HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 98, 19 October 1894, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the Houße this afternoon, Replying to Mr Pirani, the Minister of Lands said he had received no information to change his opinion regarding the proceeds of sale of the Wanganui Harbor Board endowments, which, after deducting costs of survey, should be paid over to the Board. -Mr Pirani replied that no such direction was given in the Act referred to.— The Minister of Lands said the selectors of the land were loaded for the construction of roads and they would have to pay interest on the extra amount for the whole term of the lease. As they only paid 4 per cent and the price charged for land, including loading, was not more than a fair price for the land, he thought the settlers referred to had nothing to complain of. Replying to Dr Newman, the Minister for Lands said the Awarua Block would be offered for sale about the beginning of the year. Replying to Mr G. W. Russell, the Premier said the Government would have an inspection made of the railways and permanent way and plant. Replying to Mr J. W. Kelly, the Minister of Lands said be had ordered a fruit evaporator of. the latest style for exhibition throughout the colony. Replying to Mr G. W. Russell, the Minister for Lands said if any estates of the Globo Assets Company were fit for settlement Government would consider the advisability of taking them over under the Lands for Settlement Act. Replying to Mr Graham, the Post-master-General said Mrs Wallis, widow of the victim of the Tophouse tragedy, had been offered a positiou in tho postal service at .£7O a year, with increases for subsequent service, or a lump sum as compensation for the loss of her husband. On the motion for the adjournment of the House, Mr Pirani pointed out the injustice perpetrated on the local body at Pohangina by the holding back of the thirds from the Wanganui Harbor Board's endowment, and read a section of the Act of 1877, which he contended plainly brought the land under the operation of the Land Act of the same year, which provided for payment of thirds. After a short debate on the question of appointing managers to a conference with the Legislative Council on the Criminal Code Bill fixing the age of consent at 16, but abandoning the clause allowing a fresh trial of the Chemis, case. The following Bills were read a second time: Public Trust Amendment, Government Life Insurance Amendment, Post Office, Westport-Ngakawau Railway, and Railways Authorisation. The House is now in Committee on these Bills. The list of old soldier land claims is now circulated, but the Minister says he has no intention of legislating on the matter this session. The House resumed at 7.30. Fresh managers were appointed to the Conference on amendments in dispute in the Crimiual Code Act Amendment Bill. The Public Trust Office Consolidation Bill was read a second time. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Government Life Insurance Acts Amendment Bill, which raises the maximum to be put on mortgage from £5000 to and gave the department the power to take proceedings under the law of libel for any newspaper attacks made on the institution — Motion agreed to, The Past Office Bill, a consolidating measure, was read a second time and referred to tho Statutes Revision Com* mittee. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Westport • Ngakawau Railway Extension Act Amendment Bill, to enable the colony to acquire the WestportNgakawau railway. The Company had off ored the line to the colony for £20,W0, and he bolieved that would be a far price for tho Hue, which it was necessary should bo acquired in the interests of the coal mines of the West Coast — Motion agreed to. ■ ■