HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, September 1. The Speaker took the chair at half-past 2 o'clock. AUCKLAND GAS BILL. The House went infco committee on this bill, aud the Chairman having reported the bill witli amendments, it was ordered that the amendments be taken into consideration on Tuesday nexfc. PETITIONS. Mr Mervyn, Mr Macandrew, Mr Brown, and Mr Bradshaw presented petitions from the Roman Catholic members of their respective constituencies of a similar nature to thoso already presented to the Houso by tho Roman Catholics of other portions of th. colony on the mafcfcer of education. Petitions were presented by Mr Fox, from the Presbytery of Wellington, by Mr White, from the licensed victuallers associations of Hokitika and Ross, Westland, and by Mr Fitz herbert, from 278 inhabitants of the Hufct district ; thoso of Mr White calling attention to the defects of the licensing law, tho othors requesting tho House to pass a bill containing tho provisions of tho Permissive Bill. Mr Ormond presented two petitions from fcho Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay, • one having roferenco to the issue of Crown grants for certain roxds, tho other to certain matters connected wilh the management of the To Aute estate. Wi Parata presented a petition aboufc naVivos and iheir lands, and Mr Steward one with referenco to matters connected with the porfc of Moeraki. Mr Browii presented a petition from 700 miners in Otago, praying for the reduction of tho gold duty. PAPERS. Mr Fox laid on tho table a letter containing a list of books presented by F. A. Krull, E.-q. on behalf of tho German Empire. Mr M'Lean and Mr Gisborne laid on tho tablo a number of papers. PUBLIO PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Mr T. KELLY brought up the roport of tho Petitions Committee on fche petition of tht Mayor and Councillors of fche borough of Timaru, praying for amondmont in tho Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works Acts, which recommended thab as the Government had instructod tho Colonial Engineer to roport upon tho matter, they could not recommend thafc any action bo taken until euch report be received ; also, tho report of tho committee on the petition of the wifo of a boatman who had been drowned in a Taranaki river, whioh

prayed the House to grant her a pension ; the oommittee recommended the granting of a pension of Is a day ; also, the report of the committee on the petition of the Roman Catholio residents of Hawke's Bay and Wanganui, in favor of a denominational system of education ; the committee reported thafc as the matter was already under consideration, fchey could make no recommendation ; also, fcho report of the committee on fche petition of Mr Kempthorne, of Auckland, with reference to Church lands in that province, praying tho House to cause an inquiry to be made $ the committee could not recommend tho taking of any action in the matter ; also, the report of fcho committee on the petition of the Borough Council of Auckland, praying for amendment in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867 * the committee reported that the subject was ono on which they did nofc wish to offor any opinion. CHBISTCHUBCH LOAN BILL. A committee of the whole having considered fchis bill tho chairman reported ifc to the Ho'.ue with amendments, the consideration of which was ordered for Friday nexfc. AEMS BILL. The second reading of this bill wa3 mado an order of the day for Tuesday. OTAGO EDUCATION EESERVES BILL. Tho Becond reading of' this bill was agreed fco by the House, and ifc was ordered to be committed on Tuesday. GISBOBNE LAND ACT. This bill was committed, and the chairman haviDg reported the bill with amendments, the third reading was ordered for Tuesday. JUSTICE PRACTICE BILL. Tho consideration of the report of the committee of the whole House upon thi. bill, was adjourned until Tuesday. TREASON AND FELONY. Mr GISBORNE moved for leavo to introduce a bill to abolish forfeitures for treason and felony, and to otherwise amend the law relating thereto. Leave was granted, tho bill waß r :ad a first fcime, and the second reading ordered for Tuesday next. VACCINATION. Mr GISBORNE moved for leave to introduce a bill to amend " The Vaccination Act, 1863," and fco make othor provision in lieu thereof. Leavo was given, the bill was read a firsfc time, and the second reading ordered for Tuesday noxfc. NATIVE RESEBVES. TAIAROA moved fchafc a return showing the receipts by the Commissioner of Nativo Reserves in respect of native reserves in Westland, and tho amounfc paid to the nativos out of the said receipts, from tho date of such roserves having been brought under the operation of the Native Reserves Acts up to tho 30th June, 1871, bo laid upon the tabic ; together with summaries of all the leases of tho nativo reserves in Westland. Mr M'LEAN promised that the return should be laid on the table. POSTAGE ON NBWSPAPEBS. Mr MURRAY movod that, in fche opinion of this House, thoro should be no charge for fcho postage of licensed newspapers within the Colony. As tho motion involved a matter of finance tho hon. member, afc the suggestion of tho Speaker, withdrew ifc. RECLAIMED LAND BILL. Mr FITZHERBERT moved fchafc tho namo of Mr Macandrew bo added to tho select committeo on the Welliugton Reclaimed Land Bill, 1871. MESSAGE. The Speaker read a messago from the Legislative Council, stating that that body had passed tho Imprest Supply Bill. Notices of motion having been given the Houso adjourned at twenty-five minutes to five o'clock.