PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5459, 25 September 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, September 24. The lion, the Acting-Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. PETITIONS, ETC. The Hon. Dr. MENZIES presented a petition from inhabitants of the Clutha for certain land to be reserved between the Clutha and the Taieri, aud for the construction of a railway. The Hou. Mr. 3MANTELL presented a petition from a Maori chief on behalf of his tribe, praying for certain reserves. Several reports were laid on the table by the Colonial Secretary. The report of the Local Bills Committee on the Wyndham Recreation Bill was brought up by Colonel Kenny. It recommended the passing of the Bill. The same lion, member brought up the report on the Wyndham Cemetery Bill. The report recommended that certain clauses should be struck out, and the Bill then proceeded with. Colonel Kenny also brought up reports on the Clyde Athenceum and Taueru Reserves Bills, and the second readings of the measures were fixed. Several notices of motion wore given, amongst others, one by Mr, Hart, that he would introduce a BUI to Amend the Boundaries of the City of Wellington; and the Hou. Mr. Mantell gave notice that next day he would move that the committal of the Wellington City Reserves Act Amendment Bill be an order of the day for that day six months. THE HON. THE SPEAKER. A further leave of absence till the 4th of October was granted to the Hon. the Speaker on the ground of ill-health. BLUFF HARBOR ACT AMENDMENT. The second reading of this Bill was moved by the Hon. Mr, Menzies. The motion was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Harbors Committee. THIRD READINGS, The Interpretation Bill was road a third rime and passed, and the measure sent to the other Chamber. The Dog Registration Bill was read a thirdtime -and passed, and sent to the House of Representatives, The Sheep Bill was also read a third time and passed, aud forwarded to the House of Representatives. IN COMMITTEE. Lands Claims Final Settlement Bill.— The Hon. Colonel Whitmore said the Government would be willing to agree with the amendments proposed by the select committee.—Colonel Whitmore introduced a new clause having for its object the giving publicity in England to any action proposed to be taken under the Bill. The clause was agreed to, as were the other clauses after some minor amendments, aud the Bill reported. The committee then proceeded with the Wellington Local Boards Empowering Bill. A long discussion ensued on clause 3, giving local boards power to make by-laws, aud adopt any portion of the thirteenth schedule of the Municipal Corporations Act 18G7, formerly in force. Ultimately the clause was postponed, Mr. Waterhouse undertaking to look into the best manner of dealing with it. Progress was then reported. The Impounding Bill was taken up on the 25th clause. Various unimportant amendments were made, and on the 43rd clause progress was reported. IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill (No. 4) was brought up from the House of Representatives, and on the motion of Colonel Whitmore passed through all its stages. HARBOR BILL. At the evening sitting the uunmibtec proceeded with the Harbor Bill, taking up the 96fcU clause. There was’ some discussion on ‘that clausa, which was amended and'agreed to. On clause 100 the words “ in accordance with the general harbor regulations to be made as hereafter provided” were struck out. The amendments made on the Bill generally were principally in the direction of clearness and precision of language. The whole of the clauses were got through aud progress reported. The Council adjourned at 12.35 a.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, September 24. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. petitions. Petitions were presented by various lion, members. notices. . Mr. BARTON gave notice of a question as to alleged cruelties to prisoners in the lock-up, Nelson. Notices were also given by Messrs. Barff, Ormond, Pyko, Sutton, De Lautour, and Fox, COMMITTEES* REPORTS, Various committees reported on the subjects respectively referred to them by the House, generally on matters of minor importance. IMPORTATION OF HORSES. Mr, ROLLESTON asked the Government, —lf they will take steps to remove the restrictions which are now imposed upon the importation of horses 1 Very considerable expense had to be incurred in the inspection of horses on landing, aud as such restriction was not imposed in Victoria he hoped it would be removed in this colony. The Act under which it was imposed had reference to cattle, but in the interpretation clause the word “ cattle” was made to include horses, though apparently such was not understood by the House, a presumption, which was strengthened by reason of the Act of 187(5 excluding horses. It was found that the foot aud mouth disease did not attack horses. »Sir GEORGE GREY replied that the Government wore considering the desirability of removing the whole of these restrictions. BANK RETURNS. Mr. STEVENS asked the’ Colonial Treasurer, —If he will lay before this House a return showing (1) the amount of duty paid by each bank carrying on business in the colony, for the year ended 30th Juno last, on its note circulation ; (2) the amount of duty paid under the Stamp Act by-each joint-stock company, for the same period • The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE laid the returns on the table. WAVATOTARA TELEGRAPH STATION. Mr. BRYCE asked the Postmaster-General, all papers, accounts, aud correspondence relative to a guarantee given in connection with the openiflg. of a telegraph station at Waitofcara? The Hon. Mr. FISHER laid the papers on the table. PORTOBELLO TELEGRAPH STATION, In reply to Mr. Seaton, The Hon. Mr. FISHER promised to make inquiries in reference to a telegraph station at Portobello. MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICES. The Hou. Mr. SHEEHAN promised Mr. Buuuy that a site would be given for the above offices on the Post Office reserve, provided no legal difficulty interposed. NEW BILLS. The following new Bills wore introduced : A Bill to provide for the Establishment of a High School in Wanganui aud the University of Otago Amendment Bill. SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000 was brought forward. On the motion that the House go iuto Committee of Supply, The Hon. Mr. GlSßOßNJiobjected to these constant imprests. He thought the Public Accounts Committee should consider how the pernicious system could be cured, either by adopting the English practice, oncl letting the estimates precede any grants, or by enlarging the operation of the Appropriation Bill to two mouths after the commencement of the uew financial year. The House had at present no control over the greater part of the yotes. The lion. Mr. BALLANCE was under-.

