COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

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

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

On the question being put at 8.30 p.m. that the Speaker do now leave the chair, Mr Macandrew intercepted the motion for going into supply by moving, " That in the opinion of this House the Government should take measures to give, effect to the recommendation of the Waste Lands Committee in sessions in 1884 and $880, on the petition of F. D. Rich and others in re* lation to Shag Point coalmine, and also to giro effect to the recommendation of the eaid Committee on the petition of the same petltioners'in'the"sesBionB'of -1881*83-84 and* 86, in relation to Shag Point railway. " He detailed, at some length, the whole circumstances connected with the closing of Shag Point coalmine, and said he had taken the matter up : partly on , public grounds and partly in order to'db' justice' to an injured mac. He pointed out that the Company had spent £4,000 in opening the mine, and it would have to be closed altogether unless the recommeor'ation of the Committee was here given effect to. Mr Ballance said the offer made' by Government in 1884 to Rich was accepted by him in full payment of settlement or his claim, and he had no right now to re-open it. Mr Rolleaton said the evidence taken before the Committee went to show that the Inspector of Mines only dil his duty in cloeing the mine, and the Committee had made a report to that'effect. ' He contended that the Inspector had made a* thorough examination of the mine, and found it was unsafe for men to work in it. The men, also, were themselves of opinion that it was unsafe. After further discussion, the motion for going into Committee of Supply *waa negatived by 34 to 24, Ministers again voting with the' minority . Mr Macandrew's resolution was carried bv 34 to ' 26, after the member for Port Chalmers had stated, in reply to a question, that it would cost £3.000 to compensate Mr Rich.

Public Works Estimates. In Committee of Supply* the Minister for Works Department was first taken, and the following votes were immediately passed: —Working railways, £761,000 ; Government gardens, £1,300 ; public buildings, £37,100; miscellaneous services, £160; total, £799,560,

Mines Department. In the Mines Department, the following votes were passed :— Departmental, £2,268 ; salaries and other charge 3 (Geological and Meteorological Department), £3,49s. On the item of £25,950 for miscellaneous services being put, Captain Sutter mode his usual onelaught on the Kuitfara Sludge Channel, but failed to get the voteof £7,000 reduced. The votes to defray the cost of lectures by Professor Black and others in the principal mining centres throughout the colony, and for a School of Mines, £4,000, were carried after considerable discuesion. Mr Peacoak objected to the system of getting a professor from Otago University to teach mineralogy at the Thames. Last year £300 for travelling expenses was incurred, and had been paid to Professor Black, and £150 to Mr Montgomery. Gentlemen of ampleability and talent could be found in Auckland to do the work at the Thames at much less salary, and scarcely any travelling expenses. Colonel Fraser regretted that petty jealousy on the part of the Auckland University against the Otago University occasioned the opposition to this vote. Professor Black had proved himself to be one of the best of the order he had ever seen or read of. That gentleman was a trea ure in the capacity of instructor of geology and had created a furore among the miners, | Mr Bradshaw protested against the pro posed increase of this vote. Ho moved that the vote he reduced to last year's amount, viz., £1,2G0. Mr Seddon referred to the valuable services rendered on the West Coast by Professor Black, who possessed the faculty of organisation. Mr Scobie MacKenzie said that, although representing a mining constituency and anxious to develop the industry, he -was satisfied that the money was to a very large extent wasted. At any rate, that vote was a great deal too large. The effect on miners of these lectures was evanescent, and they were not likely to produce permanent results. Sir G. M. 'O'Rorke denied thafcthe Auckland professors are jealous of Otago University. If it was desirable to spend £4,000 on lectures in the mining centres he thought it would be better to establish men permanently on the goldfields. The item was staunchly defended by Messrs Brown and Fergus and the Minister of Mines. 'lhe latter said that it was impos-sible to over-rate the importance of this vote, a considerable portion of which was already expended. Mr Bradshaw obtained leave to withdraw his amendment in favour of one by Mr Peacock, that the item be reduced t> £2,000. The motion to reduce the item by this amount was lost by 28 to 25. Mr Peacock then moved that the item be reduced by £1,000, and in so doing pointed out that £1,425 went in travelling expenses and hotel accommodation. The Minister for Mines said that if the professors in Auckland were ready to do the work, an opportunity would be afforded them of doing it. On a division, the item was reduced to £3,000 by 28 to 27. Colonel Trimble moved to reduce contingencies by £200, but this was lost by 27 to 21. The vote, £24,950, was then passed. At this stage (1.35 a.m.), some hon. member suggested that progress be reported, but was met with cries of "Finish the estimates." Legislative Department, £17,390, passed. Class 2, Colonial Secretary's vote, £2,025, Colonial Secretary's Office.— Carried, Vote £800, Ministers' secretaries ; vote £3,720, messengers and office keepers.— Carried. Vote £2,980, Electoral Department.— Carried. August 9. In the House of Representatives yesterday, motion * for going into Committee ■of Supply, Mr Leyestam moved, " That in the opinion of this House, the distillation of spirits within the colony ought to be encouraged, so as to afford the far mera a local manufacture for their grain." The Treasurer said that the Government were not at one on this resolution. The Premier was opposed to it, but he (Sir Julius) was of opinion that it was a resolution that, ought to be passed and given effect to. , Sentiment should not be introduced into a question of this kind. They would, however, have to take, care to avoid the mistake which on previous occaBion landed the colony in heavy compensation. Mr Taylor did not think that it wos in the interests of the colony te encourage distilleries, and he would oppose the amendment. The amendment was lost. . In Committee, the following votes were passed as printed : — , - _ Justice Department.— Salaries of departmental officers, £950 ; Crown Law officers, £2,324; Patent Office, ,£{s2o; Supreme Court, £8,665 • bankruptcy, £5,660 ;, District, Resident .Magistrates , and Wardens Courts, £48,7,98; criminal Vproeeeutione, £11,000; Coroners, prisons, £34,1,70; miscellaneous, services, ' £2,500. Total vote, £117,194. J/ ;,; . j]'\ s Lands Department.- Salaried £22,004 expenses Thermal Springs' Act, £1,175; Crown Lands, ".. miscellaneous ~ „ serviced

