HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1738, 17 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Fiuday, Dkokmbkb, 16. The Uouae met at 2.30 p.m. WKBTPORT HAl'inT COMMITTEE^ Mr Whyte brought up tho report of the Wpstpnrt Harbor Committee, and moved that It be laid on the table. Mr O'Conor hoped that the House would ina'st on the evidence being laid on the table also. That evidence w»a obtained at great coat, and bo thought that the fullest publicity should be given to it. Se moved that the report be referred back to the committee bo that evldenoe might be attached to it. The report of the Committee was read, It recommended that tho colony shool] resume control of the |Weatport.;harbor works. Me "Why to explained that the reason why ovidence was not laid on. the table w»b because the Committee considered that reflected on private persons who had no opportunity of defending themselves. Considerable discussion ensued, Mr O'Conor defended his action on the Board at great length. The amendment was loaf, and tho report ordered to Ho on tho table. ADJOURNMENT. Tho Premier moved that the House at Ub rising adjourn till Jl o'olockjtc-morrow, The motion wdb agreed to. QUESTIONS. The Premier asked that questions on the Order Paper be postponed till next day AB3KNT WITHOUT LEAVE. Mr Samuel pointed out with reapoot to a question which he had put on tho paper referring to dlrqualifioatlon of certain members of the Legislative Council, that on. farther enquiry he found that Dr Meozlea and Mr Holtnei had not forfeited their aea b owing to abeeooe without leave. He had found, however, that Sir Frederick Whitakec th 6 Attorney-General, had been abeont two sessions from the Oouooil, which was a far more important matter, as the Attorney. General waß a goutleraon§who had Jto eaquiro into the alleged disqualification of other counotllorn. Tho Premior aiid tho raattor wob at present undor consideration of the Crown Caw Oflioors. NATIVE LAND AnMINIBTBATION. The .Native f and Administration Act Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council and read a first tlmo. FIJTANOIAL DEBATE, Mr Kerc resumed the debate on the motion for going into Committee of Supply. Flo condemned tho borrowing proposals of tho Government. Mr Downie Stowart expressed his opinion against large borrowing. Mr Buchanan thoroughly agreed with the last speaker that there werejvarlous items on the estimates which it was very desirable should bo otruck oat, and he hoped that many of those sums would be thrown ont. Mr Mills said that ho and aome of hla friends had decided to endeavor to reduce the loan by £250,000. They admitted that a certain amount of borrowing wub required, but thought it might bo limited to £750,000. Mr Ward would like to know who those honorable gentlemen woro who wore referred to by Mr Mills. If certain votes wore struck ont thoao momburj miglu find t^at another combination of members would retaliate, UOMMITTISB OF SUri'LY. Tho Hoaao wout into Oommlttoo of Supply. At 5.30 p m. tho House adjourned. Tho Committee reamnod at 7.<> op m. CLiai 3— Vote for Kew PlymouthFoxton railway, £1200; WellingtonIToxton £500; Uuruuul north wards, £100; Springfield branoh, £400; Lincoln-Li ttl.o River, £800.— P«>BBed. Olais 4, vote— roigs, bridges, acd wharves north of Auokland, £3870.— Pkßtiod. Vote— main rosdu ? £18,66,0. Mr Br\iae moved to reduce it by £1000, Item for road Hokltlkato Ohrlstchuroh, Amendment withdrawn, and vote passed. Vote—miscellaneous roadß and bridges, £34,5?0. Mi* MenteuLh, moved to recuoo tho ' votn by £l U\ order ao tont tho fooling of the Committee f-s to thla class* of voto 1 boju^ retained on tho oatirnatea iq future, \ Tho voto paßtjod. ' J Vote— Granta In aid, £72,600.— P*<jßod. v Vote — Roads to opon up lauda before N sales £00,000.— P^ua^d. Voto— VilLogo Bottlomonlfl, £23,000.— PuHsed. ~Y y o tp — RUnigtor of Mlnea — Hoada on < goldfleWH, di'il.OOO.— Paaspd. J Cla^fi s— Voto for waterworks on gold* v fiolda, £120d.-Pa B sod. Class o— Voto for purohaee of Native Unds. £1000,— PftBBed, )

Glass 6 -Vote, telegraph extenalon, £20,100.— Passed. Class B— Vote. pviblio bulldinga, £109,000, Mr O'Calloghan moved to strike out the i>em £3000 for departmental buildiugs at Auckland, Amendment lost by 48 to 28, Mr McKenzle (Waihemo) moved to 1 reduo3 the Item by £ICOO. ! Lost by 41 to 33. Passed aa printed. Mr O'Oallagan moved that Item £300 for the Port Chalmers courthouse be struck out. Lost by 47 to 28. Item — now prl-ion for Mount Cook, Wellington, £4COO, waa. reduced by £5, tho Intention being that Government ahould not commit tho O'>nvnitteo to -a further expenditure uatll full information was bofoio them. Item, Pocirua Lunatic Asylum £2000. Mr Allen moved to reduce the uame by £100. Lost' by 38 to 15. Item passed.