HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON. Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 200, 21 August 1873, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON. Monday.

It is expected that the session will terminate about the end of September at t'je latest. Mr Fittheibert is pndeavonng to form an opposition to the Provincial Borrowing Hill, as it is too stringent for the scope which "Wellington desires. There is no real organised Opposition as yet existing, but efforts are bt'mg made to retard the Government measures. It is understood that the Government intend asking power to construct as rapidly as possible a railway from Mercer to Newcastle, thenca soulh to Wellington, thus forming a continuous line. The Floatage of Timber Bill is likely to be withdrawn and another substituted to supply the placing of creeks in the position of highways, but that persons using them shall be liable to pay ior uny damage done to the owners of adjacent lunds. It is understood that the Government have communicated with the agents of the ss. Hero and the Australian S. N. Company en the subject of a mail to Auckland and to Australia An answer is expected shortly. The N.Z.S.S. Company tlwlme to undertake unless tenders are advertised for. The N Z fc>.S Company, it 13 believed, will run only to the .Manukau and Sydney, and wili require further arrangement:) to run to Melbourne. 1 behove that the p.s Lum will go lor the Auckland mail next month. The reason why the mails wero sent to Melbourne last trip was that the agent feared the Hero would not wait at Sydney till the P. and O Company's sleamer a r ved, and so maie sure as the Alhambra was leaving the same day lor Melbourne. The report of the committee on the National Bank Bill was read. It stated that the committee had considered the petition of Mr J. L. Coster, and, as suggested by Mr Bathgate, that certain clauses of the Otago Bank Bill be introduced. Regarding the petition the committee heard e\ idence for and against the bill, and decided to pass the preamble of the bill unaltered. The committee did not consider it advisable to introduce the proposed clauses into the National Bank Bill, but considered the introduction of a general measure to tho same elleet worthy of the consideration of the Government. — Mr Stafford stated that the petitioners nganiet the bill had withdrawn their opposition to the bill, which was oi'.U-rod to be read a third time to-morrow. The following bills were read a first time: — A Bill to Regulate Buri ils near the City of Wellington ; a Bill to Amend the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872 ; a Bill to Amend the Disquil.flctition Act, and Promissory Note Bill. The amendments bj the Legislative Council in the Assaults on Constables' Bill were agreed to. The Floatage of Timber B ill was read a second time on the understanding th.it it should bo referred to a Select Committee. 'I he Estimates are now on. In tho House to-night Mr Mao.indrew presented a petition from tho residents of Duncdm for a modification of the Tariff, so as to avoid increased taxation. The Native Minister moved that the Native Schools Act Amendment Act be discharged. — The motion win curried. The Eleotoral Bill lias been withdrawn. The Floatnge of Timber Bill has been withdrawn by the Premier, and the other bill on the subject was read for tho first time. The Permanent Officers' Bill was discharged on the motion of thn Prem'i