£2,861 ; coalfields, £200 ; surveys, £80,812. Total vote,£lo7,o62. Whenthevote "Crown Lands, miscellaneous services," was under consideration, exception was taken to theitem " Fees to members of Waste Lands! Boards, inoluding travelling expenses, £1,500." Mr Dodeon opened fire by saying that he thought, the , time fikd come when members ahoufdjwow howlt'waj} that some^ boards, did the work so cheaply, while members of other' boards charged heavy expenses. It had been stated thatmembera of this House charged travelling expenses although they deed their' railway passes in attending meetings of Land Boards. Mr Pear eon, in order to get the feeling of the House, moved that tbe amount be reduced by £500, viz. to £1,000. M ,Dr. Newman pointed out that in a return recently laid" before* the House it appeared jbhat in a given time the expenses for *the Otago Board reached £1,080, while for thB same time the expenses for the Auckland Board were only £280, and, for Wellington j £376 —The Minister for Lands,, pointed out ibat in Dunedin a large amount' of work was done —six times as much work as by any other, Board in the colony. / He eaid that as the honorarium to members of Lands Boards weve fixed at £1 Is per sitting no reduction in tbe vote could ba made, at present. — Mr Seddon urged that members of Land Boards phould be elected in future, and Captain S«"ter urged their abolition, and that their tuuctions should, he entrusted to the department.—Mr Pearson said that after the remarks, by the Minister he desired to withdraw the amendment. Major. Atkinson said that there was a public scandal regarding certain members of Land Boards, it being alleged that while they were paid travelling expenses they used their free railway passes. The Minister for Lands denied that any scandal existed. He had made inquiry into the rumour and felt quite certain that there was no foundation for it. Foeests 'Account. — £7,750 was carried. Tkeasuky Department. —Rates on Crown Lande, £37,500— agreed to : Public Tfust Office expenses account, £s,794— agreed to. Public Wobkls. — Tnis exhausted the ordinary estimates, and consideration of the Public Works estimates was then proceeded with, the following votes, after Blight discussion, being passed as piinted : — Public Works Department, £14,000 ; railways, £16,400 ; roadSjbridges, and wharves, North of Auckland, £34,600 ; main roads, £24,900 ; miscellaneous roads and bridges, £52,600 ; grant in aid, £97,000 ; roads to open up lands for sale, £61,500; Village Special Settlements, £5 000 ; roads' on froldfielda, £52,000;, total of vote, £327,600, When the Village Special Settlements was on, the " Minister for Lands eaid he regretted he could not propose a larger vote ' this year. ' Mr Turnbull moved thafe the item y be Btruck out, which was negatived". Waterworks on .Goldfields, £23,700. Vole £52,000, roads to gold-fields, carried. Vote £20,000, Minister for Native Affairs'. Mr Ballance, in reply to Mr Bryce, said be agreed that the system of purchase of native lands required revision, and that purchase by commission was a failure. It would not be continued after the six months' engagement expired, After 2 a.m. the vote, £6,785, Audit Office, was carried; vote, £17,972,RegietfarGeneral's Department", carried ; v0te, £4,315, Agent - General's Department, carried ;" Charitable Aid, £1,120; Mr Hatch took exception to the hurried' appointment of Dr. Macgregor as Inspector of Asylums. The vote was carried. Major Atkinson asked how much further it was intended to go with the Estimates. Mr Ballance eaid he hoped to finish them that night. Major Atkinson demurred, and objected to such late sittings. They wero loaeer than in the previous' session, and he said Government would not get the Esti KUtes through if they persisted. After considerable discussion the Estimates were proceeded with. The vote,£42,SoB, lunatic asylums, was carried ; vote, £"22,322, printing and stationery, carried ; stodk branch, £29,115, carried; miscellaneous, £216,103, carried. Progress wag reported, and the House rose at 2.50 a.m. Considerable progress was mado with the estimates last night, bufc the only reduction was itriking out £1,000 ftom the item for Professor Black and his assistant's lectures in connection with the School of Mines. Despite the recent report from the Leg'slative Expenditure Committee, hj item, " Legislature, £17,390," pas?ed without a rauimur, and it is a singular fact that eincelB74 thiVvoto has not passed without seme discussion br divieions.

