HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3615, 28 July 1880, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

.' ■"■ Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30. .

In replying to a question, it was stated Government thought, provision for the widows and children of the men killed in. the Government sludge channel at Kumara might be left to public benevolence, and Government did not think it necessary to interfere in the matter.

Alexander McDonald, lately appointed a Native Land Purchase Agent at Otaki, was convicted of stopping a mail coach and shooting the horse. He was a man capable of rendering good service in the position to which lie had been appointed. « Edward F. ?S. Harris, gazetted a native intepreter, wan the same man who was convicted in 1875 and sentenced to four years' imprisonment for forgery. When the appointment was made Govern* men t was not aware of that fact. His application had been recommended by influential residents of the district in which he resides. "

The use of colonial coal was so rapidly superseding that of the imported article; that Government did not think it neces-f sary to impose a tux on the latter. The provision mado in the new Licensing Act for the appointment of Inspectors of beers and spiritous liquors to prevent adulteration would be strictly enforced.

Government recognised importance of a bill to relieve the sbarebrokers from payment of the present license, but saw up, probabily'of getting such a measure passed this session. ' Proposals would be made in the Public Works Statement to give effect to the agreement between Provincial Government of Auckland and Thames local authorities iii reference to Grahamstown ao4 Tararu tramway.

Tliere was no foundation for the statement recently made in the Hawera paper bearing uoon the action of the natives in erecting fences across the line of road near Parihaka.

A bailiff had been appointed for the Warden's Court at Collingwood, Nek son. ■>■■■ When the West Coast Commissioners' roport came down, Government would submit a proposal for dealing with the whole question about suppressing natives from fencing colonial roads and ploughing the lands of settlers on the West Coast. Sir George Grey's Select Committee was appointed to repqrt on the JPatetere correspondence, or any circumstances connected with the sale thereof to European purchasers. The House then went into Committe of Supply. The debate on the Education vote was considered and discussed, and the discussion occupied the remainder of the sitting. The House adjourned at 5.30.