HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3398, 12 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Afternoon Sitting. Wellington, Tuesday. The House of Eepresentatives met at 2.30. FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The Hon. John Hall announced, in, reply to enquiries said to have been made by a number of hon. member*, that, in the event of the legislation now before the House getting through with any degree of despatch, the Financial Statement would be brought down on Monday. PETITION. In reply to Mr Bwanson, Mr Brycesaid that without first obtaining the opinion of the House Government is not disposed to take action in reference to the report of the Public Petitions Committee during tbe session of 1878, in reference to the petition of Samuel J. Edmonds. : jackson's bay settlement. Beplying to Mr Gisborne, Mr Oliver said that the question of making a valuable wharf begun under the authority of a preceding Government at the special settlement at Jackson's Bay, as recommended by the Jackson's Bay Commission, is still being considered, and will be decided before the Estimates are brought down. PUBLIC ANALYSTS. Bcplying to Mr Wright, Mr Hall said that during the recess Government would consider whether the services of Public Analysts throughout the colony cannot be made more practically useful than at present, and the. steps to be taken therein. .

Reply ing to Mr Tole, Mr Hall said at present Government was not prepared to place a sufficient sum on tbe estimates for the erection of a poßt office at Newmarket in conjunction with the telegraph office of that place. PABOA BIT WHABF. Replying to Captain Colbeck, Mr Oliver said Government would rerj likely take steps to have a small landing wharf erected at Paroa Bay, near Whangarei Heads. THE PULLMAN CABS. Mr Fjke asked whether it is true that the Pullman railway cars lately imported from America cannot pass through the tunnel on the (Jhristchurch-Invercargill Hue? Whether, if such is the case, the cars can be altered so as to r«nd«r them available for through traffic on that line? What is estimated to be the cost of such alteration, and who is responsible for the blunder.

Mr Oliver replied he was torrj to answer the first qaestion in the affirmative. They might be altered, but the cost would be very considerable and unjustifiable ; under the circumstance!. /The Government I agent at New York was responsible for the blunder. Sections of the tunuals i were sent to him, but he appeared to give no attention to these. The Government was not prepared to say whether or not he would be held personally responsible. HOADS TO OPEN CBOW\N LANDS. In reply to Mr George,- the Hon. J. Hall said the following question would be dealt with in the Financial Statement:-* "If Government will place a sum of money on the Estimates for the purpose of constructing roads through and opening up Crown lands in various district! in the colony in whioh the Counties hare not sufficient funds to do so." NATIVE COAE. Mr Barron askeS whether, as a report furnished to the Commissioner of Railways on the 28th' of May, 1878, that Green Island, Walton Park, and other native coals can be used for locomotive purposes at less cost than imported coal, Government intended to encourage the use of such native coal.

Mr Oliver replied that effect had.been given to the reports in qucfeiOp. Tbe Green Island coal was being larVSvs>nied, and with a view of encouraging its use, the Government had offered firemen a bonus of sixpence per day, for its efficient employment. SMALL FAHM SETTLEMENTS. Replying to Sir George Grey, Mr Solleston said Government would bring down a bill dealing with the establishment of small farm settlements to be taken up on the system of deferred payments by settlers to whom employment will fora time be afforded upon public works, but the locality of these would hare to be decided when the fate of (ht bill was decided. COT7BT-HOUSE AT "WATKAIA. Beplying to Mr Ireland, Mr Bolleston said that the question of the erection of the Court-house at Waikaia the Public Petitions Committee referred to the Government on tha 39th ultimo, had been referred f. r the opinion of the District Engineer. THE MARION-HAS GITISBI BAIWAY. Beplying to Mr Murray, Mr. Oliver said a report had been received from an engineer employed by the, Bangitikei County Council of a good practical route for a railway to Bangitikei by the Murimutu Plains to Taupo and Auckland.

ME MAHCH. , - . Mr Bunny asked .what conne they meant to pursue upon the recommendation of Waste Lands Committee on the petition of John March. Mr Hall said that the Cromwell

Municipal Council had certain rested rights in the question at issue, and Government did not feel justified in interfering with these. NEW UlhlS.

The following bills wero introduced and r»ad a first time—A bill to promote tho union of river districts (Mr Seymour) ; i to amend the Olago University .Site j EsehauKO Act, 3875; and Otago Uni-! rersity, 1878 (Air Macandrow) ; the land j tax collection (Atkinson) ; and the Kumara Educational lteserve (Oliver).

QUALIFICATION OF KLECTOrtS BILL. The Qualification of Electors .Bill was further considered in committee. An amendment was moved so aa to make substitution of clause 2 read ' every person of the age of 21 years or upwards, being a ratepayer, on any ratepayers' roll in the colony," and on a division the amendment was lost en the vole of 26 to 22. Mr Gisborne moved, as a further amendment, that the property qualification in clause 2, set down at £25, be made £50. Tho amendment was lost ou the voices.

Colonel Trimble moved the following as a further addition to clause 2:— 11 Every woman of the age of 21 years or upwards whose name appears on the ratepayers' roll for the time being in force in the el ctora! district, for which the vote is to be given," was put and negatived. A further amendment was moved, with the view of making subsection 2 read so as to confer (he franchise on females who have resided one year iv tlie colony, and who are not registered in respect of freehold qualification. On a division the amendment was lost, the numbers bein» 27 to 16.