LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3292, 2 September 1871, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Friday, September Ist. The Hon. tho Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. PETITION. The Hon. Capt. FRASER presouted a petition from th© Roman Catholic inhabitants of Dunodin on fche subject of education. REPORTS OF DEBATES. The Hon. Dr BUCHANAN aaked tho Minister of Justice whether any, and, if so, what steps havo boen taken with regard to a r '.solution of this Counoil, on Friday, 25th August, relative to the regular publication of a condonsed report of the debates in ParMamonfc in the daily newspapers ? Ho found that the cosfc of " Hanßard " for tho last twelve months, includiug reporting, printing, and binding, had been £3,142 2s 9d, bosides ofcher contingent expenses; and he. failed to see that it had accomplished either of tho two objects sought — acquainting the people of tho colony with the parliamentary debates, and* enabling the members of one House to know what tho other House wbb doing. He trusted tho Governmeut would see their way to mako such alterations as would carry out theso objects. The Hon. Mr SEWELL wag understood to say that he had pufc himself in communication with tho proprietor of fche leading newspaper in Wellington, and thafc he would be able fco give some further answer on the subject; nexfc week. RAILWAY CONTRACTS. The Hon. Mr WATERHOUSE asked the Minister of Justico whether Parliament will be afforded an opportunity of expressing its opinion on tlie contracts provisionally entered into betweon the Hon. Mr Vogol and Messrs Brogden and Co., beforo their final ratification by Government? The contracts referred to were of a most important character, either for weal or woe to the colony at lurge. The first contract was for the completion of works at a cost of four millions sterling. Tho works were to be executed by means of a subvention of one-third of fche amount. The rest of fche capital was fco be supplied by Messrs Brogden, and tho remuneration to be paid to these gentlemen was five per cent on fche total amount of the contract, or £200,000, and in addition thero was a free grant fco them of no less than tbree million of acres of land availablo for immediate settlement. The other contract was for works to the extent of £500,000. The works which he had indicated wore of such a grand character fchat be thought ifc desirable that tho contracts should be submitted to Parliament before being ratiJL d. The Hon. Mr SEWELL was understood to say that the contracts wero alternative, bo as to enable Parliament to chooso between them, and tbafc amplo opportunity for doing so would be afforded. The House then proceeded wifch fche orders of the day — the reading or committal of of sevoral bills.