PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5200, 16 September 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Pee Pbesß Association.J HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Yesterday. Replying to questions, it was stated that the question of removing depression in commerce and agriculture at present existing would receive attention during the recess; Government did not sgree with the opinions expressed by RearAdmiral Scott, at Duoedin on the subject of the defence of the colony ; the appointment of a " New Zealand Resident" at Samoa and Tonga would be considered daring the recess.

Major Atkinson said he intended moving that Government be requested to place a sum of money on the Estimates in recognition of the services of Sir William Fox as Commissioner for the West Coast.

Sir J. Vogel, on the second reading of tb,e I)istrict Railways Purchase Bill, explained tjiat the Public Accounts Committee had reported favorably on the Bill, with the exception of the Waimate lines, and he shou'd endeavor to show in Committee that the line should not beexcepteri. —The second reading was carried by 37 to 27.

Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Supreme Courts Reporting Bill.—Mr W. D Stewart supported the Bill, and said the practice of shorthand in the courts of justice had been going on in Scotland since 1868. —Mr Garpiek opposed the Bill as being expensive and premature,-^Mr Stout hoped the Bill would pass on the ground that it would greatly expedite business in the courts of justice, lessen expenses of litigation, facilitate business, and lessen the labors of judges.—Mr Samuel and Mr Connolly opposed the Bill. The latter could not believe that the system would work at al! satisfactory. He considered the proposed system would entail delay and very great expense,-^Mr I£err moved the adjournment of tho debate for a fortujght. He thought the session was too far advanced to consider it.—The amendment was carried on the voices.

The House went into Committee on the Waimea Plaios Railway Rating Bill. In clause 4, cost of railway to be ascertained from time to lime, Mr W. D. Stewart moved that the cost shall be ascertained by a judge of the Supreme Court, instead^ of a commissioner, as proposed b.y the bill; the amendment wa.s carried on the voices. —•Mr' Sutler moved that progress be reported, which was agreed to,. The House went ioto Committee for further ooiißJdcrgtjon of the Local Bodies Finance and' Powers Jjill.—Mr p. Stewarj; moved that clause 41, providing that district railways may be constructed, he strucjc out; agreed to on the voices.Mr Fergus successfully ityoved to. strjj^e out the clause providing tbat fishing righis iv lakes be vested in County Couucils. —Mr Seddoa moved in clause 46, providing that waler races m*y bp vested^ in Jopa} bodies, to insert "and sludge channels'' after. •• water races."—Mr Stout moved to eliminate clauses 48, 48, 50, and SI —Oo olauae 67, providiog lor repeal

of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, Major Atkinson hoped Government, woul 1 re consider their decision, and not allow the A«t to be repealed for this year at any rate. —Mr Slout said it would be admitted by all that the Hoad.s and Bridges Construction Act required amend ing. The present Act was only temporary, and a more comprehensive measure would be necessary next yeir.—Mr UollestoD also hrped the Act would not bo repealed till nexf. yoar.—Major Atkinson moved an amendment to suspend the repeal of the Act for 12 months, which was lost by 40 to 22. This day.

In the first schedule, " annual subsi dies payable to local bodies " was struck oat. —Mr Mncarthur moved to strike out special votes f<-r Counties as follows: — Thames, Co.-omundel. Collingwood, Buller, Inatigabua, Grey, Westland, Mauiototo, Tuapeka, Vincent, and Lake, £2000 each. —Sir Julius Vo-jel said that when this pavt of the schedule was struck he should move a proviso to the effect that for the purposes of schedules, the moneys collected by gold export duty should be considered to be money collected by rates.— Mr Mocartbur's amendment was carried on the voices.—Sir Julius Vogel's proviso was lost on a division by 35 to 22, and the schedule as amended was then passed. The second schedule of the Bill, the form of voting paper, was struck out, and the Bill as amended was reported.—Mr Guinness moved its re-committal for the consideration of clause 57, which repealed the Bonds and Bridges Construction Act, but the motion was lost ou the voices ; the Bill was read a third time and passed, and the House rose at 1.50 a.m.