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Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 165, 14 August 1886, Page 2

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Wellington, August 7. v, Anoklaind Petition*. ,; - l Reports have been submitted on the foilowtnr Auckland petitions :— Bridget Burgess : That tiite is a matter of legal administration, and consequently the Committee has no recommendation to make. Benjamin garage : No recommendation to make. Henry Riley "" Bennett": 'That * petition be referred to the Native Affairs Committee, as it does not come within the scope of "the* Waste' Xand * Committee," to which it is referred* The Chairman of the Waipa County Council : That reeeryes in , Waipa County not already , vested in any local body should be vested in such local body* or association as may be deemed most suitable to have the control under such reservation. Sophia, of Rotorua, native guide : That the petitioner has no claim against the Government. Re E. L. Clark : That petition' be referred to the .Government for consideration. Petition of M. Collins : Referred to Government. ~

Waimea Railway Purolmse. Tfietfebate on Wednesday, on the second reading of the District Railways Purchasing: Amendment Act, .served' to show that members would not agree to pay for the Waimea Railway Line the Btim proposed under the bill — viz , £110,000, while the Government expert had valued it at only £97,000, in addition to which there was a Government liability on it of £5,000. In committee last evening Mr Montgomery therefore occasioned a little surprise by moving to strike out £35,000, the amount to be paid in cash for the line, which resulted in a tie, twenty-one voting on each side, the Chairman of Committee (Mr Hamlin) giving bis vote with the noes, explaining that he did so with a view of lessening taxation. Mr Dargaville moved to insert £34,999. (Oh!) He explained that his object was to get an expression of opinion in a fuller House. In the discussion which followed the Minister for Works said that if the amount were to be reduced to £33,000 the House would be acting fairly, The correspondence would showthatthe Government oonfcidered that a fair price for the Hue. Thereupon Mr Dargaville asked leave to withdraw his amendment. Colonel Trimble moved to inßerb £27,000, which Dr. JSqtfman characterised as a very fair compromise. Mr Cowan hoped the amendment would be loet. He urged that the bill was introduced to ratify an agreement between the Government and the Waimea Company. He was satisfied that if the amendment were carried, there was not the slightest prospect of the sale being effected. Mr Gore was of opinion that this \ras the only district railway which Government would be justified in purchasing If the amendment were lost he would mdve that the amount be £33,000. He was satisfied that if the amendment now before the Committee were carried, the directors would refuse to sell. On a division the words £27,000 were inserted by 29 to 28. Colonel Trimble condemned the ' system which prevailed of issuing bonds, and moved that two per cent, should be inserted instead of seven in issuing debentures. The Minister for Public Works said he would like to consult the Colonial Treasurer as to the effect of the alteration. He therefore moved that progress be reported, which was agreed to on the voices.

Auckland Asylum. The Minister for Works promised Mr Peacock that additions should be made to the Auckland Lunatic Asylum so coon as the Works Estimates were passed.

The House and Council. The report of the Committee appointed to search the journals of the Legislative Council in regard to the " laying aside " of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill, was brought up, and Mr Larnach moved for the appointment of a Committee to search for precedents in connection with the relations of the Houee of Lords to the House of Commons in respect to money bills and taxation remission, imposition, &c. Briefly, the Council was right in what they had done in regard to the Gold Duty Bill. Mr Tyke denied the right of the other branch of Legislature to reject the whole of a money bill. It was true that the House of Lords had exercised that right at Home, but the Commons had never permitted them to do so "without recording in the journals of the House their protest against the action of the Lords. He contended that the action bf the latter in rejecting a measure removing taxation was a more serious invasion ot tho rights of this House than rejecting a bill imposing taxation. The motion was carried. In moving the second reading of the Special Powere and Contracts Bill, Mr Ballance said it was brought in to grant special powers to the Government to issue Crown grants, and to enable him to carry Out certain contracts and promisee, As the bill would have to go to the Waste Lands Committee, he hoped the House would consent to the second reading -and allow the debate to be taken on committal. Dr. Newman expressed surprise that no provision was made in the bill for the claims ef old soldiers. Mr Ballance said that* such was his intention, but he now considered the best plan of dealing . with those claims would be by going into the whole subject during the recess. The second reading was agreed to, and the bill was referred to the Waste Lands Committee. e.ui.j v __~a mil

Settled liana Bill. So far as I can learn the Settled Land Bill will be proceeded with for certain this'session. An amendment will be moved and probably carried requiring life tenants to get the consent of the trustees or of the Supreme Court to the sale price so that they may not sacrifice property. The bill is, to tk large extent, copied from the famous Cairns Act.

The Loan BUI. The Legislative Council have adopted Sir Frederick Whitaker's amendment on the second reading of the Loan Bill as follows : —" That the Bill be referred to a Belect Committed to ascertain (1) Whether the several railways specified in the ■schedule have been authorised by special Act as required by law. (2) Also as to any Of the said railways that are not new, the state of the works thereon, and to report folly thereon to the Council, the Committee fee consist of nine members, Mr Holmes, Mr Johnson, Mr Miller,' Dr. Pollen, Dr. Menzies, Mr Reynolds, Mr Shepnerd, Mr Wilson, and the mover." Mr Reynolds hoped the amendment proposed would not be agreed to. He assured hon. members that every line in the schedule, with fche exception of one ' slight addition, . that of Helensville, had been authorised by Parliament. The Government desired to prorogue next week, and he trusted no farther opposition' would bo offered at this late itage of the wieion. The amendment w*» carried— Ayes, 20 ; noes, 17.