HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3406, 21 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

&s3*burtoa Races. The following are the results of the second day's racing :—

Wellington, Last night. Tho House met at 2.30. DUNEDIN GAOLEKS. Mv Dick presented a petition from the warders of Dunodin gaol praying for consideration of their claims. FIXE. Mr Ileeves gave notice that he would ask the Government to take steps for extinguishing a fire which hnd beeu burning for some time at Port Elizabeth, West Coast, Middle Island. telegraphists' gbikvance. Mr Dick presented a petition from the operators in tho telegraph department praying for a redress of grievance. AUCKLAND ENDOWMENT SCHOOL. Mr Moss gave notice that he would move—That an address be presented to the Governor requesting that he will cause to be placed on the estimates £4000 to aid in building the Auckland Endowment School. CONTIUCTQBS' PAYMENTS. Replying to Mr Reeves, the Minister for Public Works said as the present aystem worked very well the Government did not intend reverting to the practice of local paymasters in order to facilitate the payment df local contractors. GBEYMOUTH COBDEN BBIDGE. Replying to Mr Heeves, Hon. Mr Oliver said it is not the intention of Government to place a sum of money on the Egfcimattfi for Hn» niinmjjLniLkiiiLlim-

a dray bridge to connect Greyruouth and Cobdcn, as the vrork would cost at least £12.000.. Mr Stewart nsked if Government will state the area of land belonging to Government at Addington, from whom it was purchased, the amount of the-purchase money, the date of the purchase, and through whom the purchase was effected ; als® the estimated coat of the Addington workshops, stating separately the outlay incurred in levelling and forming the land, the expense of the building, machinery, etc., the value of available plant belonging to the old workshops, the value of the rolling stock ordered during the last financial year, and whether such orders were provided for in last year's appropriation, from what countries such rolling stock was obtained, and where the same was made.

Mr Olivar replied that the estimated cost of workshop levelling and forraiog grounds was £250, sundries £775, and £4530 cO3t of machinery. The estimated i value of machinery and plant in the old shops was £3075; estimated cost of new machinery ordered, £9,779 { total, j £32,208; area of land, 25 acres 2 roods 6 perches, cost, £8,545 13s; also 1 acre 1 rood 25 perches, the price not agreed upon. The land acquired by the late Provincial Government of Canterbury was 6 acres, and cost £1,575. The original cost for forming the ground and erecting the buildings at Addington was £35,447 0a sd. No estimate had been received of the cost of machinery nor the value of available plant belonging to the old shop. Including the order sent home on the 22nd June, 1878, the value of rolling stock and machinery ordered last year for working railways in Canterbury and Otago, and allowing for erection, was about £270,000. The amount for additional rolling stock was about £21,000. Six locomotives, 10 carriages, and all the work shop's machinery were ordered from America, the remainder of the order went to England. new biles. ; The. following Bills were introduced and considered in Committee:-—Timaru Harbor Board Empowering, Turnbull; To provide that Borrowing Power .j be Granted to the Clutha Harbor Board, Thomson. BAILWAY WOBKSHOP3 FOB AUCKLAND. Mr Hamlin moved—" That a committee be appointed to inquire and report within two weeks as to the most suitable and least expensive place for erecting railway workshops for the provincial district of Auckland. - Mr' Oliver opposed the motion, stating it was a matter which should be left in the hands of the Government. [ The House divided—Ayes 16, noes 33. The motion was lost. SECOND HEADINGS. The following Bills were read a second time:—Palmerston North Reserves, Registration of Dogs, Aucklaud Harbor j Board, Canterbury Rivera Act 1870 j Amendment, Municipal Corporation Act [ 1876 Amendment, Kaitangata-Wangare Athenaeum, Maori Members Election Validation, Napier and Meanee Recreation Ground, Counties Act Amendment' Act 1877 Amendment, Alexandra Corporation Reserves, Forest Planting Encouragement Act 1871 Amendment Act, Wellington Provincial Districts Highway Bonrds, Width of Streets and Roads Bill, and Oreti Bridge and Perry .Reserves. The Town Private Lands Regulation Bill was withdrawn. COBBUPT PBACTICE9 HILL. Sir G Grey moved the second reading of the Prevention of Corruption Bill. Mr Hall said that while he would not oppose the motion he did not think the Bill was required. In committee he would move certain amendments. The motion was put and carried on the voices.

THE TABIFF ADJUSTMENT.

The question that in the opinion of the House His Excellency the Governor should be moved to issue a commission to take evidence at the principal commercial centres of New Zealand and to report upon the operations of the present tariff with a view to such readjustment of Customs Duties as may be considered best calculated to foster various branches of industry now established withinthe colony was put to the rote and negatived on the voices.

AWATEBE SHEAEING BE9EBTES.

The Awalere Shearing lieserres Bill passed through committee and was reported with amendments. On tho motion for going into committee on the JRaugiuru Schools a lengthened discussion arose. The opposition given to the measure was grounded on the fact that the trust in this, ns well as in many other similar cases, hud been abused, and that therefore it should be dropped and a more comprehensive measure, dealing with the whole subject of these truits, be introduced.

Mr Montgomery pointed out that it coit £35 per head for educating children in this school, und that it was an abuse of tho trust, which expressly stipulated that the endowment was granted for educating the poor and orphan children residing in the district. The Bill required amendment, still it should not be thrown out, and for that reason he would support tho motion for going into committee. Mr Ballance said the whol« object of tho Bill was to get the trust placed on a proper footing. The trustees took up the position that the trust had not been fulfilled, because it was impossible to do so. The trustees proposed to take it into Court with the view of getting tho trust itself modified. In that case the property would have been frittered away to no j beneficial purpose. In committee he would agree to any honorable amendment that might be proposed. The House dtaide.cl. Ay6g"37, noes 25. In commTTTr?bv M> E ainlin = moved that progress be reported and leavo asked to sit again. On division, Ayes were :— 24, and Noes, 31. Tho bill was contested word by word. A division being called on each. Eventually it was agreed to pass the first three classes. Progress was reported, and leave asked to sit again presently.

MISCELLANEOUS. The Eiverfcon Drill Shed lleserve Bill, was read a second time. The Mining i Company's Act 1872 Amendment Bill, nnd the Mines Act 1877 amendment, were reported and the former read a third time and passed. The House then^ went into committee and the Wanganui Endowment Schools Bill was further considered in committee. The opposition was again repeated and continued until our message was despatched at 12.30 a.m. Later. The House sat till a quarter to five this morning, the latter part being occupied with the Auckland Improvement Commissioners Transfer of Powers Bijl, which was ultimately passed, It was iv