PARLIAMENTARDY NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 38, 27 July 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARDY NEWS.

Tuesday; The proceeding* in the llousc to-night were unimportant.. The Sharebrokers- Bill was road a third time and passed. The Drawbacks Bill was read a- secondtime and passed k Mr Vogel moved the second roading of the Life Assurance Bill, which proposes to compel all'companies transacting business in the colony to make a substantial deposit 20,000, as security for policies,made. Mir Gillies-made a somewhat fierce attack upon Mr Vogel, in the course of his remarks asserting that the honorable gentleman desiied to injure all rival agencies to the Government. The second reading was adjourned until next day, in order to give time t.) thecompanies to consider the measure. Mr Gillies obtained leave to-introducea bill |to abolish imprisonment for debt The Goj vernment stated that they had a bill to that effect prepared already.. Mr. Croi-Witou introduced a- Permissive Bill. °

Mr. Gilies moved that the Government be requested to bring down, at as early a dato as possible the measure promised last session, for the purpose of dealing with the wholo subject of provincial institutions, and to define the functions of Provincial Councils. In doing so, he referred to the events of last session, which culminated ,iu a premise to bring dowu such a measure this session. He was surprised at there being no indication in the Governor's speech of an intention>to fulfil that promise; such a measure was absolutely necessary, and it was also necessary that the powers of the' General Government should be defined, when they found' that four new Minister#,. some with fresh, titles, had been appointed without the Bouse being consulted ; when a member of the Ministry also<retained the office of Superintendentand when a newofficer, sucli as an Under-Secretary for Goldfields, had been appointed without the consent of the House. No one familiar with finance could fail to see that before next session some of the provinces would bs obliged to seek assistance from the General Government to enable them to discharge their functions. The action of the General Government and legislation had so crippled the proviuces that it was a subject of great anxiety how to exist; some in the "North Island were at their last gasp, and only the 1 existence of the land fund enabled those in tfce South to discharge their functions. Unless prompt steps were' taken- some of the provinces would be strangled- from want of means. I;f a bill were brought in to render existing institutions more efficient, he would warmly support itbut if "it was proposed to further cripple them, or to evade conferring powers of local administration on all parts of the colony,, he would oppose it.

Mr. Vogel, afr.er& brief reference to the Ministerial appointments, which he denied to be of an unusual character, but which could be better discussed on a direct iiune, said he fully admitted having promised such a bill as Mr. Gi 11 ies : asked for, nor had the Government overlooked; that promise; but after mature-consideration they had arrived at the conclusion that it was- not necessary, under present circumstances to introduce such a bill. After reviewing the circumstances which had led to the promise being made, he said that the Superintendents and their Executives had, during the past year, gorked much more harmoniously with, the General Government in carrying out the immigration and publie works policy. The provinces had also shown a desire,.on their own. part,, to. reduce the scale of expenses, and one at least (Canterbary) had proposed'extensive changes in the system of provincial administration. There was, therefore, no pressing- necessity for the Government to force a change, and' they deemed it better to aliovf proposals for any change to. emanate frota the provinces themselves. Furthermore,, the out-lying districts were now contented, and were no- longer clamouring for interference from without. To define the powers of the provinces, and transfer the bulk of their legislative powers to the Assembly, wo aid necessitate Parliament sitting

•MMMBM 'i' miwmamnMiiTpnrfr 1 - »IIIIAW.ii»UU»I ''aortrly alflhe**year. Individually ho did not think that the termination of the powers of provinces whs approaching, but In; thought in:time a diviafoti of the colony into two provinces with larger legislative powers might, bo brought about. This was only bis individual opinion. After careful consideration of the whole subject the Government intended to introduce a bill to enable the provinces to legislate finely oil certain subjects regarding their powers* to deal with which f'uliy at present doubts bad been raised. Amongst these subjects were • scale of iioad Board appeals from rating, impounding, trespass, &c. The bill would remove the difficulty regarding the establishment of courts of judicature. There was a necessity for legislation on such subjects. (Government were also preparing—but were doubtful if they would be ready this session ~ a bill ta> consolidate the law relating bo Road Boards,, similar in principle to- the Municipal Corporation Act, and like ifc divided into parts, the adoption of which would be optional in each cose. He denied that the province had really been financially cripp!e.l/ by the Colonial : government' action, although the revenue bad been apparently diminished by the colony paying iatorest and sinking fnnd di»bct. On the motion of Mr. Slieehan, the debate was adjourned till Wednesday.

