PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 213, 8 September 1899, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The Waste Lands Committee reported to the House yesterday as follows on the petition of Russell Bates, of

Opanake, Auckland, claiming relict in respect to land alleged to have been over-valued, that the petitioner has no ; claim. On the petition of C. A. Kay and 6G : others, Waipu, praying for the expen- | diture of a balance of £300 to com- ; plete the formation of a road in the 1 Waikekehi and Maretu districts, that the petition be referred to the Government. On the petition of J. J. Ross and 57 others, of Botorua, praying a grant of money to construct a direct road between Mamaku railway station and Rotorua township, the petition was referred to the Government. On the petition of J. C. Barscombe and 330 others, of Tokatoka, praying a grant of £350 for formation of a, road from Tokatoka post office road to the railway line at Barseombe's Creek, and to replace a temporary bridge, the petition was referred to tho Government. On the petition of L. D. Nathan and another, of Auckland, praying that a summons issued by the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Auckland against John Falloona be discontinued, and that a lease of the site at Waiotapu be granted to them in conjunction with other co-owners, the committee report that after hearing the Sur-veyor-General, together with evidenceon behalf of the petitioners, they are of opinion that the recommendation of the Auckland Land Board should receivefa.vourable consideration at the hands of the Government, and that tho prayer of the petition be granted.

RECOVERY OF SMALL DEBTS. ; The report oC the Joint Statutes Re-j vision Committee upon the Assign-! ment of Small Debts Bill is to the effect that after having carefully con-; sidcred the Bill and taken evidence thereon, they recommend' that it be not proceeded with. The Bill proposed to enact that no debt, of £10 or under should be recoverable by process of law by any assignee thereof, either in his own name or the name of the, cred-i itor, provided that this shall not ap-' ply to debts vested in the Official Assignee, nor to debts assigned as part of and along with the other assets of an estate or business. NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.! Mr Crowther asked the Minister for' Public Works whether he can see his way to provide this session a sufficient sum of money to finish the North Is-j land railway to its intersection with1 the east road at Kawakawa, so as to make both undertakings more produc-, five. I The Minister replied that, subject to the approval of Parliament, the line ; to the Kawakawa road intersection would be finished Avithin two years. THE STRATFORD ROUTE. Mr Symes asked the Minister for Public Works if he will at once take the necessary steps to acquire the land for the Stratford railway route, starting from Stratford eastward, and to connect with the North Island j Trunk Raihvay. The Minister, in reply, said that part of the question related to lands. OAvned by private persons, and the re-, quest could not be given effect to uny til the raihvay had been authorised by Parliament. So far as the' CroAvn, lands Avere concerned, he had no hesi-

tation in saying that it Avas a wisej thing- to make provision -which -would j save trouble later on. He agreed with! the hon. gentleman that it was only, a question of time when the railway j would run at any rate some distance north of Stratford, a.nd with that object a large number of native blocks j had been acquired for the route. TE KUITI-AWAKINO ROAD. Mr Symes asked the Minister of i Lands if he Avill this session place a sufficient sum on the estimates to j metal some of the worst parts of the: Te Kuiti-Awakino road, in all about; five miles'? The Minister replied that last year) a considerable time Avas spent on the; work, Avhich Avas still going on. There are a large number of men employed. The question of metalling the road required consideration. He had no hesitation in saying that the work should be done, and he hoped to see provision made for it.