PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 45, 13 August 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTA RY NEWS.

■LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday. The Legislative Council to-day went into .-oinmittee to consider the San. Francisco mail contract. Messrs. Holmes and Sewell very strongly condemned the contract; and the manner in which it. had been performed. . ~ ~

Greville fiunishes the following to the Star :—Mr. John Williamson defended the Sa;i Fraiiyiseo contract. The liife Assurance ISill was read a second time. The debate on Mr Reynolds' motion in favor of insular separati.m was resume,l. —Mr. Soaiford said iie would like to hear the opinion of the Government upon the question. Mr. Fox. replied that the Government decline to express any opinion on the subject. He gave as an answer that one oj the reasons was because there was another proposal before the House to place the administration of public works into the hands of the Provincial Government, and the Government desired to have the result on this question without drawing out matters connected with the other. — Mr. Stafford confessed to feeling some degree of humiliation, for the Premier had asked what course he would pursue under similar circumstances. The records of the J louse showed that when Mr. Whitaker had advocated a similar change he (the Premier) resisted it. He (the speaker) did not allow the opinions of the House to sway him about as if he was without any principle whatever. He did not and would not adopt any such course as that adopted by such, a miserable s< t of wretches as now occupied the Government benches. (Gries cf "Oh," and great laughter ; during which the Speaker called Mr. j Stafford to order.) Mr, Stafford then substituted other words for those he had just used.—Mr. Gisborne said that the Government must await the result of other motions.—Messrs. Reid, Reader Wood, anl Gillies condemned the attitude the I Government had assumed.—Messrs Luekie and i Shepherd opposed the motion, after which the dei bate was adjourned uulil Wednesday. -Mr. Stafford afterwards withdrew the objectionable words— " miserable set of wretches." —A passenper by the ' Nebraska,' in writing to the Times, says that there ! was no-eauae to have quarantined the vessel at Welj lington, as there wa3 no sickness whatever on board. j The action, that the Board of Health had taken in J the matter was only done to get credit to themselves ; for having exhibited energy, and also to put Webb's i line to additional expense.

! Wellington, Friday. I Mr. Andrew has given notice to move that it is i desirable that the Government should further nego- ! tiate with Mr. Broaden with the view to the accept- • ance, under modified conditions, of the tentative offer lately made by Mr. Brogden to undertake the railway works of this colony. ; In the Legislative Council ths Hon. Mr. Grey I has given notice to move for an explanation of the i unqualified refusal of the Government to entertain < Mr. Brogden s offer. ; Friday. i 3ir Cracroft Wilson, C.8., and Mr. flallenstein ' took their seats in the House of Representatives to--1 day. The former was loudly cheered. I The greater part of to-night's sitting in the House I was spent in committee upon the Highway Boards ; Empowering Bill. J Several Amendments as to the mode of rating i wiere proposal, and ultimately progress was reported f wfchout anything being done. Mr. Parata moved that a mixed commission of 1 Maoris and Europeans be appointed to enquire into i questions relating to confiscated lands, i After some debate an amendment moved by \fr. ! Sheehan, asking the Native Affairs Committee to* . report upon the desirability of appointing such a : committee, was carriel. i Mr. Steward moved a resolution in favour of the ; abolition of Grand Juries. ; Messrs. Bathgate and Luckie strongly supported : the Scotch system of public prosecutors instead of : Uraud Jones.

The Hon. Mr. Uisbume opptweil the motion. The debate was adjourned* Mr. Slieehau moved for the production of all correspondence relating to the recent alteration in feos* charged in the Deeds Registry Otfice, Auckland. The in.itiiill waa I to. Mr. Header Woo I move I tint all corrospvi 1 uuw with respect to Mr J. l>. LlusseU'i chargoo .. o .iiiiKt, Mr. Kockham, K.M., bo printed. The motion was carried.