PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 698, 26 July 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

Tuesday, July 25, FIRST READING. The Private Tramways -Bill (Mr Hart) was read a first time. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions it was stated that the Government were paying towards the education of Taiaroa’s children the sum of L 25 a year, half the education fees for one of his boys.—Government had the case of the convict Longhurst under consideration, but the Government could of course take no action while the matter was under enquiry by the courts of law.—A patient, not a lunatic, had been lately released from the Dunedin Asylum, his friends supplying him with means to go to England. AFFIRMATION AND OATHS. Sir J. Whitmore moved the second reading of the Affirmation in Lieu of Oaths Extension Bill (Sit G. Grey). The Hon. Mr Whitaker moved that the Bill be thrown out, as it was wholly unnecessary, seeing that a more comprehensive measure on the same subject had been passed by the Government through the Council, and was now before the House. The Bill was thrown out by twenty voles to eight. MINING COMPANIES ACT. The Mining Companies Act, 1872, Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at a quarter to 4.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 25. The House met at 7-30 p.m. affirmations and oaths. Sir G. Grey gave notice of a Bill that

affirmations be made in all cases in lien of oaths. THE PLATELAYERS’ WAGES. In reply to Mr Petrie, the Hon. Ml* Johnston said that he had communicated with the various local bodies as to the rate of wages paid their workmen, and he was now prepared to make the advance to the railway platelayers as recommended by the motion of the member for Waipawa. THE PROPOSED LOAN. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr Moss asked if the Government would give them an opportunity for expressing their opinion, apart from party considerations, as to the propriety or otherwise of fresh loans being contracted. Ihe Hon. Major Atkinson would be glad to afford an opportunity to have the matter discussed, and said that the opportunity would be given to-morrow on the motion for going into supply. As respected the question of party, if the discussion resulted in a disarrangement of the Government financial proposals it would of course be incumbent for the Government to consider its position. IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill for L 250,000 was introduced by a message from the Administrator of the Government, ahd passed through all its stages. IN COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. Class 11—Colonial Secretary’s department, L 24,880. The vote as printed passed. Vote—Miscellaneous services, L 26,724. Mr Montgomery moved that the item L 1,600 for the purchase of land adjoining ministerial residence on the Tinakori . road, Wellington, be struck out. Mr Wright moved that the item L2OO for compilation of the Maori history be struck out. Mr DeLautour moved that the item LBOO expenses under the Revision of Statutes Act, 1879, be reduced L4OO. Subsequently, however, he withdrew the > amendment. 1 Mr Wright then withdrew his former I amendment, and proposed that the item < for the Maori history be reduced by * LIOO. > The item L2OO for the compilation of - the Maori history was retained ; the item L 1,600 for the purchase of land at Welf lington was struck out; the vote as reduced to L 25,124 passed. Class 13—Minister of Lands vote, Crown • Lands Departments, L 20,967. The vote 3 passed as printed. > Miscellaneous, L 10,668. Passed as } printed. Coalfields, L 225. The vote passed witht out alteration. s Survey Department, L 111,948. Passed ■ without alteration. 1 Minister of Mines, LIO,OOQ. Passed as i printed. b Colonial Treasurer’s Department, i L 8,047. Passed as printed. Y Progress was reported, and the House Y rose at 1.55 a.m.