Last Night's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3600, 10 July 1880, Page 2

Last Night's Sitting.

On the House resuming, Mr Seddou defended bis conduct for half an hourMr Wood's motion to reduce the vote by £500 was negatived on the voices.—Mr George then moved that the reduction be £250, which was lost by 35 to 29.—The remaining salaries in the Postal Department were agreed to. —The Hon. J. Hall moved a reduction of the item conveyance of mails by sea by £900, to be saved by the Nelson-Hokitika service, and £2000 on the intercolonial service. Messrs Seddou, Gisborne, and J. B. Fisher opposed' the first named reduction, on which the Committee divided, being carried by 44 to 15.—Mr Seddoa moved to strike out £240 for Blind Bay Service. After discussion this was withdrawn.—Hon. J. Hall moved to reduce the vote by £100 for the Tauranga and Opotiki service. Agreed to.—Hou. J, Hall moved'to reduce the

intercolonial service by £1998. Agreed to. —On the vote for inland mail service, Mr Hall proposed a reduction by £1400 ou the coach from Napier to Tauranga, which would be discontinued, as well a a number of other services, as contracts fell in, when they hoped to save £5,500 a-year. Agreed to.—Hon. J. Hall moved to deduce th<j vote for carriage of mails by £12,500. Agreed to.—The Committee then went on to the telegraph estimates. This day. TELEGRAPH ESTIMATES.

The committee proceeded with the telegraph estimates.

Mr Hall explained that the telegraphic receipts from all sources had been £73,600. There waa a mileage telegraphic communication amounting to 2,603, and of the actual wire of over 9,000 miles. The duplex system of working two messages on one wire was very successful, and extended over 2,228 miles, effecting a saving of £2,220. The administration of railways, Telegraph Department, had been taken over, which had effected a very considerable sating. The amalgamation of Post Offices and Telegraph Stations had been carried on to a considerable extent. There were seventeen stations where such amalgamation had not taken place. Out of a total 220 stations, 123 were amalgated, and further amalgamations would take place shortly, particularly it was hoped in the larger offices. There were 94 stations on which the excess of expenditure over receipts amounted to £58C 3. The average loss on each message to or from these stations was fivepence, and they must either close the offices or raise • the price. This they proposed to do by sixpence a message. By closing the large offices from five o'clock to seven o'clock they would effect a saving of twenty-seven officers. He was very sorry to have to dispense with their services, but it must be done. It was proposed to call out the least useful. Some of them would have to receive compensation. The total saving would be £3480, but the compensation would amount to £940. They also proposed to dispense with the services of a Telegraph Inspector and a Telegraph Surveyor. They paid £5000 as a subsidy on the cable, but they proposed to charge an additional 3d per word, which they thought would increase their revenue by £2300. It wao also proposed not to confirm the agreement of the Port Darwin;iine. This line, which would save another £1500 the total saving would be £5555 out of the vote of £106,27110s for the Telegraphic Department. Mr Hall said that the sum would be reduced by £3704.

It was agreed to take the Secretary's estimates next.

A discussion was proceeding on the salaries of electoral registrars, when the House rose at 12.30.