HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 265, 8 November 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Wednesday. The House met at 230 this afternoon. In reply to a question the Government said they wonld introduce a Bill to amend the Counties Act. The following new Bills were introduced: Little River Cemetery Reserve Exchange Bill (Mr.Montgomery), and the Immigration and Public Works Loan Bill (Mr Larnach) Mr Sheehan stated that the Government hoped the House would feel that the time had arrived when party protests should cease for the session. The Government proposed to allow to-day and to-morrow to~ private members to complete their busiuess. The House would not sit ou Friday, aud the Government would use it and Saturday to arrange public business, so as to enable the house to deal with it all next week, and the prorogation to take place early the following week. Major Atkinson immediately gave notice of a fresh waut of confidence motion for tomorrow. Mr Sheehan said they would not, in consequence of this, interrupt the course of ordinary business. They would leave the onus of obstruction to the other side. Ona motion by Mr Hodgkinson, subsequently withdrawn, Mr Sheehan promised that the Government would during the recess obtain a report regarding the eutension of a light raiiway from Riverton to Otahuhu, about 16 miles, to the Nightcaps Coalfield; land to be reserved to pay the cost. A similar course was adopted with regard to a motion by Mr Lumsden, recommending the survey of a raiiway from Queenstown to Arrowtown. The Government promised Mr Harper to withdraw the prohibition against removing cattle from the Kaikoura district. On a division, 23 to 20, the report of the Petitions Committee on Dr Buller's petition was referred back for further consideration and further evidence. The Government promised to give effect to report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of Lewis Sutton. Mr Sutton moved that the old Legislative Council Ordinance, relating to the supply of liquors to the natives should be reprinted. Mr Russell would prefer to see it repealed. Mr Sheehan would like to see the inhabitants of native districts given power to prohibit all intoxication in their districts, and if possible he would introduce a Bill in that direction Motion agreed to. Thursday. The amendments by the Council iv the following Bills were agreed to:—Conveyancing Ordinance Amendment Bill, Bankers Books Mvidence Bill, Municipal Corporation Act Ameudnieut Bill, Volunteers and Others Land Bill, Wakapuaka Telegraph Station Site Bill, Waiwera School and Glebe Exchange Bill, Wellington Municipal Loan Consolidation Act Amendment Bill, Rabbit Nuisance Act Amendment Bill, Fine Arts Copyright Bill, Wellington College Act Amendment Bill, Havelock Athemeum Bill Incorporation Bill, The following Bills were read a second time:—l'eninsula County Bill, Mount Cook Road District Bill, Canterbury Laud Reservation Bill, aud Hokonni Education Rererves Bill.

The following Bills were read the third time:— Onehunga Endowments Bill Canterbury Rivers Act Amendment Bill, Christchurch City Reserves Bill Crown Redress Extension Bill (No. 2), Thames Water Supply The remainder of the evening was spent in Committee on the Local Option Bill. Mr Ballance's new clause, providing that compensation should be paid where licence is taken away by the operation of the Act, was read the second time on a division of 28 to 16. An amendment was then, on Mr J. E. Brown's motion, added that compensation should only be paid in regard to Houses licensed before the Act was passed. Mr Montgomery moved further amendments to provide that no compensation should be paid for the good will, and that all comoeusation should be raised by means of a speciaf rate on the district. Both these amendments were negatived. Mr Ballance's clause, as amended by Mr Brown, was then added to the Bill, on a division of 21 to 14. Mr Fox thereupon, in accordance with his promise that if the compensation clause was adopted he would abandon the Bill, moved that progress be reported. Leave was obtaiued to sit again that day fortnight, but the Bill is understood to be abandoned. The House rose at I*s a.m.