjast and impolitic, and he felt sure it would prove very injurious to the country. The Hon. Mr BA.LLANCE said that Sir J. Hall was the first to protest against the graduated system on improvements. Surely the hon. gentleman must know that the increased taxation depended on the quality of improvements, and the intention was to make the tax bear most heavily on the unimproved value of land. If it was injurious as a matter of public policy that these large properties should be taxed, surely the valuations should not stop half way. The tax would bear heavily on the non-im-prover while the improver would comparatively escape. If it were'found after 12 months that anyone was dealt with unjustly, an opportunity would be given to amend the law. It would have a most beneficial effect if large estates were broken up, and he held that if those large estates were allowed to remain as they were there was bo hope for the future of the colony.

The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved the following proviso : — " That in the case of any person who has been absent from or resident out of the oolony for a period of three years, or over that period, prior to the passing of the annual act imposing the tax, the scale of taxation hereinbefore set forth shall be increased by 20 per cent, in each case where it is applicable." Mr C. H. MILLS thought they should go half-way, and make some distinction between absentee improvers and non-improvers. Mr KENNEDY MACDONALD pointed out that absentees owned one-tenth of the taxable land in the colony, and it was time they contributed their fair share of taxation. If thay did leave the country for good they would be no loss to anybody. After considerable discussion,

Captain RUSSELL said he should like to see absentee holders of property back again in the colony as they would at anyrate give somewhat of a healthy tone to the politics of the country, whioh he regretted to see was now absent. He asked, however, what inducement they were offering to those people to come and settle amongst them. The whole of the present legislation was such aa would prevent them coming to the colony as settlers. He held it was better to have the absentee's capital than to have neither himself nor his capital. The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said it was the greatest fallacy to §ay that such a proposal would drive capital oat of the country.

He also disagreed with Captain Russell when he said there was plenty of available land for settlement, and he pointed oat that at present he held no less than 600 applications ' for land in the North Island, a large , number of which had come from the South j Island. Mr Ballance's proviso to tax absentees was then carried on the voices. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved to omit the second paragraph of schedule B as printed and to insert " and all graduated .tax as aforesaid Bhall be assessed and levied on the amount j of the assessed value of the land, less all improvements thereon." " Improvements" include houses and buildings, fencing, planting, draining of land, clearing from timber, Borub, or fern, laying down in grass or pasture, but the effect or benefit of such improvements shall be unexhausted at the time of valuation.— Agreed to, , and the schedule as amended was added to the bill by 38 to 13. Schedule C, income of companies. Mr MOORE asked what the intention of the ' Government was in respect to this schedule. The Hon. Mr WARD said it dealt with companies only, who would be charged a uniform tax of one shilling, without any exemption. Considerable discussion took place over this schedule, Messrs MACARTHUR, HUTCHISON, and other members contending that the schedule proposed to tax debenture holders not resident in New Zealand. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved to amend that portion of clause defining the meaning of " income," by striking out the words •• from the use or produce of land," and inserting as follows :—": — " Income of companies shall also include profits made or income derived by or from the use or produce of land, and in the case of banking companies or building and investment companies shall include income derived or received from mortgages."— Agreed to. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved a new clause providing that the mode of assessing shipping companies should be fixed by the regulations.— Agreed to. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved a further proviso regulating what portion of the income of insurance companies shall be assessed.— Agreed to. , . ■, j Clause 2, certain companies to be deemed agents of persons not resident in New Zealand. The Hon Mr BALLANCE moved to omit this clause, and insert the following instead :—" In any cqse where a company has at any time heretofore borrowed or shall at any time hereafter borrow money on debentures, such company shall be deemed to be the agent of every holder i of suoh debentures, whether such holder be or be not resident in New Zealand ; and suoh company shall be liable to pay tax accordingly on behalf of every holder of such debentures, and shall be entitled to deduct in each year from any instalment of interest payable by it upon the amount of such debentures any tax so paid, whether coupons tor such interest have been issued with such debentures or not ; but mo such debenture holders shall be allowed any deduction by way of exemption from assessment." Mr J. MILLS asked whether banks could also be included in this clause. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE said he should consider this point, and if necessary he should recommit the bill. : The Hon,. Mr ROLLBSTON appealed to the i Premier not to go on. with this clause at such a late hour, as it practically affirmed the principle that the House had already decided against, namely taxing English private bondholders. ..He I thought a clause of this nature should be discussed by a fuller House. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE said he had .already offered to consider several suggestions made, and if necessary he promised to re-com-mit the clause for their discussion. The clause was added to the schedule by 29 i to 14, and the schedule as amended was agreed to. Schedule D, clause 2, income from business. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved the following addition: — "Income derived from business shall include the income so derived or received from any pastoral lands of the Crown in New Zealand held by any person under lease or license issued by or on behalf of the Crown." — Agreed to. Schedule B, income from employment or emolument.— Agreed to without alteration. Schedule F, miscellaneous rules as to assess- ! ment of income. i The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved a new clause to the effect that when any person effects an insurance on his life or for the benefit of his I wife and children with any company he shall be j entitled to deduct from his income the amount of premium paid in any year, bat not more than £50 shall be deducted.— Agreed to. , The schedule as amended was added to the bill. The bill was reported with amendments, which were ordered to be considered on Friday. BILLS ASSENTED TO. The following bills, which have passed both Houses, have received the assent of his Excellency the Governor on behalf of her Majesty the Queen :— Imprest Bills (one and two), Auckland Harbour Board Bill, Companies Memorandum of Association Bill, Promoters' and Directors' Liability Bill, Official and Defence Secrets Bill, Partnership - Bill, Wanganni Heads Signal Station Reserve Exchange Bill. MISCELLANEOUS. The member for Tuapeka, Mr H. S.Valentine, has presented a largely-signed petition from the settlers and others in the Tuapeka district praying that the Government may consider the question of making a compassionate allowance to the widow of the late member for the dis* trict, Mr J. C. Brown. This petition, I understand, was sent up as the result of a recent deputation which waited upon the Premier asking for assistance to Mrs Brown, who has been left in somewhat poor cirbumatances. The Natives are beginning to make objection to the Native Land Bill. To-day Mr Taipua presented several petitions from Maori tribes objecting to the proposals that the Government should have power to lease the lands, and that no Europeans should have the right to purchase. They also protest that they ought not to be required to pay rates on their lands in view of the promises given them that they would be free of any such charge. Absentee landlordism was denounced by Mr Hogg to-night as the greatest carse ever inflicted on any country. He states that a property of 5000 acres at Pahiataa is owned by Mr Balfour, Chief Seoretary for Ireland. I regret to hear, upon what appears good authority, that the Premier's health is in so unsatisfactory a condition as to be the abuse of some anxiety to his friends, who doubt his being able to sustain for any lengthened period the severe strain involved by his present position. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13. In the Legislative Council to-day the Wellington Electric Lighting Bill was read a second time; a local bill relating to the Christchurch Society of Art was passed; and the Libel Bill was reported from committee with amendments. The House met at 2 30 p.m. EEPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Barnshaw, The Hod, A. J, OADMAN said the Govern-

ment intended daring the recess to go into the whole question of the charitable aid system. i Replying to Captain Russell. - The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said the Govem-J \ ment would make inquiries as to the desirability of introducing & bill for the destruction of the oodlin moth. i MOTION CAHEIED. Mr T. MACKENZIE moved that the wh*ole question of quarantine regulations relating to live stock be referred to Stock Committee for consideration, and to report to the House.— Agreed to. | MABHIAGB BILL. The Hon. J. BALLANCE moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the bill was intended to alltfw officers of the Salvation Army and minieters of minor denominations in the colony to perform the marriage ceremony. The motion was agreed to. DISTILLATION. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE moved the second reading of the Distillation Act Amendment Bill. He said it followed the lines of legislation in Victoria, and enabled owners of vineyards to keep and use a still of not less than 25gal and not more than 50gal capacity, for the purpose of distilling spirits from wine the produce of his own vineyard.