HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9882, 12 November 1897, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Thursday, November 11.

AFTERNOON SITTING. (The House met at 2.30. Mr SEDDON said that he had promised to devote that afternoon to consideration of local Bills. Ue therefore would not reply to questions. tOOAt, BtLta. Invercargill Public Offices Site Amendment Bill, Otago Harbour Board Bill, and Wellington City Empowering Bill were committed. The two former passed through Committee with slight amendments, but the Wellington Bill elicited a long discussion, several members opposing the clause allowing the City Council to borrow £36,000 without taking a poll of the ratepayers. The clause finally passed, with an addition moved by Mr Smith, that the rate of interest tor money borrowed should be 4 per cent. A very protracted debate took place on the remaining clauses of the Bill. The Invercargill Publio Offices Site Bill tras read a third time and passed. Oα the motion for the third reading of the Otago Harbour Board Bill, Mr E. G. Allen moved its recommittal for the reconsideration of clause 2. The motion wae lost on the voices, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The Wellington City Empowering Bill frae read a third time and passed. Mr BCOBIE MACKENZIE moved the leconcl reading of the University of Ota«o i Leasing and Sale Bill, to enable two endowments to be sold and the proceeds tied up for the benefit of the revenue of the University. Mr J. M'KENZIE objected to the ealo of one of the endowments referred to in the Bill- He was speaking at the 5.30 p.m. adjournments