PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 105, 30 October 1884, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF EEPRESENTATIVES. This Day. The House met at 2.30. Several petitions were presented and a number of notioes of motion were gives. In reply to Mr. Smith, the Minister of Lands said that the Maharara Block, in the Seventy-Mile Bush, was being surveyed and ont up for sale. In reply to Mr. Beetham, as to whether the Government would take early steps to open up tho Mangahao blook, in Wairarapa East County, the Minister of Lands said that .£l5OO had been placed on the Estimates towards opening np roads in ih»t district, and that the blook would be put up for sale as soon as necessary arrangements could be made for the purpose. Mr. Joyce asked the Minister of Publio Works whether the Government had received any report on the result of tests made at the railway testing shed, Pipitea Point, to determine the value of Pottland oement, made by Mr. T. J. Thompson, of Bluff ; and if so, if the industry wonld be assisted and receive tenders for the supply of oolonially-made cement. The Hon. £. Biohardson said that the disoovery made was valuable, and that the article manufactured was good. Further improvement might, however, be expected. The test for cement in regard to the locally-made article had been reduced one-third below -that applied to that whioh was imported. Unless the article reaohed the proper standard of quality needed for construction purposes, the Government would not receive tenders for its supply. fLef t sitting