stood to say that the remedy proposed by the hou. member was worse than the evil. The Government would consider during the recess what change could be made next year, but ho might remark that a smaller amount had been asked for this year than was asked for previously, especially last session. Major ATXCINSON could only blame the Government for not fulfilling their promises. They had condemned the action of their predecessors, and said such a vicious system could easily be avoided, but they now found that they had been in error. Last year they promised a change this year, and now it was left over till next session. His own opinion was that we could not assimilate our practice to the English custom until we had clone with the public works and had secured a settled system of finance. The Hon. Mr. STOUT thought the best course would bo to make the financial year terminate earlier. Mr. MONTGOMERY suggested that the House should meet much earlier, before the end of the financial year, and go on with the Estimates from the outset. That he thought would dispose of the difficulty, and would closely resemble the English practice. The motion was agreed to, and the Bill was passed through all stages. TAI’ANUI-WA] I'AHI KAILWAY. On the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply for the further consideration of the Estimates, • The Hon, Mr, RICHARDSON, pursuant to notice, moved, —That, in view' of the large expenditure now proposed on railways and other public works, this House is of opinion that in future no contracts should be entered into by the Government till after the money for such works has been duly appropriated by Parliament. He had to express surprise that the motion was regarded as a vote of censure, because such was not intended, although he did not approve of their conduct in reference to the Tapanui railway. He referred to the answer he got to the question he asked on Friday, when the Minister for Public Works claimed that a motion passed last session was sufiicieut authority for the construction of the railway. He quoted the resolution passed last year, which ran as follows:—‘‘That an address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, praying that public lands of the value of £50,C00 be set apart in suitable blocks for the construction of a railway from Tapanui to Waipahi, such lands to be as contiguous as possible to the side of the railway, rnd shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of until such railway is completed.” He quoted the opinion of Mr. Gisborneto show that that was not regarded as sufficient authority for the expenditure, and also quoted the language of the mover, Mr. Bastings, to show that the county councils were expected to construct the line. He failed to understand the position of the Government, that there was no liability. He contended that there was, because the Government could not escape payment. IE the Government really thought they had the power claimed, and the House agreed with that view, then the House would virtually give-up all control over the public works expenditure. He had felt it his duty to bring the matter before the House, and hoped the Government would allow the resolution to pass. The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW hoped the House would not adopt the resolution, not merely because it might be regarded as a vote of censure, and he for one, notwithstanding the disclaimer of the mover, could not regard it in any other light—but because to lay down such a hard-and-fast rule might be most inconvenient in future, and prevent the Government of the day, whoever happened to be in power, from exercising a wise discretion in giving effect to the undoubted wishes and views of the representatives of the people. On this account he hoped the House would pause before passing the resolution. Now what crime had the Government perpetrated in this matter ? Why, in pursuance of the authority of the House, certainly of a resolution of the committee of the whole—a distinction without a difference to his mind—the Government had euterered into a contract for the construction of a branch line of railway, which certainly without exception would be the best feeder and most paying feeder to the main lines of any to be found in New Zealand, and would open up a large quantity of of ngricultui'al land, and had done this without going into the money market and without encroaching upon the ordinary revenue of the country, because no present liability was incurred. There was a great distinction between present liability and deferred liability. By the time the money became due the country would have the railway, and a