The New Zealand Agricultural Company August 10. Sir George Grey yesterday aeked the Minister for Lands the date of a private letter said to have been received from Mr Larnach when he was in England, inviting the Premier to take Bhares in the New Zealand .Agricultural Company, the date when that letter was received, and the name of the poison to whom it was addressed. The Hon. Mr Ballance, in reply, said it was somewhat mysterious why this question had been addressed to him. The letter was a private one seemingly, and | there was no record of it in the Lands Dei paxfcmenfc, and if he understood the question aright, it should have been addressed to tho Premier if at all. Sir George Grey explained that in the Council Sir George YVhitmore had in a previous session referred to tho J existence of this letter. Mr Larnach said that as his name was mixed up in the matter, he suggested that the member for Auckland City East should request permission to inspect his private letter book, or move that it be laid on the tablo of the House. He had no recollection of writing puch a letter, nor was he aware to whom the hon. member alluded as the recipient of the cotnmiesion after. Had such a private letter been written, it waB not the business of the honourable member to pry into private business. He was too fond of that sort of thing. Sir George Grey made a personal explanation to th;e effect that Sir George Whitmore had made a statement to the effect that an invitation had been sent to him (the.speaker) to join the New Zealand Agricultural Company. He had never Been such an invitation, and it was *a' point on w hich he was intimately concerned. He could not see lhat in attempting to vindicate his own character he could be accused of interfering with other people's private basinets. The matter then dropped.

The Council and money Bills. The fourth resolution come to by the Privilege Committee is to the effect that the Government should in future include' in the Appropriation Bill all moneys bills, - and —that in this year's Appropriation Act, the Customs Duties Bill be included. The last named measure embodies 'the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. Should the 1 -House adopt •Committees finding, the constutionaL right* of the Council to .ameudi money bills will bo .practically determined, i* ;.

"' New 1 Stamp Regulations. The Stamp Act Amendment, Bill, read ,f or the first time. yesterday, fixes the amount of stamp .duty on /conveyances on sale ,for every £50, or part* thereof,^ 7a' Gd, $nd where property is legally or equitablj transferred for a nominal consideration, or for no conflidtratiob, at 7fl 6d for every £50,

I or part: of £50, as assessed under Property Assessment Act or Amendments. The Council and tb* Loan Bill. The action of the Legislative Council with respect to the Loan Bill is being awaited with considerable curiosity. The " Post " thinks it " open to very grave doubt whether the action tafcen,by the Council is of a con- - ; »stitutional character. ; f< The right, it adds, to which the money shall fcje devoted, is one exclusively, appertaining to the representative branch of legislature; and is a privilege and Honour '..if hich, should! be most' jealously guarded. The action of the Council in regard to the Loan Bill seems to establish a most dangerous precedent." The " Presß " on the other hand approves of the action of the Council. -. It says : "It is not the raising of a new loan, or the amount' of it -that the Council object to. What they con* tend is that the proposed distribution of the loan is not only impolitic, but illegal. It is required by law that the construction of each and every railway shall be authorised by Parliament before any expenditure can be made upon it, and that requirement has apparently been ignored in the case of railways specified in the schedule to the present bill. If the Select Committee report that the Bchediile includes one or more railways not authorised by law, the position will be yery embarrassing."