— Agreed to. PUTY ON TOBACCO The Hon. Mr BALLANOE moved the second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Bill. He explained that the bill was meant to provide that the duty on unmanufactured tobacco was to be reduced to Is 6d the pound on the Ist January next. This was to continue for two years, after which the duty would be 2s in the pound. The bill also provided that after the Ist January 1892 the duty on tobacco manufactured in the colony should be Is per lb, and on cigars, cigarettes, and snuff Is 6d per lb up to the 31st Decembar 1896.— Agreed to. trustees' bill. The Hob. W. P. REEVES moved the second reading of The Trustees' Act 1883 Amendment Bill, to amend the law relating to the duties, powers, and liabilities of trustees. The bill was a short and simple one to define the position of trustees, whioh had hitherto not been an enviable one. Clause 11 enabled a trustee to apply a reasonable sum for the maintenance of children out of the trust estate. Clause 14 was the most important of the bill, as it empowered trustees to invest in Government securities in any of the Australasian colonies, on real securities in New Zealand, in bopds and debentures or other securities of cr. -lieipal corporations or county councils haviiv authority to borrow money. The bill had been *ry carefnlly prepared, and he felt sure it w <1J commend itself to the House and country. The second reading was agreed to. A LAND GRANT BILL, The Hon. J. M'KENZIB moved the second reading of M'Lean's Land Grant Bill, whioh was brought in to give effect to various recommendations made by the Waste Lands Committee, and to authorise a grant of land to George M'Lean, of Hawera. ■ The second reading was agreed to, and the bill was referred to the Waste Lands Committee. BITER BOABDS. The Hon. J. M'KENZIB moved the second reading of the River Boards Act Amendment Bill— a technical bill to enable boards to levy general and special rates. — Agreed to. i, PUBLIC BODIES' POTTERS ACT. j The Hon. W. P. REEVES moved the second 'reading of the Public Bodies' Powers Act ! Amendment Bill> which had already passed the Counoil. It amended " The Public Bodies' Powers Act 1887."— Agreed to. employees' liability bill. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Employers' Liability Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. FACTORIES BILL. The House went into committee on the Faotories Bill. Clause 2 was amended to provide that the act shall come into operation on the Ist January ,1892. Some discussion took place on the interpretation of the clause, and the word "one" as the minimum number of persons who are to be engaged in premises for .hire to constitute a factory or workroom was struck out. , The Hon. W. P. REEVES said he could not accept the suggestion that country districts should be allowed to escape from the provisions of the bill, as wherever faotories were in operation the bill must apply to them. He moved — " That three be made the limib for country districts, and one or more for cities, boroughs, or town districts." The Hon. Mr BRYCE did not think the 'Minister's suggestion would work successfully, He was of opinion that the proviso in clause 35, exempting blacksmiths' and agricultural implement makers', and wheelwrights' shops, &c, might get over the difficulty. After a lengthy discussion, Mr Reeves' motion that three be made the limit for country districts was agreed to on the voices. , The motion of the Minister to fix one as the limit for towns, &c, was agreed to. Cause 9, notice to be given to the inspector, with particulars of factory or workroom. ! Mr BUCHANAN moved that 21 days' notice be given instead of 14. — Agreed to. Clause 27,Jnotice of accidents to be sent to the 1 inspector, and to toes medical authority. 1 The Hon. W. P. REEVES moved that if the notice of the accident is not given within 12 hours after its occurrence, the occupier of such factory or workshop shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £10.— Agreed to. Clause 35, power to exempt certain faotories from being lime-washed. Mr KELLY moved that flaxmills be exempted. The Hon. W. P. REEVES accepted the amendment, which was agreed to. Mr MOORE moved that flourmilla be exempted. After a lengthy discussion the amendment was lost by 24 to 21. Mr MACKENZIE (Clutba) moved to exempt dairy faotories. The Hon. W. P. REEVES said he understood Mr Tanner intended moving that dairy faotories and cheese factories should be exempted from painting and white-washing. — Agreed to. Mr DAWSON moved to exempt breweries. — Lost on the voices. Clause 41, bakehouses to be lime-washed. Mr MOORE moved that the lime-washing should be renewed once at least in every 12 months instead of six. — Loßt by 36 to 9. Clause 53, persons under 16 not to be employed without medical certificates. Mr MOORE moved that this clause'be struck out.— Clause retained by 23 'o 20 Clause 56, limit of hours of labour of boys and girls. Mr FISHER moved that no girl under 18 years of age (instead of 16) shall work as a typesetter in a printing office. Me Fisher's amendment to raise the age to 18 was lost by 24 to 16, and 16 was inserted. The schedule was altered to provide that the registration fee for workrooms in which more than 30 persons were employed was to be £2 2s per annum. The bill was reported, with amendments, read a third time, and passed.

; PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. The prospects of the Payment of Members Bill are beginning to excite some anxiety in the -"Liberal" ranks. Sir George Grey tabled a question to-day as to when the Government iateaded to proceed with it ; bat this is pot all. A requisition has been pat in circulation, and has been signed already by 21 members of the Ministerial party, urging the Premier to push on the bill without farther delay. My informant tells me that the promoters of this requisition declare that all the Liberal party are favourable to it, and would sign bat some of them admit that they are afraid to do so lest their constitaents should call them to account for it. Oc the other hand, the labour members generally are understood to feel very strongly upon the subjeoti and to contemplate bringing some special pressure to bear if Ministers display any tendenoy towards lukewarmn'ess in respect of this important question, as they desm it. I Some members of the Ministerial party, however, apart from the question of the unpopularity involved in the proceeding of the requisitionists, strongly disapprove of the requisition as indecent and ill-timed. Mr Carncross is one of these, and he has done all he oould do to put a stop to the circulation of the requisition) which he deems not only objectionable in itself, bat also calculated to damage the labour members very seriously in the eves of the country seeing that they will already have drawn double honorarium for this year. Messrs J. Kelly and Tanner go with him, I hear, in this view, and some other members of the party now greatly regret having so hastily signed the requisition earlier in the evening. Mr Buick is understood to have been the ostensible originator of the requisition, but I am informed that he took it up at the request of an older member, who made use of him, being unwilling to appear prominently in the matter himself. Mr Buick, I believe, acted with good intentions and perhaps without realising the view which might be taken of the proceeding. I hear a strong attempt will be made to suppress the requisition, of which some of those who signed it are already heartily ashamed. It was hoped it would not have become known. THE NEW TAXATION. The persistence of the Government in pressing and of the House in carrying, that part of the taxation proposals which enacts that companies which have borrowed money on debentures from persons beyond New Zealand should be deemed as agents for the lenders, and be liable to pay the tax, but should have the right to recover from such lenders, is the theme of severe comment in the lobbies to-day. Large numbers of copies of the clause were posted to England by this evening's outgoing San Francisco mail for the information of London financiers and all business people interested in New Zealand finance, and it is rumoured that the effects will be felt ere long in various ways at present quite unexpected by the promoters and supporters of this measure. MISCELLANEOUS. The disappearance of native birds, more especially the tui, the kiwi, and the kakapo, is receiving the attention of Mr W. Hutchison, who urges the Government to consult with country gentlemen and others who take an interest in native ornithology, with the view of ascertaining what measures can be adopted to insure the preservation of these birds for the , pleasure of future generations of New Zealand. The practicability of farther reducing the freight charges upon lime nsed by farmers as manure, freight, to be charged proportionately upon the cost of the lime is being urged on the Government by Mr Carncross. A wholesale massacre of innocents is in contemplation, and it is feared that the Bankruptcy Bill will be included in the list, unless strong pressure be brought to bear from outside upon both the Government and the House. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14. In the Legislative Council to-day an Imprest Supply Bill and the Libel Bill were passed. jThe Truok Bill was recommitted and amended. The Factories Bill was read a first time. In the House of Representatives to-day a very large amount of business was transacted, mostly in committee. The Rabbit Nuisance, Workmen's Lien, and Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. The Post and Telegraph Classification Bill and nearly all the bills read a second time passed through committee. In the evening the Selectors' Land Revaluation Act Continuance Bill also passed through committee, and then the Electoral Bill, which has been hung up for over a month, was proceeded with. The particular point under discussion is the proposal to confer the franchise on women. Mr Fish started the opposition to the proposal, and he and others were so vehement that the Government gave way, and wished progress to be reported. This was opposed by supporters of the amendment, and the debate was proceeding when the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m. THB BABBIT NUISANCE. . The Hon. J. M'KENZIE moved the second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Act Amendment Bill. He said the bill was a technical one to give effect to the recommendations of the Stock Committee with respect to rabbit-proof fencing. — Agreed to. WORKMEN'S LIBN BILL. The Hon. W. P. REEVES moved the second reading of the Workmen's Lien Bill, to make better provision for securing the payment of wages due to workmen and for other purposes. He said it was one of the labour bills, and would be passed on to the Labour Bills Committee. If necessary, the discussion could take place on the motion for committal. The bill was based on a measure introduced into the Queensland Legislature by that celebrated lawyer, Sir Samuel Griffiths ; and it was intended to give sub-contractors "and workmen liens on the work on which they were engaged. Clause 7 explained the priority of liens— namely, first, liens and charges of working for wages; secondly, liens and charges of sub-ooutraetors ; thirdly, liens