PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 448, 4 October 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(BY TEI.IXiIIAPH.) Wellington, October 4. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, , ~ , In replv to Mr. Hastings, Mr. Orniond said there were no 'funds to meet the recommendation of the Petitions Committee in the case of Lewis Letton and others. , . In reply to Mr. Shrimski, Major Atkinson said the Government, did not intend to tike any action in reference to the report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of James Carroll. Mr. Whitaker, as a matter of privilege, moved that the House concur in that part of the Disqualification Committee's report expressing their opinion that Mr. Kennedy has not forfeited his seat under the provisions of' the Disqualification Act. Mr. Macandrew, as an amendment, moved that the House concur in the whole of the report. Mr. Evans lirown thought they had better have a special general field day to discuss all these disqualification natters. He moved for the special silting to he held on Saturday, and the delate be adjourned till then. After considerable discussion, the debate was adjourned to Friday. The debate on Mr. Tyke's Otago Main Central Railway motion was resumed.

.Sir. Lunisden supported the construction of the line from Kingston to Cromwcl 1 , as being a most economical line which would open up a large quantity of land. He moved, as an amendment, that in the opinion of the House the interior of Otago should be opened up bv a main central tuink line of railway, and that to do this the Government, durinsr recess, should cause a survey of different routes to be made, and detailed plans and proposals for the construction of the line be laid before the House next session. Mr. Hastings supported the original motion, and strongly condemned the dog-in-the-manger spirit shown by the Sou bland members. It was not in t is way the Otago Provincial Government dealt with Southland, especially in railway matters, in the past. He supported the report of the Committee as an honest one, although the construction of a l.ne would be injurious to him privately. He would, however, consult his individual interests against a scheme which would prove of such immense public beneiit. Mr. M'Lean supported he amendment, which he thought was a reasonable one. It it was proved that •he Strath-Tacri line was best he would support it, but this was not vet proved. What he wanted was to have a fair inquiry made. The Government would support the amendment, and he was quite willing to support any line which was proved to be the best one in the public interest. Mr. Macaudrew thought the Government could construct the line simply by seliin,' a portion of the land along it without going into the money market at all. If the Government would not make the I ne, private people were prepared to do so in the Counties if they could, but he thought .t the duty of the Government to do so. The Strath-Taicri line wotdd undoubtedly be the best. Mr. Keid thought the amendment would lead to the construction of the Strath-'laicri line quite as certainly and quickly as Mr. Pyke's motion. Careful and accurate surveys were, however, necessary before anythin" were done, and this would take at least six months. Mr. Reynolds supported the motion, and deprecated the jealous opposition of the Southland and North Ota"o members to the Strath-Taicrl route. M*r. Wood thought the charges of jealousy against the Southland members most unjust, and he supported the amendment as best calculated to do justice to all parties. . Mr. J. C. Brown would like to hear the Minister of Public Works' opinion. He supported the motion. Mr. Carrington, as a member of the Committee, was satisfied the Strath-'faieri line was best. Mr. L>e Lautour did not think Mr. M'Lean's constituents were at ail anxious to have a railway made through their district. To carry the amendment would be to stifle private enterprise, which would probably be prepared to undertake the construction of lines at "once under the District Railways Bill.

Mr. Montgomery would support the motion, on the understanding that the construct on of a line should involve no charge on the Consolidated Kevcnue or loan, but be met out of the s.ile of land. Mr. Burns supported the motion, and if necessary, would not be airaid to borrow money to construct such a line as urged. He hoped the Government would withdraw their opposition to the motion, and allow the liill to be introduced and dealt with on its merits.

Messrs. Joyce and Lumsden did not object to the railway leinjf made as far as the Clyde by the StrathTaieri route. Cromwell'* natural outlet was the li.uff hariour.

Mr. Stout supported the motion for the StrathTaieri route. It was no doui>t t.ie best, but in due time, no doubt, others would be dealt with on their merics.

Mr. Ormond supported the amendment. The Government could not during the recess do more than the amendment proposed. The best route would then be chosen, and a hasty decis.on avoided. If the amendment passed, the Government would give it immediate effect. ... Mr. Hislop said that the Strath-Taierl line had been g t up iu opposition to the Uuntroon line, which wag lirst proposed. He complained that the Committee had not taken proper .evidence as to the latter line.

He saw no antagonism, howeve-; and w&uld be glad to see the Strath-Taicri lin < constructed. Sir Robert Douglas thought the question had better be postponed, so u to allow other equally iuii>ortant lines to be considered. * The debate was interrupted by the usual dinner adjournment. . , _,„■ " At the evening sitting the following Bills were read a second time, passed through Committee, read a third time, and passed :—The Tokomairiro Jarmers Club Bill, the Clvde Reserve Grant Bill, the Lawrence Municipal Reserves Leasing Bill, the Otago tlirls and B-.vs' High S-hools Bill, the lUbbit Nuisance Act Amendment Bill, the Oamaru Reserves Bill. The Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Bill was read a second time and referred t« the Waste Lands Committee. The Wauganui Harbour Endowment and Borrowing Bill was read a second time. In Committee of the whole Hoiw, an address to his Excellency the Governor to place a bonus of £IO,OOO on the Estimates, one-half to be given for the first f>oo tons beet-root sugar produced in the North Island, and the other half for the same quantity in the Middle Island was agreed to. The House rose at 12.35 o'clock.