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(From our Special Correspondents
TUESDAY, APRIL l8.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
MOTION FOB SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT.
Mr Buchanan rose for the purpose of direct-
ing attention to the conduct of Ministers in
habitually absenting themselves from the House
on private dayB to prevent quornmsbeing formed
The Government had shown great disrespect for
the House on different occasions, and it behoved
the House to mark its sense of such conduct
The hon member proposed to move a vote of
censure, bnt it was ruled by the Speaker that it
could not be put without notice The bon
member then moved the adjournment of the
House
Mr W Forster seconded the motion for the
adjournment He said that the complaiot of
the bon the mover was not without justifica
bon Ministers had often been absent from the
house when it appeared to him (Mr Forster)
that they ought to have been in their places
The house, however, was itself to blame m sub-
mitting to the contempt of the Government
The motion for adjournment was then put
and negatived.
MES8A0E FEOM HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVSB
NOB
Mr. Speaker announced the receipt of a mes-
sage from his Excellency the Governor, recom-
mending that provision be made for the Salaries
of the Fublio Servants for the (nonth of April,
at the same rate as for the corresponding month
of last year.
.On the motion of Mr. Lord, the message was
ordered to be printed, and to be referred to the
Committee of Snpply.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Sir James Martin stated in answer to Mr.
Stewart-1. That he is not aware that the
police, in collecting the electoral lists for Syd-
ney, enter as qualified electors the names of
persons who are merely members of a club.
2. That there is no provision of the law
authorising the Government to instruct the col-
lectors to decline receiving such names. 3.
That in his opinion members of clubs are not
thereby qualified as electors.
BETITIONS PBESENTED.
Mr. Macleay presented a petition from cer-
tain producers of sugar, praying that the same
distilling privileges as are given to wino pro-
ducers, may be extended to them. Mr. Garrett
' presented a petition from certain farmers of
Shoalhaven, praying that the House will place
an import doty on potatoes. The petitions
were received.
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.
Mr. W. Forster moved-(1.) That this Honte
is of opinion that the questions of municipal
self-government and local administration are so
intimately conneoted with the questions of
finance, that it is inexpedient to authorise the
imposition of additional taxes unless due provi-
sion be also made for the further extension of
municipalities, with a view to relieve the central
government of snob portions of the expenditure
npon roads and bridges and other local works as
ought to be provided for from local resources.
(2.) That, accordingly, the Government ought
to introduce, during the present session, concur-
rently with any proposals for new taxation, some
measure calculated to extend the municipal sys-
tem throughout the colony. (3.) That the above
resolutions be communicated by address to his
Excellency the Governor. The hon. member
said he had observed that the owners of pro-
perty in the districts which most required
local Government were the most strenuous oppo-
nents of municipal institutions, and of the intro-
duction of the principle of local self-govornment.
It was the dnty of the Government to check the
disposition of the owners of property to rely
upon the central Government for their local
improvements. He was not himself in favor of
the present cumbrous system of corporations.
He wanted the municipal system in some form
or other to relieve the Government of duties
which the inhabitants of the various localities
should discharge for themselves.
Mr Roberteon called attention to the state of
the House, and a Quorum being found, he pro-
ceeded to urge upon the hon. member the pro-
priety of withdrawing the resolutions, as it was
too late to deal with them during the proeent
session.
After some further observations, the hon.
member (Mr. Forster) withdrew the resolutions,
on Mr. Robertson undertaking that the Govern-
ment wonld bring in a measure on the subject
not later than the first week of next session.
BOROHOB OF NEWCASTLE SPECIAL AUDIT BILL.
Mr. Lloyd moved the adoption of the report
of the Select Committee on tbe Newcastle
Borough Special Audit Bill. The hon. member
gave the history of the auditing of the accounts
of the Newcastle Municipality by auditors ap-
pointed by the Government. He contended
that as the parties who petitioned for the audit
were not legally entitled to make suoh a de-
mand, the claims of Messrs Mackenzie and
Buyers for examining the accounts ought to be
paid by the Government instead of the Munici-
pality.
Mr. Robertson opposed the motion, and con-
tended that as the Municipality had the bene-
fit of the audit it ought to pay the expenses con-
nected with it.
Mr. S. C. Brown supported the motion on the
ground that the Council was not legally liable
for the audit If the Government could make
the Municipality bear the expense they would
not have introdnced a special bill for the purpose
of making them do so.
Mr Samuel took the opposite view.
After remarks from Messrs. Stephen, Lucas,
Greville, and Brooks, and also from Mr. Lloyd
in reply, the House divided, and the motion was
negatived by 28 to 3.
[The House was left sitting.]
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