GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 358, 5 August 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Press Telegraph Agency.) ♦ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 5. The House resumed at 8.5 yesterday even ing. The only business consisted of order of the day, which were mostly private Bills and the consideration of a number of then was postponed through not having beei printed earlier. The second reading of the Plans of Towns Regulation Bill was moved by Mr O'Neill, and created considerable debate. The hon gentleman pointed out at considerable length the many benefits alike of pecuniary and sanitary character, such measure would confer upon the country, and concluded by saying the time was not far distant when the country would find to its cost the error made in not having passed such a Bill sooner. As railways extended north and south, towns would spring into existence along every line, and without some measure to regulate the building and laying out of towns, Government would one day find that it would have to expend as much money in rectifying past errors in laying out towns as had been spent upon the railways themselves. The hon member referred to the widening of Princess street as an illustration of what would be constantly taking place. Several members spoke to the Bill, but while agreeing entirely with its principle, and supporting the second reading, they said it was a very imperfect measure,, and would require a great deal of amendment. The Minister of Public Works did not wish to oppose the second reading, as he agreed, in a great measure, with the principle of the Bill, but he could assure the hon member who introduced the Bill, that in its present form it was not worth the paper it was printed on ; it was so unworkable and impracticable in many of its provisions. He trusted the Bill would not at present be pressed beyond a second reading. Mr O'Neill expressed his willingness to avail himself of the assistance of hon members to amend the Bill, and put it into a workable shape while in committee. The Bill was then read a second time. The House adjourned at 10 p.m. Wednesday, August 4. {From a correspondent of the Press.) QUESTIONS. Mr Steward asked whether instructions had been received from the Agent-General to cause a certain portion of the immigrants shipped to Otago, to be sent to Oamaru without being first landed at Port Chalmers, and if so, when such instructions were so forwarded ? (2;. Mr o'Conor asked whether the Government would lay upon the table a return showing the exports and imports of coal, to complete the last return furnished on the subject to the end of the past financial year? (3), Mr T. Kelly asked whether the proceeds of the sale of any confiscated lands within the present financial year, would form part of the land revenue of the provincial district within which such land was sold, although the Abolition of Provinces Kill may not have become law before such sale takes place ? (4.) Mr Murray asked—l. Why with the quantities and specifications of railway material shown in the returns as having been sent to the colony, the prices, from whom procured, and whether by public tender otherwise, have not also been stated, 2. If the Government has taken any other steps than hy a mild remonstrance to protect the interests of the colony from fraud or carelessness in the supply of materials for public works 1 (5). Mr Murray asked whether £IOO,OOO worth or thereabouts of outstanding Port Chalmers Railway Companies Debentures appear in the statement of the liabilities of the colony ? (6). Mr White asked when the erection of the telegraph station in the Arahura district, Westland, will be proceeded with ? In answer to the above questions, Ministers stated—(l). The orders were given in May last. (2). The returns would be presented tomorrow. (3). Whatever sales were effected during the year of confiscated lands, would, in the event of the Abolition Bill passing this session, be carried to the credit of the provincial districts in which the sales' took place. (4). To the first part, all the works were advertised for in England, and if the House wished, copies would be produced ; to the i second part, the Minister of Public Works; repeated that the railway plant and material imported into the colony was on the whole; of excessively good quality, and far above the ordinary average imported into the other colonies under a more expensive system of inspection than we have. Seeing the enormous quantities of material imported, the com plain ts were very small, the Government having taken the best course they could by making the contractors carry out the orders in their entirely, and put the colony for the extra expense it is put to. (5). Only one £IOOO debenture is now outstanding. (6). They would make a full enquiry, bufc the present impression of the Commissioner of Telegraphs was that the revenue from the station would not justify the department in» curring the expenditure. first readings. The following Bill was introduced and read a first time:—Registration of Mining Companies; Validation of Land Transfer Act 1870; Amendment of Napier Water Works Loan; Qualification of Electors; Supplementary Electoral Rolls. petition. Mr Montgomery presented a petition from the inhabitants of Akaroa, praying to be constituted a municipality. NOTICE OF MOTION. Sir George Grey gave notice for to«

morrow of his intention to ask the date on which the Attorney-General's opinion re the abolition of the provinces was presented to the Governor, and for copies of his Excellency's despatches to the Secretary of State on the subject. INDEMNITY BILL. The public accounts committee presented an interim report, recommending the House to pass the Immigration Expenditure Indemnity Bill. DUTY ON LIGHT WINES. On Mr O'Neill's motiou that the duty on Australian wines should be reduced to one shilling pergalloD, Mr KEYNOLDS said in May and June, 1874, the Government communicated with the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia on the terms of reciprocity with this colony on not only wines, bnt other specified articles. No reply had been received from New South Wales an<! Victoria, and South Australia merely acknowledged the receipt of the communications, and stated the subject would receive early attentiou. In connection with two of the three, important questions were involved in the motion ; for example, there was great difficulty in the Customs authorities deciding what were Australian wines and what foreign imported from Australia, except upon the importer's declaration, which the House would admit would be unsatisfactory. Proceeding to another part of the question, it was, whether this colony should give such advantage to an Australian colony without having some definite return. If the duty was reduced, the wines would be largely imported, and the revenue suffer considerably. He hoped at the present time the House would not entertain the the question. Mr WOOD supported the motion. It would be the means of getting good liquor cheap. Messrs O'Conor, Buckland, and Murray opposed it. Hon C. 0. Bowen explained that the Government was simply opposed to it on revenue grounds. If it was to be a reduction, it should affect light wines irrespective of country. Mr Shepherd moved, as an amendment, that the duty on light wines should be reduced. Messrs Gibbs and Swanson suggested that it would be better to reduce the tax on flour and grain. After considerable discussion, the amendment was lost on a division by 43 against 12, and the original motiou negatived on the voices. EQUIPMENT OF VESSELS, Mr O'Neill's motion affirming the advisability of the Government without delay prescribing provisions or changes in respect to the equipments, &c, relating to vessels, in accordance with section 31 of the Steam Navigation Act, and to prepare bye-laws and regulations in terms of the section 12 of the Amending Act, 1867, evoked considerable discussion, several speakers charging the steamers plying on the coast with being illfound in respect to boats. Mr Reynolds promised to do what lay in his power to carry out the views of the member for the Thames so as to secure uniformity in regard to the inspection of .steamers. The motion was agreed to. FINANCES OP THE COLONY. Mr Murray's motion for the appointment of a committee to consider the finances of the colony lapsed. RETURNS. The following returns were ordered:—A list showing the rates charged for passengers and goods traffic and conveyance of live stock on the various railways now in operation in the colony; a return showing in detail the liabilities referred to in the table, page 8, of the financial statement, amounting in gross to £3,349,457. [Per Press Agency.] On the House resuming at 7.30 the chamber was full of smoke. The galleries were full of people, and the reporters in their place. The Speaker took the chair and said he would resume in half an hour. They wanted to ascertain where the smoke was coming from, but there was no cause for anxiety. The hose is now stretched and the water laid on. The fire is located below the Speaker's room, having been caused by some of the heating flues coming in contact with the board work.