GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 382, 21 June 1861, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, June 4. SPEAKER.

The Speaker announced, that, in accordance with a previous order of the house, he had waited on his Excellency the Governor, and laid before him the following address, which he would now read to the house.

" May it please your Excellency—The house of representatives have elected me to be their Speaker. It is now my duty to solicit from your Excellency your confirmation of the choice of the house; and at the same time, the better to enable them to dischaTge their duty to their Queen and country, I am humbly to claim on their behalf all their undoubted privileges; especially that they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to your Excellency's person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from your Excellency the most favorable interpretation." The following is his Excellency's reply:— " Mr. Speaker—l congratulate the houso of representatives on the choice which, in your instance, they have made of a Speaker^ and heartily confirm their choice. I freely confide iri the duty and attachment of the house of representatives to her Majesty's person and Government, and not doubting that their proceedings will bo conducted with reason, tomper, and prudence, I grant, and, on all occasions, will recognise and allow, their constitutional privileges. I also assure you that the house of representatives shall have ready access to me upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly, receive from me the most favorable construction."

Mr. Stafford moved that tho address and reply just read be entered on the journals of the house. Agreed to.

Thursday, June 6.

Mr. Weld laid upon the table further papers relative to the Native Insurrection.

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

Mr. Graham asked the Colonial Secretary if it is the intention of Government to introduce a bill, at an early date, to prohibit the importation of cattle subject to a disease known as pleuro-pneu-monia, from places were that disease is known to exist.

Mr. Stafford replied that it did not appear to the Government absolutely necessary to introduce a bill on this subject, as. the Customs Regulation Act gives the Governor power to prohibit the importation of cattle infepted with any disease, and to cause the destruction of any such imported. The existing law gave the Governor power over imported animals only, so thafcif the disease should unfortunately break out in the Colony without the cause being known, it"would be necessary to pass an act to appoint commissioners to report and deal with diseased cattle.

NEW WRITS.

Mr. J. C. Richmond then moved, 'that his Excellency be requested to issue a writ for the election of a member for the Grey and Bell district in the room of William Cutfield King, deceased;' and

Mr. Curtis moved ' that an humble address be presented to his Excellency, praying that he will cause a writ to be issued to supply the vacancy in this house caused by the resignation of James Balfour Wemyss.' Mr. Cari,eton drew the attention of the house to an informality in the resignation of Mr. Wemyss, which, instead of being addressed to the Speaker, had been sent to the Governor, who had no power either by the Constitution Act, or the the Election Writs Act to receive a resignation.

Mr. Stafford said it was a question for lawyers, and turned upon the meaning ot the words ' addressed to the Speaker.' The resignation of. Mr. Wemyss was perfectly formal in other respects, but no Speaker being in existence at the time, it was addressed to the Governor, who had sent it to the Speaker without remark or-reply. The anomaly might take place that, if the house refused to admit this resignation, Mr. Werayss might come up by the next ship and take his seat in the house.

Motions agreed to,

MILITARY DEFENCE.

Mr. Stafford, being called on to move 'that a select committee be appointed to consider and report on the military defence of New Zealand,' proposed to postpone the motion till Tuesday next. It was of a very important character to enquire into tho whole subject of the expense to be incurred in the military defence of this colony. The papers before the houso would show that for four years and a-half a controversy had been going on between the Colonial and Imperial Governments concerning the payment of the cost of military defence. It had become quite impossible for tho Colonial Executive to postpone a definite reply to the Imperial authorities, the more especially as there was a committee sitting in the Imperial Parliament on the same subject. They believed that they could make out sufficient exceptional reasons tor asking that the colony of New Zealand should bo excluded from any general rule on the question. It was now necessary to explain those reasons, and not let the question go by default. He had been happy to observe that members of the Imperial. Parliament had protested against New Zealand being included in a general rule requiring the colonies to pay a large portion of the cost of military defence. Ministers had done what they could by representations to stave off an undue pressure on the revenues of the colony; but they had done this as representing their own opinions, and it was now necessary that the people of New Zealand, as represented" in the Legislature, should take steps to support their advocates in the Imperial Parliament, and the Colonial Executive in their endeavors to protect the colony from having to bear an undue share of military charges. He had endeavored to make this committee provincially lepresentative, but he found he had omitted one portion of the colony f -and a member whose name was. included would be absent for a long period. He wo^ld therefore suggest that Mr. Domett be substituted for Mr. Crosbie Ward, and that the name of Mr. Dillon Bell be added.

