HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3431, 20 December 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 1 o'clock, when the Government explained the amendments made bythe Council in: the Public Works Bill and moved that:tbey be agreed to. .

Mr Moss protested against; such a. national work as the Waikato and New Plymouth line being struck oat. Major Atkinson* said the Government regretted the action taken by the Council, still he did not think they were serious enough to warrant the House disagreeing with them, no practical difficulty would be occasioned, and the Government would recommend the House to agree to amendments. There could bo no real doubts but that this line, as a through line would eventually be carried out; and the" Government would use every endeavour to have the line surveyed and explored during the recess. Mr,. Moss said he had just causo for. alarm. They were just spending the last of their loans. He would remind the Government of the extent to which it was indebted to the members, and thought the Government should have shown a little more solicitude for the interests of that province. Under the circumstances it would be a rery great disappointment to the people of Auckland ; in fact, it would be, practically speaking, a serious bar to their hopes that this all important work not would be carried out.

Mr Macandrew thought they would be wrong in acquiscing in the amendment made by athe Council, nd such ought to be resisted. '

Col. Trimble tjntered his protest against the amendment. It was unfair to the Minister who originally framed the proposal, as well as to this House, by whom it was passed. It was too late in the session to hope that they would be able to make anything like an effectual resistance.

Mr McLean said that he hoped Government would see its way to send, the Bill back, and get the line replaced. It would make no real difference, as it could not possibly be gone on with this year, and the Auckland members would be deprived of inakiDg political capital out of this matter. '

Mr Oliver assured the House the Government would keep this work steadily in ?je^»*, with the view of having it eventually parried out; All inquiry would be made during thV-repess, with a vjew of collecting what information they could as to the best route to be adopted.

The question was then put that the House agree to the amendment—Ayes 22, Noes 15. Division List.—Ayes : Andrews, Barron, Beetham, Bunny, Driver, Gibba, Hall, Ireland, Levin, "Mason, Montgomery, Pyke, Richmond, Richardson, Itolleston, Saunders, Shepherd, Shrimski, Tainui, Turnbull, Willis, Wright. Noes: Atkinson, Bryce, DeLautour, Gisborne, Hursthouso, Kelly, Lundon, Macandrew, McLean, Moss, Oliver, Eeid, and Sheehun.

Mr Hall said that although he voted with the ayes, it was not that he agreed with the striking out of the line, but simply because he believed it would, lead to no good result to stand out against the amendment at that state of the session. PROBOGATION. At 3 o'clock, the members of the House were summoned to attend the Commissioners in the Legislative Council. The Comnfissionera appointed were :— Sir W. J?itaherbertj Hont F."\fhitaker, and the Hon. John Johnston. But Mr Whitaker was not present. The Com* mission being read Sir W. Fitzherbert declared Parliament prorogued to Thursday, the sth of February.