HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6301, 14 July 1882, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, July 14. The House met at 2 30 p.m. questions. Replying to questions, Ministers stated that they hoped soon to be able to relax or repeal the Arms Act, but the time had not quite come yet, and while it was in force the Act muat extend over the whole colony ; the Government would not countenance land agenta being members of Waste Lands Boards ; the Government hoped soon to be able to make a statement as to the defences of the colony — the subject was being carefully considered, but only £9000 of tho vote for port defences remained unexpended, the Government having been disappointed at Colonel Scrathley not being able, as had been intended, to return and re-organiae the local forces ; fresh appointments had recently been made to the Hawke's Bay Waste Lands Board ; the Government would circulate information as to the danger of poisoning from solder in preserved meat tins, and would cause samples to bo analysed ; the Government would cause an estimate and survey to be made for a road from Blackwater creek to Archer's punt, so as to shorten the road from Wesport to Reefton ; the Government would have a geological survey made of tbe coal measures north and east of the Grey river, northwards to the Razorback ; the Government would take steps to lease the Customhouse site at Oamaru so as to prevent unlawful occupation ; the Government would assist the local bodies to ascertain the best site for a wharf at Biverton harbor. new bills. The following new bills were introduced and read a first time : — Borough of Hamilton Boundaries Bill (Dick) ; Westland High School, No. 2 Bill (Weaton) ; Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill (Hutchison). ELECTION PETITION COSTS. On Mr Sheehan's motion, Messrs Dick, Turnbull, Wynn-Williams, FitzGerald, Weston, Conolly, Shrimski, Macandrew, and the mover were appointed a committee ou election petition costs. WESTLAND EDUCATION SUBDIVISION BILL. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Westland Education District Subdivision Bill. Mr Petrie strongly opposed the bill, and moved that it be read that day six months. Mr Weston supported the amendment, and thought the quarrel should be made up. Mr FitzGerald and Mr Monro supported the bill. Mr Dick expressed his regret at the strong feeling apparently existing between the two parts of the district, and under the circumstance thought they had better separate. On a division the amendment was carried by 37 to 21, and the bill was thrown out. NELSON COLLEGE AMENDMENT BILL. The Nelson College Act Amendment BilliCShepherd) was passed through committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed. OTAGO HARBOR EMPOWERING BILL. The Otago Harbor Board Further Empowering Bill was further considered in committee. Mr Wright opposed any further expenditure in the upper harbor. On the. motion for making the amount to be borrowed £200,000 the committee divided, with the following result : — Ayes, 55 ; noes, 14. The further consideration of the bill was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.