MONDAY. Auckland Harbour Board.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 120, 19 September 1885, Page 4

MONDAY. Auckland Harbour Board.

The Committee of the Legislative Council on the Auckland Harbour Bill have struck out two important amendments made by the House respecting the election of membeis The bill^as originally drafted, provided for the election of members for Auckland and Parnell by the Councils of those boroughs. The House changed it from the Councils to ratepayers, and the Committee have returned to the original principle of the bill. The remaining portion of the schedule to the Special and Contracts Bill passed the Waste Lands Committee to-day, and will be reported this^afternoon. There was no objection to the proposed endowment for Auckland Girls High School. Mr Buckland today questions the Minister of Works regarding the more frequent running of trains to Otahuhu, Some time ago Messrs J. Wilson and Co. petitioned the House that the Government should give preference to the use of their hydraulic lime, and that it should be more extensively used. The Petitions Committee will report adversely to the prayer of the petition. There are not wanting hostile critics of the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the purchase of district railways, the Heketaramea-Duntroon line being specially designated as a bad "spec" for the colony. Its adoption was, however, carried by 8 votes to 2. As the Wellington members voted for all the purchases, it ig predicted that before long an attempt will be made to induce the Government to purchase the Monawatu line after the Company has sold its land. The Public Works Eatim&tes are now throjgh with the exception of the immigration vote— a bagatelle of £30,373 — and against which there are £8,000. Some Auckland members fear that in the present state of feeling in the House, the San Francisco service is in danger. The first order for this afternoon will be the District Railways' Purchasing Bill (second reading). For some days past a rumou* has been industriously circulated that during the recess tire Premier will retire from office and recommend that the Treasurer be sent for to reconstruct the Cabinet. A reason assigned for Mr Stout's retirement is tbat his private practice requires his constant attendance in Duneain. The hem. gentleman, however, informs me that the statement is absolutely incorrect. Water Races— Mr White moved tbat the vote be reduced by £15,000 ; carried by 31 to 26. Judicial, £33,227— Mr O'Callaghan moved to reduce the item by £4,000. The Premier accepted thip, and the vote then passed. Postal and Telegraph, £5,322; passed. Customs— Mr Holmes moved to strike out the item £4,000, onethird of the estimated cost of the new Custom-house for Auckland j amendment carried by 31 to 24. Survey and Printing Office, £6,000 -Hon. Mr Richardson said £4,000 might be struck off, and that course was adopted. Lunatic Asylums, £23,000 ; carried. Hospital and Charitable Institu tions, £13,000; carried. Quarantine Station £500; carried. School Buildings, £68,230; carried. Lighthouses, £10,440— Dr. Newman moved a reduction of £2,000, and it was carried. Harbour Works, £5,570* carried. Harbour Defences, £250,000 —Mr White moved a reduction of £50,000.— H0n. Mr Ballance accepted the amendment, and the vote as reduced was passed Postroapter-General and Com* missioner of Telegraphs, £259,000 ; carried. Minister of Native Affairs, £70,000; carried . Charges for raising loans, £60,000} carried. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 3.20 a.m. Your readers will recollect that just after the recent no confidence debate, Te Ao* from his place in the House, accused Mr Hamlin of having endeavoured to influence) the votes of the Maori members. The Chairman of Committees yesterday made a personal explanation concerning the matter in the House. He said that? certain remarks had been made by the member for the Western Maori electorate during his absence, viz., that he had tried to influence the Maori vote. The burden of the complaint was that pressure had been used to make the Maori membera vote in a way contrary to their desire; that it was degrading that they should be spoken to as they had been, and later his (Mr HamHm's) name bad been used, the implications being that he had endeavoured to in fiuence the votes of Maori members. He took the opportunity of denying that he had ever attempted to induce either European or Maori members to vote against the Government. He had held' himself aloof that his judgment should be given fairly. He had endeavoured to follow the spirit of the lines, "To thine own self be true, then it follows as the night the day thou canst not then be false to any man,'* and if any. individual had stated that he had endeavoured to influence a vote that individual had allowed his judgI ment to be warped by his feelings. He had not even asked a member to vote, , He knew the position he occupied too well to j do anything of the kind. Mr Te Ao, who followed Mr Hamlin, said he wished^ the hon. gentleman had made bis^ statements immediately after the division, 'as perhaps he did not recollect \fchat had taken, place. He (the speaker) would reiterate the 'statement he had pro viously made. . He and Wi Pere had heard what Mr Hamlin said. .After the firab division Mr Hamlin said to the natives I." Your work is good ti support, but two | 'years hence ' you will not sit in ,tho . House." On the second day, he spoko < to 'us in, the',, interpreter's room, com*. ,Baring'*us to a, bundle of, papers, whiobv! ho held in his hand and let fall on, the.tabl©, 'saying that' the, native members , would, fetfSo down events 'toe'p&pers K '^J^

