HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3617, 30 July 1880, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Thursday.

The House met at 2.30.

ME EHSENFBIEd's PETITION.

The report of the Public Petitions Committee re the ■efus'al of certain licenses at the Thames was produced, recommending that' no action should be taken, as the Commissioners had acted in exercise of legal discretion.

Mr Bryce introduced the Maori Prisoners' Detention Bill, stating that a3 it was a matter of urgency, he would ask the House to pass it through all its stages tomorrow.

Mr Saunders gave notice for the appointment of a committee to report upon the expense of the officials connected with both Houses.

In replying to questions, it was stated that Government had received a report from Warden Mackay that a number of claims had been taken up on the recently discovered goldfield at Makourika, Okarito district. -

The claims sent in by Constables for compensation were under consideration. Until disposed of it was unfair to ask the intention* of Government with respsct to individual constables.

Nest session Government would bring down a bill to amend the Regulations of Mines Act, 1874, providing for the issue of certificates of competency, as managers of coal mines. *

In committee on the Oamaru Harbor Board Bill, Mr Murray objected to the principle of the bill, as'it proposed to take the endowment out of the bands of the Waste Lands Board and place it in the hands of the Harbor Board.—Mr Hurst strongly supported the objection.—Mr Hall said Government was not enamoured with the bill, but as the House had decided upon adopting it, he hoped its passage would not be obstructed.—The bill was read a third time and passed. , TABANAXIIKON SAND. The Taranaki Iron Sand Smelting; Works Land Act 1874 Amendment Bill | was considered in committee. The Hon. Mr Atkinson protested against the measure as an effoit to t defraud the public estate. The claim for land. had been bona-fide established by the Company. Mr Stewart defended the measure,

statiug in support of its bona-fide character that the company had spent double the amount of capital they were required to do by law. The bill passed without amendments. TlieJHouse adjourned at 5.30.