HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 216, 12 September 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

"Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2-30 this afternoon. Leave of absence for 14 days ha 3 been granted to Mr Reader Wood. In reply to questions Miniatera said:— (l.) Experiments were being made as to tha use of native coal in locomotive engines: (2.) The Government would endeavor to give Nelson every facility ;in regard to the dates of the departure of the English mail, but it yas very difficult to do so. (3.) It was not intended to create a trust to manage the Water of Leith. (1) The Dunedin gaol cost £26 per prisoner for maintenance; Auckland, £16: Lyttelton, £20. It was intended to reduce the cost in Dunedin by reducing the number of warders rather than by lowering tbe salaries, except in certain cases where they are excessive. (5.) It was intended to introduce a Bill to close Gaol-street, Dunedin, to half its present width. (6.) The Government would place the Mana light on Caps Egraont when they were able to secure a suitable site. (7.) It was intended to settle Sartoris-Downes claims as recommended by the Committee. (8) The Government had refused the services of a Volunteer corps at Onehunga because the number of applicants was not sufficient, and also because the House were not inclined to iucreasc the vote for Volunteers. The following new Bills were introduced: —Dunedin Education Reserves (Mr Stout), Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association Exhibition Site Bill (Mr Lumsden), Gold-mining Act Amendment Bill (Mr Rowe), South Rakaia Road Board Bill No 2 (Mr J. E. Brown). The House then went into Committee on the Education Bill. Clauses 40 to 43 were passed. A long discussion took place on clause 44, as to whether the Committee or Board should appoint teachers. Three separate amendments, to give the power of appointing and recommending to committee, were lost on divisions of 25 to 41, 32 to 33, and 31 to 34. The clause is not yet passed. . Wednesday. Ihe whole evening was spent in Committee on the Education Bill. After a further long discussion, clause 44 was passed, the words "by leave of an Inspector," being struck out in line 50, and a proviso added that all appointments and dismissals of teachers should be recommended by the Committee, and none bo made without the Committee being consulted. Clauses 45 to 48 were passed. Clause 49 was postponed. Several hours were spent over clause 50. Mr Wakefield moved an amendment to render scholarships open to all children whose parents paid the capitation tax. This was lost by 46 to 16. Mr Bowen proposed an amendment to allow of the establishment of open scholarships for all children of school age. This was carried by 5 1 to 10. Mr Stout then said that denominationalism had been introduced into the Bill, and be moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Thi3 was lost by 42 to 18. Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 12-25 a.m.