PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 270, 14 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

o HOUSE OF HE PE E ,SE NT A TIV ES. WELLINGTON. November 13. The House met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. la reply to question, Mr Sheehan said that in reducing the Constabulary the late Government had granted four months pay to officers and one month to men. The House went into Committee on the Land Bill, on the Canterbury Run clauses. Mr Sheehan proposed to increase assessment on sheep, from ninepence to one shilling, and from four to five shillings on great cattle, and to reduce the increased tenure from ten to live years. Mr Rolleston objected to these alterations and a long discussion ensued.

On division the minimum assessment on sheen was retained at ninepence by 3G to 2G. '

EUROPEAN NEWS. (additional news FEU CUZCO.) The Arawata at the Bluff brings the following news per Cuzco, 40 days out from London ; September 24, Four large London firms have been invited to tender for supply of corrugated iron for buts to accommodate 100,000 Russian soldiers in winter quarters. The interest in the trial of the Stainton and Alice Rhode for the Penge murdir was intense. A railway bridge (largest in world) spanning the estuary of the Tay, two miles wide, was opened on September 25. The jury ou the bodies drowned by the Avalanche collision, returned a verdict of “ drowned,” and added a rider that they were much pained to see the way in which the deceased were buried, and that had. the least intimation been given, they themselves would have followed the remains to the grave. A letter from Philippopolis says that there, and at Adrianople, every day dozens of Bulgarians are hanged, even in the public streets, and on the very shop doors. The victims arc mostly peasants, with some priests and schoolmasters. Torture is frequently inflicted, and similar scenes are being enacted in all the surrounding villages. A telegram from Constantinople, dated 21st September, says there has been much talk for some days of the probability of mediation between Russia and Turkey. Although the rumour was without foundation, the Porte has been disturbed, because it dreads a demand being made for an armistice, which it is firmly resolved to reject, but which might cause diplomatic difficulties. It is for this reason that the Ottoman Ministers take every opportunity of indirectly giving the Ambassadors to understand how little chance of success a demand of this sort would have.

Proposed by Mr E. E. Morgan, seconded by Mr Wilson, and resolved—That Mr Cheevers be informed that the Board would expect him to complete works in accordance with plans and specifications. It was resolved that copy of letter received from Public Works Office be sent to the Patea County Council. Eesolved, that Mr Wilson be informed that Hoard was willing to allow £2O if he would perform work on Wilson Road according to plans and specifications. On the motion of Mr Hunter, seconded by Mr Honey field, it was resolved—That committee appointed to inspect Mitnutahi Cemetery Road, also report on road mentioned by J. Christie and others ; Mr Wilson to be added to the committee, and to report at next meeting. On the motion of Mr Hunter, seconded by Mr E. J. Morgan, it was resolved—That report of committee on Ball Road bo adopted, and that the same committee carry out expenditure of money voted. On the motion of Mr Mcßae, seconded by Mr Honeyfield, it was resolved—That a committee, consisting of Messrs Hunter,E. R. Morgan, and Mcßae, inspect and report on Kakaramea Road, adjoining Messrs Paterson Brothers’ farm.