Government Insurance Bill. The Government , Insurance Bill was further considerei in committee at yesterday afternoon's'sitting. , X)n clause 7, property of the Association, to vest in the Queen, the Treasurer, proposed to add a proviso to the effect thai) the money for. the purchase of new buildings should be voted by Parliament, but after, discussion he withdrew it, with a view to adding it to the bill as a new clause. Mr Montgomery explained that he had not moved for the appointment of a statutory officer because he found hon. members were generally against it. In Clause. 11, part of the money may be lent to policy-holders on mortgage. The Treasurer proposed that the l;mit of any one loan on mortgage should not exceed £4,000. Mr Scobie MoKenzie moved to insert £10,000. The £4,000 was negatived by 32 to 30, whereupon Sir Julius Vdgel said that, although the amount had , been decided in Cabinet, one Minister (Mr Larnach) had voted against the motion. Major Atkinson said as the Government appeared to be disorganised, they had better report progress. Mr Mackenzie's motion was then put, and lost by 32, to 29, and the proposal by the Treasurer , to insert £5,000 was carried on the voices. Mr Conolly moved a further amendment to the clause to the effect that more than £5,000 shall be lent on mortgage to any person or company, which was carried on the voices. Mr Rolleston moved that the clause providing that " so far as practicable, applications for such! loan?, not exceeding £500, shall have priority over applications for larger sums," be altered by the subttitution of celeris paribus for the words "so far as practicable." This was carried on the voices. On the Tieasurer'd motion, a new clause was added to the effect that expenditure for building sites should come out of general appropriations. The bill was reported as amended, and the third reading fixed for Monday next.

District Railways Purchase. An objectionable clause in the District Railways Purchasing Act, which provided that the Colonial Treasurer may sell debentures authorised to be issued in order to realise the amount required for cash payment, is to be amended by a proposal for the issue of short-dated debentures, which may be converted into inscribed stock Mr Scobie Mnckenzie intends moving a new clause to enable the railway companies to collect their rates from the New Zealand Agricultural Company on the authority of the Minister for Works, without further cavil or obiection.

TAURANGA LAND COMMISSION. The Native Affairs Committee agreed to report that from the evidence produced it was clear that Mr .Barton's strictures on the purchase of Pou Pou and Waimaru blocks were not warranted, and they recommended that the restrictions should be removed therefrom.

Settlement of Tauranga Lands. Mr Ballance informs Mr Grace that he cannot promise during the recess to adopt more vigorous measures than have been hitherto taken to complete the negotiations for the purchase of the native lands in the vicinity of Tauranga, and also on the west side of the Wtihau River, Thames Valley, with a view to the early settlement of the oxteneive unoccupied lands in those localities! He, however, cays that during the recess the Government will consider the whole question of purchase of native land in relation to the Native Land Administration Act.

Civil Service BUI. The Civil Service Reform Bill returned from the Council is only the skeleton of the original measure. When the order was called oh yesterday, the Premier said he did not agree with the amendments made, but at this late period, of the session he would rather accept them than throw the bill out. The amendment to which he particularly objected was that striking out clause providing that cadets should be nominated by members oj the House, and substituting a provision for competitive examinations. Messrs tfolleston, Downie Stewart. Major. Atkinson, and others urged that the bill should be dropped, while Mr Turnbull thought in view of a large saving likely to be effected they should accept the bill even na it was. Mnjor Atkinson feared the competitive t-ystem would lead to great difficulties. The Premier promised to bring down an amendment bill next session, and the amendments made by Council ha\iqg been agreed to, the bill was passed.

Representation Bill. The debate on the question of representation came on somewhat unexpectedly last night. - The Premier moved the second read-, ing of the Re presentation Bill. He eaid that so far back as ISoS there was a bill passed authorising the Governor to divide the eoleny into dis'rets, and adjust representation on a population basis. The same principle was affirmed by a bill introduced in 1877, and by Sir George Grey in 1879, and ke (the speaker) had Bomothing to do vith the preparation of this measure. This phowed that the prn-jiple ot appointicg a Board to deal with the adjustment of representation had been approved by the House several times?, and he regretted that the bill of 1870 had been passed. He believed they could get no other basis than population for repvetentatives, and population was really the true test and the guiding principle for . future he thought. The question , could best b6 settled by a board and wrangling on tbe subject in - the House avoided. The only , other machinery part' of bill to which be would refer was that dealing with the amalgama tion of city elaborates,', Under this system minorities would haye r> a „ better chance of being represented than at present.. If members wished to get the bill through this session they wbald have to clo~ bo without} much discussion. If they 1 accepted the second reading without debate, the bill might go into Committee. An

