FRIDAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 156, 29 May 1886, Page 4

FRIDAY.

The House met at half-past 2 o'clock. Questions. Replying to questions, Ministers said the Government proposed to introduce a bill amalgamating the city electorates. The whole question of land grants to discharged soldiers and volunteers would be brought before the Waste Lands Committee this session. The Government were in favour of entertaining the claims if favourably reported upon. The Government were unable to say whether the Government would a^ree to the appointment of Boaids of Railway Management, but they would refer to the matter in the Public Works Statement. ! The Government had not yet received Mr Barton's report on the claims to native lands in the Tauranga District.

Bills. New bills relnting to the following subjects were introduced and read a firat, time: - Mining Companies, Coal Mines, Friendly Societies, Hawkers' and Pedlars', Auctioneers', Supreme Court Reporting, Justice of the Peace Act Amendment Appointment, Educational Franchise, Licensing Committee and Elective Lands Boards. Your roaders are already acquainted with the provisions of these measures. The Friendly Societies Amendment Bill is a transcript of the measure introduced last year by Mr O'Connor.

The Pacific Islands.. The Standing Orders were suspended, in order to take notices of motion. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Stout, that the following be a committee to consider the question of the attitude that this colony should ae3ume in relation to the PaciSc Islands, and that Sir George Grey's resolutions be referred to the Committee : Major Atkinson, Sir G. orge Grey, Montgomery, Macandrew, Moss, O Connor, Robertson, Bdetham, Sir Julius Vo^el, W, D. Stewart, M. J. McKenzle, and the mover.

Committees Mr Balance moved the aj pointment of a Native Affairs Committee, the Auckland members on which are: Grace, Grey, Hakuene, Hobbs, and Locke. Mr Sdttok moved an amendment that the Chairmanship be a honorary position, and that the position be without a salary. The amendment gave rise to a discussion, during which Mr O'Callaghan complained that he had been degraded by the debate laat year. The Government supporters asserted that the Opposition were endeavoxiring to make this a party question, but the other side repudiated such an intention. Mr Hurst, who objected to the vote on the score of retrenchment, was warmly handled by Mr Seddon, who reminded the House that Mr Burst was paid Chairman of Committee in 1579, at a time when the Colonial Treasurer wa3 reporting the colony was on the verge of ruin, and the deficit was a million and a-half. Messrs Buckland, Babkon, and others spoke strongly of the necessity for retrenchment. Messrs Dargaville, Fraser, Connolly, and others said they would vote against Mr Suttons amendment, but they would oppose the item for the payment of Chairman of these committees if it appeared in the Estimates. About a dozen members having spoken, Mr Sutton said he was satisfied with having brought it under the notice ot the Government, and would withdraw the amendment. The question was then put and carried. On the motion of Mr Ballance a Waste Lands Committee was appointed, the Auckland members of the Committee being Messrs Lake and Whyto. On the motion of Mr Larnach,a Goldfields and Mines Committee was appointed, the Auckland representatives being Messrs Cadman and Fraeer.

Queen's Jubilee. It was agreed on the motion of Mr Stout that a select committee be appointed to consider and recommend to Parliament the course which should be taken to moat appropriately represent on behalf of Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand their congratulations and rejoicings on Her Majesty entering en the fiftieth year of her reign, the Committee to have power to confer with a similar committee of the Legislative Council, three to be a quorum, to report in three weeks. The Committee to consist of, the Speaker, Major Atkinson, Mr Bevan, Mr Fitzherbert, Sir George Grey, Messrs Lance, Levestam, Macandrew, Ormond, and the mover. The Flouse then adjourned till Tuesday,