GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1654, 1 November 1887, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE 01 REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Oct. 28. The House met at 7.30 p.m. The Premier laid on the table papers relating to the Midland railway contract. Sir Julius Vogel wished to make a few. explanatory remarks. After the end of last session the company, intimated co the Government that they would find a difficulty in getting the necessary finances unless some assurance could be given as to the value of the land. The Cabinet loft a memorandum on the subject to thei' successors, to the effect that the proposes could be mouldy ) into a shape satisfactory to both the company and the colony. The course adopted by the Agent-General, as shown in papers laid on the table, though apparently contrary to the memorandum was strictly within the four corners of the Act, and he had been in structed to take every njeans to settle the matter if possible, so that there need be no further recourse to Parliament. The course adopted by the Government seemed to him satisfactory, The Premier said that on Tuesday ke would move a resolution on the subjec', and would reserve further remarks till then.

Major Atkinson said be was |sorry| to have to inform the House that the hope he had, entertained when be last addressed l it of being able to deliver a Fina-cul Statement that night bad proved delusive, As he; was not able to; deliver! it, be would atk the indulgence of (he House to postpone it till 7.30 p»m. on Tuesday, when he would deliver the Statement without fail, Ha also asked the flense to allow questions to stand over till Tuesday. Sir j. Vegel said, while be objected to ithe wliqlp business of the House being delayed in order that the Financial Statement might be prepared, still, if the honorable gentleman brought down his Statament on Tuesday, he would have prepared it with considerable celerity, with which the House would be well aatit-fjad.

Questions ware than postponed till Tuesday. Sir J. Vogel called tbs attention of the Premier to tbe fact that statements had appeared in the papers during the last two or three days to the affect that the Eug.iali Government had_ agreed to, code to F-a ce th# island of Raiatea, He w*s under the impreasion that Raratopgia was moan', and if that was so it would be a serious |mis-

fortune to New Zealand. He aeked 1 whether the Government had any information on the subject, and if not, whether they thought it toorth while to telegraph Home in reference to it 1 Major Atkinson said be had no information, and it was hardly worth while to telegraph Home, which would be vsry expensive. Moreover, if the English Gov jrnment had completed negotiations our protest would be quite useless. He quite agreed with the bon. gentleman as to the importance of Rarotonga. He should, however, communicate with the Victorian Government on the subject. Col. Fraser introduced the Representation Act Amendment Bill 1887. The Speaker read a letter from Mr FitzGerald concerning a copy of correspondence in reference to the passing of certain vouchers for salaries of officers appointed, as it seemed, to the Auditor and Controller-General in contra; yention of the provisions of the Civil Service Reform Act. Mr Fitz Gerald’s letter concluded “ The salaries in question were passed incompliance with the opinions of the Attorney and Solicitor-General, but, as the Controller and Auditor-General’s view did not coincide with that of the law officer’s, only on the condition that the correspondence should be laid before Parliament.” The House adjourned at 8.15 till Tuesday afternoon.