GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2590, 26 July 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[press association telegram.! LEGISLATIVE COUNOIL, Tuesday, Judy 25. FIBST BEADING. Tho Private Tramways Bill (Mr Hart) was read a first time. QUESTIONS. In reply to the Hor, Mr Beynolds, Tho Hon. Mr Whitaker said all that tho Government were paying towards the edaoation of Xaiaroa’* children was tho num of £25 a year, half the education fees for one of his boys. In reply to tho Hon. Mr Lahman, The Hon. Mr Whitaker said Government had tho case of the convict Longhurst under consideration, but the Government could of course taka no action while the matter was under enquiry by the courts of law. In reply to the Hon. Captain Fraser, The Hon. Mr Whitaker said a patient, not a lunatic, had been lately released from the Dunedin Asylum, his friends supplying him means to go to England. AFFIRMATION AND OATHS. Bir J. Whitmore moved the second reading of the Affirmation in Lieu of Oaths Extension Bill (Sir G. Grey.) The Hon. Mr Whitaker moved that tho Bill be thrown out, as it was wholly unnecessary, seeing that a more comprehensive measure on tho same subject had been paseid by the Government through the Council, and *as now before the House,

The Bill was thrown out by twenty votes to eight. MINING COMPANIES ACT. The Mining Companies Aot, 1872, Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at a quarter to four. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 25. Hie House met at 7.30. AFFIRMATIONS AND OATHS. Sir G. Geby gave notice of a Bill that affirmations be made in all cases in lieu of oaths. THE PIiATBIiAYBBS’ WAGES. In reply to Mr Petrie, The Hon. Mr Johnston said that he had communicated with the various local bodies as to the rata of wages paid their workmen, and he was now prepared to make the advance to the railway platelayers as reoom mended by the motion of the member for Waipawa. THB PROPOSED LOAN. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr Moss asked if the Government would give them an opportunily for expressing their opinion apart from party considerations as to the propriety or otherwise of fresh loans being contracted. The Hon. Major Atkinson would be glad to afford an opportunity to have the matter disensaed, and said that the opportunity would be given to-morrow on the motion for going into supply As respected the question of party, if the discussion resulted in a disarrangement of the Government financial proposals it would of course be incumbent for the Government to consider its position. IMPREST SUPPLY, An Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000 was introduced by a message from the Administrator of the Government and passed through all its stages. THE GBBY GOVERNMENT. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr Maoandbbw controverted the statements made by the Minister for Public Works, to the effect that the Government of which he was a member had largely added to the departmental expenditure. He' quoted from returns to show that such was not the case ; but that on the contrary they had largely curtailed the expenditure. He quoted these statements »s evidence c£ the general unreliability of the Treasurer’s figures. The Hon. Major Atkinson reviewed at groat length the state of the public accounts and the financial state of the colony generally at and immediately preceding the demise of the Grey Government, with the view of showing that Mr Macandrew had committed the colony to a reckless and indiscriminate expenditure. The motion for going into supply was then put and carried.

IN COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. Class 11—Colonial Secretary’s department, £24,880. Mr Postlethwaitb moved that the item. Sheen and Brands Act and contingencies, £15,000, be reduced to £7OOO. The reduction was disallowed, and the vote as printed paired. Vote—Miscellaneous services, £26,724.

Mr Montgombby moved that the item £I6OO for the purchase of land adjoining ministerial residence onj the Tinakori road, Wellington, be struck out. Mr Weight moved that the item £2OO for compilation of the Maori history be struck out. Mr DbLautoub moved that the item £BOO expanses under the Revision of Statutes Act, 1879, be reduced £4OO. Subsequently, however, he withdrew the amendment.

Mr Weight then withdrew former amendment, and proposed that the item for the Maori history be reduced by £IOO. The item, £2OO, for the compilation of the Maori history was retained ; the item £I6OO for the purchase of land at Wellington was struck out. The rote as reduced to £25,124, passed. Class 13—Minister of Lands vote, Crown Lands Department, £20,967. The vote passed as printed. Miscellaneous, £10,668. Passed as printed. Coalfields, £225. Mr Mttneo moved—" That the item, * Agent, £loo,’ be reduced to £75.” The item was retained, and the vote passed without alteration.

Survey Department, £111,948. Passed without alteration.

Minister of Mines, £IO,OOO, Passed as printed. Colonial Treasurer’s Department, £8047. Passed as printed. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 1.55 a.m.