HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3901, 4 September 1873, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY, BEPTEMBEB 3. The SPHAEBH took the chair at half- past two o'clock. ITBST HEADINGS, The Permanent Acts Appropriation Bill, the Otago Reserves Bill, and a Bill to amend the Goldfields Act, 1866 were read a first time. NEW ZBAI/AND TIMBBB. Mr T. KELLY moved that it is desirable tbat an inquiry be made by the Government into the qualities of New Zealand timber, with the view to determine to what purpose the several varieties may be respectively ap plied in the construction of public works. Also, to inquire and determine whether timber, which in its natural state is not sufficiently durable for railway sleepers, can be economically used for that purpose by increasing its durability by impregnating it with the waste products of gasworks, or by other process. That the result of such inquiries be laid on the table of the House next session Mr WAEEFIELD moved that the words " What is the beßt eeaion of the year for felling trees," be added. Mr KELLY agreed to the amendment. Mr RICHARDSON said the Government had already given much attention to the subject. It had been found di<Bcult to obtain information that was reliable os to the relative durability of the different kinds of timber. The same timber in one soil being very different to what it was in another. The proceßg of preserving was a very expensive one. The engineers in the different districts were instructed to obtain all information that they could on the subject. Mr O'NEILL moved further that information should be obtained as to the relative durability of piles ond piers of various kinde of timber. Mr Kelly accepted it. Carried.

STEAM SERVICE. Mr SHEEHAN moved that this House will, to-morrow, roaolve itself into a committee of the wliole to consider of an addreas to the Governor, to the effout that his Excellency will be pleased do placa upon the supplementary estimates a sum of not exceeding £2500, towards the establishment of regular stentn communication along the East Coast of the North Island, from Wellington to. Auckland, via Napier and Poverty Bay. Existing services did not generally go farther than Napier. There was a large area of land there in the hands of the natives. It was here that the best field of operations for the Government in purchasing a landed estate would be. It was also desirable in view' of the fact that immigrants were to be landed at Tauranga. He wished to be allowed to add to the motion the words " that the service should be «o arrangort as to form a continuation to tbe southern provinces, of the Auckland and Fiji services." Mr VOQ-BL hored the hon member would withdraw his motion. The Oalifornian service if established would connect with the Southern provinces. A connection such an that suggested was not what the Southern i provinces wanted. As to the main part of the motion he might say that the Government had determined to bring down a rote for an East Coast service. On the establishment of the Californian service it would run only between Napier and Auckland. LICENSED INTEBPRBTKR. Mr TRIBE moved that copies of all correspondence and papers relating to the suspension or cancellation of the license of Mr Stevens, native interpreter, be laid on the table Mr M'LEAN said that Mr Parris had reI ported of Mr Stevens as having acted improperly in connection with a Government land purchase in which he was engaged. Further enquiries were being made. The papers would then be laid. on the table. Mr POX was glad the Government had taken a decided action in the matter. Mr Stevens wns, he believed, connected with anofchor interpreter with reference to whoße proceedings he intended to move for an enquiry. These interpreters were frequently a very undesirable class of men to allowed to be at large among the natives. Mr Stevens' antecedents, however, wore in his favor, he believed. Mr SHEEHAN could say from personal knowledge that Mr Stevens was not a man. of this class. Major ATKINSON said that he knew sufficient of the matter to be aware that the Commissioner in the district would not have been doing his duty if he had not reported Mr Stevens. The case wbb prima facie very bad. THE SOUTHERN MEMBERS CAUCUS. Mr WEBSTER moved that there be laid on the table, if in writing, or a verbal statement be made, of the nature of the offer referred to by the Minister of Justice in his speech on the Provincial Loan Bill, as having been made by the Southern members to the Northern members. Mr VOGKL said the Government had taken the responsibility in the matter, having satisfied themselves as to the views of the Southern members. Mr J. L. Gillies, Mr Stafford, and Mr Reid, said no offer had been made. Mr Webster having attained the object of his motion, it waa withdrawn. MB THOMAS KEiIT. Mr INGLES moved for the production of all letters and telegrams between Thomas Kelly, Esq., M.H.R., and the Minister for Public Works, relative to certain timber landed at Opunake; and also between tbe same gentleman and the engineer in charge of works on the West Coast ; together with any letters to or from Mr Higginson on the same subject. He referred to an article in a Taranaki news-* paper in which a oharge to the above effect was made. Mr YOGEL said there was no objection to laying the papers in question on the table. Mr T. KELLY would second the motion. There was no foundation for the report in question. He had sold material to a contractor. That was the origin of it. • TATJRANGA TJNIYEEBITT BESEBVEB. Mr KELLY moved that 20,000 acres of land in Tauranga district, marked on plan as University Reserve, should be retained by Government as land for special settlement purposes. The block was a largo and good one, bordering the harbor. The locking of it up would retard the progress of the district. On Mr Rolleston's motion, the resolution was amended to the effect that they should be rendered available for purposes of settlement, j and carried. LICENSED INTBBPRETEB. Mr FOX moved for all further papers relating to the dismissal of Mr George Buckland