HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3381, 23 October 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. THE NOKTHBBN BAIfWAY LINK. Replying tp ijr George, Mr Oliver said a surrey of the country between Helensville and Wangarei for ascertaining the best route for a railway would be cotuiueDcetl during the eusuibg summer.

ENDOWMENTS FOE COUNTIE'. In r.*piy to Mr Shanks, Mr Hall said the Government was not yet prepared to say whether or not they will introduce a bill to grant endowments to County Councils similar to those which have been already allocated to municipalities. Mr Oliver, replying to Mr Shanka, abo said that but for the indisposition of the Engineer, tenders would have been advertised, for a further section of the Edendale to Fortrose railway. A NELSON MATTER. In reply to Mr Adams, Major Atkinson said the Government will consider as to the desirability of establishing a naval training school at Nelson somewhat similar lo that established at Kohimarama.' OVa OUTBAGE AGAIN. Replying to Mr Sutton, Mr Bryce said there could be little doubt but the outrage at Ohinemuri was traceable to some dispute about the alleged sale of land. The date of the purchase was the 10th of March.

MANT7FAGTOBE OF BTEEL IN NEW ZEALAND.

Replying to Mr Murray, Mr Oliver said that no definite response had been made to advertisements calling for the manufacture of steel rails in New Zealand. THE GREAT UNPAID. Replying to Mr Murray, Mr Rolleston said at present there were no regulations for the revision of the liat.of the Justices of the Peace, and against bankrupts continuing to sit on the benches or to act as Justices of the Peace. The Government, however, recognised the importance of some such provision being made. GKEYMOUTH COAL EXPORT. ■Replying to Mr Reeves, Mr Oliver said the Government was considering as to the best mode of transit for facilitating the export of coal from Greymouth. * BAKING TO CASES AGAINST THE LATE

GOVERNMENT. Mr Sutton asked—Whether a sum of £240, or thereabouts, had been charged against the Government for cab hire for Ministers in Wellington? If bo, by whom was it expended, and out of what vote was it made ?

Mr Hall said be was not in a position to furnish a complete reply, but the information in his possession was as follows :— Between Ist of July, 1878, to 13th September last Sir G. Grey 16s, Mr Sheehan £29 lls 6d, Col. Whitmore £2, and since then vouchers had been sent in, but not paid; Mr Sheehau £84 Is od, of that sum only £70 bad been paid. Fnrther sums oi' a similar kind amounting to £14 18s, £5 6s, nnd £11 8s respectively had been made. LAND I'UBCHASES. Beplying; to *Mr Stevens Mr Bryce said there could be no doubt that the Government was responsible for the amount required to complete native land purchases mentioned in his statement,, namely, £1,121,000. Instructions had been given to the Government agents to prosecute purchases with vigor, but no actual liability was to be incurred without the sanction of the Gorernmenfc being first obtained.

Beplying to Mr Fulton, Mr Oliver gaid be had received a letter from the chairman of the Henley Kiver Board, of dale 12lh September, and steps had been taken for obtaining a complete report of the question referred to. HeplyiHtj to Mr Pyke, Mr Hall said a sum of £2000 was proposed be placed on the estimates for the construction of the Cromwell Wanaka Telegraph line. ; LIGHTHOUSES FOB THE COAST, ETC. Et plying to MrEiehmond, Major Atkinson said tiie question of ascertaining the best site for a lighthouse on Stephens Island, and if a site cannot be found '.hero the erection of a lighthouse on Lapiti Island was a most important question, and would be dealt with, by the Government as early as possible. Eeplying to Mr Studholme, Mr Hall promised to inquire into the expediency of causing a Telegraph station to be opened at the Makikihi. Eeplying to Mr Tainui, Mi' Bryce said enquiries would be made as to the appointment of a doctor to attend to the natives of Horara. SCHOOL BUILDING. Mr Fulton asked whether the sum of £25,000 appointed to Otago educational district out of £250,000 voted for school building in the colony is a fair adjustment considering the population and school attendance in that district.

Mr Bolleston said the Government would bring down proposals in regard to education, in which a fairregard would be paid to the question of population. and school attendance, but in a national scheme of education it was absurd that one district should be fully equipped with buildings and residences, while another district was left wholly neglected. . ADJOUBNED DEBATE. Mr Hall moved the adjournment of the debate on the second reading of the Electoral Bill until to-morrow, when ho would bs in a position to state what course the Government proposed to pursue with regard to the no-confidence motion. Motion agreed to. , NEW BILBS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: —Christchurcb Drill Shed, Stevens; Palmsrston ISorth ..He-" serves, Johnston ; Timaru Waterworks, Turnbull; Otago University lleserve Vesting Bill, Maeandrew; West Clive Public Hall Eeserve, Ormond; to Provide for Management of Public Hospitals and Charitable Institutions, Hall; to amend " The Electric Telegraph Act, 1875 " ; to regulate Branding of Stock and Registration of Brands used for that purpose. Hall; to amend " The Eegistration of Births Act, 1875 " ; a Bill to provide for Eegistration of Dogs, Wakefield; to grant an Endowment to the Harbor Board at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, Sutton. Mr Stevens moved that a select committee be appointed to consider and report on the question of what relief can be afforded to manufacturers ia this colony by lessening or-abolishing duties at present levied on articles used by them in their respective manufactures. Such committee to cousisfc of the Hon. Mr Oliver, Mr Acton Adams, Mr Andrews, i Mr Ballance, Mv Dick, Mr W. J. Hurst, ] Mr Levin, Mr Moss, Mr Wright, and the mover, to have power to call for persous and papers and report in three weeks.

la the coarse of a lengthened debate which took place on the importance of fostering local industries, Mr Macandrew said that it was a subject for congratulation that after this year the coiony would no*; require to inako use of Newcastle coal, as tlio colonial product would he quite equal to colonial demand. An amendment was moved that the following be added to the motion, "and other means by which the establishment of colonial industries and manufactures can be promoted." The motion as amended was curried, aad the Houst adjourned.