PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5452, 17 September 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, September 16. The Speaker took the chair at 7.30 p m. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented by Messrs. Sharp, Uignan, Morris, Gisborne, Bowen, Saunders, and Hamlin. * NOTICES OP MOTION Notices of motioh were givAi by Messrs'. Henry,.Pflce, Pox, Ormond, Pcldwicb, Joyce, and Turnbull. PAPERS. Papers relative to the Jackson’s Bay Settlement, were laid on the table by the Hon. Mr. Sheehan. The papers were ordered to bo printed. RAILWAY PROM KOPUA. Mr. ORMOND asked the Minister for Public Works,—lf he is aware that the contract for the extension of the railway from > Kopua southward is proceeding so.slowly that the works cannot be completed until long after the contract time ? Also, if it is true that the contractor, Mr. Proudfoot, has received a promise of extension of time; if so, for what time, and on what grounds ? The Hon. Mr. MACANDEEW replied the'; the engineer in charge informed him that the work had been proceeded with slowly in consequence of bad weather. Mr. Proudfoot had made no application for an extention of time, and therefore no extention had been granted. PENALTIES. Mr. ORMOND. asked the Minister for Public Works,' —When the return, promised on the 15th Angust, showing the contracts for public works in which penalties have been enforced since Ist July, 1877, aud the contracts in the case of‘which penalties have accrued, but have not been enforced, during the same period, will be laid before this House ? Mr. MACANDREW said a return would be prepared going back for three or four years, and this return would be laid on the table as soon as possible. POLICE FORCE. Mr. STEVENS asked the Government, — What is the number of dismissals and resignations from the police force in the Middle Island, between Ist June, 1377, and Ist September, 18783 • The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN replied that the • total number of removals was eighty. A full return would be laid ©n the table. MIXES ACT, 1577.

, Mr. GEOKGE, for Mr, Eeevea, asked the Attorney-General,—Whether the Government • will take prompt steps to revise the Alines Act, 1877, .with a view of reconciling the present conflict between the rules and the Act, especially in reference to water-races ? The Hon. Mr. STOUT replied that the question might be postponed for a day or two in order that the Goldfields Committee might consider a suggestion on the subject. Mr. BE LAUTOUR said the Goldfields Committee could not proceed with the matter, as the reports from the wardens had not yet come to hand. He hoped the hon. the Attor-ney-General would see that these reports were r furnished to the committee as soon as possible. ' >’ATIVK APFAHtS. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAK intimated that he would make hU statement on native . affairs next day at 7.30 p.m. (Hear, hear.) comririEE of supply. Certain resolutions were reported from Committee of Supply and agreed to. “* iLECTOKAL BILL. On the motion of the Hon. Air. Stout, and after some remarks from Messrs. Sutton and Pyke, the House went into committee on the Electoral Bill. Prior to clause 15 being proposed. The Hon. Air. STOUT suggested that as a full debate took place on the second reading of the Bill, it would be as well to take a division on the main principles of the Bill at once, without losing time by going over the same ground again. (Laughter.) Br. WALLIS proposed the striking out of the word “male”, before the word “person,” i so as to make it read every person (male and female). The amendment was lost by 36 to 26. The following is the division list : Ayes, SO. Beetham Hodgkinson Saunders Brandon, Joyce Seymour Bryce, Kelly Sharp (teller) Bunny Kenny Sbeehaa Cutten . McLean Stevens Dim «n Montgomery' Sutton t Douglas Murray-Aynaley Teschemaker Piaher ~ Ormond Thomson Gibbs Beeves Tolc Gisborne Jlicbardson ’ Turnbull > Green - Bfcbmond (teller)Wbitaker Hamlin Bowe Wood Noes, 20. Atkinson Baigept ftdllancc Barff Bowen, J. E. Carrington Hlslop De Lautour Pox Hursthonao Pitzroy Macandrew Macfarlano Johnston Morris Murray (teller) Me Minn Oliver Pyke . Nahe Stout Swanson Sbrimski Wason Woolcock ■ Wallis (teller) The committee divided on Mr. Saunders’ amendment to insert the words “ who has resided not leas than two years in the colony,” thus making it a two years’ residential qualification before entitled to vote. The amendment was lost by 55 to 8. In Part XT. sub-section a was retained by 44 to 10. The Hon. Mr. STOUT proposed that tbe words “five pounds” be substituted for “ten pounds” in sub-section b. Tbe amendment was agreed to, thus making the household value £5 per annum. • After some discussion on sub-section c, which was passed, progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 2.10 a.m.