impression appeared to prevail that f the bill became law there would be a dissolution. He, however, gave his pledge that if the bill got through, Parliament would be called together very early next year, and there need be no uneasjnejfl on the score of dissolution.,, The Cabinet were "not wholly- agreed *th© question of reducing the numbered but for hie own part) he thought a small reduction in number mighi'be made. ' Major Atkinson supported the bill, and would be glad to see it' get through. He would like to see a difference in proportion made in favour of country districts because towns have greater facilities than country districts in bringing their grievances before the Government. He did not know whether" the Government proposed" td lengthen the duration of Parliament, but for his own part, he felt that the present term^of three years had proved too short. He supported* the principle of Amalgama- r tion of City Electorate. Mr Peacock approved of the principle of self-adjusting machinery, and thought a non-political board should have a trial. While he agreed that the number of members might be reduced, he thought tbia evil would remedy iteelf as the population increased. He objected to the amalgamation of city electorate on theground that it would prevent the representation of large minorities He would, however, not oppose the amalgamation if they would also arrange for adoption of the three cornered system, or the hare system' of proportionate representation. , . Mr Moss regretted that this, as the most important question of .the session, was brought down at so late a period, and than' tKey were/\^asked' to ' pass 1 it almost without dtegussibn. He approved of the 'main- principle of the bill, i.e., representation on the* basis of population. So 'for as i eduction of members was concerned, he would not like to see the numbers reduced till they got rid of all the local work, because they really sat there as a local , board of works, at present. He regretted to hear, the member for Egmont saying that chree years duration of Parliament wag too short. For'his own part he thought they wanted turning out every three years. After they had been there for a couple of months they seemed to forget that fhere were any people in New Zealand, and formed, small worlds of their own. Nor would it be otherwise while they met in a place that was not a metropolitan city ; that had not a metropolitan newspaper. Mr J. McKiiJJzik, Dr. , Newman, Mr Wakefteld, Colonel Trimblk, Mr J, g^ McKenzib, MrLEVESTAM, Captain Russell and. Mr Tayi/ it spoke to the question. MrSEDDON moved the adjournment of the debate, as he and other members wished to speak at length. A division being taken, there were : Ayes, 31 ; .noes, 32. Mr Kerb, resumed the debate at 12 45. He hoped, the bill would not be pushed further this year. He attacked the unem; ployed in large cities. Mr Moss spoke in vindication of the unemployed. Mr W. F. Buckland accused the memhersfor Kuraara, Wakatipu, and others of doing their utmost to kill the bill. He asserted that there was a determination atnongßt a section of the Southern members to withhold justice to the North. At 130 Mr Ballance said he would accept the motion by Mr Ross for adjournment of the debate. The adjournment was accordingly agreed to.

miscellaneous. The Committee on Mr Samuel Vaile's proposals will probably report that Mr Vaile's system of working the railway is entirely speculative as to passenger traffic, but that he has admitted he has not considered ibs effect on the goods traffic. His proposal does not touch that traffic. The Committee will also report, in all probability, that the present system does not appear to be satisfactory, and that its working should! be inquired into by a competent authority. This would take the shape of the appointment of some expert from the old country, to travel round our railways and hear all the local complaints and suggestions, inquiring and inspecting for himaclf. There may also be a sugeceatiou that the evidence established enough, in regard to Mr Vaile's proposals for the passenger traffic to warrant the Government in experimenting with hie 3vstem on one of the sections of the New Zealand railway lines To this Mr Yaile, I understand, objects, as he will not be content with any experiment that does not include the whole colony in such inclusion.' Neither the Committee nor the House is likely for a moment to agree to t is. In conformity with a numerously signed requUition from the goldfield members, the Cabinet have agreed to place on the Supplementary E tiuiates a vote for £30,00 Q towards dredging the Molyneex and other rivers, with a view to ascertaining if any gold deposits exist in them. The item will appear " as—'* For dredging river beds £30,000." ■ Mr Whyfce made a final but ineffective effort yesterday afternoon to have the Charitable Aid Bill recommitted, his object being to have the Piako District separated from the Thames. Messrs AVhyte and Cad man had an argument velative to the matter, and the member for Coromandel said if the Piako would build an hospital they would have no objection to people of that district managing their own charitable aid matters.

THE LOAN BILL. Sir F. Whitaker brought up a report of the eelect committed appointed to enquire into allocation to certain railways of portions of the proposed loan. The substance of the report ia — That all the railways on the schedule appear to have been specially authorised by Act, with this excep'ion of the Helensville line extending northward. ..Only four miles of the proposed extension have been authorised. The extension proposed is from Helensville to the Omapere Lake. 2. The committee ia of opinion that a special Act of authorisation should precede every grant of money, otherwise the appropiation would be nugatory. The names in the schedule are not the same as those in the authorising Acts, and a question v ould arise as to whether these lines could be identified. £150,000 of the sum proposed to be raised would be for sidings, and not for construction of main lines. It was proposed to use, as far as possible materials on hand for the construction for scheduled lines. The function of the commictee was entirely to determine whether the law had been complied with, which was a function entirely apart from the coneideration of a money : bill, and the Council would cot be doing its duty by voting fcr a work which was not properly authorised by law. > The repoit was adopted, and the Bill was committed and ordered for second reading to-morrow. On the motion for the third reading of the New Zealand Loan Bill in the Legislative Council, Sir F.« Whitaker, explained that* considering that in the past the Council had not done its duty in seeing that the line of railway set forth in the Loan Bill had not been authorised by Parliament, he had taken objection to the Bill! H<e believed that the Supreme, Court c6uld\at any time set aßide the construction of any line, if applied to, by prohibition or otherwise. ' He must say he was agreeably surprised by the

