HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1738, 25 August 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY.

Tjik House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions ministers said they could not in the Counties Act deal with the question of farmers protecting themselves from storm and flood-water without rendering themselves liable to damages, but would consider the subject ; Government weie in communication with Mr \V. A. Murray as to an invention of his for preventing railway collisions ; they had obtained 3000 jarivih sleepers from Australia for use in curves and on bridges. Experience showed that jarrah sleepers were much more economical. Some had been in u&e in Canterbury for nearly 20 years. The cost was between 4s and ss. The Department could not get tenders for puriri sleepers to the extent required ; they did not think it possible to consolidate the Native Land Laws so as to render them easily understood. The following new bills were introduced and read a first time -.—Civil List Amendment (Connolly) ; Special Powers and Contracts (llolleston) ; Road Boards Act Amendment ; Roads and Bridges Construction Act Amendment ; Rating Act Amendment ; Town Districts Act Amendment (Atkinson.) In the resumed debate on the question of summon ing the proprietors of the JPost to the bar of the House, Major Atkinson said he had consulted the Speaker, and die Government had considered the matter. Under ordinary circumstances he would not have goue farther, but as one hon. member had stated the report was likely to prejudice him, he thought that hon. member should be consulted as to whether he wished the matter to go further. Mr Darga\ille said he had already stated that he did not desire the matter to go farther - Major Atkinson then moved that the order be discharged. Mr Swanson thought these privilege questions only rendered the House ridiculous in the eyea of public. Mr Dargaville thought it would be better to throw the committee open to the reporters, so that the real facts should be known. Mr Turnbull expressed the same opinion. t SirG. Grey said he wpuld move an amendment in thut direction.' i Interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at'fySO. S Sir G. Grey moved u an amendment on the original motion, VTbat in future committees of the H puses be open to the press, except when the J committee is deliberating, or asks the yepqrsera;^o, with- ' draw." He blamed Major" Atkinson for having failed to lead the House on this question, as on previous occasions Government had to wait to get a policy from himself, and he thought it most important that the utmost freedom of action should be assured to the Press. Major Atkinson opposed this amendment. Any committee could admit strangers if it liked. Mr Joyce and Mr deLautour supported the amendment. Mr Whitaker pointed out that the committee really decided nothing. The House reserved all right to decide what the committee enquired into. He opposed the amendment, and moved the adjournment of the debase. Messrs Tunibull and Bracken supported the amendment. The debate was adjourned. The House went into committee on the Native Land Laws Bill. (Left Sitting.)-

A veis pursuit —Mining. Comfortable quarters— -twenty-five* cent pieces.., CJood plaoo for intitoh-inaking-Sul« p|jur sprtags, A young lady asked a book-store olerk, tha otlier diy/lf Kehad'-Featus.' •' No,' rcyiiwl the-clvrk.'Vbftt'l'ni afraid a boil iacomiiig'"' oii- the f Ftt(?k ' of my