JOTTINGS FROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1181, 19 September 1885, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

In the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the managers of a second free conference were appointed in regard to the Mines Bill. The report of the joint-Committee, on the CodVm Moth was adopted. The Mortgage Dentures' Bill was reported from Committee with amendments. The Justices of the Peace Bill was re-committed. A' new clause to prevent glove fights was negatived by 17 to 9. The Council went into Committee on the Land Bill. The olause providing for the extension of (he homestead system to the whole Colony was negatived by 14 votes to 12, and progress reported.— ln the House of Representatives, replying to Mr W. F. Buckland as to whether the Government will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire during the rejess into the causes of depression in the Colony, Mr. Stcut aaid that the matter would ba, attended to, but th» Government didfnbt pledge tbentselves to appoint a Royal' Commission. Replying to Mr Barron, Mr Ballance said that he did not agree with the opinions expressed by Admiral Scott. They were contrary to the opinions held by the highest authorities. It wai the intention of the Government to carry out the plan agreed upon. Mr Hobbs asked whether the Government will during the recess consider the advisability of appointing "New Zealand residents"' at Samoa and Tonga. Mr Stout said that the matter was a very important one, and would be considered during the recess. Sir Julius Yogel moved the second reading of the District Railways t ' Purchasing Bill. A long debate followed, and

the motion for theajseond reading was carried by 37 rbtes io#7s^jMt Tole moved the seco«d reading of the" Supreme. Court Reporting Bill. A mo' ion for adjournment of the debate Wis carried on the voices. The House went into Committee on the Wnimea Plains Railway Rating Bi'l. Sevtral amendments were added and progress, reported. The Local Bodies Powers and Finance Bill was further considered in Comrnittie. After amendment of several clauses the bill was read a third time and passed. . In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, the Mortgage Debentures Bill w'm read' a third time and pissed. The Municipal Corporations Bill was referred to the Local Bills Committee. The Council went into Committee on the Land Bill, Sevetal unimportant amendments were made, and progress reported. Tho Local Bodies Powers and Finance Bill was read a second time. A message was received from the House of Representatives requesting a third conference on the Minei Bill, and this war ordered to be considered next day.— ln the House of Representatives, replying to Major Steward as to whether the Government would appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into railway matters, Mr Richardson said the matter would receive earne*t consideration. Mr Richardson moved tlio second reading Ot «IjC UnUWHJ Authorisation Bill, which was agreed to. Mr Richardson asked as a matter of urgency that tbe bill be committed at once. Major Atkinson asked the Premier what business the Government intended going on with this session. The Hon. R. Stout thought they would not be able to proceed with the Criminal Code Bill, Railway Commissioners Bill, Prisoners Probation Bill, and the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill. The Government proposed to j»o on with the Distriot Railways Purchasing Bill, Special Powers and Contracts Bill, Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill, Railways Authorisation Bill, Property Tax Bill, and Appropriation Bill. He thought if reasonable progress w»s l m»&6 lh» ptatogation would take ptneo thit ] week. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill wa« re-committed. Meisrs Stout, Bovan, nna Guiness were appointed a conference to confer with the Legislative Council on th# Mines Bill. Th* House went into Committee on the District Railways Purchasing Bill. Waimat* railway was struck out of the schedule. The Woimea Plains Railway Rating Bill was committed, and was passed with some new clauses and amendments, A discussion arose upon a clause in the Special Powers and Contracts Bill making provision for giving Te Kooti 40 acres of land at Alexandra. The grant was struck out on the voices.

Major Atkinson's motion for placing a sum of money on the Estimates in recognition of Sir William Fox's services to tho Colony is not likely to meet with much opposition. In 1880 he, in conjunction with Sir Dillon Bell, undertook th« settlement of the land disputes bstwten the Natives and the Government on the West Coast of the North Island, a task which many authorities declared to b» impossible. Shortly after the appointment of the Commission, Sir Dillon Bell went Home ib Agent-General, and Sir William Fox unaided performed the difficult business in a most satisfactory manner. The labor connected with the satisfactory performance of this great public service was immense, and it was tnkan for granted that Sir William had received the icsnty remuneration which is usually piven to Royal Commissioners. Such, however, was not the case. At the conclusion of his work the Government offered him £2000, but Sir William courteously declined it, and with rare disinterestedness assured the Government that his services had been freely rendered as a labor of love. Since then Sir William has shared the losses of many colonists, and owing to the severe depression of sundry classes of property, has been placed in » position where he cannot be allowed, from merely chivalrous desire io serve the Colony gratis, to forego the large snm which is juitly due to him.—" Star" correspondent. In the Legislative Council on Thursday, a new conference on the Mine 3 Bill was agreed to. The Council went into Committee on the Laud Bill. Several new classes were added, and the bill reported with amendments. Several Bills were received from the Lower House and read a first time, and a number of Bills were read a second time. At the evening sitting the free conference appointed in the afternoon to oonfer with the House on the Mines Bill reported that they were still unable to agree. — Iv the House of Representatives, replying to questions, Mr Stout said that the wattle had been planted in various parts of the North Island. Dr Hect or thought it would be well to restrain the planting till a blight which it had introduced was destroyed. Mr Stout moved that the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole next day to consider the question of the San Franoiico mail service. Agreed to. On the motion of Mr Seddon, £50 was granted for payment of the Chairman of tho Goldfiilds Committee. The District Railways Purchasing Bill was recommitted. On the motion of Major Steward the Watnute railway was re-inserted in the schedule, by 29 rotes to 21. After a sharp debate the motion for the third reading of the bill was carried by 33 votes to 23. The Bill was then passed. Sir Julius Yogel made a statement in reference to the San Francisco mail service. The Railway Authorisation Bill was re-committed, read a .third time, and passed. Sir Julius Yogel introduced the Property-tax Bill. The House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Public Works Estimates. A vote of £10,000 for the introduction of Highland crofters was struck out, and the remaining immigratidn vote, £20 373, passed. '