EVENING SITTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1907, 1 August 1888, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7 30 p.m. | NEW MEMBER. | Mr Verrall, member for Ashley, took the oath and his seat. OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY BILL. The debate on tha Offences against the Person BUI was adjourned, to enable the Otago Central Railway Bill to be further considered. The Premier, on behalf of the Government:, said that they had decided to lay two alternatives before the House The first was that Government should push on the line (o Mlddlemaroh, whioh could not be done under two years. Io tbe recess tho Minister of Public Works and himself would visit the south, and if they oame to the conclusion that the line ought to go farther, they would bring down recommendations next sessions. The seoond wai that Government should still continue to extend the line to Mlddlemaroh, and then take up this BUI or Introduce another to enable the lite to be completed to Clyde. Instead, however, of granting land, they would give the Government Hue up to half ths value of work done by any company. Government would undertake to open up land for settlement along the line, but they saw great difficulty ln granting land for the construction of the line. In Oommlttee he would move to report progress, and if that were carried It would be understood tbat the House accepted the first alternative.

The House went into Oommlttee. Mr Pyke sold that he objected to any proposal that would not cut up the land Into small blocks and settle people on It, otherwise the line would not pay. His only object was the seltlamont of the land. The Premier moved to report progress In accordance with his statement. Sir George Grey said that the opponents of tbe BUI would accept the Premier's first proposal. Mr Barron said that all the Government did now was to propose to complete the line to Middlemarch m two ye*rs instead of three, but if Mr Pyke did not object he would vote for tha first alternative. Mt Verrall supported the first proposal. Hr Fitchett felt indignant at the Premier's action, which was nothing but a shallow attempt to palter with the subject. He offered nothing more than they had already got. The Premier replied that thoy were offering special advantages to this line which were not held out to others. For instance, the North Island Trunk line had been stopped, yet tha Otago Central was to go on. Government wero not being treated properly m this matter. Their desire was to bring about a peaceful issue If there was agoneral expression of desire to postpone the question for further consideration he wo*_ld not object.

Mr Pyke said that he saw no good m dallying over the matter from day to day, and he wished it to be Fettled as soon as possible. Having got so far, however, with the Bill he must say he felt strongly inclined to push it on and cry OQ surarender.

-4c Reeves (Bt Albans) said that he should vote against the motion He objected to the Ime being, made by Govern ment at all. Ihe Premier's proposition was really a surrender to the stonawallers. The Cabinet had run away, not for the £-Bt time. Mr Fergus said tbat Mr Reeves always looked at things m a pettifogging party spirit. All he ever tried to do was to pat Government into a hole. He warned Mr Pyke not to accept the treaoherous friendship of those who merely offered It with the oovert purpose of killing the BUI, The proposals of Government were the best both In the Interest of the oolony ! and of the line, Mr Allan could not see that they ware to got any advantage under the new proposal.. After some farther discission, muoh of It very acrimonious, Sir John Hall's amendment was pat and lost on the ! voices. Dr Fltohett wished to add to the motion that Government ba requested to give effect to their second proposal, bat was ruled out of order.

The Premier's motion was oarried by 28 to 24. Mr Pyke attempted to make a statement, bat was rnled out of order. Tiie House adjourned at 12,45 a.m,