Monday, September 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 1765, 19 September 1885, Page 11

Monday, September 14.

7 ~*' l - JJ - ****** J*ia*V 4.* X* ' , Various rumours have been afloat as to the probability^ of an early break-up of the Ministry. It was said that some sharp discussions took place at the Cabinet meeting held at Sir Julius Vogel's house yesterday afternoon, and were revived this morning. Of all this nothing can be definitely known, but it is' suspected that the Stout-Richardson dispute still rankles, and that it may yet lead to important results. The present idea is that very shortly after the close of the session Mr Stout will resign, or that a reconstruction will take place. One story is that he will adv-ise that Sir Julius Vogel be sent for, and another is that Sh? Julius Vogel will be made Agent-general, and some other member of the present Government, not yet indicated, will be selected to form a new Administration, which might not improbably be of a coalition character, including certain members of the House now opposed to the Government. All this is yet quite in chaos, and I simply quote it as current gossip. ' The Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill, a summary of which I sent you, was read a second time- to-night with very little' discussion. Mr H. Driver arrived yesterday to assist in piloting the bill through the ' House, but it is not anticipated there will bo much difficulty, the company having already offered to compromise matters with' tho ratepayers, although /no reply has yet been received from the solicitors' acting for the ratepayers as to whether the offer of the' company wili be accepted. Tho company, J understand, have offered to redutfe' their of dost of the

railway to £95,000, and abandon half the rate for the years 1882 ' and 1883, collecting tho whole of the next two years' rate, the three years' •rates being based on the lower estimate. ' The terms offered are one-third cash, and the balance in three, six, and nine months. The report of the Public Accounts Committee on the District Railways, Purchasing Bill recommends for adoption the terms of purchase proposed in the several agreements (already telegraphed to you) for the Rakaia and Ash'burton Forks railway, the Duntroon and Hakateramea railway, and the Thames Valley and Rotorua railway. They have also considered the terms proposed for the Waimea Plains railway, but do not recommend them for adoption. With reference to Kaihiku Valley railway, the committee approve of the proposed guarantee of £40,000 of debentures to be secured by first mortgage on the railway works, to cost between £B*ooo and £90,000, with such other security, if any, as the Governor-in-Council may consider necessary. • BILLS DEAI/r WITH. In the Legislative Council, The adjourned debate on- the question that the amendments proposed by his Excellency the Governor to the Stamp Act be agreed to was resumed, and the amendments agreed to. HOSPITALS AND OHAIUTABLK INSTITUTIONS BILL. In the House of Representatives, The Hon. R. STOUT moved that amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill be agreed to. He .said the amendments were only formally agreed to. { LAND TRANSFER HILL. The Hon. R. STOUT moved that the House do not insist on its amendments in th« Laud Transfer Bill except as to clause 218 a. Mr GARRICK objected to abandon, the amendment to section 19J, which made a person who had put land under the act liable for any negligence that might be discovered in his papers after his certificate of title had been issued. Mr DOWNIE STEWART also objected, and moved an amendment accordingly, . Mr SAMUEL supported the amendment. He pointed out that the committee had debated the questiou'fully, and deliberately decided that a person who paid assurance money and conformed to the requirements of the act, should not have any further responsibility unless he had been guilty of fraud. The amendment was carried on the voices, and the clause relating to negligence struck out. JN I ' COMMITTEE. The House went into Committee on the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. In clause 2, " Definition of contract,'" Mr WHITE moved— "That the clause be struck out, and a clause substituted providing that no proceedings shall be taken under section 63 under the bill except with the written consent of the Attorney-general, and that all penalties recovei'ed shall, after deducting expenses, be paid into the borough funds." The new clause was agreed to. , Mr DONALD REID moved a further new clause that no contract shall apply to printing and advertising.

The clause was lost on the voices. „ The bill was read a third time and passed. The .'House; went into committee on the Enforcement of Judgments Bill, which was reported with verbal amendments, read a third time, and passed. "

