PARLIAMENTARY.

Western Star, Issue 161, 7 October 1876, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

WKXiLI.VUTON, Sept. 23. Tho House resumed at 7-30. A long discussion ensued upon tho second reading of the Diseased Sheep Bill, the penalties imposed in the first part of the Bill being considered monstrous by some members, while those interested in wool-raising said that stringent measures were absolutely necessary in tho interests of the colony. The other business was unimportant, and the House adjourned about 1 a.m. Sept. 29. Tho House met at 2.30. Mr Rees raised a question of privilege, by calling attention to an article in tbs Timam .Herald, in which Mr Joyce is called “an ignorant and prejudiced ruffian.” Several speakers strongly condemned such a style of writing of members of tho House, saying that it was beyond all bounds, and that the House owed it to itself to take action at once to slop such conduct. The Premier moved that the printer, publisher, and proprietor of tlio Timam Herald be, summoned to tho bar of the House by th Speaker to answer a charge of breach of privi lege. The motion was agreed to. only Mr Wason dissenting. The Queenstown Commonage Bill passed through Committee, after excision of tho fourth clause. The greater portion - of the afternoon was occupied in the discussion of a question of privilege raised by Mr Larnach, who called the attention of the House to another article in the. Timam Herald in relation to the honorarium question. After a good deal of discussion, the Clerk was ordered tn read tho aitiele, most of those who voted against tho increased honorarium deprecating the taking of any actiou in tho matter or tho reading of the article ; but it was read, and tho House had to decide whether it was a breach of privilege or nob. A number of those who were reflected on by the article were very strongly of opinion that tho House should assert itself upon that occasion. Several members said that it was reported that tho author was a member of the House, and they wanted to give him an opportunity of clearing himself, or of apologising. Ultimately the House decided that the article was a breach of privilege. Mr Pyke then moved that, the printer, publisher, aud proprietor of the Timaru Herald bo arraigned at the bar of tho House to answer a charge of breach of privilege. The Premier then moved that tho debate be adjourned till Wednesday next, in order .to enable the proprietor to make an ample apology to the House. If he did nob do that, the House could then decide upon a course. The debate was adjourned. Mr Pyke gave notice to move that those who voted against the increased honorarium should not draw it. The House rose at 5.30 p.ra., and resumed at 7.30. Nearly all the evening was spent in Committee’ upon tho Counties Bill. The miners’ right franchise was carried by 51 against 14. It was agreed by 54 to 18 that county chairmen should be elected by the ratepayers. Sir George Grey made an attempt for manhood suffrage, but was defeated by 42 against 11. At clause 53 progress was reported. Before the adjournment of the House, Mr Wakefield asked permission to make a statement that he accepted the responsibility of the articles which had appeared in the Timaru Herald, and expressed regret for them. He had himself suffered from most unfair accusations from the Press, and he trusted the present occurrence would tend to prevent a treatment of members of the House by the Press that almost amounted to intimidation. For himself he withdrew all the imputations conveyed in his articles without qualification, bitterly regretting them. He threw himself on the generosity of the House. After some discussion, Mr Joyce, the member who might have felt most aggrieved at the articles in the Timaru Herald, said that the manner in which tho House had taken up his case and expressed its satisfaction with the apology of Mr Wakefield quite satisfied him, and that, ex,cept as regarded the honour of the House, he had'no feelings of irritation to soothe. Mr Whitaker thereupon proposed that Mr Wakefield’s apolory be accepted, and that tho order made in reference to the matter be discharged. Mr Rees seconded this, asd tho motion was carried unanimously. After the ruction had been agreed to, the Speaker said the way in which the House had accepted Mr Wakefield’s apology did it infinite credit. The House adjourned at 2.15 a.m. October 2. The House met at 2.30. In reply to Captain Morris, Mr Geo. M‘Leau said tho Government intended to erect a lighthouse on the East Cape Island, but they could not say when tho work would bo commenced. They could not go on with any new lighthouses until they had erected all those already ordered. Oil tho motion for introducing the Napier Harbour Board Bill,

Mr Bunny protested against; the passage of 1G Harbour Board Bills, especially whim members had not an opportunity of considering them, inasmuch as, so far as ho could sec, they were not printed. Jlc objected to dealing with Bills like those, which alienated the public estate, and gave powers to borrow. If the Provincial Governments had been given the same borrowing powers a few years ago, these very works would have been carried out by them. The Premier explained that the Bill had been distributed long ago, an 1 in any ease, whatever became of the other Bills, this one at least was of such a nature that it ought to be. passed. Mr iiollestou thought as these Bill? were the direct outcome of the Abolition. Bill, the Government ought to bo answerable for all those Bills, and stand by them as a whole. M<* iJowe n explained that what action had been taken in regard to bringing these Bills before the House had been done at the wish of ■the House, and with a view to facilitate business, hut that each Bill would have to bo judged by itseif, and stand upon its own merits. Mr Header Wood thought this was a most cumbrous mode of legislation, and that the Government ought to have brought down one large Harbour Boards Bill, instead of allowing individual members to introduce different Bills, and let those who could scramble through with their measure’s.

Mr GK M'Lcan said tho Government had con* sidored the matter carefully, and found that, all • thim-s considered, they bad selected the propel* * y course for this session at any rate. They were considering a general Harbour Boards measure.' The Government had considered the endowments they were prepared to support, and would notify their views in Committee. Sir'George Grey hoped the Government would bring down a list of the endowments they were p-eparecl to support. (“Hear, hear,” from the Premier.) Mr Sharpe advocated the withdrawal of all the Bills, but Mr Hove strongly opposed this view. The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday. •On the motion for the second reading of thoCasllcpoint Harbour Bill, Mr Bunny again made a strong speech against, going on with these Sills, hut Mr G. M'Lean explained that tho Government only sanctioned tho second reading on condition that the endowment clause should bo struck out; and as the Bill contained no burrowing power, lie hoped no objection to its second reading would be taken. ; .The , Bill was read a second time, to bo committed on Thursday. Harbour Board Bills for the following places, were ordered to be read a second time, and committed on Thursday next: —Riverton, Bluff,, Napier, Castlepoiiit,-Thames, Oamaru, Timaru, Lyttelton, Wanganui, Hokitika, Pabea, Fox ton,. Wellington, Waimakariri, Moevaki, and also the Ellesmere and Forsyth Reclamation and Akaroa. Railway Bill. In Committee on tho Counties .Bill, clauses 44 to 62 were passed without material alteration. In clause 62 (annual meeting for election of chairman) an amendment was made that the council should fix tho time for the annual meeting, winch was lost by 83 to 15. The date of holding the annual meeting was altered from.the third Wednesday in November to the fourths Wednesday. The clause as amended was passed, by 29 to 18. Tho House rose at 5.30. •