HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4922, 18 October 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mr Bruce gave notice to ask what provision Government intended making for vaccination in outlying districts. Replying to questions, it was stated Government had no power under any Act to reserve Buapehu, S garuhoe, Tongariro, Rotoaroa, Tokano, and the Hot Springs in the districts as a national park.—lnquiries would be made into the alleged improper deduction under the Permanent Officers' Salaries Act, 1880, and these would be refunded if improperly imposed. —£700 had accumulated as railway employe fines, and at the close of the session the Government would decide upon the disposal of the sum.—-The 15 per cent, imposed on binder-twine was done in terms of the Act of 1882, and Government had no alternative but to impose it. The following bills were read a first time:—To abolish the export duty on gold by reducing that duty to one shilling an ounce from and after the 3ist March, 1883, and taking off the remaining duty of one shilling per ounce from and after the 31st March, 1886 (Sir George Grey) ; a bill to amend " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876 " (Mr W. White.) I

The House went into Committee of Supply, and an Imprest Supply of £200,000 was passed through all its stages.

The East and West Coast (Middle Island) and Nelson Railway Bill was further considered in Committee. In clause 9 Mr O'Connor moved the addition of—" Providing that no auriferous or coal bearing land shall be so set aside." This elicited a long discussion, during which the Premier appealed to the Chairman, and said Sir George Grey was out of order in discussing clauses not under discussion.—Sir Geo. Grey moved to report progress with the view of asking the Speaker's ruling as to whether he would be allowed to debate the Bill as a whole, so as to point out the effect of particular clauses. The motion for reporting j progress was lost on the voices after a I long debate.—Mr O'Connor's amendmeat was also lost on the voices.-—Mr Fulton moved a further amendment to strike out " except that it shall not be necessary to survey the lend in blocks, and the company shall be onsitled (o the whole land so withdrawn so long as the same does net exceed the quantity to be granted."—The amendment was lost by 45 to 23.—Mr Seddon moved the omission of " that the land to be granted under this Act shall be calculated upon the estimated market 1 value," with the view of inserting—" The valuation of such land not to be less than as assessed under the Property Assessment Act, 1879." Negatived.—A further amendment by tbe Premier, to add the words, " provided that no land shall bs deemed of a less value than 10s per acre," was carried by 51 to 18.—Mr Seddon moved the addition of " Provided that nothing herein contained shall affect any right or interest acquired under the miners' rights or business licenses granted under the authority of the Goldfields Act, 1866, and the Miaes'Act, 1877." Agreed to. —A further amendment—" That the value of tbe Crown lands to be granted to the company should not excefcd 30 per cent, instead of 50 percent, of the cost of the railway," was lost by 39 to 32.—The Premier moved the insertion of the words in the same clause, " Provided that the total estimate of the cost of the railway shall not exceed £1,509,000." Agreed to. This day.

Several other amendments were moved, but were lost.—The Premier moved to add the Putiruru-Kotorua line of railway to clause 19.—Agreed to. —Mr J. G. Wilson moved : "That the line be taken by way of Arthur's Pass."—Carried on the voices. —The Premier moved a new clause to the effect that the railway to connect the East and West Coast Bailway with Nelson should not cost more than a million.—This was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.45 a.m.