SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2337, 1 September 1875, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

SECOND READING OF ABOLITION BILL.

LARGE MAJORITY FOR GOVERNMENT.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Saturday, August 2S.— The debate on the Abolition Bill passed early this morning, on a division of 42 for and 17 against, and three pairs. Mr. T. Kelly spoke at some length in the afternoon. The new member (Mr. Stout) made a good speech from the provincial point of view, and is a decided acquisition to the House. Mr. Carrington was pressed strongly to speak, and was prepared to do so, having taken notes of subjects overlooked, but at the earnest request of Ministers, he reserved his remarks to a future occasion. Had he spoken he would have been followed by other?, and the division could not have been taken early this morning, and thereby missing the English mail. I will forward by letter the promineut points of the speech he would have delivered.

Major Atkinson replied very effectively — in fact, he was better in reply than in his opening speech. He furnished a tabular statement of the way in which the change would affect the provinces financially. It is as follows : — Under the existing system there would bo available for public works out of provincial revenues, as estimated by Provincial' Governments, after paying charges now made by law— Auckland, £21,384, less than nothing; Taranaki, £2,BSS available; Wellington, £99,028 ; Hawke's Bay, £14,935 ; Nelson, £22,135; Marlborough, £712; Canterbury, £538,485 ; Westland, £2,785 ; Otago, £163,804. Under the new system there would be available for Aucklaud £G6,0G2, but £32,000 of Treasury bills would have to be issued; Toranaki,£23,ssl; Wellington,£l23,Bßl; Hawke's Bay, £9,004; Nelson, £47,8G7, but there would have to bo issued £7,000 of Treasury bills; Marlborough, £12,711, but £440 of Treasury bills would havo to be issued; Canterbury, £576,023 ; Otago, £218,58S ; Westland, £34,443, but £11,100 of this would be raised by Treasury bills. This looks satisfactory, if the construction of public works is to be the test of excellency in Government. Tho bill will go into committee of the whole on Tuesday to pass the appropriation clauses. Major Atkinson stated that the Government would press on the measure with all reasonable speed ; aud while they will allow amendments in committee which tend to improve the measure, they will resist any amendment which is likely to damage the principles of the bill.

It is not expected that the division of the third reading will show such a large majority •for the Government.