GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 20, 13 September 1873, Page 9

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Sept 4th to 10th. In reply to Mr Wakefield, the Native Minister said the Government were already taking steps to punish the murderers of Sullivan, but he declined to say what was- the nature of those steps.The motion to reduce the gold duty by sixpence was joegatived on a division.

In the House, the Speaker stated that a printed paper, purporting i fc j v e 7 idmce of a witness before the Tiiuber Floatage Committee, had been circulated among members, and the Committee not yet having reported to the House, a flagrant breach of privilege had occurred. J n . raply to Mr Reid ' tlle Minister of Works said the Government had decided, on the recommendation of the engineer, on Mussel bay, near Port. Chalmers, as the site for the workshops for the repair and construction of railway plant. Major Atkinson moved that the House go into Committee to consider the vote of £25,000 for compensation to Wanganui and Patea settltrs for losses incurred during the disturbance in 1868-1869. — Mr Vogel opposed the motion. — Mr Kelly moved as an amendment, that the Government during the recess ascertain the number and amount of the claims. — After ( hree hours' discussion the resolution was negatived on the voices, and the amendment negatived by 30 to 20. In reply So Takamoana, Mr McLean said there n«ver had been a proclamation offering £1000 for Tito Kowarau's • capture. The Forest Rangers were promised £1000 if they caught him, but that force was now disbanded.

In reply to Mr Tolmie, Mr Vogel eaid the Government would not make future contracts for bringing out immigrants so as to give a monopoly to any one. They would endeavor to give support to two or three lines.

While a motion regarding the Gold Fields Bill was being discussed, Mr T. L. Shepherd said, it was all very well for Mr Pyke to oppose the Bill. He waß a new broom and wanted to sweep clean, but all knew he was working to be Minister of Mines. The Bill had been prepaared with care, and Mr Pyke need not expect a seven days' member to be considered an authority on the wants of his constituency.—Mr Pyke said Mr Shepherd's constituents did not wan£ the ! Bill. -Mr Shepherd was not a new broom on the Dunstan, where the people knew him too well. It was enougli for him to have anything 1 to do w ith a bill for them to dislike it.— Mr White said neither he nor I the House paid much attention to what Mr Shepherd said. Mr Shepherd reminded him oi the lichborne Claimant. He claimed to be the gold fields' father, and to have a superior intellect, but no one else admitted it. He saw by the Bill that a Mining Registrar was to be appointed. Was that why Mr Shepherd supported tho Bill? Had he received pay for preparing the Bill. He came to the House as a bleeding patriot of the miners, but he had no influence except with the Minister of Justice. That male him think the Minister had a vacancy in the upper regions.— Mr Vogel and Mr Macandrew denied ' that Mr Shepherd had received payment for preparing the Bill.