total numbof o^E' 6hlti6ab' iH w tho colony is «ijen, »c 4,540. - Of houees.rthoro am 10,000 srith.only onto xobm^an'dt 2l,ooo wlthnnhore th»n ifx rooms. The^ nninh Abit«d liooges ntimb«t9s3 in'WellittgtonJ^^gS iijCanteVbvtip 1 '2,470 in "OtagVkna }^ucklsna. -The 'moat populous- ward of - any Borough, .in . the . Colony^,? ia-u.'.Gook W»Td, Wellington, which,, ha5,, ; 11,310 inhlbiUnte. South Ward, Auckland, comes naxt^irith S.3S0 1 ; Leith Ward/ Dunedin, .follows Iwith 8,651 j and Ponsttnby, AucklAndt and Te Aro," Wellington^ have'7 19231 923 •nd 7,625 respectirely. • -*i • : . . -

• ' SlrW.Fox. '''; ~ % < Major' 1 Atkinson* ' intends asking 1 whether the Government wilL place a sum on the Supplementary Estimates to onable this House to recognise, in aT substantial manner, the valuable services of SirWiUiam Vox us Commissioner under the East Coaet Settlement Act. < •-- ,

Tax on Church Property. ." ,The Property Tax Assessment Act Amendment Bill, which is introduced to remedy defects in last session's Act, 'has passed its second rending. The Premier explained that ft was proposed to make all church property except manses and churches liable to the property tax, which was the intention under the Act of 1885. Mr Macundrew denounced the bill, which he hoped would be withdrawn. It was most uncalled for, and if revenue was wanted, exemptions should be abolished. Not content with excluding the Bible from schools, an attempt waa now being made to carry agnosticism to an objectionable extent. Mr Garrick dissented from the last speaker as to the propriety of land endowments belonging to church boards being taxed. The Premier in reply said he failed to see why Church property should be exempt from taxation. The amount involved -was some £3,000, and he thought wealthy churches should be compelled to contribute under the property tax, The bill was ordered to be committed next day.

Walmea Railway. , Shortly after midnight the Minister of Works wanted a re-committal of the District Railways Furchaeing Bill, in order to reconsider the price to be paid for the Waimea Railway, which price was reduced by the House at a recent Bitting. Messrs Montgomery, Sutter, Bryce, Duncan, Buchanan, Rolleeton, Peacock, Boss, and Major Atkinson objected to the question being brought up in such a thin house, and at ouch late hours. A " majority of the members were at home, and the move was altogether a surprise. In the course of the debate Mr Buchanan said influences of an unfair character were being brought on members to induce them to give more than • fair price for the line. Eventually Mr Richardson accepted a motion by Mr Peacock for an adjournment of the House, and the bill was made a first order of the day for Wednesday.

Rabbit and Small Bird Pest. The Premier favours the idea of furnishing M. Pasteur with particulars of the rabbit and small-bird peat of the colony .with" a view of obtaining his advice as to tbe Introduction of the virus of some disease or virulent malady for their destruction, and has promised that the Cabinet will consider it during the recess.

Sir W. Fox's Service*. The Governmont have consented to place a sum at £2,000 on the Supplementary Estimates to recognise, the service of Sir W. Fox a8 commiaeisner under the West Coast Settlement Act. This is the amount that the Atkinson Government offered Sir William some years ago, but which he decided not to accept at the time.