large amount of territory would he doubled in value. He thought the transaction was one for which the House and the country ought to bo grateful. He wished that in my more lines had been constructed on the same principle, and notwithstanding the unworthy innuendoes which had been cast at him’by a section of the Press for some time past, he had only this to say, that were a similar occasion to aviso again he would have no hesitation in again following a similar couise, and that he ought to do so. would, he believed, be the opinion of the House.. He would again act upon the same authority. Mr. ROLLESTON : What authority ? The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW : A"resolution of this Legislature. Mr. ROLLESTON : What resolution 1 The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW: The resolution read by the lion. memberforChristchurch just now. He remembered similar acts on the part of the Government to which the hon, the mover belonged. For instance, when in 1875, after a resolution had been passed granting £210,000 for a mail service via San Francisco, they, without reference to the House, spent £-150,000 instead of £2-10,000. He hoped the House would not pass the resolution. Mr. BASTINGS agreed that if there was one action of which the Government should be proud it was this. True, he had said that the county councils would probably do the work, but they were not able to do it, and then he applied to the Minister for Public. Works and Mr. Larnach, who promised to do the work. He spoke highly of the land in the district, and said it would bring £BO,OOO more than it was previously worth, in consequence of the railway. He referred to articles in the Pres*’, which said the line had been made to suit the interests of large proprietors, as fabrications of falsehoods, and said he was sure from what he had heard near him in the House that those articles had been written by those persons. He denied the truth of the statement made, and defended the policy of the Government in reference to the railway, because it was really a reproductive work. (Hear, hear.) Had the previous Government not opposed the line he might have given them'a better support than ho had been able to do. Mr. BOWEN said .Mr. Bastings was arguing beside the question, which was not as to the policy of making the railway, but as to the Government having taken the power of the purse from the House. (Hear, hear.) The previous Government of course could not assent to a particular branch lino being made in one district at the expense of other districts, and the motion was defeated. But it was in consequence of that that the matter was brought forward la a different form last year, and that resolution was declared all round the House to commit the colony to nothing \ yet the Government took that_resolution as an authority to construct this line rHit off, and had moreover constructed a line which even the resolution did not authorise. It was a different line altogether. If the Government deserved credit for anything it was for forestalling the decision of the House on the matter. Ho hoped that as a matter of principle, and without regard to party, the House would retain its privileges and pass the resolution. .The case of the San Francisco service was .not to the point, because that was a contract with a foreign firm, and was made subject to the authority and approval of Parliament. After a few words from-Mr. Wood, who quite approved of the action of the Government, .Mr. SAUNDERS said he had groat faithin the judgment of the hoa. member for Waikaia, and should like to see the principle adopted in respect to this railway extended. No doubt there had been excellent generalship —(a laugh)—and the great steadiness of purpose of the Minister for Public Works was so marked that ho could not help admiring him much. Indeed if he acted in a similar manner in regard to the seven millions to be expended the House would bo so overpowered with gratitude that it would lose its own. independence in contemplation of the Minister. But all this was beside the question. x What had been done hero was to spend a large sum of money in a part of the’ colony to which the Minister for Public Works was supposed to be favorable, and without reference to the House, and hou, members were now merely asked to pay the piper. (Hoar, hear.) That was wrong. (Hear, hear.) Speaking generally, he said the lion, member had shewn great judgment in reference to Ida Public Works scheme. He'had pleased everybody by Ids promises, but when the question came which lines wore to bo first commenced then the pinch woujd uoqw. lie was greatly afraid the judg-

