HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IX, Issue 607, 11 October 1876, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

October 3. In reply to questions, Ministers stated — (1) That the Government would take into consideration the recommendations of che Committee as set forth in the report on the Otago Central Miners' Association correspondence, to appoint a Commission to inquire, during the recess, into the question of validity of water licenses granted under Goldfields Acts, and. the relations between licenses to granted aud the ordinary riparian rights of landowners and others; but without committing themselves to carry out any of them, and during the recess would c >nsider whether it was necessary to appoint the Commission suggested. At any rate they would take steps to ensure a proper Bill, dealing with the goldfields, being iutrom duced next session. (2) The Public "Works estimates would probably be brought down on Monday. (3) The Government had still under consideration the recommendation of the Engineer-in-Chief to extend the wharfage at Port Chalmers, but, in view of the works contemplated by the Harbor Board, there were doubts whether the Government would be juscified iv going t» any great expense for wharf extension. THE COUNIIES BILL. In committee on clause 133 (Council may raise an ordinary loan), some hon. members took exception to the power to raise by loan an amount equalling by three times the annual County fund. Others supported, and, to test matters, a division was taken on the amendment that this clause be struck out ; the clause was retained by 28 against 26. Clause 135 (limiting the lo n) was amended to limit the loan to twice the annual County fund, instead of three times as printed. On clause 6 (applicati n of ordinary lean), Mr Montgomery moved that that part of the clause be struck oat, which provided for paying the fiist year's interest out of the loan itself. The amendment was carried on the voices. Clause 174, exempting contracts from stamp duties, was struck rut by 25 against 22 ; and subsections 2 and 3of clause 183 were also struck out, the application of subsection 4 being extended to bridges and ferries. Several n^w clauses relating to the division of Counties were brou 'ht down and agreed to. The effect of the new clauses was to enable the Governor-in-Couoeil to alter the boundaries of (bounties, and redivide Counties the boundaries of which are | altered into fresh ridings, also to make pro- j vision for the election of new Councils when the boundaries of the Counties are altered. Contracts then existing may be enforced against the original County, and Councils may agr<e for a transfer of a fair share of the property, and debts. If the Councils do not agree the Comiiissioner of Audit may make an award ! as to the matcers in question. All property tran>f arred from one County to another is to j vest in tbe Corporation of the new County. ! No alteration of the boundaries is to affect the interests of the bondholders or creditois. With regard to voting, Mr Wood proposed an amendment virtually limiting tbe rate- | payers to one vote, but it was lost by 35 against 17. Mr De Lautour next wanted th* number of the votes limited to three, but this was also lost. The clause was then agreed to. Sir George Grey asked that progress be reported before proceeding with the schedules, which was agreed to. In Committee on the Education Boards Bill, on the 4th clause a good deal oi dlscuasion ensued, Mr Wakefield having m>ved an amendment to the effect that there should be two Education Boards in Canterbury — North and South— in consequence he said of the inefficiency of the Board at Christchurch. Mr BewsN pointed out that if they were bringing down a Bill dealing with the whole question he would have no objection to another Board for Canterbury ; bub there were ve:y great difficulties opposed to doing that under the present circumstances, one of which was that an alteration in the present law would be required as the present Bill was only iat ended to carry on for a year. He hoped the an-, endwould be withdrawn, he giving an assurance to the member for Timaru that their Bill next year would provide for two Boards in Canterbury. The amendment was negatived on the voices. A number of amendments were made in the succeeding clauses, and clauses 21, 22, and 23 being struck out, the Bill was read a third time and passed, the House adjourning at 1.15 a.m. October 4. At the evening sitting the Schedules of THE COUNTIES BILL And all the Counties were passed until coming to the first of the Otago Counties — | Waitaki. Mr Reid moved as an amend- ■ merit that Southland and Wallace remain as two Counties, but that a'l the rest of Otago bd known as the County of Otago ; aud that all the Counties laid out in the Schedule be called Ridings. This led to a long discussion among the Otago members. A division was taken, and the amendment negatived by 36 against 23. On coming to Molyneux County, Mr Thomson proposed that the name be changed to Vincent County. 'J his was carried on a division by 2,7 to 22. Mr Stotjt then moved taat it be called Vincent Pyke County. This was lost by 31 against 19. The name of Lakeland County was amended to Lake County. A discussion arose as to the Mataura water-shed, with regard to Southland County ; it being added to the Clutha County, on a division, by 26 against 12 Stewart's Island, Ruapuke, and the adjacent islands, were, on the motion c f Mr Stout, constituted a new County under the title of King's County, and it and Stewart's Island County were added to the second schedule. Schedules 3 to 9 inclusive were agreed to. The Bill was then reported, and tHe amendments ordered to be considered on Friday. THE ATTORNEY-GENERALSHIP. Mr Whitaker moved the second reading of the Attorney-General's 8 11, and gave a slight Bketch of the tenure of office of the Attorney-General since the creation oi the office, and said that the time had now come when a change should be made. The Bill, he explained, allowed the office to be political or non-politicak as the case might be. Mr Reynolds opposed the Bill. He ya& bound to 's.ayj from his experience, that political Attorney-Generals gave opinions in acpordance with their politics. Mr Moorhousk could understand an Attorney General being a partisan, and a keen politician, but could not understand him risking his reputation by giving bad law. THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL, The second reading of this Bill being moved, objection was taken to going on with it tbie session. :

Mr Stout moved it be read that day month, while Messrs Sheehan and Hunter 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 bnfore the House before. After some discussion, the Bill was read a necond time, and in Committee, Tanneries were classed as offensive trades, this being the only amendment made in the whole BUI of 153 clauses. The Bill then passed. October 6.