NEW GUINEA,

The House went into committee to consider the following resolutions :— (1) That in the opinion j of this House that portion of New Guinea annexed to the Empire should for the present be created a Crown Colony, with a view of ultimately being annexed to Queensland, or created a constitution Colony ; (2) that aid should be given by the Imperial Government to the new possession by placing at the disposal of the governor a war-vessel for his usu ; (3) that for a term of three years, from the Ist day of June ISB6, this Colony will undertake to pay ife, share of £J 5,000 a year proportionately to population, ou .the condition that the other Colonies of Australasia join iv the contribution on the same terms.' 5 The _ Hon. R. STOUT explained that the resolutions were brought merely to give effect to what has been previously agreed to by the House. The Government had thought that to make New Guinea a Crown Colony would be the best course, and that it would be best for the Colony to be annexed to Queensland Sir GEORGE GREY contended that they should wait for a report on the whole subject before expressing any opinion on it. He moved an amendment to the first resolution — "That no decision should be come to as to the form of Government to be given to New Guinea, or to the future disposition of that Colony, until a report has been ' received from Major-general Scratch'ley after personal inquiry into it. The amendment was then put and lost (?) on a division by 49 to 25. Colonel TRIMBLE asked whether the Government would accept the decision just given for all three resolutions. He would suggest that the House place nothing ou record, but leave the whole matter over till next session. The Hon. J. BALLANCE Raid the Government would accept the decision, as he considered the amendment just passed traversed the whole of the resolutions. Mr J. THOMSON thought the House should throw out the amendment as well as the resolutions. The amendment was then put and lost on the voices. Mr SEDDON moved that the chairman leave tho chair, which was carried on the yoicas. WAI3IEA PLAINS RAILWAY. The Hon. E. RICHARDSON moved the second reading of the Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill. J Mr COWAN did not intend to oppose the bill, but would move several amendments in committee. Mr G. F. RICHARDSON also expressed his intention of moving some amendments. Sir JULIUS VOGEL said every hon. member must regret that this bill was brought forward, but he thought it would be concluded that the company in whose interest it was brought forward had a real grievance. The motion for the second reading was agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Public Works Estimates. Surveys of new lines of railway, £30,000.— Agrepd to. Public Works Department, £28,931. — Carried. Roads, bridges, and wharves, north of Auckland, £69,224.— The Hon. E. RICHARDSON explained, in reply to a question, that this vote could be reduced by £10,000 without impairing its usefulness.— Captain SUTTER moved that the vote be reduced by £30,000.— Mr PEACOCK moved a reduction of £10,000.— The Hon. W. ROLLESTON suggested Captain Butter should i withdraw his ame'ndKient for the larger amount,

and that the committee should take the Minister's recommendation. — Captain SUTTER withdrew his amendment, and subsequently moved a reduction of £1500, which was carried on the voices.

Main roads, £45,000.— Captain SUTTER moved that the item £3000 for sundry roads, Bay of Plenty, be reduced £500. The amendment was lost by 42 to 23.— Mr HURST moved to reduce the item £8500 for Nelson* West Iport, Greymouth, and Hokitika by £1000. — Mr G. F. RICHARDSON moved to reduce the item by £3000. A iong discussion ensued, after which Mr PEACOCK moved to reduce the vote by £5500. The proposal to reduce the votn to £3000 was negatived, and the reduction of £1000 was lost on the voices. Mr Peacock's amendment was put, and lost by 32 to 2G. Miscellaneous roads and bridges, £831,974. — Mr RICHARDSON said he would accept a reduction of £10,000 off this vote. — Vote reduced on the voices.

Grants in aid, £268,329. — The Hon. E. RICHARDSON suggested to reduce the vote by £25,000.— Agreed to.

Roads to open lands before sale, £70,000.— Mr HOLMES asked that a reduction be marie in this vote.— The Hon. J. BALLANCE said ho could not recommend any reduction, as the whole sum was required for the purpose of opening up Crown lauds. — Vote agreed to.

Roads on goldfields, £50,000.— The Hon. R. STOUT said he would agree to a reduction of £5000 iv this vote. — Agreed to.

Water races, Middle Island, £30,200.- Mr WHITE moved to reduce the vote £10,000 for Mohikinui water-race by £5000.— Captain SUTTER moved that tho total vote bo reduced by £15,000.

Water-races, Middle Island, £30,200.— Mr WHITE moved to reduce, tho vote £10,000 for Mohikinui water-race by jCoOOO. — Captain SUTTER moved that the total vote bo reduced by £15,000.— Carried by 3<i to 31.

Judicial, £33.£37. — Mr O'CALLAUHAN moved to reduce the item by £4000. — The PREMIEK accepted this, and the vote was then passed.

Postal and telegraph.—

■~£SH22.— Pae-wd.

Customs.- Mr HOLMES moved to strike out the item £4000, one-third estimated cost of a new Customhouse at Auckland. — Tho amendment was carried by 31 to 24.

Survey ami Printing Office, .CGOOO. —Mr RICHAKDSON .said £4000 might be struck off, and that course, was adopted. Lunatic asyhun.s, £3000.- -Carried. Hosx^itnls aud charitable institutions, £13.000. — Carried. Quarantine stations, .CoQO. — Carried. , School buildings, £6S,ii:jO. — Carried.

Lighthouses, £10,440. —Dr NEWMAN moved a reduction of £2000, and it was carried.

Harbour defences, £250;000 —Mr WHITE moved a reduction of £50,000.— Mr BALLANCE accepted the amendment, and the vote as reduced passed.

Postmaster-general and Telegraph Commissioner. £259,000.— Carried.

Minister of Native Affairs.—£7o,ooo.—Carried. Charges of raising loans, £60,000.— Carried.