Thursday;

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 109, 4 July 1885, Page 5

Thursday;

Contagions Diseases Act. In the House to-day, Mr Holmes gave notice to ask the Government if they were aware that the Resident Magistrate at Christchurch had stated from the Bench that the refusal by the Government to allow Addington Gaol to be used for the purposes of the Contagious Diseases ,Act has produced injurious results to the community at Christchurch, and if the Government will, appoint some person to inquire into the effects of their action in the matter.

Returns. Major Stewakd gave notice of a motion that, there be laid on the table a return showing— (l) 'Total coat of all institutions as defined in section 4 of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill for the year beginning on the Ist April, 1884, and ending on 31st March, 1885, within each of the districts, defined in the first schedule of the said bill. (2) The population and rateable value of each county, road board district, and town district within each such district.

Land lor Military Services. Mr Thompson gave notice to ask the Minister of Lands if during the present session the Government intend making provision for the settlement of claims of members of the Militia, Volunteer, and Defence Force to grants of land for military service.

Police Control, 9e also asks the Government if they will take into consideration the advisability of dividing the police in towns into peace officers simply, and placing them under the control of the Department of Justice ; the other branch to be considered as a standing force armed for defence purposes, and being under the control of theD'efenceDepartment.

Tobacco Duty. Mr C. J. Johnston gave notice to ask if it is the intention of the Government this session, to introduce a bill for the purpose of extending the time during which the duty on tobacco, manufactured from tobacco grown in the colony, shall be Is in the £.

Replies to Questions. Ministers, in answer to questions, stated No alteration had been made in the tariff prosposals as affecting blasting powder. A report had been made as to a test of several samples of New Zealand manufactured gunpowder, which found it to be of an inferior quality, with one exception, and in that case an order had been given for a quantity of it. A contract had been entered into with an Auckland firm for making cartridges, and it had been provided that when New Zealand made gunpowder come up to the standard it was to bo used. Where goods were not enumerated in the resolution submitted to the House on Friday night, and had been free under the Customs Law Consolidations Act, 1882, they remained free under the proposed new tariff. , , „ j • *u The Government had provided in the estimates for . payment- for torpedo corps consisting of ten men each. These corps? '.'Would be stationed at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and- Port Chalmers. .The men would all be experts in torpedo work, and be able to give instructions to others. Correspondence had taken place between the Government and another person with reference to an alleged claim for infringement of telephonic patent right?, but Government did not think it advisable to make the same public. A petition was presented to the House to-day from W. Garrington, who arrived in the colony in 1839, and was one of the surveyors who laid out the city of Wellington. He has, off and on, been in the service of the Government for 4»» years, and wants compensation at the rate of a months salary for each year's service.