PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 121, 3 July 1880, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Thursday, July 2. The House met at 2.30. .Mr. Fox gave notice to move the insertion of a clause in the Education Act, authorising the reading of the Bible in public schools subject to a conscience clause and a time table. In reply to questions it was stated that Government was of opinion it would be a great misfortune of deferred payment settlers in arrears were turned off their land, and that Government would, as far

Credited to the Railway Department on account of special rains ordered by Ministers during the jeriod from Ist July, 1878, to 30th _Sep;ember, 1879, was LSG9. —The Middle ' island Native Claims Commission had not ■eported, and Government did not know vhen they would. The Commissioners had ;ost L 1,7 00, and Government had refused 'urther supplies until the Commissioners lad informed them as to what they had lone. Mr. Hamlin explained that he had visited the Waimato plains, with he view of ascertaining how far ;ertain reports about the road in course of formation were correct. He reached ■itoney River on the 24th ult., and the iollowing morning rode two miles in the iirection of Parihaka, and then turned at ight rnglos, when he found a road two drains wide and two miles long. There were several streams at that road not bridged yet, which rendered the road impassable for vehicles, though it could be used by equestrians. From the end of the two miles it was continued to the present camp, near Parihaka, by a good track twenty to thirty feet wide. This part of the road was perfectly traversable ; the other part of it was not, as the approaches to the culverts weEe not completed. Mr. Bryce said the,statement made was quite correct. In accordance with what ho had staled the other day, he had himself driven from Parihaka to New Plymouth, a distance of thirty miles, in four and a quarter hours, and the only instance where they had to leave the road was at a place where the culverts were not filled up. The Election Petitions and Pharmacy Bills were reported, read a third time, and passed. In Committee the Licinsing Bill was further considered. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.