of contractors. He should ask the House to agree to the second reading. The motion was agreed to. IN COMMITTEE. The Marriage Act Amendment Bill waa oommitted and passed with verbal amendments. The Distillation Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2, commissioner may grant a wine still license, The Hon. Mr BRYCE said the most formidable objectioa to this bill was that it would facilitate smuggling, and make it impossible to detect it. The bill passed through committee without amendment. The Customs and Excise Duties Bill and Post and Telegraph Classification and Regulation Act Amendment Bill were committed and passed without amendment. Verbal amendments were made in the Trustee Act 1883 Amendment Bill and Public Bodies Powers Act Amendment Bill. The River Board Act Amendment Bill was committed. ... . „ .. Cfitases 1 to 7 were passed without alteration. Mr VALENTINE moved an additional clause providing for the payment of travelling

expenses of members of boards who resided more than five miles from the place of meeting. — Agreed to. The Public Revenues Bill was committed, and the amendments made by the Public Accounts Committee agreed to. Some verbal amend" ments were also made in the bill. selectors' land revaluation bill The Selectors' Land Revaluation Act Continuance and Amendment Bill was committed. On clause 2, interpretation, a lengthy discussion ensued on the amendment made by the Waste Lands Committee making the definition of a selector to include a selector nnder the farm homestead settlement system er under the land regulations. — The clause as amended was agreed to. Selectors may before January 1893 apply for further relief on making a deposit and paying expenses. The Hon. T. FERGUS moved the omission of the words in the clause providing that persons applying for revaluation shall pay all expenses jof inquiry into his case. After a lengthy debate, Mr. FISH moved that progress be reported, which was eventnally lost on the voices. Mr Fergus' amendment was also lost, and the remaining part of the bill passed with slight alteration. NOXIOUS WEEDS. I At a meeting this morning *f the Committee | appointed to consider the eradication of noxious weeds evidence on that subject was given by Professor Kirk, and a resolution was then passed instructing the chairman (Mr T. Mackenzie) to ask the Premier how far the committee could go in the direction of securing Professor Kirk's services to assist in the work before the committee. The dreaded vine disease (phylloxera) was also considered, and, on the motion of Mr F. Lawry, it was resolved to telegraph to several gentlemen in Auckland who have etudied thia question, and ask them for information about it. The chairman of the committee is willing to receive letters from any persons who have knowledge ob this important matter; such letters can be sent to him free as on public service. PETITIONS. The petition of Thomas Andrew, the Mayor of Roxburgh, and other inhabitants, praying - that a portion of the recreation ground adjoin* ing that township should be put up for sale in small seotions for the purpose of extending the township was before the Waste Lands Committee this morning. I find this land was set aside for the benefit of the inhabitants of Roxburgh by the Provincial Council of Otago in 1875, with power to grant short leases nob exceeding seven years, but no power to otherwise deal with it. The Waste Lands Committee have referred the petition to the Government, but nothing can be done without speoial legislation. The petition of James Grey, Green Island, asking that "The Public Works Amendment Act of 1889" shall not apply to the FernhUl colliery branch line of railway, has been reported on by the Petitions Committee. From the evidence given before them, the committee are led to believe that the company is willing to accept the cost of the land and rails procured for the construction of the Fernhill branch railway in satisfaction of their claim, and the committee are of opinion that it would be equitable and in the interest of the colony that the Government should accept the terms offered by the company. The Petitions Committee report on the petition of John Forsyth, of Catlins River asking for consideration, stating that in the year 1869 he purchased land in Catlins River and settled there with his family, and that since that period similar land to his has been sold at a much lower rate .in that district, that the petitioner has no claim npon the colony. MISCELLANEOUS. The Poatmasfcer-genaral has approved of the issue of miners' rights and business licenses at money order offices in future, and provision is to be made for this in the mining bill. This will be a great convenience. Miners' rights and business licenses can now be obtained only from the receivers of goldfields revenue. The question as to whether all who joined the civil service prior to 1870, and are entitled to a pension after having served their term, should not be compelled to retire at the age of 60, as provided in the Act of 1886, so as to provide promotion to all those in lower positions who will have to make provision for their old age from their savings, is being raised by Mr Lawry. In the interests of the colony and all those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, Mr M'Guire is urging the Government to take off the duty on salt, which ia used as a fertiliser of the soil in order to make the efforts of far* iners more fruitful and productive. In view of the serious falling off in the yield of honey in the colony within the last three years, Mr R. Reeves urges the Government to I take such steps as may be necessary to eradicate the disease known as the foul brood in I bees.

Mr DUTHIB thought this extraordinary bill would check the progress of the colony very seriously, and he pointed out that since the present Government took office the exodus of the population had increased very materially. There was no occasion whatever for this change