PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1349, 30 August 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From our own Correspondent.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 28. In Committee the Utago Harbor Loans Consideration Bill, gave rise to a long lively debate, the amount being by consent reduced from £BOO,OOO to £600.000, and the motion of Mac Andrew’s to reduce’ it to £500,000 being lost by 36 to 33. A proviso that the increased borrowing power of £500,000 given by the Bill should only be used to meet the expenses of consolidation was carried by 41 to 20. The Bill was reported and read a third time and passed, as also the Christchurch Cathedral Square Bill, Timaru Mechanic’s Instute Amendment Bill, and Wellington College Lands Bill. The Hon. Mr Rolleston moved the second reading of the Russell Exchange of Land Bill, the object which was to carry out the arrangements made ten years ago about certain land at Te Aroha. Grey, Macandrew, Turnbull, Shrimski, and others opposed the Bill, and Bryce explained, that this like many other bad transactions must be validated as bargains made. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Joint Committee on petitions com plaining of grievances under the present education system, reported that they found themseives unable to make an extensive en quiry into the alleged grievances, and therefore had no specific recommendations to make, but that the evidence taken should be printed —Mr Pyke moved that the evidence should be printed.—Mr Barron moved the adjournment of the debate.—Messrs Shrimski, Sheehan, Duncan, Harris, and Sir George Grey supported the printing The motion for the adjournment was then withdrawn —Mr Pyke replied, and the motion for printing was agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.30.

Ni&ur Soit. Cr Chrisp wished to know what were the proper charges for the services of the night soil man outside of Cobden Street. The Clerk said it was a matter of private arrangement. Fire Bell. Cr Hepburn wished to have another bell erected further up the town. Cr Townley said they had better get the new one first. Telegraph Poles. Cr Whinray moved, “ That a letter be sent to the Superintendent of the Telegraph Department, Wellington, asking if he will be good enough to cause the telegraph poles and wires to be removed from the main thoroughfare of the town, as the Borough Council has gone to considerable trouble and expense in planting trees to preserve the health of the town, and also as a breakwind against the prevailing winds of this place ; and pointing out that a good route for the poles and wires could be found along the Taruheru river to the town boundary, when the wire could connect with the present wires along the County road. At present the trees at times touch the wires, hence the necessity for removal.” He thought that if representations were made in the proper qu irter the request would be granted. Cr Brown seconded the motion. Cr Townley said he wished the poles removed, but would suggest that the question sh add be adjourned for the present. Cr Smith seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Whinray said he had been informed that there was a reasonable chance of this request being granted. Advertisements. Cr Tutchen said that he had been asked to ci’l the attention of the Council to the fact that the Council advertisements were unnecessarily spread out andidisplayed. He found that they had not got such a wonderful catch after all. He produced a specimen showing that private advertisements were set much closer than Council ones. He had been asked to speak about this matter. He moved that the Clerk be empowered to specify the amount of space to be taken by each advertisement. There was a minute, he believed, on the book to this effect, and he asked that it be given effect to. Cr Townley said the minnte referred to only related to a coat of arms. Cr Lewis considered the display most necessary, so as to give prominence to the Council advertisements over private ones. Cr Tucker said he would move that the advertisements be given greater prominence to by the addition of the coat of arms. Mr Tutchen’s motion fell through for want of a Notice of Motion. Cr Chrisp said that he had taken into consideration the fact that the present engineer was under notice. There was a great necessity for an engineer just now, as a number of contracts had been entered into, and they wanted looking after. Cr Tucker said they had been so long used to engineers that they should try to do without one for a little while. Cr Lewis differed from the last speaker. He thought it very necessary that they should appoint one at once. Cr Brown did not think this place sufficiently large to pay a good engineer. He t.iought that the best way would be to call for tenders, and see what the private firms would undertake to do the work for at a certain percentage. Cr Smith agreed with Cr Lewis. It required an engineer every day and every hour to look after the work. He thought it a proper tiling to call for applications for the appointment at once. Ko doubt they could get an engineer who would do the required work for about £3OO a year, providing they allowed him to do some private work. Cr Whinray quite agreed with Cr Brown. He thought that for the size of the town we hid plenty of engineers. Cr Tutchen agreed with Crs Smith and Liwis. No man could serve two masters. Cr Townley was in favor of a permanent engineer, and he did not see why he should not do private work, the same as Mr Drummond had done. He should support the proposition that a permanent engineer be appointed. Cr Whinray said the plan of allowing private work was bad. Cr Lewis moved that applications be c tiled for the appointment of au engineer to the Harbor Board and Borough Council, Cr Smith seconded the motion. Cr Whinray moved as an amendment that a foreman of works be appointed, and that for any engineering work tenders be called at per cent.—engagement for one year. Cr Brown seconded the motion, which was lost. Cr Whinray then moved, and Cr Tutchen seconded that the engineer devote the whole of his time to the Council.—Lost. The original proposition was then put and carried.