HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 175, 15 July 1876, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Friday. The House met at 2*30 to-day. A fortnight's extension of tms was granted to the committee inquiring into the Fast Coast election. A Sill was introduce 1 by Mr Wason to regulate the disposal of waste lands of the Crown within the province of Can'.erbury, when the present leas.s expire. Be'ore going into Committee upon the Rating Bill the Premier announced that the Government proposed that rans should be rated at one ba : f the estimated value, iv accordance with the pita arrived at after much discussion on "Th^ Highways Act, 1871." He also sail the Government proposed revaluing the Canterbury runs with a view to offer them to the present holders. They considced the promises given, and understanding such, this was a f ir mode of dealing with the question. The Government considered the circumstances in Otago were widely different In Canterbury the tenure was much less substantial. Respecting Otago runs also, the law specially d'darei that there should be discretion as to granting new leases and as to cutting up into smaller runs, and that all new leases must be put up to public tender. The Premier also stated that when there wis new power to rate, mining prop.rty would not bs exempt A long discussion ensued during which several gol^fields representatives objected to mining property being rated. There was great diversity of opiuian as to general ruling of the interpretation clause, which fixes rateable value " to mean 5 p3r cent on the yearly rental, but in no case to be hss than 5 per cent, and in case of uuoccupled lands 5 per cent on the value of the f c simple. Amendments were pr iposed by Mr Button and Mr-Stont, the latter with the view of making fc!ie clansa apply to country districts cnly. and the former to fix the rateable value of t-ny land at 5 per ce-it upon its unimproved value at. the time it was a-sessed. Other am-ndments were suggested though not moved, ana an animated discussion was kept up till 5.30. Saturday. At 730 the House resumed in Com mi tee on the Rating Bill, and considerable discussion ensued on the question of rating land, there being a great diversity of opinion, Mr Button objecting to improvements beiog taxed, but the chuses generally were carried without any very matenal alte?ation. The debite was continued uniii half past one, by which time the Committee had reached Clause 10, which was pasicl with some slight amendments. The Speaker then announced by message from the Governor the Financial Bill. The Premier explained two points in it, saying that Abolition would come into force on the 29th Sept mber ins cad of th-j >st of Octi ber, in consequence of the lifer day falling uDon a Sunday, a:.d the 3uth of Seut.mber being a holiday. The other was th-.tproviaion would ba made for the Superintendents, but out of the revtnues of the provinces instead of out of colonial revenue. The Bill w.sreidthe first time, and the II >use adjourned at 1 45.