PARLIAMENT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1271, 16 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 13. The Annual Report on the Goldfields of New Zealand for the year ending 31st March last, was presented yesterday to Parliament. The exact returns are not available, but the return deals, a.i, formerly, with the quantity of gold exporter], in which there has been a considerable falling oft, the respective figures being 248,862 ounces, of the value of £994,555, as against 293,229 ounces, of the value of £1,170,520, for the previous year. E»ch quarter showed a falling off, which was greatest in the first quarter of the year. The miners last year numbered 14,523 (10,641 Europeans and 3882 Chinese), against 14,714 for the preceding year. The average earnings per miner amounted to £G9 10s. In former years the average has ranged from £70 to £80. Every gold raining district except Eeefton shows a decreasa. The total results for the year being 64,382 tons crushed, far a yield of 81,427 onnces, and 6,371 ounces were got from quartz and cement at Lawrence, making a' grand total of 87,798 ounces. . vJ Preparatory to the resumption of the debate in the. Ho.iia^- yesterday afternoon respecting Mr Montgomery's proposals for the abolition of the present central form of Government, some preliminary business had to be transacted.

The second reading of the Guardian Trust and Executors Company Bill was postponed. On the motion of Mr Smith a fortnight's leave of absence was granted to Mr Cadman on the plea of urgent private affairs. The questions were not of special interest. Two new bills were then introduced by Mr Pyke, and read a first time, viz., a bill to amend the Registration of Electors Act, and the Gaming and Lotteries Act. Mr Shephard afterwards addressed the House with regard to Mr Montgomery's first resolution — "That the existing system of Central Government has failed to realise the results anticipated, and that the promises and engagements made at the time of abolition of the Provinces have not been fulfilled."

To this an amendment had been moved by Mr Moss, to strike out the latter sentence of the paragraph, and insert in lieu thereof the following words : — " It is expedient to re-es-tablish local Governments and local legislatures, with adequate power to maintain peace order and good Government within their several bounds ; to raise a revenue for their proper and independent support, and to relieve the General Government and General Legislature of all matters which are not of purely general concern."

The debate lasted till 1 a.m, when Montgomery's resolutions, and the amendments thereon were finally disposed of against the mover, by a majority of 10, the result having been, a foregone conclusion.