PARLIAMENTARY.

Kumara Times, Issue 2803, 15 September 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE SEDDON DISQUALIFICATION INQUIRY. BILLS PASSED. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. CLOSE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. (prom our own correspondent.] Wellington, September 15. In the House yesterday, after questions, The Sludge-channel No. 2 Disqualification Committee, by their Chairman, brought up their report. It is very lengthy and gives a history of the now famous work; there are twenty-two paragraphs, The last reads as follows: " The Committee have therefore to report that there is no evidence that Mr Seddon is either directly or indirectly pecuniaiily interested in the construction of sludge-din nnel No. 2, otherwise than as an inhabitant of and member of the district, and therefore that he

has committed no breach of the Disqualification Act, 1878." This finding gave general satisfaction to all sides of the House, and, on its being pronounced, was received with prolonged cheers. The report was unanimously adopted by the House, and, with the evidence, was ordered to be printed. The finding of the Committee was unanimous. Capt. Sutter concurred in the verdict, and expressed regret, and stated he had not wished to hurt Mr Seddon personally; but that he was determined to put a stop to the lavish expenditure on the West Coast goldfields. Your representative looks none the worse for the ordeal he has gone through, and those who politically differ with him gave him every credit for the plucky manner in which he fought to clear away the aspersions that had been cast upon his name. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill has finally passed both Houses. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill has passed through all its stages. This bill will provide that no penalties can be recovered from persons acting as councillors, unless with the consent of the Attorney-General. The motion recommending that New G-ainea be made a Crown colony, was negatived. The House carried the Government proposal to subsidise the Australian cable by a sum not exceeding .£SOOO. The House then went into Committee of Supply. A determined set was made against the Nelson to Hokitika main road maintenance vote of £B4OO. After two hours debate the vote was carried. The vote of £SOO for the Otira toll was also attacked, but the Canterbury and Westland members ultimately succeeded in getting ib carried. £15,000 was deducted from the Auckland Road vote; £IO,OOO was deducted from Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges; £25,000 was taken off the vote grants in aid ; [£?] was takeu off the vote for roads ou goldfields ; £15,000 was, by consent of the Government, taken off the vote for waterraces on goldfields. The items attacked were £IO,OOO for Thames race, and £IO,OOO for Mikonui race. The vote for Kumara Sludge-channel No. 2 was carried without dissent. The inquiry has evidently proved to the House the necessity of the work. £3OOO was taken off the vote for Public Buildings. The rest of the Estimates went through without alteration the only votes not passed are those for Immigration. The House adjourned at 4 a.m. Ib is now pretty safe to state that the business of the session will finish by the end of the week, and the prorogation take place this day week.