PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1447, 3 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

UNITED PREBS ASSOCIATION. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, In the Council yesterday the Hokitika High School Bill passed through committee.

A motion by Mr Holmes in favor of appointing two competent valuators to make the Property Tax valuations for the whole colony, so as to secure uniformity, was, after discussion, withdrawn, The debate was resumed on Mr Chamberlain's motion re forest conservation, which was agreed to.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the House Major Atkinson gave notice of motion for the appointment of a select committee to enquire into the accusations of corrupt conduct in the Bank of New Zealand's interests made by Mr Dargaville against himself and the Premier. Replying .to questions Ministers said that the local loail authorised last year had not been raisixl or anticipated, and there was no irumediate intention of raising it. When raised it would bo paid into the Public Works account under tho.: Roads Construction Act, and would not be devoted to the construction of the iJast and West Coast Middle Island railway. The number of warders in the Nelson gaol was suffi-: cient in proportion to the number of prisoners, The Government would liberally assist the importation of ferrets, stoats, and weasles to destroy rabbits. They believed, tlje passengers by the Catalonia had grounds of complaint about cooking, though not very serious. Steps would be taken to prevent their recurrence,

The Auckland City Loan Bill and Wellington Harbor Board Land and Reclamation Bill were read a second time.

The Massey Frauds Indemnity Bill, Westland High School Bill, and the Masfcerton and Greytown Trust Lands Bill passed through committee, read a third time and passed. The following new bills were introduced :—Elections of Land Boards (Grey), Disposal of Pastoral Lands (Grey), Russell Exchange of Land (Rollesfcon),. Animals Protection Act Amendment, (HamJin). Major 4-tkjnsqn ju'oyed t])e appointment of a'oomniittee to consider what roads should be gazetted main roads uriderthe Roads and Bridget Construction Act, whether applications should be received after'3lst March last, and whether applications should be received this year from local bodies which had not applied last year, the committee to consist of Messrs Beetham, Lamach, Capt. McKcnzie, .MicLelson, Postlethwaite, Cadman, Seddon, Shepherd, Sutton, and- J. W;- Thompson. TheGovernment wished the assistance of the House in deciding the irregular applications. ■ ■ •

Mr Montgomery opposed the motion as t)fere was not enqugji money to satisfy bqdies ■yhioh had applied in time, He objected tq the Govern: ment shifting its responsibility on tq a committee,

Mr J. objected to any Committee, and. more especially to one composed-'iuttiiily of Goverr.ment sup. porters,

Mr W, Johnston defended the course Government took in asking the assistance of the House to decide a difficult matter.

Mr Maoandrew thought the Houso was being reduced to the position of a Road Board.

Mr Barron condemned the motion and moved as on amendment that the names proposed he left out, and those of the Ministry substituted. Messrs Fergus, Shepherd, Beetham, J. McDonald, Hurst, Pyke, Captain Mackenzie, and W. 0. Buchanan defended the motion, while 'Messrs Sheehan, Fish, J, W. Thompson; DeLautour, and Stevens opposed it, Mr Fulton moved an addition to the motion that a committee should enquire into what amendments 'were necessary in the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, . ' ' '

This was agreed to on the voices, and Mr Barron's amendmnnt negatived.

Major Atkinson replied at length, defending the operation of the Act, and the course adopted by the Government,

Ori a (jiyiaiqn, tfje motion, as araeii; (led; was carried by 55 to 24, The Bills of Exchange Bill was read a third time and passed. The Criminals Execution Bill, and Property Law Consolidation Bill were read q, second time,

: The Crown Grants Bill <vas passed through Committee, and Mining Com* pauies Act Amendment Bill was further considered and amended in Committee, In clause 3 rix months was fixed as the time that transferors of shares should remain liable, A new clause was added, that when shares were heid in trust for a Company they could not be disposed of by private sale,

Tj}p Bill was reported as amended, and. the House yqge at 1 oplock.' '