PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 791, 24 October 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, October 24. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. Hobbs asked the Government whether it is true that the officers and crew of the Hinemoa have been ordered to wear uniforms, :ind whether they are required to pay for ; i!i-' same out of their own pockets, and if so, j if the same rule applies toother departments i <•>:' the public service of the Colony. The Premier replied that no representations had been made to the Government on the subject. The regulations regarding uniform were the same as in the Customs Department. Mr. Swanson asked the Minister for Education whether he will give instructions for the New Zealand National Anthem to be sung in the Government primary schools. Mr. Ballance replied that the Government would communicate with the Education Boards, and supply copies, the Education Department bearing the expenses. Mr. Richardson asked the Minister for Public Works whether any proposals have been made to the Government by the Railway Waggon Company, and, if so, whether the Government have made any agreement with it, or have held out any inducement to the Company, or any persons connected with it, to proceed with their works. Mr. Macandrew replied that proposals had been made to the Government. The correspondence was being copied, and would be laid on the table. It would show the whole position. Mr. Richardson asked whether the Government have made any agreement. Mr. Macandrew : It will be better to refer to the papers ; they will show the exact position. Mr. M'Minn asked the Government if it is their intention to introduce next session a Bill to amend the Protection of Animals Act, 1573.

Mr. Sheehan replied in the affirmative. The Premier moved, without notice, that all Standing Orders preventing Bills being passed through all their stages at one sitting, and preventing new business being taken after half-past 12 at night, be suspended. Sir Robert Douglas objected, on the ground that the House was performing sufficient hard work already. Mr. Richardson would resist the motion if the Government intended to pass the Railways Construction Bill in one session. Mr. Montgomery thought it would be better to drop such Bills than to rush the measures through. Mr. Kelly said the best business of the House was done after 9 o'clock.

Mr. Sutton said, during important debates at night, many members were asleep, as was the case during the discussion on the Railways Construction Bill. Mr. J. E. Brown said the lion, member who last spoke was in the library reading during the greater part of the debate referred to.

After further discussion, the Premier gave notice of motion for to-morrow. The Education Act Amendment Bill was discharged from the Order Paper.

The House then went into Committee on the Dunedin Waterworks Amendment Bill, which was reported, and leave given to sit again to-morrow. The House went into Committee on the following Bills : —Waitara Harbor, Thames High School, District Law Societies, Oamaru Market Reserves, Towns on Private Lands Regulation, and Onehunga Grammar School Bills.

Correspondence was laid on the table between the Telegraph Commissioner and Messrs. Holt and M 'Carthy. It stated that the Government would grant them the use of a special wire on the same terms as was granted to the Combination, namely, for two years at L2OOO per annum. The following Bills reported from Committee were passed : —District Law Societies Bill, Oamaru Market Reserves Bill. At half-past seven the House resumed in Committee on the Plans of Towns on Private Property Regulation Bill. Persistent attempts were made to defeat the measure by division on amendment, but without success. The Bill was ultimately shelved by 35 votes against 34. The discussion 011 the Railway Construction Bill was resumed by Mr. Richardson. He regretted that the Colony had lost the services of Mr. Carruthers, whose experience would be required to save it from the Brogden and other claims. He contended that the Tapanui railway was one which could only be constructed by large capitalists, and should have been fully advertised. A few hundred pounds spent in advertising such large works was in reality a saving. In conclusion he hoped that the Bill would be withdrawn, and that the Government would make an annual appropriation. Mr. Curtis rose to oppose the Bill, and concluded by moving that it be read that day six months. The Native Minister moved the adjournment of the debate in order to give hon. members an opportunity of speaking at length to a fuller House, and he promised that the Government would endeavor to arrange the business so as to enable the debate to be resumed at half-past seven on Wednesday. The motion was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.25.