PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2437, 6 October 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(PEE PBESS AGENCY.) ■ HOUSE OF BEPBESENTATITO. EVENING SITTING, • Wellington, Thursday. Tho House resumed at 7.30 last evening. COtTNTIES BILL. The schedules of the Counties Bill and all the counties were passed until coming to the first of tho Otago counties (Wailaki), when Mr Beid moved, as an amendment, that Southland and Wallace remain as two counties, but that all }he rest of Otago be known as the County of Otago, and that all the counties laid out in the schedule bo called ridings.

. This led to a long discussion [amongst the C'tago members. A division was taken, and the amendment was lost by 36 against 32, On aomiog to Molyneux County, Mr Thomson proposed that the name be changed to Yincent County. This was carried, on a division, by 27 to 22. Mr Stout then moved that it be called Yincent Pyke County. This was lost by 31 against 19. Tho name of I akeland County was amended to lake County.

A discussion arose as to the Mataura watershed, with regard to Southland County being added to Clutha County. On a division by 26 against 12, Stewart's Island, Buapeka, and adjacent islands, on tho motion of Mr Stout, were constituted a new county. Sing's County and Stewart's Island County were added to the second schedule.

Schedules 3 to 9 inclusive were agreed to, when the bill was reported, and amendments ordfered to be considered on Friday. ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S BILL.

Mr Whitaker moved the second reading of 'the Attorney-General's Bill, and gave a slight sketch of the tenure of office of the A ttorney-General since the creation of the office, and said that the lime had come when a change should be made. The bill, he explained, allowed the office to be political or not political, as the case might be. Mr Reynolds opposed the bill. He was bound to say, from his experience, that political Attorney-Generals gave opinions in accordance with their politics. Mr Moorhouse could understand the Attorney-General being a partizan and a keen politician, but could not understand him risking his reputation by giving bad Taw. The bill was read a second :time. . PUBLIC HEALTH BILL, , ■ Mr Whitaker moved the second reading of the Public Health Bill. Objection was taken -to going on with the bill that session. Mr Stout took the same view,, and moyel that it: be read that day month. ; Mr Sheehan and Mr flunter strongly Supported going: on with the bill, which, as Mr Bowen explained, had already received a good, deal of consideration in the other House, and was a measure that had been before tho House before. After some discussion, the bill was read a second time; OFFENSIVE TEADBS. Tanneries were classed as offensive trades. I The whole bill of 168 clauses wont through and passed. The Houso adjourned at 1.45.

.AFTERNOON SITTING.

Wellington, Thursday. ABOLITION OF PBOYINCES. Tn the House to-day Sir George Grey raised a constitutional question by asking the Government if they would produce any opinion or advice of the law officers of the Crown in London tc tlio effect that tho General .Assembly in regard to Abolition was ultra vires. . The Premier said they had no such opinion or advice, and after explaining the process Colonial, Acts had to go through after being sent home, and tlio scrutiny to which they were invariably submitted by ..different law officers of the Crown, he was justified in assuming that the Abolition Act had been left to its operation. This created a good deal of dissatisfaction, Sir G'. Grey having moved the adjournment for that purpose. ; Messrs Stout, Shcolmn, Bees, and Sir G. Grey argued that tho whole proceeding was illegal, that the Government had been warned they were acting illegally, and that when thero was bo much feeling upon the matter tho Government should have long ago sent home and obtained definite information as to whether they had acted legally or not. ; Great stress was laid upon a sentenco in the Premier's reply to Mr Macandrew's telegram to tlio Governor, in which , it is noted that it is open to Mr Macandrew to convince by course_ of law that the advico he relics on is soundor than that of tho

law officers of the Crown in London and New.Zealand. It was argued that this was deceiving tho. people and misleading tho Governor by conveying the impression tliat the Government had tho opinion of tho Homo .law officers.

I Mr Bees said it was equivocation, and any Government who could stoop to such shifts ought not to be trusted. • The Premier explained that the phrase complained of was the formal and proper one, and that when his. Excellency, who was tho Queen's delegate, assented to the bill practically tho Queen assented to it. In reply to a challengo by Mr Shcehan, Mr Whitaker gave his opinion that, after mature consideration, the Abolition Act was not ultra vires.

FREEDOM OF ELECTION. A : bill was introduced to secure freedom of election and indepondeuco of Parliament.. , ;i ' ' PEESB TBLEGEAMB. " ' A good deal of debate arose upon a motion by Mr Joyoo that the charges for press telegrams should be uniform. It was opposed by the Government and several private members, but upon being put to a division it was carried 26 to 14. FLYING BUBVEYS. The Government gave a promise to Mr Pyke that they would have a flying survey taken of the Cluthn river, with the view of ascertaining tbo practicability of its navigation .to the Manakau and intermediate points. STEAM LAUNCH. Mr O'Borke moved for a sleam launch for' tlio harbour of Manukau, but the Government opposed it, and- discussion was interrupted by 5.30.