PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 231, 25 September 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, September 25. In tbe House yeaterday, the Select Committee on Colonial Industries recommended a bonus of twenty- five per cent on the cost of establishment of blast furnace for pig iron and machinery, and for the manufacture of bar and rod iron up to £5000, subject to the approval of the locality. Also, a bonus of sixpence per gallon up to 50,000 gallons, for the produation of kerosene oil in the Colony of average price nnd approved quality They recommend that the Public Works Department sbouid endeavour to utilize the material in the Colony for the manufacture of Portland cement; that steps should be taken to stop the wasteful destruction of forests; and that free passages be given to co-operative associations coming out to establish industries. Iu reply to Mr O'Neill, Mr Reynolds said the Government would, during the recess, consider the advisability of abolishing the duties on Australian wine, and if it were considered desirable, would introduce a bill for the purpose next session. Mr Vogel introduced a bill to afford facilities for the search for coal and other minerals below high-water mark. The bill was read a first time. A lengthy debate took place in Committee on the Hawke's Bay Loan Empowering Bill. Several amendments were moved. The bill was resisted in several of its stages, and the discussion will be resumed to-night. The following Loan Bills wero read the third time and passed: — Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Wellington, Otago, Nelson, Auckland, and Taranaki. ' The following bills were read the first time: — Governor's Salary Bill, Ministerial Residence and Lowry Bay Sale Bill, General Purposes Loan Bill, Immigration and Publio Works Loan Bill, Purchase of Native Lands in North Island Bill. In Committee on Nelson Loan Bill, on the motion of Mr Curtis, the first schedule of the bill was amended by tho insertion of 75.000 ucreß at Amuri, instead of 150.000. Mr Bell made a strong speech against the schedule of the bill. Mr Curtis said it was impossible to fix the boundary of the land. The land was worth a pound an acre. The road frora Wai-iti to Buller, via Hope Valley, in second schedule, was reduced from £15,000 to £10,000. The Committee on Colonial defence recommended torpedos and heavy batterj ies for external defence, aud a thorough Militia aud Volunteer system for internal | defence; that a fixed percentage of the i population be trained to arms and where this number is not reached by the volunteers, the first class militia to be drawn by lot; that the capitation allowance be £3 after two years enrolment, and continuous days drill under canvass yearly; that .Snyder rifles be used. The mounted corps to be armed and drilled as infantry, ...nd all the corps instructed in the use of field an J siege guns. A challenge shield to be offered for annual competition; that thero shall be a regulation uniform; that compulsory parades be increased to eigbt, and inspection parades to twelve; company officers' commissions to lapse when the corps is below strength.