Maori members objected to being spoken to in that way. What Mr Hamlin had stated was quite correct, viz., that he had not asked them to vote, but he told them if they gave a block vote that they would have to go outside the House. Mr Hamlin again addressed the House. He said the hon. gentleman was incorrect in his facts. It was true that he had gone into the interpreter's room, but that was relative to a petition that had been referred back, and his opinion was asked regarding a motion. He answered the question, and was then asked how he was going to vote. He then asked the natives how they were going to vote, and on being informed, said, "You take care that in doing this kind of thing you do not make a mistake." He had not been into the native room half-a dozen times during the session. Mr Hamlin was proceeding to pay the natives had been urged to make complaint by persons outside the Houso, and that he could place his finger on them, when he was called to order by the Speaker, and the matter dropped

Colonial Residents in the Islands. A few days ago Mr Hobbs interviewed the Premier and suggested as a means of establishing connection between Samoa and Tonga and New Zealand that Government should appoint colonial residents to those islands. Mr Hobbs pointed out that this course was pursued by the British Government before annexing New Zealand I understood that Mr Stout ratber favoured the idea, and on his suggestion Mr Hobbs has given notice to ask the following question : Whether the Government will, during the recess, consider the advisability of appointing New Zealand residents at Samoa and Tonga ?

Oar Defences. Mr Barroa to-day asks the Minister for Defence whether he has under his notice, aud has considered, the resolutions passed at a public meeting held in Dunedin on the 9th inst., to hear an address from Bear-Admiral Scott, and to discubs the defences of New Zealand, and if he will give effect to the recommendation contained in the resolutions, which were to the following effect : — " That the proposed expenditure on defence Bhould be curtailed; that orders sent to England for heavy guns, ammunition, torpedoes, search lights, engines and machinery should as far as possible be countermanded ; that the land defences of the colony should be entrusted to the Volunteers."

Commission on Public Works. Major Steward has given notice to ask the Minister of Public Works on Wednesday whether the Government will advise His Excellency to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into and report during the recess as to the following matters: viz, (1) The points to which it is desirable to complete various lines of railway already sanctioned by Parliament (2) Any further railway works which it is desirable in the public interest should be undertaken. (3) Cost of each of such works. (4) Order in which the various works should be undertaken. (5) Period over which the work of constructing the same should be extended (6) Amount required to be expended during each year until the whole scheme is complete.

The Choral Hall. The principal objection to the vesting of the Choral Hall in the hands of Messrs Clark and Fenton was, I believe, Mr J. H. Upton. There are on the Lands Committee Messrs Lake and Whyte, and at least one of these, Mr Whyte, was opposed to the principle in the bill, thinking the power asked was too great to place in the hands of the proposed trustees.

Waini Petition. Mr Grace yesterday afternoon presented a petition from residents of Waini, in the Ohinemuri riding, county of Thames, and of residents of Katikati, in the county of Tauranga, praying that a sum may be placed on the Estimates for the erection of a bridge across Ohinemuri River at Waihi.

New Guinea. The Premier's resolutions in favour of making New Guinea a Crown colony, with a view to ultimate annexation to Queensland, and also guaranteeing New Zealand's share of the eub&idy of £18,000, waa met by an amendn ent by Sir George Grey, 11 That no decision should be come to as to the form of government to be given to New Guinea, or to the future disposition of that colony, until a report has been received from Major - General Scratchley after personal inquiry into it." The amendment was carried on division by 40 to 25, but on being put as a substantive motion was lost, the prevailing opinion being that no resolution should be come to this cession. The matter was shelved by tho Speaker leaving the chair.

