HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1881, 30 June 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTEBNOON SITTING. The Houee met at 2.30 p.m. THE MOXAX7 CASE. A lengthy discussion arose over the motion by Mr Beeves that the correspondence relating to the Joshua Jones Mokau oase be laid on the table. The motion was lost by 41 to 22. MINING. Some dlaousslon arose on the report brought up from the Goldfields Committee, which had pissed a resolution regretting that the Minister for Mines had not obtained more Information on mining matters from other countries. The report was laid on the table. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it waß stated that no salaried officers of Government bad valued estates for stamp duty m cases of deceased natives to the exclusion of professional valuers, bat that enquiries would be made ; that proposals would be made m a few days respecting the Bill as reoommended by the Chinese Conference ; that it was not intended to offer any enoouragement for the cultivation of the wattle ; that Government had offered Sir Franols Dillon Bell the appointment of Agent-General for another term, but bad not yet heard whether he had accepted it or not ; that Government were as anxious as any members m the House to have the Midland Railway contraot Blgned, bat that they oould not force the oompany m the matter, especially as the amended proposals had only been submitted to the company a week ago ; that as there were no locomotive m the North Island for burning firewood, Government oould not recommend that it should be used ; that Government were m communication with the Giaborne Harbour Board with a view to having a correct survey of Gisborne harbor made. The House rose at 5.30 p.m.