HOtSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 155, 1 July 1881, Page 2

HOtSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Thursday night. The Honse met at 2 30. ~ The report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of the widow of the late Judge Mansford was produced recommending that a talince of £487 10s tfl given as compensation; less £222 is paid tb Judge Mansfrfd as compensation for loss of cilice in 1867, but not refunded by him upon his re-appoint-ment. . - ■. The report on the petion f rom the Bible in Schools Association of Otago was reed declining to recommend the prayer of the petitioners. Replying to questions pttt it Was stated :— The Government knfew of no circumstance to warrant the question calling upon thf m to explain why, uuder the railway tariff, a track load of titilber being charged lOd pc» mile for the first ? 5 miles and reduced to 2*i per mile for the: next 158 miles, the charge is then doubled to 5d per mije for any further dista r ce. — A Bill for creatiDg a new land district on the East Coast coterminous with the registration of titles district to be under the control of' a Waste Lands Board holding sittings on the East Coast would probably be introduced.— Enquiries would be made as It the cost of getting a professional opinion regarding the best eiJe for the erection of a bridge over the WaiaUi river.— Government would Ho its beßt ;to give effect to a petition' frbn Ivaikouri praying that that district may not be united with Wairau for electoral purposes— -Proposals were under consideration for the appointment of a Resident Magistrate at Nelson whose services would be available whenever required.— Enquiry would be made into the probable cost of making Cumin's index tb the laws of New Zealand a Government' publication upon the terms that Mr Curoia shall be. paid all the profit; after defraying the cost of printing and publication.- -It was not the intention of thej Government to introduce a-Bill this session ideating with sentences, remissions, powers of I gaolers, punishment, fee, and prison matter? ;generaUj\ . , Sir George Grey introduced a Bill provid log for t&e establishment of a better system of local self government. The Bil? was read the first time, and on the motion that the second reading be fixed for July 13th he explained that he had purposely fixed a distant date, as he was desirousof affording the Government ac opportunity for explaining their proposals on the subject.. Replying to Mr Hall, Sir G. Grey said he would lay the draft Bill on the table so soon as tho House knew what the financial proposals of the Government were likely to be. Sir W. Fox and Mr Rolleston urged that the draft should be submitted at once, but the Speaker ruled that if the draft wag put into the hands of the Clerk in time to be presented and circulated for the second reading the requirements of the case would be satisfied. The following Bills were introduced and read th 9 first time: — To amend the Mining Companies Act j 1873 j To enable the K»i koura County- Council to reclaim lands and vest* them in the Council :for harbor pur poses; To amend The Mines Act, 1877; and the Borough of Hamilton Boundaries. The following passed through Committee :- Auckland Exchange of Synagogue Site; Wellington Queen's Wharf and Stores; Port Chalmers Cemetery; Port Chalmers Drill Shed; Oimaru Harbor Board; and, with the exception of the Wellington Wharf Bill, thej were read the third time and pasted. «Mr Moss moved that the House will, on Wednesday^ resolve itself into Committee tc consider an address to His Excellency, asking him to place upon the Estimates the sum of £1050 claimed by H. W Farnall for servicei rendered and money expended in performance of his duties as immigration agent in Belfast for the Province of Auckland and for the colony. The debate was interrupted by the 5*30 adjournment.