HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4537, 20 July 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Weliinoton, Yesterday. The House met at 2.30.

Replying to questions, Ministers said a reward would be offered for the discovery of a payable goldfield in Canterbury under certain conditions. —The Property Tax valuation in the Wanganui, Waitotara district, waa, £71f1.90, while tbe road board local valuation was only £52,000 ; there is no doubt the former was correct, and there was no power to interfere with the latter.—Mr Bowron had been appointed at a salary of £200 a year to advise and assist persona starting cheese and dairy factories. ' ' The following bills were introduced and read a first, Jime;—Native Lands Act Amendment (Grey), and the Kawhia Township Sale Bills.

Major Atkinson moved that the House agree with the report of the committee on Pacific annexation.—-Mr Montgomery disagreed with the report. He did not think it at all desirable in our own or the natives? interest to annex the New Hebrides ; it would be a bad bargain. He objected to a bliud guarantee of expense which might amount to millions.. We had enough to do to manage our own affairs.—Mr Holmes said it was all nonsense talking about, civilising the natives of the islands ; tbat meant sweeping them off the face of the earth. The real question was, would it pay to take possession of these islands ? The attempt might lead to war, and the colony would be committed to unknown liability. He moved, as an amendment, the addition of the words " to prevent the colony being committed to bear any share of the expense of the annexation."—Mr Shepherd supported the report, and spoke at some length as to the advantage which would result to us from annexation, and the dangers of the islands falling into foreign possession.—: Mr Macandrew heartily approved of annexation, but only if we were not asked to pay for it. We had no funds to spare for such a purpose.-r-Mr Moss, who was opposed to annexation, said that to attempt it would be to offer a challenge to foreign powers, and the establishment of Crown* colonies of the Fiji type was not at all desirable.— Mr Munro supported the resolution.—Mr J. C. Brown agreed with the report df the Committee. Mr J. Buchanan opposed both the motion and the amendment. Annexation, he said, was not a matter of nrgeet interest to the colony.—Mr J. W. Thompson thought the matter one for the Imperial Govern ment. There was not sufficient data

befars thfl Hon*e to arrive at qny opinion. —Mr -Hurst moved the adjournment of the debate.—Mr Fish objected to pledg ing the colony to an indefinite liability.— Sir G. Grey said the colouiea for the first time had now awoke to national and joint action, and they should not damp the movement, bat they should hot pledge themselves to any pecuniary liability.— Mr Hutchison opposed the motionMajor Atkinson agreed that the debate should not be hurried to a close—The motion for adjournment was agreed to.— Major Atkinson moved that the House go into Committee of Supply—M<' Levestam, as an amendment, moved that tha central route of the Main" Trank Middle Island Eailway line, via Tophouse, should be proceeded with at once.r-Mr Johnston said that even before deciding the route it was necessary to know what funds were likely to be available, and the question of special taxation of lands bene fitted, should; also be decided, hs they could not ezc-ed a million h year on all works, or borrow more for 3 years. The motion was impracticable—Mr Holmes opposed the motion.—Mr Fish said the. Government were keeping the rival routes dangling before members to catch votes. With the Commissioners report before them the Government should be able to decide the routes at once.—Mr Turnbull did not think either line likely to be carried out in..the present unsatisfactory financial condition and prospects of the colony. He urged the Government to take back the estimates and recast them, so ns to bring the expenditure within

income,

The amendment was negatived on the voices, and the House went into Commit tee of Supply on the estimates for Land and Mines Department, class 10. , . Latee.—This day..., In committee of supply the following rotes were passed, after considerable discussion, 'but without - alteration :—Class 10: Mines, £18.883; class, 13: Crown Land" Department, £21,444; Crown Land*, Miscellaneous, £i£4o7; Coalfields, £20(1; Survey Department, £111,729; Miri'iter of Mines Department, £10,600. The House rose at 1.23. :