Parliamentary. (BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 28.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 28, 1 August 1899, Page 1

Parliamentary. (BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 28.

Yesterday, two Local Bills passed through the committe stage after being amended, viz : The Christchurch Borrowing Bill (Mr Lewis), and the Heathcote Koad District Sanitation Bill (Mr Tanner). The following local Bills were read a second time : Auckland College and Grammar Schools; Chnstchurch Domains Trust Indemnity ; Marlborough High School, and Stratford Borough Empowering Bill. A debate on the Totalisator Abolition Bill (Mr Taylor) followed, and was adjourned at 12.25. As the Gofernment wished for further time to consider the motion of the Hon E. C. J. Stevens in the Legislative .Council, re appointing a J committee for the purpose of reporting i whether a more speedy realisation of the assets under the control of the Asse^ I Board can be secured, Mr Stevens ha* 1 postponed moving his, motion nntil next Thursday. - "' -•* . , MrJ. Duthia, member -for Wellington, has declined to pilot the Cify of Wellington Empowering Bill through Parliament. This measure originally so«ght to borrow £331,000, but owing to tbe antagonism of the Local Bills Committee, the monetary provision has been reduced to £71,000» The sums of £100,000 for the purchase of the city tramways, £120,000 for extension of water supply, and £40,000 for ' acquisition of electric lighting works and plant have been struck out. This measure is now reduced to the authorising of the Clyde Quay Esplanade |construation, the erectiag of baths, tow* hall, and corporaation offices, and the building of a ntw fire brigade station. The total cost of the preparation of the Parliamentary library catalogue was £2626, made \ip us follows : Compiling, £669 ids; editing and preparing for printer, £417 9s 2d ; printing and biniing, £1509 2s 6d. There were 1000 printed, of which 60 copies were presented by order of the library committee, 14 were distributed to members of Parliament, 3 were, sold, leaving in the printing office and library a balance of 794. The Land Beport laid upon the table oi the House on Thursday, shows that the number of selections of Crown Land last year under all systems was 2542, and the area 1,357,466 acrei, including pastoral runs 760,156 acres, and miscellaneous leases and licenses 201,474 acres. The area taken up under the occupation with right of purchase system was i 09,*9 497* ai against lease in perpetuity "99,262, and cash 36, 188 acres.' The total of forfeiture* last year was 432, and the surrenders I§4, a total of 586 affecting an area of 498,153 acres. The total forfeitures and surrenders the year previous was 852. The annual report of the InspectingEngineer to the Under- Seretary of Mines has just been presented to both -Houses. The leport states that the output of coal Continued on fourth page.