FRIDAY, SEPT. 13.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 220, 27 September 1878, Page 3

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13.

In the Legislative Council — Dr Menzies moved for a Committee on the Otngo High Schools Endowment. ' The Hon. Colonel Whitm ore approved, and said the Attorney-General would attend and give evidence. The Waitaki High Schools, Bill was read a second time. The Dog Bill was formally disposed off in Committee, and the third reading fixed for Monday. The Clyde Athenaeum Bill was referred, to the Local Bills Committee. - The Council then went into Committee and the postponed clauses of the Beer Tax j Bill- were gone through.' The Bill was I reported, and the third reading fixed for • j Tuesday. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore stated •incidentally that it it was not likely the Harbour Bill would pass this session. Tn the House of Representatives — Mr Richardson asked the Minister for Public Works to lay before the House the i specifications and general conditions of the 1 contract for tenders for the construction of the Tapanui Railway, the dates "of the first advertisement for tenders, dates of deposit of tender, list' of tenders sent in, date of acceptance of tender sent in by Messrs Proudfoot and Mackay, the authority of Parliament on which the Government have incurred the present liability, and whether any arrangement is made by which the present contractors have any preference to the contract for the proposed extension of the ]inc. The Minister for Public Works said everything in the matter had been done openly and above board. All the information as to dates of 'tenders, &g. , asked for was laid on the table. No present liability of any kind had been incurred. The liabilities were entirely prospective. The authority for the contract was a resolution of the House last session, and he hoped there would also be a Bill j)assed shortly. No arrangement of any sort had been made with the contractors in respect to any extension. Mr Stufcton asked the Native Minister whatpapershe referred to on Tuesday when he said of the meeting at Kiknrangi that certain pi'oposals were made to the King party which was virtually accepted, were in print and on the table of the House. (2) When the Government will give the House such information as will enable members to understand what is the result of the several meetings with the King natives, and also what amount of money had been paid and liabilities undertaken in respect to such meetings? The Hon. J. Sheelian said that the papers referred to had been printed and published before the session in the newspapers. They had been accidentally omitted from among papers laid on the table. In reply to the second part of questions, he said the Government did not wish to supply anything more than the report of what passfid at the public meetings, and hoped they would not be pressed for further information. The expenses paid and incurred would be supplied as correctly as possible. The District Railways Act, 1877, Amendment Bill ; Bank Holidays Act, 1873, Amendment Bill ; and Married Women's Property Protection Bill were read a first time. The question of the rates of pay of the police force was remitted to a. select ' committee to report in 14 days.