Mr. R. Wood remarked that there seemed to be no reason for withdrawing this, or not going on with the remaining business on the notice paper. On the suggestion of the Speaker, Mr. Stafford withdrew the motion, in order to give a fresh notice in an amended form.

TARANAKI BELIEF FUND.

Mr. Williamson moved for a return, showing in detail the expenditure of the sum of £25,000, authorised by the New Zealand Loan Act, 1860, to be raised for the relief of the inhabitants of the province of Taranaki. Also, a statement or report of any proceedings that may have been taken for the investigation of the cases of persons who have suffered loss of property at Taranaki. He said (it would be recollected by lion, gentlemen who were members of the house in its last session, that a committee had been appointed to consider the best means for affording relief to persons who had suffered loss of property at Taranaki, and that, on the recommendation of that committee, it was authorised by the house that £25,000 should bo applied to this purpose. At the same time it was required that due investigation should be made in every particular case before relief was given. Considerable dissatisfaction existed, as to the mode in which the money had been distribute and V» doubt subject *roui4 tejQtt^&^atioaio*^

cussion in the house, and it was in order to '.afford the Government time to place before the house all the requisite information, that he moved at this arly stage of the proceedings for this return. Mr. Graham seconded the motion.

Mr. Stafford said the inotiou as worded would not obtain the information desired by the hon. member, for none of the £25, 000 had yet been expended at all. The sums to which the hon. member alluded had been taken from the war loan generally, and had been transmitted from time to time to the Provincial Government for the transfer and maintenance of the Taranaki refugees, for it had been thought better that.no personal relief should be given till more peaceful times, when they were about to settle down to their occupations. With respect to thesecond part of the motion, the Government had as yet no report to make. They had recently, appointed a Commissioner (Mr. Sewell) to go to Taranaki to enquire and report on the whole question, and a.notice had been issued, which would immediately appear in the Gazette, calling for all claims to be sent in within ten days of the publication of the notice at Taranaki, separate notice being given to those who were resident, in other provinces. The Government proposed to introduce a bill <o give power to commissioners generally to examine witnesses on oath, which they could not at present do. The only manner in which the £25,000 had been at all hypothecated was that they had agreed to advance the Provincial Governmeqf at Taranaki £5000 for the erection of houses for the refugees who are now returning. He had this day given instructions to send down £4000. He was unable at present to give a return in detail of the expenditure administered by the Provincial Government, aa vouchers had not yet been received. Witli respect to complaints, Government had only received four or five, which were all from individuals whose grievance was that they did not receive enough. One of them, who was receiving »455. a week for his family, a house and fuel, thought he ought to have:£469 a year. The hon. mover would perhaps amend his motion to some such words as these :—' The expenditure, of any sum or sums of money expended in the relief of the Taranaki refugees.' Mr. C. W. Richmond said it was to be expected that, under distressing circumstances, some individuals would be dissatisfied; they had had much to endure, and the less reasonablo had not endured in silence, but had made complaints of not getting enough.J'All the complaints were in that direction, which did credit,to those who had administered the funds, who had incurred great unpopularity in the district by the careful way in which they had guarded the purse of the colony. Mr. Williamson agreed to the suggestion of the hon. the Colonial Secretary, and amended his motion, asking for- c a return showing in detail the expenditure of any sum or sums of money that may have been issued by the Government for the relief of the inhabitants of Taranaki.* " ■ "'

Motion agreed to as amended. The house then adjourned till Tuesday, the 11th instant.