HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4913, 8 October 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. Replying to questions put, it was stated that a classification of native school teachers was about to be made with a view to a readjustment of salaries.—lt was intended to complete the sanitoriutn at Ohinemutu as soon as possible.—The land round the foot of Mount Cook and Muller glacier would be reserved, and Government would consider the necessity for reserving land fire chains wide round lakes and rivers in Mackenzie County, for fishing and boating purposes. On the motion of Mr Stout, it was agreed that Government business have precedence on Wednesdays for the remainder of the session, half the day being given to private members tomorrow.

The Waikato Confiscated Lands Bill was read a second time. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Government Insurance Association Bill.l—Major Atkinson supported the motion. The late Government felt that the assistance of a Board such as that proposed was very necessary in regard to many questions of management and control. —The motion was carried, on the understanding that time would' be allowed for considering the measure before | going into Committee. The amendments made by the Council in the Napier Harbor Board Bill were agreed to. RAILWAY LEASING BILL. On the motion for going into Committee on the District Railways Leasing and Purchasing Bill, Mr J. W. Thompson moved as an amendment that the Bill be referred to the Public Accounts Committee, for further information and investigation.—Mr Lake asked what was the urgent necessity necessity for the measure, and Why had Government brought it down so late in the session P Until further information was placed before members he would oppose the measure.—Messrs J. B. Whyte, Sutter, and Walker spoke in support of the bill going.into Committee. —Mr Bryce bad no objection to the bill going into Committee, but at the same ' time he would like to see a select committee appointed to collect some information to lay before the House.-—Mr Pyke urged that the bill should be allowed to go into Committee without further discussion.— Major Atkinson would favor the bill going to Committee. He had read the bill care» fully,, but could not understand what Government intended to do; he doubted whether they knew themselves. He argued that now, that the House had affirmed the principle of taking over these railways, was it not reasonable for members to ask to what amount will it render the colony liable ?—Sir J. Vogel, in reply, said he could not see what harm would be done by allowing the Bill to at once go into Committee.

After further discussion, the House divided on the motion for going into Committee : Ayes, 47; noes, 29. Division ]ist: Ayes, 47 — B&llance, Beran, Bradshaw, Brown, Buckland, J. C. Backland, W. F. (teller), Cadman, Cowan, Duncan, Fergus, Fraser, Garrick, Gillies, Grigg, Guinness, Harper, Hatch, Hirst, H., Holmes, Lance, Lam a eh, MacKenzie, M. J. S., McKenzie, McMillan, Morris, O'Callaghan, O'Connor, Pyke, Richardson E. Richardson, G. F., Ross, Samuel Shephard, Smith, Steward, W. J., Stewart, W. D., Stout, Sutter, Taiaroa, Teao, Tole, Turnbull, Vogel, Walker, White, W., Whyte, J. B. (teller), and Wilson.— Noes, 29—Atkinson, Barron, Beetham, Bruce, Bryce, Buohan (teller), Connolly, Dargaville, Dodson, Fulton, Grey, Hakuhe, Hobbs, Hursthouse, Lake, Locke MacArthur, JMitehelson, Moat, Montgomery, Moss, Newman, Pere, Reese, Rolleston, Thompson, T., Thompson, J. W., Trimble, and Wakefield. This day. In Committee on Clause 3 Mr Whyte moved an amendment that no contract for purchase of any railway be binding or final until laid before and sanctioned by Parliament. The Committee divided—ayes, 25 ; noes, 38 ; the amendment was lost. Clauses 4 and 5 were agreed to with unimportant amendments, progress reported, and the House rose at 1.30 a.m. """ •