PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1023, 16 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, August 15. EAST COAST SETTLERS, , j, ij; 1 In reply to Sir G. S. Whitmore, The Hon Mr Whitaker said the Go* vernment would consider the of the settlers of Tolago Bay and Blast Coast who have no roads, no railways/ nor harbor and who bad asked to hare an extension of the telegraph along the coast.’ ’ ' BILLS. The following Bills were read a second time :—Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill, Invercargill Reserves Exchange’ Vesting and Empowering Bill, Mmstertbn- and Gceytown Lands Management Act Amendment Bill, and the Chattels Securities Bill. The Mining Companies Act 187? A mendment Bill was passed through Committee, and the Council then vent' into Committee on the Bankruptcy Bill, aiad had reached clause 57 at 6 p.nt, when the Council adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 15. The House met at 7.30. ANNEXATION AND CONFEDERATION BILL. The Council’s amendments in the Ootlfederation and Annexation Sill Here agreed to. PUBLIC LIBRARIES. - The House went into Committee to consider an address to the Governor recbmmending the appropriation of L 6,00 N public libraries. In moving this, Mr Smith saidtfcat unless a provision of this kind were made, it would be quite impossible for many of these institutions to carry on.

The Hon Major Atkinson oppdsed the motion with regret. In the state of their finance they weuld not be justified in making such a vote. He moved that the Chairman do leave the chair.

After discussion, Mr vv ynn-Williahs proposed the following as a compromise—- “ That the sum asked for be redaced, and that it be allocated for country libraries only.”

Mr Mac Andrew and Mr EisH supported the motion. The Hon Major Atkinson asked leave te withdraw his amendment so os to allow Mr Wynn* Williams to move his Sir G. GRBYobjected to the withdrawal, and contended that the colony had. de* cided that it would afford special facilities for educating the people. The motion for' leaving the chair, trim negatived on the voices. I Mr Wynn-Williams, to give prabtioal effect to bis suggestions, moved an amendment

1.4,000, and that it be allocated amongst country libraries only. ” Mr Maoandrew and Mr Shbfha£x> op* - posed this. v

Mr Fitz Gerald supported the vote M l originally proposed, and

WSmiro" Withdrew hia amendment for the reduction of the vote. - - - Mr Fergus complained that the lion’s • ahare of the vote last year was mainly absorbed by the large centres of population, which could well afford to make pro- ' v vision for themselves. ; r The Hon MrDxcK sympathised with the '• vote, but objected to the way in which the ; previous vote was spent. ■ MtO’Callaghan moved, as an amendjnent;,_‘‘That libraries whose income ex- , ■ ■ needed LIOO on last year’s list should be excluded.” The Committee divided—Ayes, 7; noes, : 58 A long discussion ensued until after 12. 30, when the Committee divided on Mr O’Callaghan’a amendment, and which was negatived on the division by 43 to 14. The Hon Mr Diok moved an amend- _ m*nt to the original motion—“ That the ■ ' vote be distributed on the same basis as last year,,,provided no library should re- . I, cpive more than LSO ” .../ '. . After further discuraion, this was car-,-xs, tied on a division of 35 t® 16 and the House rose at 1.20.