HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2303, 4 August 1880, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, August 3. ASHBURTON WATERWORKS.

All’ Wright moved that the report of the Committee on the Ashburton County Council Waterworks Bill bo agreed to. Mr Hurst submitted that it would be most improper to authorise further borrowing by local bodies. He also pointed out that the security proposed was not by any means adequate, and argued that this was a point for the consideration of Parliament, inasmuch as the creditors would look to the colony in the event of the local body not being able to meet its engagements.

Mr Hall said that the mono}' was for irrigation purposes, and the settlers were willing to rate themselves for the purpose. What they wanted was to borrow .Cdo,ooo on the security of their rates, and he thought it would be a cruel wrong to refuse. The motion was put and carried. On the motion of Mr Wright, the amendments made in the Malvern Water-race Bill were agreed to. XEW BILLS. Mr Pykc moved for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Education Act, 1877. The motion was carried on the voices aud the Bill read a first time. XATIVB L.VXD COUUTS BILL. The consideration of the Hativc Lauds Court Bill in Committee was resumed. Clause 47, providing that natives aggrieved may apply for a re-hearing within six months was altered to three months. Colonel Trimble moved an addition to claused 1 .), empowering the Court to tax bills of costs incurred in connection wich these proceedings, similar to the power exercised by the Supreme Court. Sir William Fox would go a step further and make it an absolute penal offence for any land agent or solicitor to take more than the amount allowed by Court.

The clause as amended was carried. Clause 63. —An amendment that the words “ and the Court may at any stage withdraw such assent” be struck out was on a division rejected by 35 to 31. A further that no counsel or agent be allowed to appear in Court, was negatived on a division by 32 to 22. Mr Stewart then moved that the clause be struck put. He said that no respectable practitioner would consent to attend a Court from which he might be excluded at the wliim or caprice of the Native Land Court Judge. * The motion was lost on a division by 13 to 41, and the clause as printed passed. Clause 61 —Mr Bowen moved that the clause read “no person be allowed spirituous liquors,” instead of making the sale optional at the discretion of the J udge. Ju support of the clause as printed, Mr Sheehan said he had just come from an attendance of two months at one of these Courts, and ho could say from observation that if the hotel had been shut the work would have been gone through in half the time. At the solicitation of a number of persons he had been instrumental in getting the hotel closed for nine days, and more work was got through in one day than had been got through in the rest of the time. Still,"it was necessary the closing should be optional in the bands of the judges. It was moved that the Courts should have the powers accorded to Licensing Courts.

The last-named motion was carried, and the clause as amended passed. The remainder of the Bill passed as printed, and at 1 a.m. the House adjourned.