PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2459, 1 November 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(PEB PBESS AGENCY.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wellington, Tuesday. The House resumed at 7.30 last night. ACTS PASSED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Public Revenues Aot came back from the Legislative Council without amendments; also the Appropriation Act and the Immigration and Public Works Act. BA.MORIS AND DOWNES* CLAIMS. A message from the Council announced that they had agreed with the report of the conference on the Sarloris and Downoß Act.—The Premier announced that the managers appointed to confer as to tho reasons for disagreeing with tbo striking out of tho last clause of this Act had been unable to do so, and he was at a loss what to do.-—The Speaker _ suggested it as probable that the appointment of another manager, so as to make the number odd, as usual, would overcome the difficulty. -The Premier then moved that Mr Hunter bo appointed another manager.— Sir George Grey objected.—The Speaker suggested that new manageiß do appointed.—The Premier then moved that Messrs Hunter, Fitzroy, and himself be appointed managers.—Mr Sheehan said this was a most unheard off proceeding, and he moved that Messrs J. C. Brown, Tole, and W. Wood be managers.—The debate was adjourned for a short time. WASTE LANDS ADJIINISTBATION ACT. The Waste Lands Administration Act, 1i)76, was brought down from the Legislative Council with amendments. The Premier said lie would move that these amendments be agreed to, and he did so with great regret and only on account of the late period of tho session. Clauses were struck out that would have been of very great use to tho country. Tho whole of the deferred payments clauses wore struck out, and many others of a useful nature. It was only on account of the impossibility of keeping a House at so late a period that he agreed to it. Messrs II owe, Barff, and W, Wood condemned the action of the Council as calculated to have a most disastrous effect upon tho colony. Mr Wood said the colony would yet cry out from ond to end for the abolition of the legislative Council.

The debate was adjourned for 40 minutes. On resuming, tho Premier moved -" That this House disagree with the amendments in tho Waste Lands Administration Act, and that Messrs Sheehan, Curtis, and himself be appointed managers to draw up reasons for disagreeing." Agreed to. After drawing up reasons, they were appointed members of a free conference with the Legislative Council. The House adjourned on the Municipal Corporations Act. The new clause, bringing the Act into operation by the Council by the Ist January, was agreed to. It was soon after announced that the Council had appointed managers to confer with managers of the House ofßepresentatives at 10,30 to-day. AFTERNOON SITTING. Tho House met at noon to-day. After transacting some ordinary business, the report of the conference on the Waste Lands Administration Act was brought up and road. The effect of it was to restore the provincial land laws on the subject of deferred payments and special settlements, but striking out of the bill the clauses relating to deferred payments generally; also, the clause relating to forest conservation. The only other point upon which there was any difficulty was a proviso in the 26th clause, in reference to commissioners of Waste Lands Boards, and it was agreed that they should not be disqualified from sitting as members of the House.

Messrs Eowe, Wood, Pyke, and Sir George Grey recorded their protest against the gross injustice inflicted upon .the colony by the action of the Council. PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT, Upon tho House resuming it was announced that the Legislative Council had agreed with the report of the conference on the Waste Lands Administration Bill. The Premier said there had been a great deal of discussion on Sartoris and Downe's and other claims, but on account of the closing of the session he moved the adjournment of the debate for a week, which was agreed to. The House then adjourned until 5,30, and on resuming there' was nothing done but the reading by the Clerk of a notice that members were wanted in the Legislative Council, and upon members going there tho Clerk read his Excellency's commission proroguing Parliament until the 16th of January next. This closed the proceedings of the session. In the Legislative Council the business was a reflex of the House of livesThe following is an analysis ef the business done during the session:—Bills brought from the Council awaiting .Royal assent, this year 182, last year 144; bills of altsorts this year 305, last year 186, There were 85 days of meeting this year, 59 last year. There were 345 divisions this year, 94 last year, The hours of sitting before midnight this year were 698 hours 40 minutes. There were 345 reports from solecfc committees, 187 papers laid upon tho table, and 250 questions asked of Ministers.

Tho Wellington correspondent of tho Auckland Stew sonds tho following itoms:— Saturday was a busy day, all tho Public Works estimates being passed through. On the estimates for tho Land Purchase Department, Sir Georgo Grey and Mr dhechan formally protested against proceedings of this department, alleging that it was a gigantic waste of public money, and a system of corruptions and injustice. They stated that all endeavours to bring the matter beforo Parliament having been thwarted this session they would move in tho matter early nest session. Mr John Lundon's petition, complaining of the improper conduct of a Return, ing Officer at tho Bay of Islands (a brother of a sitting member) was taken on Saturday, and Mr Sheehan was examined in support. Tho committee represent that the allegations are of the most serious character, and should be inquired into by some compotent person not being a Govemmeat officer or local resident. Sir Geo. Grey, Messrs Sheehan, Tole, Eowe, Sir Uobert Douglas, and Messrs Nabo, Tawhiti, and Williams still remain hero to seo things out. Some sensation was excited bya rumour that Mr Oarrington will bag £1,700 commission on the settlement which he has juct effected with the Government by f'artoris and Downes' Act. ' j