HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3007, 4 October 1878, Page 1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. f

WELLINGTON. Thursday. THE GOLDMINING DISTRICTS ACT. Mr Bowe gave notice' to introduce a bill to amend the Goldmining Districts Act, 1873. THAMES WATBB SUPPLY ACT. In reply to Mr Bowe, the Hon. Mr Sheehan said that to-morrow a bill would be introduced to amend the Thames Water Supply Act, 1876. . * . , THAMES FOBEBHOBE. Mr Eowe asked when the bill handing over'the foreshore at the Thames to the Harbor Board would be introduced P The Premier said he had already given notice that a bill would be introduced. mechanics' institutes. ' '". Mr Bowe asked whether the Govern* ment intended to place any money on the Supplementary Estimates to assist Me- 1 chanics' Institutes throughout the colony where they were not already endowed.. The Hon. J. Ballance said it was not the intention of the Government to place any money on the Estimates for that purpose. £5,000 had been provided under the Public Libraries Act, and he thought out of that fund assistance could be obtained.

THE VNA. FOBFEITUBE AND CIAIM. " ' Mr Bowe asked for v the production of correspondence relating to the forfeiture of the Una Gold Mining Company's Lease at the.Thames, and the subsequent charge ' of rent for the same.

The Attorney-General said there was. do objection. SCHOOL OP MINUS. Mr Bowe asked if the Government intended this session to take any steps to establish a School of Mines in the North Island. , . . . The Hon. B. Stout said if any local body in the North Island would take steps to establish a School of Mines, the Government would bare no objection to assist them, but they could not' justify themselves in talcing action unless the matter was taken up by some local body. ADJOUBNMENT. The Government said no objection would be offered to the House adjourning at 5.30 to-morrow in consequence of the members' ball. NATIVE LAKDB BILL. The Hon. Mr Sheehan will more the second reading of the Native. Lands Bjll on * Tuesday . next. '• Nearly; the whole afternoon,was occupied in debating, whether the Xand Tax Bill report be agreed to. Mr Wakefield moved the re-committal of the Bill on the ground that the Att6rney-General had promised 'that an opportunity would be afiprded of discussing the whole question of valuation of runs and the relations of landlord and \ tenant. ' i - •■''■:

The Attorney-General denied that he ever made such a promise. The Hon. Mr Ballance said he remembered the circumstances, and knew of nd : such promise. Mr Hislop said had it not been for such a promise he would have-moved '> certain amendments he had prepared. Mr Bowen, Mr Bolleston, Mr Wason,

and others expressed astonishment that ministers would refuse to accept the statements of so many members oh the point.. After a somewhat animated debate, in the course of which several members who usually vote*with the Government sup* ported the recommittal of the bill, A division was taken, and Mr Wake- - field's amendment was negatived by 34 to 32. Mr Murray and Mr Montgomery then announced that they could not support the third reading. The debate was interrupted^ 5.30.