Wednesday. lii the House of representatives, in reply to Mr. Hhechan, the Government stated that lenders to supply the polos Tor the extension of the telegraph north of Auckland,. had been (■•ailed for, and as soon as. possible the line would be pushod on to the Bay of Islands. I t was also stated that the Government were collecting information reference to the new Native Land& Act, but are- not likely to have the measure ready this session. A committed has been appointed to inquire into tho working of tho new University Act. Mr. John Williamson; moved, in the House of that for commercial and other reasons of importance, it is desirable that tho advantages, of telegraph communication with other portions of this colony should, with as little delay as possible, be extended to- several ports of entry audi intermediate harbours situated on fcb©: and West Coasts, north of the port of Auckland Th« Government have given instructions to, have the wires 'extended to Northern ports and harbours. Major Heaphy, V.C., is furnishing information as to. the best route to be taken.

Grcville furnishes the following particulars of Tuesday night's, proceedings to the " Star " Tho necessity of some provision for ensuring a supply of pure lymph was noticcd. —The sceond reading of the Permanent Ollicers' Salary Bill was adjourned. Mr. Stafford, Sir David Monro, and Mr. Stewart pointed out that the bill had not fulfilled the resolutions passed last session. The House agreed to a motion for a return of immigration and. to a return of tho schedule of railway contracts, showing the particulars of the cost; also a supplementary return of tho officials appointed by the General and Provincial Governments, the money borrowed and expended, the miles of water-races in use, the miles of railway opened, and the balance of the loan how invested. A select, committee was appointed to iwquire into the administration of the waste lauds of Otago and Westland. Mr. Shepherd, the mover, said the threats of the Auckland members to seifce the Otago land fund had furnished the Otago Waste Lands Board with an excuso for selling large blocks of land to speculators, but Auckland would' not secure the laud fund while, the Middle Island members were in a majority. (Hear, hear, from Middle Inland members).—-Tho hon» J. Hall in taking hia seat in the Upper House explained that it was not out? of any disrespect that the Government had not appointed a representative in the House, but was in consequence of the distance-mem-ber's resided from the seat of Legislature. A motion was given asking for returns of the California!! mail service.

Wellington, Thursday. Mr Gillies lias given .notice to move for a. return of money expended towards developing coalfields since the last meeting of the Assembly. Mr O'Rorke -has given notice to ask the Commissioner of Telegraphs what steps] have been taken to complete the telegraph to Mannkaai heads. Mr C. O'Neill intends to move for tfee appointment of 'a committee to consider the advisability of establishing a • branch of the Royal Mint in this colony. Mr John Shechan has given notice to move that the Attorney-General be a member of tlie Ministry, with a seat m the House ; and that the Government be requested to carry out the object proposed in the motion without delay. Mr Reader Gibson Wood has a petition for presentation to this House from Mr J. B, Russell, bai*rister, of Auckland, complaining of the manner in which he, as a professional man, is always treated by District Judge Beckham. The petition is supported by letters previously addressed to the Go- | vernment complaining of Mr Beckh&in's conduct on various occasions, and enclosing newspaper reports of the Court proceedings oil. the days when these differences occurred. Mr Russell alleges that the conduct of Mr Beckham is such as is likely to injure him in the practice of his profession. A determined eftbrt will probably be made. to prevent any further expenditure upon the Government buildings in Wellington ; and to secure the removal of the seat of Government. A committee has been, appointed, on the motions of Mr C. O'lscill to inquire into the subject of the construction of a submarine telegraph to Australia-

The Hon. Mr. Vogel- supported the idea,— the udony incurring 'the Jje'C'uniary responsibility necessary to secuce the laying of a cable. He said the desired object could not lie otherwise effected. The Government had a bill rearly dealing wilh the subject, which would be introduced if the House appro ved of the proposal. Mi. Luekie incurring any liability for what was really a luxury..

