Parliamentary.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1757, 20 August 1874, Page 2

Parliamentary.

Wellington, Wednesday. The consideration of the Burial Ground Closing. Bill in, committee provoked a long discussion as. to the advisability of allowing the relatives of those previously deceased to be interred in cemeteries already closed, and whether such inter-, ment should take -place as a. favour to be granted by the Governor or other person, or as a matter of right provided for by this Act. An amendment on clause sto the latter effect was carried. The following new clause was also indroduced on a division by 16 to 10:—" That it shall be lawful for any person by will or deed duly executed to direct that his or her body, shall, after death, be disposed of by burning the same to ashes, instead of by burial in the eavth, and it shall be lawful for the executor or executors of such .person to carry' into effect such direction, provided that such burning shall be conducted in a manner which shall not create any public or private nuisance. • ; Weliington, This day. Abolition Debate. Mr. Webb supported the resolution. Starting as a provincialist, he had not been long in discovering that provincialism was a weak element in colonial legislation. • Mr Swanson.iha long speech, condemned tho inefficiency of the General Government, and eloquently lauded the Provincial. He. blanked the Assembly for all the troubles and poverty of the North Island. Mr Bryce supported in an argumentative speech. Mr. White condemned the resolutions •^why not carry it out to the legitimate conclusion, by abolishing the General Assembly and appointing a Dictator. Mr. Reeves explained that he was not a contractor for provincial printing. Mr. T. Kelly supported, and said that Auckland had been* a pauper for seven years. . ... Mr* Harrison opposed. He blamed the General Governmentfor impecuniosity towards Westland and Nelson. Mr. Richardson, in defending the Government from the charge of extravagance, said the departmental expenditure upon £1,960,000 was not 2i per cent. Mr. Jackson said the General Government managed his district satisfactorilybetter than the Provincial Government was likely to do. < Mr. J. E. Brown moved an adjournment. The Abolition ProposalsOpinions of the PressWellington, This day. \ In criticising Mr. Vogel's proposals the Southland Times says :—"There is no igood purpose to be served by the maintenance of provincial life under conditions! such as those which exist in the Northern Provinces, and those who look with hope to making New Zealand prosperous as a colony, and everyone desirous of seeing her prosperity continue, should hail the proposal for the abolition of the Northern provinces as the dawn of a healthier state of matters. A: desire for abolition had been long growing, and it might not be! long before it would form a part of the question whether it was not desirable to include the Southern Island." ; • "In the discussion," says the Southland News, "the question placed before the country should not alone be the| abolition of Provincialism in the North; Island, but the South, as well—the General Government superseding both." The Dunedin Guardian says, "Monday night's debate was vapid,"r and remarks that "Reeves' amendment shewed a disinclination to face the issue. There are such transparent signs of weakness that we gather assurance of sjiccess for the Government, and strenuously advise the representatives. of the Middle Island to withdraw opposition to the Government, and make favorable terms for the landed estate of Provinces in the South." New Plymouth, Wednesday. The Herald, in an article oh the debate on abolition of provinces, advocated that happy dispatch be given to them now, as the necessity for their continued existence was no longer apparent. It adds, under the General Government the progress of the provinces would be ensured, whilst under Provincial administration its great resources would never be properly developed. The general feeling abroad had long been in favor of being governed by the Colonial Government.

Dr-NEDix This'day. A public meeting "will be held at Port Chalmers to-morrdw re provincial aboli- ■ tipn. Resolutions strengthen Macandrew's hands. . A sale of unreclaimed sections in the Bay yesterday realised £16,600, the largest; amount for one day's sale in the province Wiltshire, through excessive pressure of creditors, was compelled to give up his feat' of walking a thousand miles in a thousand hours, when he had almost completed the task. WeIiUNGTon, Wednesday 8 p.m. An important public meeting, convened by the Mayor in reply to a requisition, was held last night in the Town Hall. The following resolutions were unanimously carried, and ordered to be transmitted to the Premier and the local members: — 1. That this meeting fully approves of tfye action taken by the Premier in respect to the abolition of provincialism in the North Island, and trusts i that the Government will extend the

same policy.,, to the Middle Island. 2. That in the event of-the Government being defeated on the resolutions and appealing to the country, thi3 meeting hereby pledges itself to support thf candidature of those only who are favourable to the abolition of provincialism and its attendant evils throughout the colony."