PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3945, 20 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Pkess Association.) Wellington, Yesterday NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

On consideration of the report of the Committee on the New Plymouth harbour works, Mr Wright said his attention had been drawn to the magnitude of this scheme by reading the. report of Sir John Coode thereon. This report was only recently published, after being buried in official pigeon holes for nearly two years. The idea which had'led to the work being sanctioned seemed to be the colonial necessity for a harbour of refuge there. Sir J. Coode's report and al^ the evidence showed no such harbour "* ; was required there, or would be of no use if made, except for small coasters. The harbour of Kawhia, only sixty miles north of NewPlymouth, would, he was convinced, be open to vessels long before the Nosr Plymouth work could be obtained. The idea of a central penal establishment at New Plymouth had also been urged as an argument, but as soon as the works, loan and endowment were authorised, the people at New Plymouth objected to it, and it. was abandoned. Sir J". Coode, in his design, evidently contemplated the employment of convict labor. Both Waitara and Opunake were, he held, more convenient ports than New Plymouth could be made. After reviewing the whole case, he moved "That this House approves of the recommendations contained in the report, and requests the Governmen to bring in a bill this session to give effect thereto.". Mr Kelly ridiculed the idea of Kawhia ever being available as a harbor of refuge, and said Mr Wright's speech and report of the Committee showed utter ignorance of the fauts of the case and of the locality. Both abounded in errors. He proceeded at considerable length to point these out, and complained, that the Committee inquiry had not been fairly conducted. He contended that the funds at their disposal were sufficient to enable the work to be completed to an extent sufficient to attain the object in view. He disputed the correctness of the calculations as to the cost of the work made by the Committee. He hoped the Houtie would not a^ree to tut* motion.

Mr Hall thought the House would not be justified in taking any definite action with the information beside it; but a case had been made out for inquiry, and he would move as an aiuendmnnt —" That a Parliamentary Commission be appointed, by Act, to inquire into and report on the New Plymouth harbour scheme, as so its utility and practicability; as to its financial position and prospects ; and as to the fairness ot rating equally or otherwise all lands included in the present rating dis trict, the Commission to have the usual power to stop all expenditure on the present harbour works."

LATER

Wellington. This day

The debate was continued by Sir Wm. Fox, who supported the amendment by Mr Hall. A long discussion ensued, Mr Ballauce warmly defending the Wanganui Harbor Board from certain imputations he considered had been pointed at it by Sir Wm. Fox, although it had not beeu absolutely named.

Messrs Sheehan, Weston, Trimble, Hamhn, Swanson, Lundon, Kichardson, Gisborne, Barron, McCaughan, Shrimski, and Levestani all spoke on the question. Ultimately DeLautour moved the omissiou of Hall's amendment, and the substitution of words providing that all expenditure on the harbor works should be stopped until the commission had reported to Parliament, and the House had considered the report, except expenditure necessary to preserve the works from injury, and to secure the plant, such expenditure to be undertaken by the Government, and defrayed out of the money belonging to the Board. He stated the Committee and the Government had agreed to this. Messrs Kelly, Trimble, and Seddon protested against the works being thus hung up. The original motion was negatived on the voices, and Hall's amendment, as amended by DeLautour, was agreed to.

The Kducation Act Amendment Bill (Bible in Schools) was received from the Council, and the usual formal motion for its first reading was, however, lost on the voices. Several members then objected to the bill being thus disposed of, and after a discussion, Mr Fulton gave notice that he would move the first reading again on Tuesday. The House rose at 1.30.