HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2595, 19 July 1876, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, July 18. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. THE MUBDKBEB SULLIVAN.

In reply to Mr Wakeflold, Tho hon 0. 0. Bowen said that tho Govornmont had no knowlodgo of Sullivan's whereabouts, nor as to whether ho intendod to rotum to Now Zoaland. NOTICES OV MOTION, Shortly aftor tho raoeting of tho Houso today, tho following important notices of motion woro given :~ Mr Whitakeb to movo, when in Committoo on tho Provinoial Abolition Finanoial Arrangements Bill— « That olauses 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 bo omitted, aud in liou thoreof that tho following clauses, to oomo into oporation on Sept. 20 next, be inserted— All rovonue arising from tho waßto lands of tho Crown is part of Her Majesty's oonsofcdatod revonuo of the Colony,

All sums of money and expenditure heretofore ohargod on revenue, arising from the waste lands of tho Crown, is hereby oharged on and mado payable out of Her Majesty's coasolidated revenue. All assets and liabilities of several Provinoes are assets and liabilities of tho Colony, provided that cash in hand on Sept. 29, 1876, reoeived from the waste lands of tho Crown, shall bo expended in tho Provinoo in whioh it has been reoeived, on suoh publio works (not otherwiso provided for) as the Gonoral Assembly shall detormine." Mr Wakbvibld to move, on tho motion for going into Committee of Supply: "tbat the Houso do resolvo itself into Committee of the Whole to oonsider tho following resolutions .*—

" The gross proceeds of all land sales and old leases, either for pastoral or mineral purposes (exoept with respect to goldfields) to be chargeable with tho expenses of the Land and Survey departments. After suoh deduotion, one-half tho net revenue from these sources to bo Colonial revenue, the other half to be paid to tho local governing bodies of the districts within whioh suoh revenue is raisod ; the cost and expenses of the following services to be defrayed from colonial revenue, viz :— (1) All existing legislative and oxooutive departments of the Government, inoluding tho oivil list; (2) interest and sinking fund of all loans, whether oolonial or provinoial ; (9) primary education; (4) Her Majesty's gaols throughout the Colony; (51 police; (6) lunatio asylums; (7) all publio railways, whethor oonetruoted by tho colony or provinoes; (8) arterial roads and bridges ; (9) subsidies to road districts and municipalities in the proportion of £ to £1 raised by rates or tolls. 4. All annual surplus of Oolonial revenue ovor appropriation to be applied to reduoing any unfunded debt of the Colony ; or, if there bo no suoh debt, then towards tho extinotion of the funded debt.

5. The oost and expenses of the following servioes to be defrayed by local governing bodies, viz., (a) roads, bridges, and other local publio works other than arterial ; (b) Hospitals and oharitable institutions; (o) penitentiaries and reformatories not being publio gaols. 0. The ordinary revenue from the gold* fields, including the export duty, to bo paid to tho local governing bodies of the distriota within whioh suoh revenues arises, and to be expended on local publio works therein. 7. Harbours to be administered by local boards, who shall reoeive and expend all moneys applied on account of or appropriated to purpose of suoh harbours.

THH lATB AGENT GENBHAI,.

A message from thoGoveroorwas announced, rooom mon ding that £3000 be placed on the Estimates for the unmarried children of the lato Dr Featherston.

Tho Pbbmibb asked the House to take the message into consideration at onco. There was nolongor any doubt upon the matter. The hon member read two telegrams referring to his death, and then prooeeded to refer to the highand distinguished services Dr Featherston had rondered to the Colony, and to the eminent position he always oooupied as a noli, tioian. He was tho first Agent-General of the Colony, and although, from our demooratio form of Government, there had been some dissatisfaction from time to time, yet the Govern* meat always expressed their confidence in him, and now, looking baok on the past, and considering the many thousands of immigrants he had sent to the Colony there was reason for every satisfaction. The Dootor had done good servioo to the Colony. The Premier then referred to the well known patriotio and disinterested oharaoter of the Agont-Goneral, whose high politioal integrity had always scoured him tho admiration of men of all politioal opinions. Sir G. Obey, who rose to seoond the motion, did so in tremulous tones, as if affeoted with emotion. He said that he had known Dr Featherston over thirty yoars, and he never was acquainted with one who was so entirely unselfish, and ho thought tho House could do nothing hotter or moro worthy of them than to cheerfully and liberally reoognise his great services. Tho late Dootor had shown a singular oapaoity in managing publio affairs and delioate negotiations, and underwent hardships and fatigues for the servioe of his oountry. He regretted that he had not known of this motion, so that he might have urged upon tho House the desirability of aooeding to tho motion in languago more worthy of the subjeot. The motion was agreed to without any further remark. Upon the House going into Committee upon tbe item, Tho Speaker said that he also was taken unawares, but still he would rather utter what ho felt in a few words on this oooasion than in a prepared speeoh. He regretted to say that he had lost a friend, and the Colony a groat man. Ho had helpod to mako tho Colony. He had ample opportunities of beooming rioh, but he died poor. What moro oould he say P Was not that his glory ? Ho did not wish to catalogue his many numerous and great eervioes to the Colony— they filled its history. Mr Reks thought no tribute would be too great to him who had passed away, and that tho amount of money proposed to be taken as a moasuro of gratitude was all too small. Ho would sooner see them recognise eminent servioos, remembered in this way, by kindly oaring for thoso left behind, than by granting land, titles, pensions, or other emoluments to the objeot whilo in life. Ho hoped the House would show it was in extreme aooord with tho measure proposed. The Hon E. W. Staiwobd suggested that anothor mossago should be sent to His Excellonoy, asking that the sum recommended should bo augmented. He had been acquainted with Dr Featherston's oharaoter as a publio man, with bis rare ability, his devotion to tho Colony, and above all with his indomitablo will. Without detraoting from tho honour of the departed, he oould say tho Colony had had others who oooupied eminent positions, who could have enriched thomsolvos, buu who also died poor.

(iVom a Correspondent of <)w LyUeUon Times.)

Whllinoton, July 18. It seems really vory doubtful when tho debate on tho Government polioy will commence. An Opposition cauous held to-day, was attended by thirty-eight members. It was resolved to ask for delay until the finanoial tables, and Wasto Lands, and Publio Works Bills woro circulated. Tho finanoial tables will not bo ready for ten days. Nominally, tho debate is adjourned to Friday, but it is soaroely likely that it will oommenoo thon. Mr Whitaker's resolutions are looked on as a movo to crouio a division betweon the North and South. It is said tho Govornmont will leave them entirely to tho dcoision of the House. Mr W»keflold'e resolutions are supposed to

be inspired by Mr Stafford, and to be merely a feeler on his part to try the temper of the House.

The Opposition now counts thirty-eight members certain, and will probably number five more adherents.

A general feeling prevails that Dr Featherston's family have been rather illiberally treated. Two years' salary has been given in many instances in the Civil Service, and that is all in the present case. £4000 would have been bb readily voted as £3000, bad) the Government proposed it.