Jv the Legislative Council the Hon Mr. Waterhouse 4 has given no tree' of m >tion in favour of amending the Constitution Act, by making the Council elective, and making provision to avoid a deadlock, through lengthened difference of opinion arising at any time, between lhe two branches of the Legislature.

Grev-ilig-furnishes the following to-the Star Tn the ftouse, on Wednesday night, the Auckland Mineral Leaser Act and the Auckland Waste* Lands Bill passed second readings'. Mr. W'akctield moved for a return of pors^>ns holding laud under the natives. He hinted that certain members of the Government were involved in discreditable land transactions.— Mr J. E. iirown opposed .the motion as productive, of expense and impracticable. —Mr. Keynolds read a letter from tlie Otaf/o Daily Tim'* stating that the natives' frequently owe grog scores to publicans, and then give bilk which the natives dishonour, and then publicans get a mortgage (Wei* 'their lands. He also stated that natives had been swindled out of theii lands in various ways. — Mr. Wi'Buckland denied the truth of the letter. He said there was a large extent of native land lying,. waste which, would be much better in the hands of Europeans. —Mr. McLean then read i letter which was written by Mr. Strange Williams, Registrar of Deeds, stating that the return would, involve- disclosures of private affairs. The Registrar of Deeds and the AttorneyGeneral were averse to the return. They said the Act passed last session protected the natives from fraud.—Mr: Gillies said the letter read by Mr. Reynolds was a foul libel so far as the province of Auckland was. concerned. He opposed the return on the ground of expense, and Said the Registrar's objection was absurd, as anyone- by paying a fee could have a general search.—Mr. Sheehan opposed the return, which, was negatived on the voices. - Mr. Wakefield called for'a division, but as there was no second teller for - the ayes no division took place.

The Carrot Grub.—The following is the plan I have adopted for many years, says a writer in the "Sydney Mail," and never lost a crop from grub or anything else : — In autumn, when the ground is arranged for next. year's cropping, the carrot quarter is amongst the first to- get attention. With a liberal dressing of well decomposed dung, the ground is then trenched from 18 inches to 2 feet deep, and pub up in ridges. All the refuse from the former crop, whatever it may have been, is pu-t in the bottom of the trenches, which keeps the ground open,. In this state it remains till the time for sowing - t the ridges are then, levelled down, and the ground gots a dressing of wood-ashes, not less than half an inch all over, this we duel in one spit deep, making the ground level at the same time, after which it has a good dusting of soot on the- surface. The ground 'is then ready for the seed ; the drills are drawn, andthe seed sown, in the usual vray_

There are often laughable scenes in solemn courts of judicature, and the following amusing conversation may be given ae&n. instance, It took place very recently between a counsel arul an. undoubted Hibernian-, at a time we need not precisely state, in a place not necessary to name exactly, and on an occasion not needful to mention definitely Lawyer • " Did you see defendant's wife ?" "'lss, I shpoke to. her. and axed for 3o 6d, whin she gev a great lep froin undher the cow, an' hit rne a. shlap on the head wid a cantane, so she did." " Did you work for the money ?" " Arrab, don't be afther botherin' me wid yer palaveriu* and blatherskite." " All, well, don't be cross; did you ever apply to defendant for your wages r" "Yes; but !t.was the fa male defindant I axed, fur wasn't she. masther and misthress too, an' more betoken ths threasurcr into the bargain?" "Did Mr G ever give you any remuneration'" " Did he pay you any cash ?" "Not the colour copper has he ever ped me." "Do you know him r" " It's mesilf that knows him ; more be token he's a county Clare man like mesilf, and not by any manes shy. Ne'er a copper."