HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4114, 27 September 1884, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FIIIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES. Mr J. C. Buckland gave notice to ask whether the Government would, consider the advisability of supplying copies of the New Zealand Gazette to those Justices of the Peace only who were willing to pay a email sum to cover the cost of printing and paper. Mr Smith gave notice to move for a return showing , all lands reserved in the colony for educational purposes, the return to show the average and present value respectively of the endowments (1) for primary education, (2) for secondary education, and (3) for high schools and universities. Mr C. F. Richardson gave notice to move that the House go into committee on the following day to consider an address to his Excellency the Governor stating that in the opinion of the House it is undesirable for further grants to be made under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, but in lieu thereof that the property tax bo levied to the extent of three-farthings in the £1, and the half of the property tax not being required for Government purposes be handed over to the County Councils for expenditure on local works, the basis of distribution to be pro ruia on the ratable value of the counties. Mr J. G. Wilson gave notice to move, "That in the opinion of this Houso it is advisable that nil assistance towards higher education should cease, and that notice bo given to the different institutions which derive any part of their income from the reserves set apart for higher education that next year one-tenth of revenue will bo allocated to education, the second year a further one-tenth, and so on till the wholo is allocated to that purpose." NOKTU ISLAND TEUNK HAILWAY. On the application of Mr Richardson a week's extension of time was granted to the North Island Trunk Railway Committee to bring up its report. QUESTIONS. In answer to questions, the Government said they should consider the advisability of payment by stamps for railway traflic instead of cash ; for ten years the uniforms of the police had been made in the colony, and the Government would propose that the same be done with volunteers ; the necessity of provision being made for a Custom House at Auckland, and the settlement of claims for land fox militia services would be considered during the recess; specifications were being prepared on which the Government would call for tenders for the manufacture of locomotives in the colony ; a bill would be introduced dealing with the extension of the franchise to the police. Replying to Mr Samuel, Mr Ballanco o-avc the history of the arrangement made with Mr Colcnso for the preparation of the "Maori Lexicon,", extending from ISG4, which showed that a total of £1180 had been expended, and that in the year 1882 it was determined by the late Government to abandon the further prosecution of the work. With the view of getting the work revised the Government would communicate with Mr Colcnso, as to the terms, NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time:—Westland Education Districts Subdivision Bill (Stoxit) : Land Act Amendment Bill (O'Conor) ; Bill to abolish coroners' juries (Guinness). DIKICIENCY BILLS. The House, iji Committee of Supply authorised the Treasury to raise deficiency bills to the amount of £.00,000. A sum of £200,000 was also granted. PASSAGE OV BILLS, The Mortgage Release Extension Bill passed, and the Local Courts Bill was further considered in committee. The Anatomy Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. Mr Steward moved the second reading of the School Committees Election Bill, and poiuted out that its object was to abolish the cumulative vote, and also that the nomination of committeemen should take place some time prior to the election. Mr

Shephard, Mr Walker, Mr Turnbull, and Mr Dodson supported it, and the Premier, Mr Hurst, Mr Fergus, and Mr Shrimski opposed. The latter moved that the bill be road that day six months. The second readi.ig was carried on a division by 33 to 32. Mr Fitzherbert moved the second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1881 Amendment Bill, which went to legalise sweepstakes in which the individual sweepstake did not exceed £2. Mr Joyce, Mr Levcstam, and Mr Turnbull supported the bill. Mr Hobbs moved that it be read six months hence, and the Premier objected to the bill as likely to encourage gambling. On a division the bill was read a second time by 38 to 29. The'Ohinemuri Goldfields Revenue Adjustment Act was read a second time and referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

The Workmen's Wages bill was considered in committee. Clause 13, which provided for those supplying contractors with material having the same redress as workmen, was struck out, aud the bill was agreed to without further amendment. The Sharebroker's Act Repeal Bill, and the Chatham Islands Animal Bill were concluded in committee and agreed to. MOTION WITHDRAWN. At the suggestion of the Government, Mr Buchanan, after a short discussion, withdrew his motion that provision be made for better accommodation for railway workmen on the various lines of railway where such accommodation is either miserably deficient or altogether unobtainable. The House thon rose.