menfc of the hon. member would largely preponderate in favor of a certain part of the colony. (Hear, hear,) Mr, PYKE contended that the resolution was a vote of censure and was undeserved, because although money had not been appropriated, land, the money’s worth, bad been. That was an appropriation to all intents and purposes. (No, no, and Hear, hear.) If the resolution was not an appropriation he could not understand the English language. What harm had the Government done ? They had been bold, and to the timid that was worse than a crime. Ho hoped there would be more such boldness, because the colony had been benefited thereby. If wo were to have responsible government there must be no hard-and-fast lives. It was for the Government to do, to act, and for the House afterwards to praise or censure. (A. laugh.) la answer to the hon. member for Kaiapoi, ho certainly understood the line was to be made* and so did a majority of the momb rs of the House. (Hear, hear, and No, tj.) Ho should, if he could, move an amendment to omit the words “in future,” and to add the words “or Crown lands, the property of the colony, reserved therefor.” The Hon. Mr. STOUT deprecated the remarica of tho hon. member for Cheviot as to the Hon. Minister for Public Work. 4 *, as showing that the old provincial feeling sail existed, and as showing that Canterbury still was exceedingly jealous of Otago. Till lately Otago had not had half tho voice in the public works administration that Canterbury had, and ho went on to show how tho railways in Canterbury had been pushed on at the expense of Otago in the past, the Otago members all the time supporting the Government without a murmur, yet immediately an Otago man took charge of tho department these insinuations were cast forth. He agreed with the remarks of Mr. Pastings as to the statements published in a Wellington newspaper, and said the hon. member ought to have known that tho“ statements of that paper generally were utterly without foundation. That paper, too, said tho contract was accepted before tho end of tho advertised time. That was utterly false. Then it was said that Proudfoot'and Mackay were treated exceptionally well. That was another misstatement. Not only were they the lowest tenderers, but they were .£2OOO below the engineer’s estimates. Then it was said tho nmholders were to be benefited. Why, had not abolition taken place the railway would have been running before now, because it had been solemnly promised to the deferred payment settlers of the district. Ho admitted that as a general rule an Act was desirable in these matters, but there were cases in which the ordinary course might be departed from. Some of the best acts of English statesmen were done without authority of law. (Hear, hear.) Well if that was admitted it became a question as to whether the act was a good one, and no one had attempted to deny the policy of making the line. There was no present liability. The railway was unique in the history of'the colony, because not one farthing was to be paid until tho line was completed, and then the land would be available to meet the coat. The cost would really be met by the increased value of tho land by reason of the construction of the line. The late Government had acted similarly in respect to the mail contract, Brogden's contracts, and almost every act of theirs. If the principle adopted in regard to this line had been earned out since 1870, the colony would have been in a much better position. Mr. ROLLESTON characterised the speech of the hon. member as a clever piece of special pleading. He denied that Canterbury was jealous of Otago, and after dealing with the subject of tho construction of railways in the two provinces, said the Brogdeu .cases, though he did nob defend them, could in no degree be compared with this transaction. He could not possibly understand the Premier having consented to such a contract, after the professions of purity on the part of the hon. member in previous sessions. Ho quoted the speeches of Mr. Reid, then Minister of Lands, Mr. Montgomery, and Mr. Gisborne, to show they Lad all opposed the motion, but that their opposition had been disarmed by the statement that the line would not be constructed until the House had another opportunity of discussing the subject. There was no necessity for the lino b§ing immediately constructed, and if hon. members would stand the treatment to which they had been subjected in this matter, they would bow the neck to anything. He hoped the House would rise to the occasion and show that the representatives of the people would not surrender their powers and privileges to the Ministry of the day, whoever they might be. JF Mr. MURRAY-AYN3LEY supported the motion, on tlje ground that tho House had been deceived.

