PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1148, 19 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, December 18. In the Legislative Council to-day, Mr. Whitaker moved the second reading of the P,ublic Works Bill in a dozen words. The Bill was then committed, and clauses 1 to 15 passed as printed. On clause IG—certain lands required for road purposes may be entered upon— Mr. Bell moved that it be struck out. The motion was agreed to on the voices. Clause 19 was also struck out. On clause 21—exchange of land —Col. Whitmorc moved the excision of the clause. The motion was not agreed to. Clause 24 was struck out. Clause 25 to 35 inclusive were passed without alteration. A discussion took place on clause 3G—the guarantee clause —which was then agreed to. The Council, on the schedules of the Public Works Bill, struck out the lines Nelson to Greymouth, Picton to Hurunui, and East and West Coast from the list of authorised Middle Island railways. Mr. Whitaker then moved that progress be reported, to allow the Government to consider what course it would now adopt. This was carried by the Chairman's casting vote. The Council adjourned at 12.20 till tomorrow at 10 o'clock. December 19. The Council met at 10 o'clock, and adjourned till 11, when Mr. Whitaker said that, as to the line which had been struck out on the previous night, the Council was placing the Government in a difficulty. Some of the lines were authorised by the Railway Construction Act of last year. He proposed now to so far meet the views of the Council as to frame the schedules so that their application should be confined to contracts already accepted. He would, however, agree to the item " East and West Coast, from the main line to a junction with the line from Nelson to Greymouth or Hokitika" being struck out, as it was a new lino. A short discussion followed, and the Bill was re-committed. Clause 21, providing for an exchange of land in Oamaru with Messrs. Lees and Moore, was struck out on a division of 8 to 9. In the first schedule the following alterations were made in the authorised railways :—The line Waikato to Taranaki was struck out. Nelson to Greymouth sections, Nelson to Roundhill, and Greymouth to Nelson Creek, with harbor works at Greymouth ; Picton to Hurunui, Blenheim to Awatere section, Waitaki to Hurunui line, and Amberley to Waikari section were inserted, all these sections being already under contract. The Bill was read a third time, and the Appropriation Bill was passed. In the House of Representatives today, The Appropriation Bill and Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bills were introduced. In Committee these Bills were passed. Clause 30 of the Public Works Bill was then ; aken up. Mr. Oliver proposed to add the following in lieu of clause 30:—"It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time, on being satisfied that the expenditure on any of the district railways specified in the schedule hereto, by the company constituted for the purpose of constructing the same, has been economically expended, to guarantee upon such terms, conditions, and subject to receiving ■such security as the Governor in Council may approve, the debentures or mortgages to be given by any such company for a sum in the aggregate not exceeding L 60,000 of the expenditure of the company upon the construction and laying of any railway line constructed by them, and the erection aud building of any buildings aud erections, and the purchase of rolling stock in connection therewith, being the property of the company." Sir George Grey moved that L 30,000 be substituted for LGO,OOO. In reply to Mr. Barron, Sir George Grey said that if his amendment. were accepted he would not insist upon specific sums being allocated to particular companies. The question that L 30.000 be substituted for LGO,OOO was put and carried on the voices.

Sir G. Grey then moved as a further amendment that no amount be granted to any one company in excess of the sum of L 15,000. Mr. Montgomery suggested that the amount should not be insisted upon, as the Government would be responsible for what they did.. The amendment was put and negatived on the voices.

The Bill was reported with amendments, and was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned till 4 o'clock. On resuming, it adjourned till 8 o'clock, and afterwards till 10.30, when the .Appropriation, Immigration, and Public Works Bills were reported as having passed the Upper House. After a further adjournment to 11.30, Mr. Hall intimated that, in consequence of the Bills under consideration not having come down in time, he would move the adjournment of the House until to-morrow afternoon. He added that, in consequence of material changes having been made in the Public 'Works Bill, the prorogation, fixed for to-morrow, could not possibly take place. • . The House thSn adjourned. December 19.

The House met at 1 o'clock, when the Premier explained the Council's amendments in the Public Works Bill, and moved that they be agreed to. Mr. Gisborne moved that the House disagree with the omission of the Wai-kato-New Plymouth line. Ministers said they regretted its excision, bat thought that the matter was not of sufficient urgency to justify disagreement.

After some discussion, the motion to agree to the excision of the Waikafco-jSTew Plymouth line was carried by 22 to 15. 'he other amendments made by the Council were then agreed to, and the House adjourned till 3 o'clock, when prorogation takes place.