GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1815, 15 December 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Saturday, December 13. After the transaction of formal business the Attorney-General said the Council could have the whole day for local Bills, and get as many as possible through, on the agreement that the Government had all Monday. There was then a discussion on points of order lasting an hour, and another discussion of an hour in committee on the Slaughter House Act Amendment Bill. The R.M. Act Amendment Bill and Forest Trees Planting Act Amendment Bill were read A third time, and the Council adjourned from 5.30 till 9. THIRD READINGS. On re-assembling, the following Bills were read a third time—Bluff Harbor Foreshore Endowment Bill, Riverton Drill Shed Reserve Management Bill, Hawke’s Bay Rivers Act, 1876, Amendment Bill. The Council adjourned at midnight. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 p m. PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Mr Kelly brought up the report of the Public Petitions Committee in the case of H. Jackson, recommending that the petitioner’s case be referred to a Royal Commission. THE LOAN. Replying to Mr Macandrew, Mr Hall said the Government did not think it would be expedient to lay the correspondence re the loan on the table. SUPPLY. On the question of going into Committee of Supply, Sir G. Grey moved that the names of all shareholders in district railways proposed to bo purchased by the Government bo supplied, for the information of the House. On being put, the motion was lost on the voices. The House then went into Committee of Supply. The following railway votes wore passed : Kawakawa, £10,500; Whangarei to Kamo, £40,000; Kaipara to Waikato, £202,000; Waikato to Thames. £115,600 ; Waikato to Taranaki, £5000; Wellington to Napier, £65,000; Wellington to Woodville, with branch to Greytown, £228,000 ; Wellington to Foxton, £55,000; Foxton to New Plymouth, £148,000; Carlyle to Waitara, £233,000; Nelson to Greymouth, with Greymouth Harbor Works, £147,000. On the item Port of Nelson to Roundell, construction and land £55,215, an amendment was moved that the amount be reduced by £41,000. A division was taken, with the following result: —Ayes, 28 ; noes, 28. The Chairman gave his vote with the noes. Mr Shbimbki moved a further amendment, that the vote be reduced by £40,000. A division was taken, with the following result:—Ayes, 23 ; noes, 30. Greymouth to Hokitika, £46,500; Westport to Ngakawa, £14,000; Picton to Hurunui, £37,500; Hurunui to Waitaki, with branch lines, £361,000; Canterbury interior main line, £42,600. On the vote Waitaki to BluS, with branch railways, £498,000, on the item compensation to the Otago Harbor Board, £25,000, Mr Macandrew spoke in strong terms against it. He had no doubt but that he would displease the Board and its members. Still he felt he was doing nothing more than the duty he owed to the district and colony. Mr Dice defended the grant, and said the amount had been fairly arbitrated between the Board and the Government, and this was the sum awarded. Mr Macandrew said the arbitrators had gone outside their instructions in the matter. Mr Hutchison moved that the item be reduced by one-half. On being put, the motion was carried on the voices. The vote as reduced was then put and carried. Otago central, £120,800; Invercargill - Kingston, £18,000; Western railways, £133,400. Class 4, survey of new lines vote. North Island surveys, £6OOO ; Middle Island ditto, £14,900, passed. On class 5, roads in the North Island, £165,900, a division took place on the motion that the item roads, bridges, and wharves, £50,000, be struck out, with the following result:—Ayes, 21; noes, 44, Mr Subimsxi moved—“ That the item roads and bridges in unsettled districts— Patea and Taranaki, £50,000, be struck cut.” The House divided Ayes, 18; Noes, 43. The vote was passed as printed. Nelson south-west goldfields roads and bridges, £12,261; Westland ro"ds and bridges, £9OOO. On the item Hokitika and Christchurch road construction supervision and damage by flood, £12,000, Mr Fisher moved that the sum be reduced to £6OOO. The motion was withdrawn, and the vote passed. Roads to open up lands before sale £101,643. The amount required for the present financial year £81,642, was passed. Waterworks on goldfields—water races— North Island, £10,386 ; Middle Island, ditto, £29,500, passed. On the item miscellaneous public works, £239,812 —required for the present financial year, £200,312 —Mr DeLautour moved that £IO,OOO be struck out. At 11.45 Mr Macandrew moved that progress be reported. The House divided—Ayes, 26 ; Noes, 37. Mr Macandrew said although not a Sabbatarian, sitting on Sunday morning was most disgraceful, and he would ask all of his opinion to leave, and allow the Government to get through the estimates as best they could. Dr. Wallis said it was doubtful when Sunday began. By some it was asserted it began at sunset, by others—a small section—at midnight, and again by others at sunrise. Mr Macandrew and one or two others then left. Mr Hall said if they would not obstruct the business as they had done, there would be no need to encroach on Sundays. It was perfectly childish to object to go on with business because it was a quarter past twelve on Saturday night. They had hoped, in deference to the wishes of members, to get on with the business, and so close it on Monday. That would be rendered impossible. Mr Stbwabt, Mr Moss, and Mr Tawhai objected to the House sitting on Sunday. Mr Tawhai protested against the sitting being prolonged to Sunday morning. Eventually it was agreed to report progress. The House adjourned at 12.25 a.m. till Monday at 11 a.m.