PARLIAMENTARY.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 91, 30 October 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

The Milford Harbor Bill was read a third time, and passed in the Legislative Council on Friday last. In the House a hard debate has been going on over the Railway Construction Bill. The objection urged against it was the uncertainty of the colony being able to raise the funds required for the construction of the proposed railways. Another objection, and one urged with considerable vehemence by several speakers, was that the Bill gave too niuch power to the Ministry—made them too independent of the House. Mr Wakefield was among the objectors to the Bill. He objected to it on financial grounds. The Bill was read a second time by 45 to 11. Later, after being amended in committee, tlie bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Pitzroy, according to notice given, asked the Government several questions concerning the official recognition of Bracken’s New Zealand Anthem. The Premier declined to answer them. Mr Fitzroy gave notice to move that the so-called anthem be not distributed. Mr Ballance said it was intended to raise the pay of the police from the Ist of January next to .the end of June by sixpence in the lower and one shilling in the higher ranks. A telegram from Sir Julius Vogel was read, stating that Mr Broomhall would, on receipt of £3500, forego all claims to the block of land for which he had been in treaty with the Government. This information was received with cheers. Mr Fox, in a warm speech, expressed great regret that the arrangement with Mr Broomhall had fallen through. The colony had in consequence lost great skill and a large sum of money. Mr Sheehan did not believe it. He considered Mr Broomhall a mere speculator, who only hoped to make a good profit from the transaction.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE The supplementary estimates have been distributed. The grand total amounts to L 100,452, and amongst the items which go to make up this total are some of interest to the Canterbury provincial district. Under postal and telegraphic, the the chief Post Office, Christchurch, is down for L6O, suburban letter carrier’s delivery fora period of six months. The Royal Commission on the New Zealand Universities and Secondary Education gets LXOOO. Under the head of Public Domains, Canterbury is conspicuous by its absence, notwithstanding the distinct and repeated promises of the present Ministry. The work on ‘ New Zealand Grasses 5 is down for L 319, being the unexpended balance of last year’s vote ; and Mr Parnall has at last gained L 250 in final settlement of his claim. Under Railways, the Amberley-Waitaki line, for additional rolling stock, will get LIO,OOO ;

and Waitaki to Bluff, for repairs to line damaged by floods, L 5500, and for additional rolling stock, LIO,OOO. Of the lines authorised by the Railway Construction Act, the expenditure on the Canterbury interior main line, Oxford to Temuka, is estimated at £15,000 ; that on the main line to Upper Ashburton at £10,000; Amberley to Cook Strait, £60,000 ; and Little River and A&aroa, £30,000. For repairs to roads between Hokitika and Christchurch, damaged by recent floods, £IOOO is set down ; and for telegraph extension, a special wire between Blenheim and Christchurch, £7OOO. The estimated expenditure On public buildings is Court at Ashburton, L3OO ; | Lyttelton, additional LIOOO. The follow- I ing items also appear ; —Goods Manager Canterbury Railways, compensation for loss of office, L 612 ; and refund of fee on inspection of steam fire engine, Christ- - church, L2, Sir John Goode’s total expenses are set down at L 1077.