Sir George Grey and the New Zealand Agricultural Company. The question of privilege, which was mentioned by me yesterday, waa brought up by Sir Geo. Grey at the afternoon sitting. It was introduced as a personal matter by Sir George, who read an extract from a recent speech by the Minister for Lands, in •which he had eaid that the member for Auckland East was one of the promoters of the New Zealand Agricultural Company, Sir George Grey wanted to know whether the hon. gentleman was correctly reported. Mr Ballance replied in the affirmative, but said the cense in which he used the word "promoter "was that the Company at ta inceptionfhad Sir George Grey's sanction. Sir George Grey said he had to give the statement that he was a promoter of the Company a positive and emphatic denial, and that he did so because he should have been sorry to have been a promoter of such m Company. Then he wished to aek the Minister if he would have a Committee to prove his words, that he thought it would be the proper course to take. The statement waa positively contrary to fact, and he gave It an absolute denial. Mr Ballance said that when he spoke the other evening, he gave his recollection of what took place by the Grey Government in 1878, and he had since appealed to one or two of his colleagues, who were of the same opinion as himself. Sir Gep. Grey : Will the hon. gentleman name his then colleagues who confirm him? Mr Ballance said he had referred the matter to Sir Bobert Stout and Sir George Whitmore, both of whom were in the Grey Cabinet at |the time, and the recollection of both gentlemen was to the effect that Sir George Grey had given his sanction to the Agricultural Company. As to the Committee, he did not think that the onus devolved upon him to ask for a committee, but with the member • for Auckland East, who had made grave charges against his former colleagues with regard to this Company. He (the speaker) had given his version of the matter, and was satisfied that his recollection was correct. Be had only further to Bay that he had never any interest of a pecuniary character in the Company, and his desire fcr its success was eimply on the ground of Its colonisiog operations. As he had stated, when he used the term that Sir Geo. Grey •was a promoter of the Company he meant that he gave his sanction, and had not used it in any offensive cense, ho doubt the hon. member's motives were the same as his own — the desirableness of promoting colonisation. Sir George Grey, in order to further -^iscuesion of the matter, read extracts from papers laid on the table, and left the House to judge between the Minister and hin?Belf as to the accuracy of matter. The Premier eaicLhb, recollection of it was thie: that when the company was floated in London Sir George Grey cordially approved , of its object. It * was his (Sir Robert Stout's) opinion that if the price 'of land had kept up, the Agricultural Company • would have been a financial success and done an immonee;atnount of businoss. One had only to look at the census returns to be satiefied of the enormous number of people who had settled on the land since the* Company had taken up their large estate. - Mr Kerr said he could not make head nor tail of the discussion. There was something &t the bottom of it that hon, members were »ot ftware ot * .- ° " r

Sir Geo. Gray. Jjurepjying. denied the Premier's coS^tl3l» was any ,con^arison be^we^trjsis Land, Settlement' BiuT¥hi&h p^aM «r mkckuimint M large estiW^riZPto^^ultttral Company, No.qne M?ftB;"t6""be paid larire euoje of todnerfok 1 MoitinW'^Be llJand^ettleiiient 'BillJLl.-i.*! him^' t«> I "i* ik »r I*l**l 'ti ©<O i.xvi , r ,T^e t motion, for. -»djoummen^ , thenj put' and nej?aiived on' the^oioee'/and^ihe 5 matter dropped.* 5 ' 5 * iri '-^ ..- r --v n^^rKs J

, ' The Representation Bill. *'~* ! ' ' i i s i" ' 'it i , nt s ►• t "{ ;»■■<♦ ( • T«f > < j i Thedebate oa the Representation bUl.was resumed yesterday aftornooftby Mrßoej-i who considered, ; the unofficial .members of the Board should be reduced to two, and name of RegiBtr»r r Goneral added. , Be thought that territory should be taken.into consideration as well as, population although the latter was proper. He thought the -amalgamation of city electorates would tend to the representation of minorities, and therefore supported the proposal. „ „, , ' Mr Pyke opposed the bill. If the Government were, in favour of. reducing the numbers of members of the House they should bring down a full and fair scheme of local Government. He deprecated the" a;btempts whicK he jsaid were being "made to raise the, question of JNorth versus South. Mr C. Bucjdand would have voted for the bill if the number of members had not .been left blank, and under the circumstances, he hoped the bill would be deferred till, another session. The second reading was carried on the voices, and on the motion that thY bill be committed tomorrow, Mr Seddon divided the House, with the result that the second reading was carried by 39 to 29. The following is the division Hat :— Ayes: Ballance, Barron, Beetham, Bruce, Brice, Buchanan, Buckland (W.F.), Cadman, Conolly, Dargaville, Fergus, Fraser, Falton, Grey, Hamlin, Hirst, H. Hobbs. (Teller), Johnßon, Lade, Larnach," McArthur (Teller), McKenzie, MiJ chelson, Montgomery, Moss, Newman. Peacock, Reid, Richardson, F. Rolleston, Kusssell, Stoiit, Te Ao, Thompson, T. Tole, Whyte, Wilson. Noes : Bevan, Bradshaw, Brown, Buckland, McGowan, Dodson, Gore, Guinneea, Hakuene, Hatch, Hursthouse, Ivess, Joyce, Lance, Lovestam, McMillan, Menteath, O'Gallaghan, Pearson, Pratt, Pyke, Bees, Ross, Samuel, Seddon, Sutter, Thomson, J. W. Turnbull and Walker. Pairs.— Ayes : Fisher, Ormond, Locke, Tremble, Moat, Atkinson, Wake field, Smith, and Hurst. >ices : Holmos, Harper, Albright, Duncan, Taylor, Major Stewart, Kerr, O'Conner. Coster.

