PARLIAMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3041, 3 September 1870, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. JPUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Mr J. C. WILSON brought up the report of this committee on the petition of Henry Veale, praying that lie might have a life interest in property belonging to his late wife, nee Emma West, which had been escheated to the Crown, reporting that they could not recommend the prayer of the petition. GOLDI'IELDS COMMITTEE. Mr MAIN brought up the interim report of this committee on the petition of certain inhabitants of Clyde in the province of Otago, and that of the directors and malingers of certain mines at the Thames, which were read. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR. The SPEAKER announced that he had received a message from the Governor, transmitting the Canterbury Rivers Act, with an amendment, which was ordered to be considered next sitting day. EXPLANATION. Mr TAYLOR snid that he had, through forget- ! fulness, recorded his vote with the Noes on the Robert Johnson Land Grant Bill, when he had paired on this measure with tho lion, member for Coleridge. lie very much regretted this circumstance, and could only attribute it forgetfulness on his pint. Mr J. 0 WILSON said ho accepted the explanation of the hem, member, and hopod tlie Ifouso would do the fame. (Hoar, hoar.) CROWN GRANTS BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. SUPPLY. On the motion of Mr VoQEi/, the House went into Committee of Supply to consider the supplementary estimates. Liabilities and engagements 18G8-69, £11,430 11s sd ; do 18G9-70, £74,349 17s Od. On the item, Native General Contingencies, £1974 )3s 2d, Colonel HAULTAIN objected to this, as tho Native Minister had informed the Houso that he had a surplus in hand of 6ome £2000 on this account. He should move that this item be struck out, as also one for £2 8s Od under liabilities and engagements 1868 69. The motion was agreod to, and the amount as diminished passed. CLASS 11. Public Departments— £l2so. On this being pui, Mr Ludlam objected to the item, Secretary to Colonial Treasurer, £300. Mr YOGEL said it was impossible for him to carry on the duties of his office if there was not an officer of this kind. Mr GILLIES pointed out that in tho Stamp Department at the Thames there was an item of £50, Goldfields allowance. "Now, officers could live at Grahamstown us cheaply as at Auckland Mr VOGEIi said that (he Government were not prepared to assure tho officer going down to Grahamstown that tho cost of living would be less than in the settled districts, and he did not think that the salary of £300 per annum was an extravagant charge. Mr GILLIES said he considered this an unfair burden to bo thrown upon the Province of Auckland. The item passed as printed. CLASS 111. Law and Justice— £ll,s6l 16a. On tho item, Wardens Dunedin Gaol, £1179 i 143, Mr Wilson a*ked whether the Government had received any equivalent for the labor of tho j Maori prisoners at Dunedin, which was tho I amount of this item. Mr M'LEAK" said that the colony was indobted to the Superintendent and people of Otago for having undertaken a very disagreeable duty. Mr MACANDREW said that the province of Otago fed and clothed these people in consideration of their labor, the General Government finding the salaries of tho wardens. ( Mr BUNNY asked for some explanation respecting tho item of Court House, Wanganui, £2000. As this was a Provincial charge he did ' hope that unless it was a pressing necessity it ' should not be carried out. Ho did think that it was quite time they were taken over by the colony, as, what with Provincial charges in one direction and another, tho revonnes of tho province would be entirely swallowed up. The Council mot once a year, and passed a quantity of votes, but it was a mere farce, as the votes existed only on paper, j there being no money to defray them. Mr TOG-EL said that lie had been perfectly in earnest when lie proposed to takeover Wellington as a Colonial city, and he thought that the citizens of Wellington would be very agroeable to tho change, as they would be much better off in that case. It was not right that the roat of tho provinco should suffer for the city Under the Colonial rulo it might be possible for lion, members to reach their homes without the risk of being drowned, as had been very nearly his (Mr Vogel'e) fate on a recent occasion, and also to get the streets lighted with gaa, and perhaps tho somewhat extravagant, boon of water might be obtained. The hon. member for Wairarapa might suggest a mild and moderate taxation to enable somo works to be carried on. Mr BUNNY suggested that this item should be charged on loan, and Wellington charged witli the interest and sinking fund. He should be very glad to be attached to Otago, as he looked upon that province as tho first province in tho colony. Mr YOGEL could not consent to this, aa tho expenditure should have been made some time ago, even before tho largo expenditure for wharfs, &c , and he therefore must insist upon this being made a provincial charge. Last session tho Government rescued the province of Wellington from its difficulties, which wove of a very complicated nature, and made moro so by the absence from tho House of the members for tho province, the hon. member for Wairarupa excepfced. Mr TAYLOR said he did not think it mattered much whether this item was charged provincially or coloniully. Tho Hon. Colonial Treasurer had made ducks and drakes of tho revenue of the province, and it was expected to carry on its internal government without resources. He asserted that Wellington would in course of time become one of the most flourishing provinces of the North island, as she had a valuable estate, but the native difficulties provented her from making use of it. Mr YOGEL said that the Provinco of Wellington had been dealt with fairly by tho House and tho Government, and he denied that tho revenue of the province had been made ducks and drakes of. Mr TAYLOR said that tho vray in which Wellington and the othor provinces of tho North Island hud been treated unfairly by the Houso was by tho passing of the Native Lands Act 18K2. The next item which evoked discussion was, that of a courthouse at Patea, £1100. Mr RICHMOND hoped that the Colonial Treasurer would scejthat this amount was equally divided between the two provinces of Wellington and Tarannki. Mr KMLLY moved that tho sum bo reduced by £600, as he considered tho amount excessive. Mr STAFFORD «aid, although ho believed that this vote was exorbitant and not required, ho would vote for it as being calculated to break down those provincial divisions, which would bo effected by swelling up thoso Provincial charges against provinces unable to pay them. Mr CARRINGTON was of opinion that £500 for this work would be ample. The amendment of Mr Kelly wa3 agreed to by tho Government:, and the vote passed as reduced, CLASS IV. Telegraph and Postal, £14,885. Agroed to. CLASS V. Customs and Marine, £7500. Agreod to. class vr. Native, £2720. Agreed to." OL.VS3 VII. Miscellaneous: £16,152 17s od. On tho item compensation to Thos. Goodisov, .SI 75.

Mr LUDLAM inquired the reason of this beino placed on tho estimates. Mr M'LEAN said that an officer of the Government had investigated this case, and had made the award of this sum. Mr KICHMOND said that this was not at all a case which the Houso ought to entertain, and moved that the item be struck out. After some further discussion progress wa» reported, and leavo obtained to sit again on next sitting day. Tho House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.