GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1061, 21 November 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Telegraph.] [PKH PRESS AGENCY.] HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, November 20. The House met at 2.30. Leave of absence for ten days was granted to .Mr Pyke. COLONIAL < OALMINKS. In reply to Mr Kennedy, Mr Ma CANDREW 3 said the Government did intend to appoint a | Roy al Commission to ascertain during the j recess the progress made towards developing 1 the coalfields at Westport and Greymouth, I the quantity and quality of coal each mine in | operation is capable of producing weekly, j the prospect of such coal being brought into | successful competition with imported coal I throughout the colony, and the most effectual I and immediate means of accomplishing that \ object. I NELSON KOADS. ! In reply to Mr Hursthouse, Mr Larnach « said that in addition to the amount already vestcd'for maintaining roads in the Motueka r district, the Government would place on the I supplementary estimates a sum of £2BOO, of which £1473 would be for the Waimoa road, j In reply to Mr Travers, Mr Sheehan said £OO would bo placed on the estimates to carry ; out the recommendation of the Native Affairs \ Committee, on petition of Kerako Kareta. I SURVEYORS IN CANTERBURY. Mr Montgomery asked the Minister of | Lands if he will state what increase, if any, has been made in the number of surveyors employed by the Government in the provincial district of Canterbury since the 13th September, and the total number at present employed ; also, if be will inform the House j at what date the Chief Surveyor expects to complete the survey of the land already purchased from the Crown in that district and not yet surveyed? Mr Macandrew said that at present there were twenty-seven surveyors employed, exclusive of the Chief Surveyor and four other assistants. Seven had been appointed since the 13th Sept., and if competent men could be obtained more would be taken on. The Chief Surveyor estimated it would take two years to complete the surveys. SCHOOL OE MINES. In reply to Mr Barlf,Mr Macandrew said the Government were attending to the matter of establishing a School of Mines. CANTERBURY RAILWAY RE SERI lift. Mr W*KFEIELT* asked the Government whether they intend, to take power to subdivide and dispose of the railway reserves in South Canterbury. Mr Macandrew replied that the attention of the Government had not been before directed to the sub ject, but enquiries would be made, and if not required for other purposes the reserves would be placed in the market, NEW BILLS. Taranaki Iron Smelting Works Laud. A< t, 1874, Amendment Bill (Burns), Jackson’s Bay Ro.ul District Bill (Gisborne).

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Before going to the Orders of the day, Mr Larnach drew attention to a few crroi’s of figures in the tables attached to the Financial Statement. The Government proposed to take the land fund as from the Ist of J aimary. The discussion of the Financial Statement was postponed till 7.30, on Mr Sheehan’s motion and at Major Atkinson’s request, Major Atkinson thanking the Government for their courtesy in doing this. In reply to a question from Mr Gisborne as to what the Government intended to do with the Land Bill, Mr Sheehan said that if the House adopted the land policy laid down in the Financial Statement, the Bill would require to ho entirely recast, but until the decision of the House was token on this portion of the policy, nothing would be done to prejudice the position. The present Bill would be held on the order paper. SECOND READINGS. The Native Land Act, 1873, Amendment Bill and Marine Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. Sir G. Grey explained that the object of the latter Bill was to place certain wharves under local control, and to encourage the erection of wharves in other places. The Cemeteries Management Bill was read a second time. The Marine Act Amendment Bill, Cemeteries Bill, and Shipping and Seaman’s Bill, were considered in committee. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, November 20. The amendments made in the Education Bill by the House of Representatives were agreed to by the Council, and the third reading was agreed to.