Proposed by Mr Balmforth and seconded by Mr Wilson—That Mr Houston bo allowed sufficient timber for culvert, and a sum of £5, to be spent under the supervision of Messrs IVilson and Balmforth, in improving the road to his land.—The following amendments were proposed, but lost on division : That the secretary write to Mr Houston, informing him that until the fencing season, Mr Hunter will allow him to cross his land with stock, upon giving previous notice to that effect. That Mr Houston be allowed sufficient timber for a culvert only.—Original propositioncarried. Tenders were opened for the following contracts Taumaba Road—T. Delamore, £23 2s (accepted) ; P. Campbell £24, T. Bayly, jun., £25, R. Tulloch £2B, R. Bruce £29 (declined). Manutahi Road —R Bruce £l3 10s (accepted) ; T. Bayly £ls, T. Delamore £l7 9s (declined)’. Ball Road, contract No. I—R.1 —R. Clifford £l4 (accepted) ; Wollcr and Norris £l7 10s, Delamore £3l 15s (declined). Ball Road, contract No. 2—G. A. Marchant £5 (accepted) ; R. Clifford £3O. Mr Merchant made this offer on condition that the Board accepted tenders for contract No. 2a. Ball Road, contract No. 2a—Woiler and Norris £75 (accepted) ; R. Clifford £BB, Delamore £l5O (declined). Mr W. Dale subscribes £lO towards this contract. There were two tenders for the Kakaramea Road contract, but the Board considering them too high, decided to call for fresh tenders. On the motion of Mr Balmforth, seconded by Mr Wilson, it was resolved, That the engineer be instructed to peg off and survey the proposed deviation on Kakaramea Road, and'that Messrs Honeyfield and the Chairman superintend the expenditure of sum voted for the work. On the motion of Mr Mcßae, seconded by Mr E. J. Morgan, It was decided that the demand for rates duo on absentee sections be advertised once in the Patea Mail. Accounts were passed, and the meeting adjourned.

PATEA EAST ROAD BOARD. [This report was pressed out last issue. J The ordinary meeting of the above Board was held,at the secretary’s office on Monday last (sth November). Present-—Rev A. Dasent (chairman), and Messrs Gower, Horner, and Riddell. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence—Letter from A. C. Fookes, stating that 0. Thomas owned sections 458-9-GO ; from same enclosing rates for C, Thomas and W. B. Rose ; from same stating that James Southby now owned section 100, Whenuakura ; from 0. Robinson agreeing to delay commencing Putahi Reserve contract for one month ; telegram from William Overcnd offering to be surety for 0. Robinson ; letter from W. Coworn stating that he was awaiting instruction from Treasury as to disposal of rate money ; from Under Secretary Crown Lands stating that objection had been made as to roadway applied for by Board and that inquiry would have to be made ; from Fraser and Tregear as to bridge crossing Hukatere stream; from same enclosing account for survey of Putahi Reserve Road contract ; from Colonial Secretary acknowledging notification of election of William Derrctt ; from T. White, Treasury,' Taranaki, asking if Board wanted Bank draft for balance of rates received by SubTreasurer. Secretary instructed to write Mr White for rates £B3 10s 84d due to the Board. Pioposed by Mr Gower, seconded by Mr Horner, and carried, “ That the Rev A. Dasent and Mr Horner be appointed to confer with the owners of sections 93 and 94 re the deviation of road on the Hukatere, and report at next meeting.” Proposed by Mr Horner, seconded by Mr Gower, and carried, “ That the clerk be authorized to pay the expenses, re Bowie v. 26th Road Board, and the judgment to the Clerk of the Court.” Tenders were opened as follows—Bush felling on Putahi Reserve Road—William Watkins, 6s per chain—accepted : William Woulds, 7s Gd per chain, and W. Harre and Son, 7s Gd per chain—declined. Flax clearing and two small cuttings on Hukatere Road—W- Prouse, £10 —accepted ; J, Mouri, £27 9s; T. Scown, 9s Gd per chain ; S. Black and Co, £ls—declined. Ploughing,and forming portions of Little Taranaki Road, and Sheehan and Nicholson’s Road—S. Black and Co., 10s per chain —accepted for Taranaki Road only : J. Paterson, IGs per chain ; J. O’Sullivan, 20s per chain ; W. Prouse, 20s per chaindeclined. The Board decided to get work on Sheehan and Nicholson’s Hoard done’by day labour. Proposed by Mr Riddell, seconded by Mr Gower, and carried,' “That Messrs Gower and Horner be empowered to advis,e and superintend labor necessary to level Nicholson and Sheehan’s Roads. Th Chairman,, and Messrs Gower and Riddell were authorized to,inquire into and arrange if possible the objections to Putahi contract raised by the Maoris, Balance in band from September, £llß 17s 3d ; rates received to. date, £24 8s 5d — total £143 8s sd. Accounts were passed for payment and the meeting adjourned.