HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1885, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

When we went to press yesterday the Houfie was still disoussing the report of the Publio Aooounta Committee on the Waimea Plainß Railway. The report was eventually referred to the Government for oonsidoration. The Paoifio Islands Committea report was brought up. The committee recommended the adoption of the following resolutions : — " That it is desirable, in the interests of the Empire, that the Fijian and Samoan group should be brought into oloaor relations with New Zealand, provided that this can be effeoted jrithout any serious pecuniary responsibility on the part of this oolony, and with the friendly concurrence of the German Empire and the United States; and that negotiations with the Impeiid Government with a view to its taking such steps as may lead to such closer relations. That in view of the probable early completion of the Panama Canal, it is of the utmost importanoe that the Island of Bapa (Opara), which lies in the direot route of Bteamors between Panama and New Zealand, and also the islands of Cook Group should be brought under British oontrol, ana that urgent representations to that effect should be made to the Imperial Government. That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted through his Exoellenoy the Governor to her Majesty's principal Seoretary of fctate to the Cofonios and to his Exoellency the Governor of Fiji, and that the Agent-General be urged to press npon her Majesty's Government the views expressed by this report." The report was referred to the Government for their consideration. A message was reoeived from the Governor, intimating his assent, on behalf of her Majesty, to various Bills passed by the Legislature. Beplying to Mr. Duncan, Mr. Tole said the Government had taken some steps towards removing the restrictions on the importation of cattle from England, but the Governments of Victoria and Tasmania, who had been oommunioated with, had rofnstd to remove the restrictions, and that was ecough to retard the traffic. Correspondence had aho been reoeived from England to the effect that pleura pneumonia was not yet eitinot in that country. Mr. Buseell suggested that before any stops were taken to remove the restriction on the importation of stook, agricultural and pastoral sooietieß of the oolony shonld be consulted and their opinion obtained. The Defence Minister informed Mr. Pyke that there was no money available for the purpose of defraying the sea -going eipensea of the various Volunteer bands attending the Exhibition at Wellington. The Minister for Pubho Works, replying to Mr. J. B. Whyte, stated that he had intended to refer Mr. Vailo's scheme of railway management to a Seleot Committee, but it was now too late in the session to do so with justioe to Mr. Vaile or tho subieot generally. A second Committee of Managers, consisting of Messrs M'Millan, Pearson and Steward, was appointed to conenit with a committee from the Upper Bouse on the amendments in the School Committees Election Bill. It was deoided that the House should sit on Monday at 2.30 p.m. for the consideration of the Federation resolutions. Mr. Richardson moved the seoond reading of tho Pnblio Works Aot Amendment Bill No. 2 The Bill was read a seoond timo without discussion, as was also the Public Revenues Bill. The House then went into Committee of Supply on the estimates. The first department taken was that of Publio Works, J6756.591. lhe votes JC71 9,000 for working railways, and Government domains, .£I2OO, were speedily pnsßod, the former, on the motion of the Minister of Publio Works, being reduced by .£20,000. On the vote £33,700 for publio buildings there was a good deal of discussion on the items relating to gas and Ministerial residences. Mr. Hurst, who addressed the Honße very frequently, moved the red notion of the total Vote for the department by .£IO,OOO, but subsequently altered it to £3700. He severely oritioised the expenditure upon the Ministerial residences, and both he and Mr. Fergus favoured the disposal of the houses and the granting of rent allowances to Ministers. Mr. DargavAle, who upheld the expenditure on the Ministerial residences, said Mr. Hnrst was great in small matters and very small on great matters. He considered it unworthy of members to reflect upon the Government for necessary expenditure upon their residences. Mr. Stout said he was not against the sale of the Ministerial houses, but he did not think they would fetoh their value at the present time.- Mr. Joyce made some playful allusions to Mr. Hurst and animal painting. The House laughed, but Mr. Hunt did not appear to see where the laugh came in. Upon the Committee dividing, tho amendment proposed by Mr. Hurst was negatived by 38 to 30, and another proposal to reduce the vote by £1500 was similarly treated. The whole vote was then passed as printed. The Defence Department, the total appropriation for which was set down at £211,740, was next taken. In regard to the vote, £24,968 for artillery and other corps, the Defence Minister explained that it was absolutely necessary to place our harbours in an efficient state of defence. The commander of the Australian station would not send a single ship to this colony in case of war unless our prinoipal ports wore defended, and the Banks would send all their bullion to Australia in case of war. It must also be remembered that the fleets of Russia were making great headway, and we must not leave it entirely to the British fleet to defend us. Mr. W. F. Buokland moved that the item £700 for Commander of Colonial Forces be struck out. The arguments pro and con whioh were used when the Whitmore Enabling Bill was brought down were repeated by several hon. members. Mr. Ballanoe pointed out that it was premature to oppose the item until they had some more experience of the value of the commander's services in organising the forces. The amendment was lost on the voices, and then Mr. Conolly moved to reduce the amount by £200. A division was taken, and the amendment was lost by 34 to 12. Mr. M' Arthur moved that the item be reduced by £1, in order to test the feeling of the committee, and although the noes were strongly predominant he called for a division. The noes were 30 and the ayes 14, and the amount as printed was agreed to. The item " Waxganui Officer Commanding £300," was omitted. The vote £43,111 for Armed Constabulary Field Force was, on the motion of Mr. Ballance, reduced by £25,000, that amount having been transferred to the Public Works Fond. The total vote for the Defence Department, as amended, was then passed. A division was next taken on a proposal to report progress (2 10 a.m.), but a majority seemed anxipns to remain in the foetid atmosphere still longer, and the proposal to adjourn was negatived by 27 to 19. The Mines Department Estimates were the next taken. The total amount of proposed appropriation was £24,610. The vote was discussed for over an hour, and at 3.15 there was little more than a quorum present, some half-dozen members beta? so interested that they slept on it before coming to a decision. Mr. M'Arthur, who had taken a lively interest in the defence vote, slacked oS at mines (not being torpedo mines) and, laying his head on the elbow of his bench, doubled up bis legs, covered his face with his right hand, and lost himself in " forgetful sleep." Even Hansard slumbered fitfully, and the solitary messenger forgot for the time being the necessity of supplying the various speakers with the customary glass of aqua pura. Mr. Butter, who spoke very often on the subject of mines and miners, was attacked by the wide-awake member for Hokiidka (Mr. Bevan), who said he did not know whether that member was a captain in the army or navy, or of a coal barge, but this he did know, that he had one trait in his character, and that was "base ingratitude," for he owed his present position to the miners, whom he attempted to denounce. Mr. Bevan was several times called to order. He then said he was not afraid to see the light of day (this referred to his demand for justice to miners), and no one doubted the trnth of the assertion, 'as it appeared likely that the light of day would manifest itself before he oeaeed. All this talk occurred over a motion by Mr. Suttcr— generally styled "captain" by hon. members- to strike out the item "Nelson Creek water-race £900 " A division was ultimately taken, and Mr. Sutters proposal was lost by 21 to 12. Mr Suttor next moved that the item " WaimeaKumara water-raoo £2800" be struck out, bnt after long discussion withdrew it. He was, however, inexorable, and moved a reduction of £5 in the item £7000 for Kumara sludge ohannel ; bnt the Committee immediately negatived the proposal. Mr. Pjke moved to strike out the item £1750 to defray the oost of lectures by Professor Black and

others in mining districts. A division rosulted in the item being retained by 18 to 7. The total vote for the department waa tfaeu carried, and progress being reported, the House rose at 4.15 a.m.