Mr. IS ARTOIS'-said be had taken the trouble to refer to the debate in October, 1877, and he found that this Tapanui line was stated to be ono which it way irrpsratively necessary to construct. The House passed the matter as one of urgency,* and resolved that this was a railway to be made out of land expressly set apart for the purpose. The inference was that there was no more necessity to refer to the House again than if the House had set apart £50,000. He could not see the practical difference between land being appropriated and money being appropriated by that House. There could be none other than a factious motive in bringing forward this motion. It was an attempt to censure the Government in order to bring about a change of Ministry. Mr. TURNBULL considered that the House was indebted to the hou. member for bringing forward his motion, but hoped that as be had attained his object in having obtained a discussion he would now withdraw the motion.

Mr. CARRINGTON thought the action of the Government bad been wise and judicious, but a similar course should not be followed in future. He hoped the motion would be withdrawn.

Mr. FITZROY pointed out that a great principle was involved, and he should support the motion. Mr. McLEAN said, admitting that the previous Government had done wrong, that would not make the action of the present Government right. (Hear, hear.) Mr. MONTGOMERY expressed his opinion that the Hon. the Minister for Lauds did not entertain feelings for one part of the colony more than another, so far as the good of the whole country was involved. With regard to the public works administration of the honorable member for Christchurch (Mr. Richardson), be did not think it fair either that that honorable member should'be charged with showing greater favor to Canterbury than to Otago, because three-quarters of a million more of money was spent in the latter than in the former while he was a member of the late Government. With reference to the question under discussion, he felt he could not give a silent vote. He was opposed to the Government in the matter, and he would therefore record - his vote against them, if it came to a division. *ln his opinion the first consideration of any Government should be to adhere to the law of the land. (Hear, hear.) If the Government were allowed to make contracts for which them had been no appropriation by that House, then the House would have lost all control over the expenditure of public money. It would-be a dangerous thing if the House allowed exceptional circumstances to determine what money should be expended at the-will of the Ministry. * (Hear, hear.) As the question had now gone beyond that stage on which it could be decided on its merits, it would have to be determined by a party vote. Under those circumstances, ho would suggest to the mover of the amendment whether it would not be advisable to withdraw it, because if it went to a division and was negatived, it would, be as much as saying that the Government were at liberty to enter into whatever contracts they pleased, it mattered not whether the House had passed the necessary appropriations. Such an issue would bo an extremely dangerous one to raise. (Hear, hear.)

Mr, WOOLCOCK said it would be an act of cowardice if the boa. member consented to withdraw his amendment. (Hear, hoar.) A very important constitutional principle was involved. It would be far too dangerous'a discretion to leave in tho hands of any Ministry to say whether such and such contracts should be entered into without appropriation. If the House negatived the amendment that had been brought forward, it would bo tantamount to declaring that tho Government might, if it thought proper, enter into any' indefinite extent of liabilities without appropriation of the House. (No, no from the Government benches.) That was tho logical sequence of tho amendment being negatived. (Hoar, hear.) If the House placed its veto on that amendment, then tho Government might incur liabilities to any indefinite amount without in the first place asking the sanction of Parliament. (Hear, hear, and No, no.)

Mr. BRYCE said that tho question' had arrived at that stage that it must be regarded as a party question. (Hear, hear, and No, no.) He concurred in tho suggestion of the hou. member for Akaroa, and would appeal to the hon. member for Christchurch to withdraw his amendment. It would bo a most unfortunate and dangcroiw thing if the resolution

were pressed to a division and negatived. He would, therefore, appeal to the hon. member for 'Christchurch to withdraw his amendment. It would relieve several hon. members from a great difficulty, and would prevent tho assertion of a most dangerous principle. The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE considered that the House should adhere to the constitutional rule of allowing no contracts to bo entered Into before the House was asked to vote the necessary appropriations. (Hear, hear.) Under these circumstances, if the hon. member for Christchurch pressed his resolution to a division, he (Mr. Gisborne) would feel compelled to vote for it; but ho quite agreed with previous speakers that after eliciting this expression of opinion on the part of the House, the hon. member for Christchurch might with propriety withdraw his motion. Mr, MOSS expressed a hope that tho hon. member for Christchurch would withdraw his resolution, as his doing so would relieve a great many hon. members from a position of great difficulty. There was no doubt whatever that the resolution implied a vote of censure on the Government, If the resolution were pressed to a division he should hesitate a little before ho voted against it, but he would do so, because it implied a vote of censure on the Government which was not justified by their acts. Ho hoped, however, that the hon, member for Christchurch would accept the advice of the hon. member for Wanganui and withdraw his resolution.

