EVENING SITTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1892, 13 July 1888, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m, . CHINESE BILL Mr Hislop reported that the Free Conference on the Chinese Bill had been unable to agree. Mr Fish a*ked if Government proposed^ fo dpanything fnriher, " i Mr fiislop xeplied that he would rather not say at present. 6TAGO CENTRAL BAILWAT BILL. Mr Fyke moved to commit the Olago Central Bail way Bill. Mr J. McKenzie said that the Waste Land* Committee had gone carefully into the Bill, aDd had recommended that it should not be gone on with He moved that it be committed that day three jnontha. There was some debate m which the majority of the speakers were against tbe Bill, and the Minister of Lands too; occasion to cay that the only foundation, fpt the statement that Government were supporting the Bill secretly was the fact th«t last session Sir Frederick Whitaker had promised Mr Pyke to draft the Bill for him. For his part he (the Minister) quite agreed with the decision of the Waste Lands Committee. Mr Pyke, m reply, urged that nine years had been taken to open eight miles, and an immense amount had been sunk for which no r'etyrn \vas being got His B)ll proposed a method of enabling the lipe to be completed. It was imepssfble that the Jine pould stop n§ proposed at Middferparch. or Taiejrl Lake. Fears that the company would interfere with settle* mont were absurd. The amendment was lost by 47 to 17. In committee. Mr Thompson tnd Mr J. MoKerzle announced that they intended to oppose the BUI »t every stage Mr Fish said that If opportunity wero given to move some amendments he would bow to the wishes of the House expressed by a ltfge majority, bat if Mr Pyke would not agree to report progress at the proper ■tage for that purpose he also would op pote the Bill. Dr Flichett said thai a good deal of the opposition was owing to the Kamo K»mo Railway BUI having been rejected. After two amendments to. $\ipt the title pf 'fber !B.l)l Bad been negatived, Si; George Grey moved m dams 2 to throw open the contract for tender. The motion was lost by 31 ti 15. Mr Thompson asked how it was that j the Government whips were voting for . the Bill. It was not supported by firernment, * |dr Fergos said that no Instructions whatever hsg been given to the>btps. j|arfrnm.ent were divided oh .bo suHeot, !JPUe Premier and himself were m favor of the measure, but other of the Ministers opposed it* Sir Geor«- £ rdy Mked t0 have the eliuso postponed for further consideration. He objected qtrcnsly to the names afiix UQoedln reeldeotr being inserted (nthe ioheddle, aiTd said that Mr Pyke $'»• jfoiu'e th»n W^lia^ 4 ntqrmy debate arop§. JJr Mouk seconded Sir George Grey, and said that h« would stop there all night rather than let the Bill paes iv its present shape. Mr Pyke said that it was the cause of the settlers m the district that he was pleading They would leave the country Wholesale \i the railway were not built. ' tyr' O'Conor p'oioted out that t^ !ilanaW«ttt Bail way Compa9y was a succes«, and bad put to shame the efforts of the Government to settle the country. He ftrpn^ly supported the BUI, Qfivbg l&qd.

for railway construction was a very difToront thing to grabbing largo blocks of la- d fron Natives. Mr Merchant s- id that tho Manawatu Bailw .y Company were not doing so much for s ittleiuent as Mr O'Conor supposed. Neith r were the conditions of Bettlemont provided m this Bill. An animated discussion followed, m which Mr Fish bore tho p.incipal p^rt, speak'ng against the B '1. Tlio oppiDrntß of tho measure wero fighting with shadowa. Mr Pyko paid thit he was quite prepared to tako tho names of tho gen'lo men specified out of tho schedule. It wns ft formnlity, ub there muat be parties to the c >ntraot S'r George Grey said that this would not throw the contract open to tender. Mr R. Thompson remarked on the ominous silence of all the Otago meaner* but two. It was evident that they did not feel vita'ly Interested m the measure. He thought there must be some hidden influence at work forcing it on the HoUae.

Mr R. Reeves speaking as a goldfields member, ooald not Bee that tho mining Interest was endangered as had been alleged Mr R'obardson said that if the provisions of the Bill was strictly oarrled out In the direction of guarding mining Interests, there would be no land for the syndicate. Mr Gildie moved to report progreis,

Ayes 14, noes 26. Dr Fitchett proposed that a division should be taken on the clause, aad further d'Bouaslon postponed. Mr Bam n hoped that Mr Pyke would not agr c. The majority were In favor of the BUI, and if Mr Pyke was tired he would take charge of the Bill, and sit as lorjg as a quorum could be kept np. Mr Pyke would agree to report progress If a division were taken on the clauie.

Mr J, MoKoDze moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Ayes 13, noes 29 The Committee then divided on the question that clause 2 be postponed. Ayes 15, noes 27. Sir George Grey moved to report pro* gross. Lost by 24 to 17.