GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1255, 21 October 1884, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Thursday, In reply to Mr Wigley, the Hon. the Colonial Secretary said it was his intention to introduce a Bill next week to prevent the spread of lice in sheep. The Wellington Harbor Board Empowering Bill, the Slaughterhouses Bill, and Otago Presbyterian Church Property Bills, were read a third time and passed.

The Council went into Committee on the Otago Harbor Board Loans Consolidation Bill and Workmen’s Wages Bill. The former was reported with amendments, and progress was reported in the latter. The Imprest Supply Bill No. 4 was passed through all its stages. The Speaker laid on the table a communication from the Premier relating to the protest on the part of Christchurch ministers of religion against Members going on Sabbath excursions. Some discussion arose as no theunprecedentedness of this way of addressing Parliament, the usual course being to approach Parliament by petition. The Council rose at 5 p.ra.

HOUSE OF EEPBESENTATITB3. In the House on Thursday, Replying to Mr Samuel, the Hon. Mr Tole said enquiries would be made into the alleged improper deductions made under the Permanent Officers Salaries Act 1882, and these would be refunded if improperly imposed. Replying to Mr Downie Stewart, the Hon. Mr Richardson said £7OO had accumulated as railway employd fines, and at the close of the session the Government would decide upon the disposal of this sum.

Replying to Mr Grigg, the Hon. Mr Stout said the 15 per cent, duty imposed on binder twine was imposed in terms of the Act of 1882.

Mr O’Callaghan objected, but the Hon. Mr Stout said that any special exemption would be unpolitic. Replying to Mr Fitzherbert, who complained that many of the speeches in Hansard were very badly reported, the Hon. Mr Stout said that the difference between members reported in the first and third persons arose from the character and importance of the subjects discussed. The East and West Coast (Middle Island) and Nelson Railway Bill was further considered in Committee.

A number of amendments were proposed in several of the clauses, and the following were carried :—That none of the land granted shall be deemed of less value than 10s per acre ; that nothing herein contained shall affect any rights or interests acquired under any miner’s right or business licenses granted under the authority of the Goldfields Act 1866 or the Mines Act 1877 ; that the total estimate of the cost of the railway shall not exceed £1,500,000 ; that the railway from Tatartu to Rotorua be added to the provisions under certain conditions ; that the route be through Arthur’s Pass. A new clause was added to the Bill, to the effect that the cost of the railway connecting Nelson with the East and West Coast railway should not exceed £1,000,000. The Bill was then reported with amendments, which were ordered to be considered on Monday, and the House adjourned at 1.46 a.m.

An amendment limiting the land to be given to the company to 30 per cent, instead of 50, was negatived.