HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3782, 29 August 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. REPORTS of committees. The joint committee on bills reported that tho Native Reserves Bill was a public, not a privato-Wh "'Mr Pyko brought up the report of the joint committee on educational grievances, and it was read, to the effect that, haying been unable to make an exhaustive enquiry, tho-committee had no recommendation to make further than that the evidence taken should be printed. He moved that this be done. Some discussion followed, Mr MacnndroAv, Mr Montgomery, Mr Fergus, Colonel Trimble, and others objecting that the evidence avus one-sided, the committee bavin" refused lay evidence and taken that of tho clergy only. Mr Swausun, Major Atkinson, Mr Sheehan, Sir George Grey, Mr Shrimski, and others thought the pubiicatian of the evidence could do no harm, and was not at all likely to affect pubic opinion ou the question. Ultimately the evidence Avas ordered to bo printed. question. Replying to questions, Ministers said the Government would enquire as to the necessity of disinterring bodies buried in various places on the AVest Coast gold fields, with a view to re-interment in a recognised cemetery; the Government would make enquiries as to the desirability of establishin «■ a mint iv the colony ; the Goverymcnt had discovered that tho committee of management of the AVcstport Hospital included some contractors for supplies to it, and at onco remedied the evil; the Government would advertise publicly in England for railway rail tenders ; the Government would give the Grey mouth Hospital £100 as promised as soon as the committee raised an equal sum for the building; twenty acres on the Dunedin sand hills had been reserved for an agricultural and pastoral show ground, but the Government had the right of resumption. Some debate took jbliico over this answer, Mr Larnaoh moving the adjournment of tho House, but the matter dropped at ii.3o. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. On the House resuming Major Atkinson intimated his intention next day of making a full statement as to the business of the session, and moving the discharge of the following amongst other bills: —Settled Land, River Boards, Municipal Corporations, Impounding, Married AVomen's Property, Auctioneers, Fisheries, Legislative Officers Salaries, Local Courts, Savings Banks, and Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Bill. PASSAGE of dills. Tho Native Land Laws Amendment Bill and the Land Laws Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed, the latter being first recommended for a slight amendment. Mr Dick moved tho second reading ot tiic Leaseholders Qualification Bill. Sir George Grey said in committee he would move a clause to confine every elector to a single vote. After some discussion the second reading- was agreed to. The Middle Island Half-castes Grants Bill and tho Special Powers and Contracts Bill were read a second time, and referred to tho AVasle Lands Committee. The House went into committee on the Counties Act Amendment Bill. A clause fiy Mr Cadman to make chairmen elective by tho ratepayers was negatived by 37 to 33. New clauses were added _ by Mr AVright relating to river conservation. The Counties Act Amendment Bill, tho

Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill, and the Adulteration Prevention Act Amendment Bill Avore reported from committee Avith amendments, and the two former Averc read a third time and passed.

The House rose at 12.10 a.m