New Zealand Parliament.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2565, 31 August 1867, Page 5

New Zealand Parliament.

f LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. » THURSDAY, AUGUST 29. Tho Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. The minutes of tho last sitting wt-ro read and confirmed. THE IMPERIAL DEBPATCIIES. Tho HOll. Major RICHARDSON laid on tho table further despatches from the Right Bon. the Secretary of State to his Excellency tho Governor, and drew attention to the following, which he read nloud : — Downing street, 18th June, 1867. Sib, — I have tho honor ,to acknowledge} the receipt of your Despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin, containing certain statements and explanations upon matters alluded to in my predecessor's Despatch No 49, of tho Ist December last. As all Her Majesty's regular forces in New Zealand, with the exception of one regimont will, in pursuance of instructions from the Secretary of State for War, have probably loft the colony before you receive this Despatch, and as it is very possible that General Sir T. Chute may also havo left, I deem it unnecessary to renew the correspondence with regard to the control of the troops in question. The regiment which will bo left' in the colony will, as you "were informed by my predecessor, romain, while in the colony, under tho control and direction of the Queen's representative. With regard to the ultimate disposal of this regiment, 1 await the arrival of the next mail in the expectation of receiving by that opportunity the furthor expression of your views on tho subject of my predecessor's Despatches referring to military operations in New Zealand, which your Despatch of the 4th of Aprrl, No 30, promises I shall then be able t» inform you of the appointment of your successor in the Government of New Zealand, and of the time at which he may be expected to arrive in the coleny. — I have, &c, Buckingham and Chandos. Governor Sir George Grey, K.G B. The Hon. Colonel WfIITMORE moved tho adjournment of the Council as a mark of respect to his Excellency, and in token of its rogret at tho announcement mndo in the despatch. The Hon. Colonel PEACOCKE seconded the motion. Tho Hon. Major RICHARDSON said that the Government had received the despatch with the deepest regret, and would take an early opportunity of submitting a series of re<jolutions bearing on the action taken by the Imperial authorities. The Council then adjourned. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30. Tho Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock. The minutes of the last sitting were read and confirmed. PETITIONS. The Hon. Mr HOLMES presented petitions from tho directors of the High School at Christchurch, and 292 inhabitants of Dunedin, praying that scholarships may bo endowed. BBPOIiT OF COMMITTEE. The Hon. Mi.jor RICHMOND C.T3. brought up a report of the Select Committee appointed to consider whether or not it was desirable petitions for the remission of sentences should be submitted to tho Legislature. The Committee reported that it was desirable such petitions should be received. The report was adopted. > CORONERS. • The Hon. Colonel PEACOCKE asked the hon. member* representing the Government whether it is tho intention of Government to furnish Coroners with a copy of some authoritative hand-book of Hew Zealand 1 law, such us Judge Johnston's, which is now furnished to Resident Magistrates as a guide to them in their judicial capacity ? The Hon. Miijor RICHARDS OX replied that the extract from Judge Johnston's book affecting Coroners would be transmitted to thoße officials. PETTJT JURORS. Tho Hon. Colonel PEACOCKE asked the hon. member representing the Government whether it. is the inten'.ion of Government to introduce, during the present session, a Bill to provide for payment or con>punsutioii for lojs of time for Potty Jurors? Tho Idon. Major RICHARDSON said that in a Bill to be iniroiluced by tho Government a clause would be. inserted for tho granting of mileage to po! ty jurors. It was not, however, the intention of tho Government to recommend that compensation for loss of timo should be given, but when in Commit teo on the Bill, any hon. member would be able to propose tho insertion of a clause to the necessary effect. RAILWAYS. On the motion of tho Hon. Mr HABRts, the report of the Select Committee on the Bluff and Wintou Railway was ordered to bo printed. dome formal business was then transacted, and tho Council having spent some time in Committee on Bills transmitted from the Lower Houao, adjourned till Tuesday. 4,