HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4131, 18 October 1884, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr McArthur gave notice to ask if the Government would offer facilities for vaccination in outlying districts. The Wellington Colleges Reserves Bill was read a second time. Replying to questions the Government said they had no power to reserve the Ton-o-ariro, Ruapehu, and other hot springs districts as national paries : no special tax had been imposed on binder twine, they had only enforced the provisions of the previous Act; • the length of members' speeches as reported in Hansard was regu-

lated by the importance of the speech and subject under discussion. Sir G. Grey introduced a bill to reduce the gold duty "to ls per ounce after the 31st March next, and by taking off the remaining ls an ounce after 31st March, ISB6.

An Imprest Supply Bill of £200,000 passed through all its stages both in the House and Council.

The House resumed at 7.30. EAST AND WEST COAST BAILWAY BILL. The East and West (Middle Island) Nelson Railway Bill was further considered in committee. On sub-section 2 clause 9 an amendment was moved " That no auriferous or coal bearing land be so set aside for the company." Sir George Grey made a vigorous speech against tho Bill and was ruled out of order as he was discussing the whole principle of the Bill instead of the clause sought to be amended.—the Amendment was lost.

An amendment was moved by the Premier "That no land shall be deemed to be of less value than 10s per acre." After discussing the advisability of reducing the amount to os per acre, the amendment in favor of 10s was carried by 51 to IS. The following proviso was added to subsection 4, clause 9, " Company to pay the value of improvements to persons holding land as tenant or licensee of the Crown, provided that nothing herein contained affect any rights or interests acquired under any miners' right or business license granted under authority of the Goldfield Act, ISG6, or Mines Act, 1877, or _ any _ regulation made under or in conformity with the said Acts." An amendment was moved that the company pay the royalties, was lost on a division by 45 to 21. On sub-section 7 an amendment was moved that the value of lands to be granted should not exceed 30 per cent., was lost on a division. The 50 per cent, was retained by 39 to 32 votes. Several other amendments were moved, but were lost.

The Premier moved to add the RutiruruRotorua line of railway to clause 19, which •was agreed to. Mr J. G. Wilson moved that the line be taken by way of Arthur's Pass. Carried on the voices.

The Premier moved a new clause to the effect that the railway to connect the East aud West Coast railway with Nelson should not cost more than a million; agreed to. The House rose at 1.45 a.m.