Mfr J. M. Grace in the House. This afternoon Mr Grace asked the Native Minister whether it is the intention of the Government during the recess to adopt more vigorous measures than have hitherto been taken to complete the negotiations for The purchase of the native lands in the vicinity of Tauranga, and also on the west side of the Waihou River, Thames Valley, with a view to the early settloment of the extensive unoccupied lands on these localities. In putting the above question Mr Grace explained that his object was because the progress of the localities referred to had been much retarded owing to large areas of land in these neighbourhoods being still in the hand of the natives, and therefore unproductive, and because it was the general feeling of the settlers in those districts that the completion of the purchases referred to had been unnecceaaarily prolonged. The Native Minister acknowledged that delays had taken place in the past, but promised that immediately after prorogation, steps would be taken to push on the purchases in the districts referred to. Mr Grace also asked the Minister for Public Works whether it is the intention of the Government to call for tenders for the construction of the Mor ring ville Rotorua Railway line at the Rotorua end, and whether, in connection therewith, it is intended to set apart some of the Crown Land along that end of the line for villlage settlements in the came manner as has been done in the 70-mile bush. In putting this question, Mr Grace explained that it would be very desirable and advantageous to the district generally if a section at the Rotorua end were at once taken in hand; that the Crown lands at that end, of which there was a large area, were most suitable for village settlements, and that if sections were laid off for the above purpose suitable to small holders who could find work on the lane when beiug constructed he was sure that forty or fifty holders could be well and prosperously located on the lands referred to. Tho Minister for Public Works,in reply, stated that the survey of the Rotorua end of the line had not been quite completed, yut that when such was the case the proposal of contracting for a section from that side would receive consideration, In regard to the second part of the questions Mr Richardson said thet he wss authorised to state, in reply, that it was the intention of Government now to select to prepore those portions of Crown lands along the railway line suitablefor village settlements.

Dead Men's Sboes. Hod. Mr Tole informs Mr Cadman that the Government propoßftl is that Mr North - croft, KM., shall perform Mr Kenriek'a duties at Thames for the present time, and that the Government will consider, after the session, whether they will make a new appointment. Both Mr Cadman and Mr Tole have received numerous requests to support applications for the position.

Now Zealand Cup and Derby Acoeptances. The following acceptances and entries were received on Saturday night for the Canterbury Jockey Club Spring Meeting :—

Dbbby.— ltepo, Argonaut, Ruby, Chantilly. Fair Nell, Sierra. Larohoa, First Lord. Galatea, St. Ivftf, Artillery Torrent, Disowned, General Thornton. Musk Rose, Brigadier.

Welcome Stakes.— Nautilua filly, Lorraine, Malioe filly, Authentic. Wave gelding. Northcote, Artemue, Mignon flllr, Cruchfleld. Rupee noir.. Credulity, Rod «ose filly. Rose-and -Black, Enid. Martyr colt, Titania filly, Sultan. Formo, Enfilade, Bronte, Engagement, Gipsy King. - ■ ' Cantjbbbury Cup (entries) —Nelson, liOchiel, Musk Hose. Torrent, Ruby, First Lord. Torori, Maligner, Stoneyhurat.. .General Thornton, Lurches, , Disowned, Tdeman, WJnobester, Liverpool.' Brigadier, 'Ohanttlly, Alpine Rose, Artillery, Moana, Apropol, Darringer, St. Ivts, Itepo. , < ,i . , • < H » .;

It may be no worse fora, church member to lit than for " a pnblioan and sinner," but it looks worao. , . „.. t \

Neleoo Tasm&n .. Sioneylmret «. vw incheeter Maligner .. Liverpool Turquoise.. Fusillade .. .. Pasha Waitirl Derringer Lochiel Administrator .. Moan a Alpine fi OS3 Titbit July Hermitage Strenuous Leon First Lord.. Brigadier.. Ruby Btlb 9 10 Artillery .. 9 0 Talebearer 9 0 Maßter Agnes .. 8 11 Speculation 8 10 Argonaut .. 8 8 Torrent .. 8 7 Spade Guinea .. 8 7 Apropos .. 8 6 Triokster .. 8 5 Cremorne.. 8 4 Disowned.. 8 2 Quibble .. 8 0 Take Miss.. 8 0 British Lion 7 12 Musk Rose 7 12 Hatririan .. 7 11 Torori 7 10 La Hose .. 7 10 Madonna .. 7 10 Roße and Gold .. 7 8 St. Ivea .. 7 G Beresford.. 7 1 stlb 7 1 7 0 7 0 B 12 6 11 6 11 6 10 6 10 6 10 6 10 6 10 6 10 6 7 6 7 6 7 6 7 6 fi 5 3 6 0 6 0 6 0 6 0

New Zealand Cup.