There was here a considerable pause and : loud cries of f< Question.” Mr. DE LAUTOUR rose and said he would like to know whether the mover of the resolution intended to follow the advice that had been given by the .lion, member for Wanganui (Mr. Bryce), and withdraw his resolution. Or perhaps the hon. member for Christchurch would now reply, and inform the House what course he intended to pursue. [Tho Hon. Mr. Richardson did not attempt to rise during the pause that here ensued.] He (Mr. He Lautour) gathered from the silence of the hon. member for Christchurch that ■ho did not intend to accept the advice tendered by the hon. member for Wanganui. That being the case, he (Mr. De Lautour) might say he did not sympathise with the appeals that had been made to tho hon. member for Christchurch. He did not think that the resolution of the hon. member for Christchurch would be the question put. The question to be put was, whether the House should resolve itself into committee now, and go on with the Estimates, or not resolve itself into Committee of. Supply, and put itself into the position of voting for the amendment of the hon, member for Christchurch as a substantive motion. There was no doubt whatever, notwithstanding so many attempted denials, that this was a party question. Tho author of the resolution brought forward by the hon. member for Christchurch was now behind some pillar of the House watching the effect of this plot against the Government. (Laughter.) The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON : I absolutely deny that there is any truth whatever in what the hon. member for Mount Ida has just said. Mr. DE LAUTOUR : There are a great many pillars in the House, and a great many people behind those pillars. The hon. member for Christchurch is being made use of. The whole thing has been written up, and we have been treated to personnel in which that hon. gentleman is spoken of in so flattering a way as to his manner of putting things before the House. The question which the House has now to decide is whether it will now resolve itself into Committee of Supply and go on with the business of the country, a phrase which was so much heard of last session. Mr. BARFE said that if others of the Government supporters were like the hon. member for Mount Ida the Government would soon bo in a minority. The first party speech that had been made was that just delivered by the hon. member for Mount Ida, and that speech was little calculated to improve the good feelings of hon. members. He deprecated the tme in which the hon v member for Mount Ida had addressed the House. So far as the resolution, of the hon. member for Christchurch was concerned, he (Mr. Barff) saw no difficulty standing in his way, and he would vote against it. • ’

Mr. CUTTEN intimated that ho would vote against the resolution of the hon. member for Christchurch.

The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the Government had to thank themselves for the position in which they found themselves placed. If they had accepted the resolution the House would have at once gone into Committee of Supply. A great constitutional principle was involved in the resolution brought forward by the hon. member for Christchurch, and if the Government had viewed it in that light they would not have been in their present difficulty. Hero they had a tender accepted by telegram, when Parliament was actually sitting, without the House hearing a single word about it. The Attorney-General instanced the Brogden and Panama contracts as being similar to the case now under discussion.

The Hon. Mr. STOUT : They were still more illegal. The Hon. Major ATKINSON continued : The Attorney-General said these Contracts were illegal. He (Major Atkinson) took it that what was illegal was what was done out* side the authority of Parliament. Both these contracts were perfectly legal, because they were subject to ratification by Parliament. With regard to the Brogden contract, it was perfectly open to Parliament to annul it if it had" so chosen. If the Government had chosen to make this a party question they must take the consequences of their acts. The hon. ‘member for Akaroa had stated that he intended to vote according to bis conscience and iu support of the'resolution, because he considered the acts of the Government unconstitutional ; but other hou. members were threatened with outside pressure, and would no doubt vote against it. So far as the opposite side of the House-was concerned, hon. members could not allow it fo go forth to the public that they would sit there and allow any Government to enter into contracts involving a large expenditure of the public money without attempting to exercise any control over acts bo dangerous and unconstitutional. (Hear, hear.) Mr. SWANSON said he would vote against the resolution of the hon. member for Christchurch, not because he approved of the conduct of the Government; on the contrary, he thought they had done wrong ; but he would vote against the resolution because he desired that they should go into Committee of Supply and proceed with the Estimates. The question, that the words proposed to be omitted (in order that the words proposed in the resolution of the hon. member for Christchurch might be inserted fa lieu thereof) stand part? of the question, was then put. The House divided ,with the following result:— Ayes, 14. Ballancc Green Beeves Barfi’ Grey Seaton Barton Hamlin Shoohan Bastings llislop Shrimski J. G. Brown Hobbs Stout J. B. Brown Hodgkimon Swanson Bryce Joyce Taiaroa Bunny Kelly Takamoana Carrington Macandrow Tawitl Gotten Handers Thomson Do Lautour McMinn Tole DLnan Moss Turnbull Driver Murray "Wallis Fisher Naho Wood George Bees -■ Noes, GO. Atkinson Uursthouao Bollcston Bcethnm Johnston . Jlowo Bowen Kenny Bussell Brandon McLean ■ Saunders Curtis Montgomery Seymour Douglas Motris Stevens Fox Murray-Aynsloy Sutton Gibbs Ormoml Tcschemakcr Gisborne Bichardson Whitaker Henry Bichmond Woolcock Pairs—Ayes : Messrs. O’Rorko and Feldwiek. Noes : Messrs. Fitzroy and Williams. The motion for going into Committee of Supply was then put and agreed to, and after some discussion the education item was passed. Progress was reported, with leave to sit again next day. The House adjourned at midnight.