PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Colonist, Volume X, Issue 763, 20 September 1867, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

(From the New Zealand Times.) [HE GOVERNMENT FINANCE.—THE PROVINCES AND THE REVENUE.

Two of the bills required to carry out the financial olicy of the Government have been read a second ue in the House of Representatives -.—The Surplus venues Adjustment Bill, on a division of 42 to ; the Public Revenues BUI, without any opposim beyond speeches from Mr. Vogel and Mr. Sevens. The first is a bill to wipe out the indebtedits3 of £183,000 by the provinces to the colony, for oierpayments on account of the surplus revenue. Ibis liability is got rid of by a system1 of inter-pro-rincial adjustment, the colony giving up all claims in He matter. The Public Revenues Act provides for lie payment of all the public revenues (territorial ncipted), into one common consolidated fund, oneblf of which is to be given to the provinces, the other half to be subject to the appropriation of the Assembly, and for permanent charges. What are Sw ktown as Provincial charges are to be borne (ut of the provincial halt of the revenue. The third 1 necessary to give full effect to the financial theme is that for.the consolidation of the provincial nans, and although it will probably meet with more ipposition than either of the others, it is yet likely it be passed.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IK CANTERBURY. A Bill for giving to the large and important disSicts of Timaru and Gladstone, in Canterbury, were of local self-government, withj a fixed ■endowment of 25 per cent of the territorial revenue, and £30,000 in debentures from the loans for which the ad revenue -of the Province of Canterbury is the (rarity, has passed ils second reading in the Hou9e it Representatives, by 33 t? 19. The principle of ießill is very similar to that of the Local GovernJEDt Bill, introduced by the Government early in ie Session, but rejected by the House. The present lis strenuously opposed by the Superintendent of twterbury (Mr. Moorhouse), assisted by Messrs. fogel, Main, and Reynolds; but, although the louse refused some weeka ago to pass a measure of iraeral application, there is now a large majority in iror of passing the special bill at present under federation.

■ NATIVE KEPBESENTATIYES. The Native .Representation Act has passed its tond reading in the Upper House by a very large Jjjority. Most of the members seemed to look at !le bill as being an experimental one, the result of hoperation being very doubtful. A decided disinflation to admission of native members to the Council was expressed. t ENGMSH SCHOOLS TOB NATIVES. A bill for appropriating £4000 a year, for seven Jars, for Maori schools, has passed its second readJ?ia the Lower House. The education to be given 1 these schools is to be English. CHANGES IN THE_ GOVERNMENT. .Anew addition has been made to the Government '.toe person of the Hon. John Hyde Harris, Mayor 'Dunedin'. It 13 reported that Mr. Harris is likely *°.be made Solicitor-General, and that he will for the Pfcenfc represent the Government in the Province of %p. At the termination of the session, it is unwfcood that the Postmaster General (Mr. Hall), *>" resign his portfolio,, on account of private s "ons. Mr. Hall is one of the most able and inMrious members of the Ministry, and, his resignaWa will be a serious public loss. Colonel Haultuin, Minister of Defence, has been for some time past, still is, seriously indisposed.