HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XX, Issue 1322, 16 October 1884, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

The House met at 2,30 p.m. TH£ following replies to questions nere given :— ' The case of Fanny Knight, of New Plymouth, who alleges that she was cruelly assaulted, would he inquired into. ; <> The policeman McQ-uire, of Gris"bofriey had been dismissed for going | about the country witnessing signa* tufea to Maori deeds and taking inqney therefor. So far as Groyernmeiit was aware no reason existed for reconsidering that step. Gby eminent would, as far as pru> ! dentffgive effect to the recommendadations of the Gaols' Committee re the periodical removal of policemen. The Destitute Persons Act 1877. Ameniment Bill was introduced and read a first time. On the motion for going into Committeeonthe East and West Coast , andjj'iie^dn/Ilailway Bill,; V .7s; {[ Mr Rolleston objected to the bill. He charged Sir Julius Yogel- with a disposition to resume the spirit of public works gambling 1 similar to that :>of .the pttWic wo,vks policy of; 18^0, £ 4nd from which they, hfid la);- \ terly to a great extent been relieved." The debate was interrupted by the fi.SOadjornment. . % . This day. The evening sitting was taken up. "with-ia discussion on a motion for going into committee on the 3?a|t and WesrCoafet Railway Bill. The principal objections to the Bill were the; proposals to hand over to a syndicate large tracts of territory, the value oC which .were not known and could not be ascertained until the foreWwas removed. •<- i ' J0 The^'Premier, m reply, contended that m 1879 it was decided to carry on the line, and a vote given for the purpose m 1880. There was de« pression and Government appointed a commission which reported, against ■everal of these lines. In 1881 the Railways Construction , Bill ' j Jwas passed by this Government;. and> the Bill was simply a modification of that measure. Government wished to lee a good bargain made for, the Colony" and there .. were, certain amendments to be made m the Bill when m committee. One •was that no land should be valued at less than 10s, and the total cost of the line was to be limited to a million and a half.. There \ was a proposed piece ot. railway prom Oxford to Rotorua which had been sanctioned, and intended 'to bring that ' under this bill, also the Kawakawa»Wangarei line, under certain conditions. The'motion for going into '■■ committee was carried on the voices J - In Clause' 5,' Government may take over railways on cons.deration of recovering a per centage of theprbceeds of the works, "or any portion" thereof," were struck out. In the same clause a further amend* xnen£ making it read " upon the consideration of retaining m respect of such working and maintenance, ■ucb! portion of the gross traffic re" ceipti as may be required for the same,'' Was agreed to. l^rogress was reported and the House rose at 2 .11 a,m. . „. ,