HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3770, 15 August 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said the Government had nothing to do with tho cost of surveys under the Land Transfer Act, as parties made their oavu bargains ; so far as Avas possible tho Government avus glad to tako advantage of local management for hospitals, orphanages, and charitable aid; £310 had been granted to the avuloav of AVnrder Adams, of Nelson, Avhich Avas two years pay—the Government could not pay thoy Avould increase the amount; tho Government believed duty could bo charged on boiled fruit Avhen imported without altering the liny ; the Government Avould try ancf pass the Counties Act Amendment Bill; tho Government Avere not aware of any deductions made from raihvay Avorksliop employe's for time taken up in their votes at elections; chainmen on survey parties received the Avagcs current in tho district Avhere employed; tho Government Avould consider tho question of rc.noAviug tho bonus for the manufacture of printing paper. NEAV bills. Ministers introduced the folloAving iicav bills :_Otagn Dock, Telegraph Act Amendment, Auckland Hospital Reserves, Harbors Act Amendment, Native Reserves, AVest ►Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment, AVest Coast Peace Preservation Act Continuance, Middle Island Half-caste Grants Bill, and Sir George Grey introduced the Restrictions Extinguishment Invalidation Bill, Avhich were all read a first time. election petitions costs. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply Mr Ivcss moved, as an amendment, that the Government .should be _ responsible for costs in election petitions arising from tho errors of returning officers. Mr Dick opposed the motion. Mr Duncan supported it, and so did Mr Shcphard, avlio said the only alternative Avas tho repeal of the Corrupt Practices Act. Mr Maeandrcw urged the repeal of both this and tho Election Petitions Act. Mr AVynn-AVilliams thought the resolution Avould encourage litigation. The Act required amendment. Major Atkinson admitted that legislation onthc'subjectAVOuldbodcsirablonext session. Mr Shrimski, Mr Smith, and Mr Foldwick supported the amendment. After further discussion tho amendment Avas lost by 41 to 31, and the House Avent into COMMITTEE of supply. On Class A r L, Land Purchases North Island £72,000, being put, Mr MaeandivAv protested against tho South being called on to pay anything tenvards northern hind purchases. A long discussion on the native laud question generally ensued, Mr Bryce, Mr Sheehan, Sir George Grey, Mr Stevens, Mr Moss, Mr DcLautour, Mr Montgomery, Mr Kelly, and Mr A. McDonold speaking, most of them at considerable length. the vote aviis agreed to. Class VII., Golclfields Roads £39,000, was passed. Class VIII., AVater Avorks on Gold fields £21,000. —Replying to a suggestion of Mr Scddon's, Mr Rolleston said the Government Avas not prepared to band over water races and sludge channels to local bodies. Tho vote thou passed. Class IX., Telegraph Extensive £27,100, passed. Class X., Public Buildings £210,000.— Mr Alhvrigbt protested against such a largo expenditure on public buildings out of loan. Mr Fish moved that the item, New Gaol at AVanganui £4000, be reduced by £2000; lost by 20 to 10. Mr AVhite then moved to reduce tho item by £1000, which was carried by 20 to 12. Mr George moved to strike out tho item toAvards New Gaol Dunedin £2000. Mr Conolly explained that this Avas to enable the Government to purchase a iioav site if one could be found. Tho motion for reduction Avas lost by 24 to IG. Mr Fish ancl Mr StcAvard regretted that noA-oto was ou tho estimates for iicav printing offices at AVellington, as tho present offices wero absolutely dangerous. The remainder , of the items of the class avctc agreed to. Class XL, Lighthouses and Harbor X AVorks £04,800.—Mr Duncan objected to the items for the AVestport, Greymouth, ■and Hokitika harbors, saying those places should be made to rate themselves, as ho complained that Oamaru had had to do for its harbor. Mr Fish c.hjeoted to some of L these items, and urged to report progress. The vote Lighthouses £21,900 Avas passed, and progress AA'as reported on tho harbor works vote. Tho House rose at 3.30 a.m. until 7.30 p.m.