HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 183, 4 August 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Friday, xhere wbs no business done in the House last night. The House met at 2-30 p.tn. to-day. Mr Sharp will move to abolish free passes on railways. The Native Lands Bill cornea on for second reading on Tuesday. The Premier, replying to Mr Macandrew said the Government would let the House know their intentions regarding Sir Julius Yogel and the Agent-Generalship when that vole came on. So far, his duties were carried out satisfactorily. The Government are in communication with pastoral tenants with a yzew to the abatement of the rabbit nuisance. * The Gorernmeut, replying to Mr Trarers, said they hoped to be able to propose an appropriation for openiug up bye-roads in the isolated districts of the colony. Several Bills were read a first time. Mr M'Lean hoped a telegraph station would shortly be opened at Farndon. Considerable discussion ensued upon the Impounding Bill, a consolidating measure which makes little alteration in the existing law. Ultimately the Bill was read a second time on the understanding that it waa to be referred to a Select Committee. A discussion on the Fencing Bill—another measure of a similar character — was kept up till the House rose. Some members argued that there should be no fencing law at all by the colony, but that the work should be left entirely to local bodies.J The Sheep and Cattle and the Slagghterhouses Bills are two other consolidating measures which come next. The House resumed at 7-30 p.m. Saturday. 1 he House resumed at 7.30. After some discussion the Fencing Bill, Sheep and Cattle Bill, and Slaughter Houses Bill were read the second time and referred to a Select Committee. On Mr Bowen moving the second reading of the Education Bill several members wanted a postponement for a week, in order to afford time to elicit the opinion of the country upon it. The Government on the other hand pointed our that nothing was to be gained by such delay. Ultimately the debate was adjourned on the voices. Ou the motion for going into Committee of Supply to pass a few of the items which would not meet with opposition, Sir G. Grey called upon the Government to postpone all busiuess until thay had disposed of Mr Bees' motion expressing reprehension of the Government re the Waka Maori case and libel action. Mr Kees followed in the same strain, saying that it was due to themselves to do so. Mr Woolcock here rose and moved a motion relating to the adjustment of taxation of which he had given notice previously. He spoke for over an hour, the burden of his speech being that the land should be taxed. After the usual adjournment the Premier called upon the Leader of the Opposition to state whether Mr B,ees' motion was intended as a vote of want of confidence, because although in moving it Mr Rees said it was not so, yet now the leader and others said it was, and wanted it gone on with. If it was a vote of no confidence, the Government would accept the challenge and fight it out. The result was that there was a good deal of talk, which resulted in nothing, and no business took place until 12-45, when the adjournment of the debate was proposed and carried, and the House adjourned till Tuesday.