HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3017, 16 October 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The House met at 2 a.m. to-day. PEBBONAL.

Mr H. Hunter made a personal explanation, vindicating the past management of the Te A ute School, as he stated, from some stricturerpassed by Mr Murray in Committee of Supply. SPECIAL WIBES. In reply to Mr McLean,,the Hon. Mr Fisher said, the arrangement for special wires with the Auckland Press Agency were only to hare effect during the session. He would lay papers relating to the management on the table. A tentative arrangement had been made with some parties who intended to form another Press Agency, and if the lines could perform the work he would be prepared to increase the use of special wires, as he felt that it wa» the duty of the Government to encourage the Press. THE KAIAPOI FLOODS. In reply to Mr Bowen, the Hon. Mr Macandrew said he had not yet had time to consider the report of Mr Dobson, C.E., on the Kaiapoi floods. : ' THE AMBEBLEY LINE. ; In reply to Mr Bowen, the Hon. Mr Macandrew said that in three or four weeks some fifteen miles of railway north of. Amberley would be open for tender. CADET BIFLEB. Mr Ballance, in reply to Mr Bowen, was understood to promise that the Government would place a sum on the Estimates to provide a supply of light rifles for the use of cadet corps. : immigbation. ■';■;. The Hon. Mr Stout, in replying to Mr Stevens, said he would make a'statement of the intentions of the Government with regard to immigration during the present year when the estimates for that department were before the House. THE /WAIKATO MEETINGS. In reply to Mr Eolleston, Sir George Grey said the papers relat'ng to the Waikato meetings which were before the House, were the reports of tLe impressions received by competent newspaper correspondents who were witnesses of what took place. It was not customary to lay on the table details of these transactions. Such a course had not been adopted by previous Governments. To the best, of his recollection the terms offered to Tawhiao were correctly stated, but he had not read the papers through; I CUSTOMS HOUBS. In reply to Mr Barton the Premier said that in his opinion the recant changes in the hoars of the Customs Department, would not have any effect upon the eight I hour system, but if it had the" old hours should be returned to. It should be remembered that the Customs officials in the colony worked one hour less than in London, and two hours less than in Hew South Wales, while here they had half a holiday, on Saturday, a practice not prevailing in other places. The Government were anxious to provide all reasonable facilities to shipping. If the operation of the _new system were found to bear heavily on the employees, he would next year ask the House to increase their salaries.

THE BBOGDEN CONTBACTS. Mr Eichardßon asked the Government what reasons they had for departing from the conditions of the several contracts with Messrs John Brogden, which stipulated that all disputes arising out of such contracts were to be referred to the arbitration of a Judge of the Supreme Court. ■:.;•■■■'■ ;:■..-.■-:■.:■:■.■. ; ■ '• '■ , ', The Hon. Mr Stout replied that, as long as he remained the law officer of the Crown, he should advise that none of the legal rights of the Crown should ■be abandoned. LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Incorporation of Campbelltown Bill and the Lyttelton Harbor Board Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. , BILLS PASSED. The Juries Act Amendment Bill and. the Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. . DISTBICT BAIL WATS ACT. The House went into Committee on the District Railways Act Amendment Bill. A new clause was added on the motion of Mr Stevens, providing that debentures should hot be sold at a price which would pay more than 7 per cent, to the purchaser. The bill was reported as amended and read a third time and passed.