PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1059, 3 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

» »v Wellington, 3 p.m Legislative Council. The Council met yesterday at 2.30. Nearly the whole of the sitting was occupied in Committee on the Native Land Court Bill, Native Succession. Bill, Native Land Fraud Prevention Bill, and Fencing Bill, all of which were reported with numerous amendments, and ordered for third reading on next Tuesday. The Council rose at 5 o'clock. House of Representatives. The House met at 2. 30. Sir William Fox gave notice to move that the Education" Act be amended by inserting a clause providing for reading the Bible in public schools, subject to a conscience clause. Mr. Saunders gave notice that he would ask the Government under what circumstances James White, who gave evidence before the Civil Service Commission, was dismissed from his employment by order of the South Island Railway Commissioner. The Election Petitions and Pharmacy Bills were read a third time, and passed. : The House went into Committee on the Licensing Bill, and after the discussion of a few clauses, -adjourned at 5.30. p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. The consideration of the Licensing Bill in committee was continued. The Sub-section, abolishing bottle licenses, was postponed. Clause 26, providing that the Minister of Public Works may grant licenses for bars at railway stations, elicited considerable discussion. Ultimately the clause was struck out. In clause 27, a paragraph was inserted, requiring brewers and spirit merchants to take: out a :; wholesale license under the Licensing Act, and abolishing the licensing fee under the Distillation ; Act, but requiring that brewers shall be registered tinder that Act as heretofore, in a fee being chai'ged for such registration. The clause as amended was agreed to. ;; The ' House; rose at 12130?:; Ministerial supporters will hold a caucus 10-day, .in reference to the reduction of the estimates. It is expected that the House will sit on Mondays for Government busij ness. ■ " ■ .' ' ' " ; :': /' It is rumoured that the Native Lands Bills will be dropped. The Customs revenue for the quarter is £460,088 asagainst£4oo;736for the corresponding quarter of last year. The date of the trial of the Maori prisoners ss postponed to July 26.