TELEGRAPHIC

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 28 June 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [?EU PBBSB ASSOOIATroN.I I ■ GENERAL ASSEMBLY. » , Wellington, Jnno 23 The Counties Act Amendment Bill, introduced by the Premier, provides, inter alia, for regulating weight of loa<!s to be carried on highways ; the grant of leases of ferries and ferry reserves, with» J cut auction or public tender, for terms not exceeding fourteen years ; the making of contracts with private individuals for the erection of bridges, giving snch builders the privilege to levy tolls thereon ; the construction of tramways either by Councils or private individuals, and for prescribing by laip for the regulation of tb? saise.

In the House, yesterday, replying to a .question, Minister said the cost of extinguishing the fire in the coal seam at Canoe Creek, Greymputh would be at 1 ast, £500, and the Government would not incur such expense, Fox gave notice of his intention to propose a clause in the Licensing BiU making it imperative on publicans supplying coffee and tea for customers in supper hours. The second reading of the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill was agreed to in the Council by sixteen to twelve. Colonel Brett, in ridicule, gave notice of introducing a Deceased Husbands Brother's Marriage Bill. Wellington, Jane 24 An angry discussion occurred yesterday afternoon on Maeandrew's question — Whether the whole of the evidence of Royal Commission on the Civil Service had been, or would be, laid before the House, and a decided inclination was shown to throw a slur upon the Government and the Commissioners. The result was that the Ministers parried the question, and in exculpation said the Commission had resigned their duties and had no further existence. IJea is that the members of the Opposition are working the oracle for friends in a the Civil Service, and will, if "fossible, bnrke enquiry or redress of abases. ■ Wailis hf'S tabled a notice asking when copies of the report were given to certain favored journals ; and Jones, the new member for Waitaki has given another notice asking who stole certain advance proofs of Government papers. The whole matter wiil end in moonshine. The Government will not recognise the rijjht of such iuquisitive interrogations. Business in the House made no real progress yesterday. In the Upper House the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill, was thrown out. Jane 25. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Hall gave notice that he would move the next sitting day for leave to bring down the Represeiatation Bill. Mr Hall laid on the table the original copy of the evidence taken by the Civil Service Commission. He explained that Government had not yet time to get the evidence copied, and he hoped great ears would be used in its perusal. Mr Macandrew suggested, and Mr J. C. Brown moved that the evidence be copied. Mr Hall pointed out that the evidence was very voluminous, and hoped the House would not insist upon get' ting it printed. Messrs George and Murray spoke against the printing, saying they believed the cost would be not less than £400 or £500. The motion was withdrawn. Mr Stddon asked whether in the proposed scheme of local finance, when the Bills on that subject are introduced into the House, due provision will be made to empower the Local Board of Public Works to maintain or provide moneys for the County Councils interested to maintain the following arterial roads in the Middle Tsland, such roads having been constructed in lieu of railways, and are of benefit to the Colony at large. (1) road from Beef ton to Grey ; (2) road from Grey to Okarito ; (3) Cbristchurch road from Hokitika to Springfield. Major Atkinson said that until the Bill was brought down he eoald give no definite reply. Replying to Mr Stevens, Major Atkinson said the time for ma km? refiirns tunder the Property Tax had boen extended to Ist August, and that a notification to that fact would shortly ba made through the newea pipers. Eeplying to Mr Beeves, Mr Rollestod said it would be inconvenient to make any general tule with respect to the prejudical removal of Wardens and Resident Magistrates once at least every three years. The following Bilis were introduced and read a first time: —^old Duties Abnlit : on fSeddon) ; Kegistrations of Dentists (Delatour) ; Heathcote Bridge (Hall.) The debate on the no-confidence motion was resumed by Mr Reeves, who said he came up with tbe intention of supporting the Government, but on reading their proposals he was constrained to go into Opposition. They had all the material resources of prosperity within themselves if they had only men offability and mind to administer affairs. He condemned the Property Tax, and did nob expect when it was spoken of last year that it would ever have been brought into operation. He admitted the depres* sion, but contend-d that a better plan to meet the emergency might have been derived without resorting to the proposals made, Ottf duty on wool would have realised, without any expense whatever, £15,000 per

annum. He wouldjnake no distinction between Jwashed and greasy, and by that means additional labor would be employed, as ail the wool would be washed in the Colony, Another im* post he would propose was 5s par ton on ,coal which would give a sum of £40 000 That would tend to develope their own mines. The Stamp Dufes should be increased, and Ihe Education vote reduced. Their standing army a direction in which reductions might be effected. Instead of a guard of honor in front of Government House an old apple woman might he got to do all that was" required. He characterised the District Public Works Board as an absurdity. The proposal to abolish subsidies was unfair, mas* much as that they wpre promised for a period of five years, an! local bodies had entered into engagements on that understanding. They had been pro-v mised a Ee-distrihuton of Sea's Bill, and he hoped that the Government would m-be it a condition that immediately on its passing, Parliament should go to the country. Were the mining industry better looked after the revenue would be largely in* creased. He sympathised wifh the Government in its emergencies, as it was being torn limb from limb by its supporters Captain Bu*sell criticised the ineon* sistencies of the previous speakpr. He was a protectionist in one breath and a free trader in lite other. With much that the member for Clive bad said last night he couM not agrep. He could not agree the proposal to reduce the Civil Service eatimafcpß £•250,000. He believed that it should be reduced, but that proposal was too dwepping. He contended that the thanks of the country were due to the Treasurer for his courage in havgiven them timely warning of the state into which they were drifting. Respecting the proposal to abolish subsidies, he reminded the House that the first duty they owed was to the foreign creditors, after that they -must look after the local creditors, foremost amongst whom he ranked the loci] bodies.