Worgan from the public service, in pursuance of the report of Colonel Russell, and the opinion of the Attorney- General thereon; also, of further papers and telegrams, if any, relating to the suspension of Mr Worgan 'e license as Native Interpreter; also, all correspondence between the Native Minister, Colonel Whitmore, Commissioner at Hawke's Bay, Mr Hunter Browne, Resident Magistrate at Wairoa, and other persons relative to the previous. dismissal of Mr Worgan from the public service in the matter of Ihaka-Wanga. Carried. COAI. MINES BIGHJLATION Bill,. Mr REID moved the second reading of the Coal Mines Regulufcion Bill, It provided tbat mines should not be worked in a wasteful manner, that young children should not be employed in them, that wages should bo paid in an equitable manner, and that efficient inj spection should be secured. Though there was not at present, there would shortly bo an urgent necessity for the measure. Mr BATHGATE said the Government would not oppose the second reading of the bill, but recommended its withdrawal at this late period of the session. There were no persons to speak of as yet in th« colony who would be affected by it. Mr O'NEILL thought Mr Batbgate did not know the state of the coalmining industry in the colony. There were hundreds of people employed in the coal mines to the north of Auckland, Mr ROLLESTON supported the bill. They should not wait in such a matter till it became absolutely necessary. Mr BUOHLAND opposed the bill. It was absurd to go into this anticipatory legislation. It wbb the employers of labor rather than the laborer* that required protection. MrSHEPHARD supported the bill. Its provisions were of an excellent and farsighted character. Mr HARRISON supported the bill. In the Brunner mine a law with regard to ventilation was urgently needed. Mr BRADSHAW would support the bill. He hoped it would be pushed through this year. Mr YOGEL said that, in dealing with a measure of that kind, they should consider what legislation they oould effect. They should remember that Parliament was not likely to sit many more weeks. He did not think tbat bill could pass this session. The Government would draw up a bill during the recess to deal with the question ot mining generally, Mr WAKEFIELD would support tho bill. It might be urgently needed by next session. Mr SHEPHEBD thought the matter should be left over till next session and then dealt with by the Government. After Borne further discussion, Mr REID, in reply, said that he had not expected to get it passed through this session, It was, however, very important that the sub« ject should be dealt with before vested interests to a largo extent grew up. He hoped te see the bill distributed during the recess, not only among the coal owners but among the workmen. The bill passed the second reading and was ordered to be committed this day fortnight. GOLD MINING DfBTEIOTS BIKD. The question was put that the House should go into committee on the above bill. The bill was committed.

GEET Riyjm OOAI. BESJEEVES BIM,. Mr HARRISON moved the second reading of the abovo bill. The object of the. bill was to make the reserve an endowment for the town of Greymouth. $ Mr YOGEL hoped the House would not agree to the bill. It was too much to ask that the reserve should be made an endowment for the town while the colony was spending such large sums of money as it was on the improvement of the river. He hoped the hon member would withdraw the bill. He had done his duty to his constituents in bringing it forward. Mr HARRISON would withdraw the bill on the understanding that the provisions introduced into the Province of Weafcland Bill dealing with the subject should be carried through. DISQTTAUFICAXIOH BIED. Mr MURRAY moved the second reading of die wiiove bill. It was to render members of the House ineligible for appointments to offices in the Civil Service till twelve months nftcr their resignation. He would agree to amend the twelve to six. It also made cer- j tain other disabilities. Mr YOGEL said that was a matter which should be dealt with by the Government if it were dralt with at all. Be did not think the operation of the present Disqualification Act should be extended. He believed, indeed, it did more barm than good. The attempt to buy members would check itself. For every vote they gained in that manner they would lose three. It was absurd to encumber the Order Paper with these measures, which could come to nothing. He hoped there would be no discussion on the subject. If there was it would only gratify the hon member's weakness for notoriety. He moved that the bill be read a second time thii day six months. Mr COLLINS sympathised with Mr Murray's object, but would not give the bill his support. Mr MURRAY would take a division to enable independent and incorruptible members to reoord their votes in favor of the Bill. He did not however carry out his intention. The bill was thrown out on the voices. PBOTEOTION OF ANIMAXB BIJCI.. The above bill was committed, and a very long discussion encued. Our reporter left about 1.30 p.m. Says the 'Lewistoß Gazette': — Upon the arrival of the train from Portland yesterday, an old lady affectionately greeted a stylish young lady as follows : — ' Why, bow'd do, Maria ! why how funny ye look ! didn't hardly know ye ; got your false teeth in, ain't ye ?' Maria changed the subject. An unimaginative individual, on visiting; the falls of Niagara, waß greatly perplexed at the astonishment expressed by his companions, and on one of them exclaiming to him, ' Is it not a most wonderful fall P replied, ' Wonderful ! no ; I see nothing wonderful in it. Why, what's to hinder the water from falling ?' Definition Wanted. — Aunt Maria : • And so, Louray, you enjoyed yourself very much at the Brown's party. And did you flirt much P' Lawrence : 'O dear, no ! On the contrary, Aunt, I danced with the same little girl the whole ereoinn! 1 A Chimney-sweep likes his trade because it soots him. Anticipating the death of Brigham Young, a Louisville merchant wants the contract to supply his family with crape and bombazine. '