PER PRESS AGENCY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2111, 9 October 1875, Page 2

PER PRESS AGENCY.

Parliamentary.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON. Friday. The House met at 2.30 to-day. The Native Minister, in replying to Mr O'Neill, said the expense of sending representatives to the International Rifle Match at Philadelphia was so great that they did not feel justified in incurring it. The expense would be over one thousand pounds. On the motion of Mr O'Connor, a Select Committee was appointed to enquire into the colliery reserve at Westport. Considerable discussion ensued upon the San Francisco mail service. Several members opposed the ratification of the present contract unless to the extent of forty thousand pounds authorised by the House last session, and spoke in terms of condemnation of Sir J. Vogel's action in taking it upon himself to authorise Mr Thos. Eussell to accept a contract for £45,000. Mr Stafford moved, as an amendment, " That the Government should be allowed to modify the contract in any way, provided they did not exceed the forty thousand pounds." Mr Macandrew moved a proviso, that the whole contract should be so modified as to comply with what was sanctioned by the House at its previous session, namely, a six years' contract, and a cpastal service at a maximum cost of forty thousand pounds. The Government considered that in consequence of these amendments and the importance of the question, they required time to reconsider the whole matter, and the debate was accordingly adjourned. The Immigration and Public Works Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The House rose at 5.30.