GENERAL" ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2399, 15 September 1892, Page 4

GENERAL" ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Mr Stevens's motion with reference to local borrowing was agreed to by 15 to 8. The Statutes .Revision Committee recommended that the West Coast Reserves Bill be allowed to pass as amended. The amendments make the Bill virtually a new measure. The Petone Corporation Loan Empowering Bill was put through the final stages. The Arms Act Repeal Bill was thrown out by 16 to 4. Major Ropata referred to the measure as being unnecessary, and expressed a fear that if it were passed it •would lead to tribal warfare and bloodshed. The Council rose at 4.55 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Taylor on account of illness. HARBOR WORKS. A discussion in regard to harbor works in the colony was opened by Mr Wright, who referred to the necessity of appointing a marine engineer for the colony to advise the Governor in respect to these works.—Mr Seddon said the Government would carefully watch the proceedings of these boards, but they could not afford to appoint extra officers to superintend the works. After several members had spoken, the subject dropped. BILLS ADVANCED. On the motion of Mr W. P. Reeves the House concurred with the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Bankruptcy Bill. The amendments made in the Land Bill were also agreed to. IN COMMITTEE. The Shop and Shop Assistants Bill was committed. Clause 4 was altered to provide that borough councils shall declare on which day the half holiday is to be kept,' instead of " may " do it. Mr Duohie moved a further amendment to the effect ] that borough councils and town boards may declare Saturday to be a half holiday, and that shops could close at 1 in the afternoon. The debate was interrapte'l by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE LAND BILL. j On the motion that the Land Bill fefl read a third time, Mr Rolleston adversely criticised the measure, and predicted that in two or three years the people would rise against frivolous and yexatious annoyance that j they would experience under it. | Mr Fish strongly condemned the Bill in a lengthy speech. Mr Macintosh, Mr Hogg, Mr Bruce, and Mr Mills (Waimea-Picton) supported *ho nr.'iflnre. Mr McKenzie (Oiutha) ■=•:■>.>ke ugainat- it. Messrs Buckland, Hutchison (Dunf>flirj), Richardson, Duthie, McLean, Buchanan, Sandford, Lake, Thompson (Marsden), Shera, and Harkness also spoke. [Left sitting at 2 a.m.] ____