Supply. | The House of Representatives made further progress in Committee of Supply last night. The vote for roads and bridges north of Auckland was reduced by £15,000-

Reporting Debates. When the Printing Debates Committee report was presented referring to the nonreporting of the House business in Committee on the Public Works Estimates, Mr Kolleston spoke with respect to the newspaper report of the proceedings of Saturday morning's transactions being embodied in •' Hansard." Mr Montgomery wanted to know whether it was intended that these reports not authenticated by the staff of the House were to be considered as accurate reports, and received an assurance that before being \ published in "Hansard" they would be revised by the Reporting Committee. Mr Levestam complained that an important question which had been raised by himself, namely, that the Government had exceeded the expenditure of £80,000 voted for the North Island trunk line, and had incurredu rred an illegal expenditure, had not been published. Mr Macandrew caused a laugh by saying that he was very sorry the Committee bad not finished its report by recommending the House to abstain from sitting after two o'clock in the morning. The discussion then closed.

The San Francisco Mai In bringing the matter of San Francisco mail contract before the House, the Colonial Treasurer eaid he regretted to have to state to the House that there is no chance of carrying out the service, with Auckland as the terminus, for anything like the price which was contributed by the resolution of the House, and the Committee are negotiating for a service either with Sydney i as the terminus and between Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, and San Francisco, or for a service with Sydney as the terminus, but running only as far as Honolulu, there to connect with the very fine steamers running now fortnightly between Honolulu and San Francisco. We are in^ correspondence on the subject with the Government of New South Wales, but the negotiations are still going on, and I am not in a position to tell the House anything definite, but the Government will consider ifc necessary ta submit the matter for the consideration to the House before incurring any responsibility.-

The " Post " last night renews its opposition to the services. It suggests that "as the matter is to come before the House again, it is desirable to consider whether, under the circumstances, this service should be continued at all. If the financial con* dition of the colony is such as to justify the decision to suspend public works in progress, surely an expenditure suoh as this mail subsidy is quite unjustifiable. We shall see by their votes on this question whether those who supported Captain Bussell's motion are sincere or otherwise in their professions of economical devotion. It is in no spirit of hostility to Auckland or her special interest that we urge this matter. We do not think the benefits Auckland derives from the service are worth the price paid. The direct service might, we believe, be improved and rearranged so as really to serve Auckland far better than the San Francisco service, and at less cost. If the latter were abandoned, such alterations and improvements in the direct service would have to be made to meet the requirements of Auckland. The service does not do this at present, but we think it could be made to do so, and that the alteration might be of such a character as to confer far greater advantages on Auckland than any possibly to be derived from the San Fiancisco line, while economically the whole colony would also benefit."

District Railway. Subjoined is the full text of the Public Accounts Committee's report on the Distriot Railways Purchasing Bill :— • " The Committee have the honour to report with reference to the proposed teems of purchase and other arrangements in connection with the several railways in the schedule of the District Railways Purchasing Bill. They have taken full evidence thereon. Their inquiry has been confined to the question referred to them - Whether the proposed contracts for the purchase of Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway, the Waimate Railway, the Dunstroon and Hakataremea Railway, and the Thames Valley and Rotor ua Railway, and the proposed guarantee of debentures to finish the construction of the Kaihu Volley railway were such as could be recommended. The Committee having given to these several proposals their careful considerations, recommend for adoption the terms of purchase proposed in the several agreements for the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks railway, the Duntroon and Hakataremea railway, the Thames Valley and Rotorua railway. They also consider the terms proposed for the Waimate railway, but do not recommend \ them for adoption. With reference to • the Kaihu Valley railway, the Committee approve of the proposed | guarantee of £50,000 debentures to be secured by a first mortgage on railway ! works to a cost of between £85,000 and £90,000, with such other security, ■if any, as the Governor-in-Council may i consider necessary." I have reason for believing that the cause of the Committee reporting adversely to purchasing the Waimate railway was that the line opened up few private properties only, and its further extension was not beneficial to the colony.