HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7929, 19 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Saturday, Debember 17. The House continued sitting after 2 a.m. in Committee of Supply on tbe PUBLIC WORKS- ESTIMATES. Mr Mackenzie moved to reduce the* vote for the Seacliffe Asylum by £1000, but withdrew his motion on the Colonial Secretary giving an assurance that no money would be expended on the doctor's residence, and the item passed, as did also the total vote for asylums, hospitals, and charitable aid, £6000. The vote for quarantine stations, £100, passed, and also for school buildings, £40,000. Clause Bas amended .was passed, and the votes "." for lighthouses and harbor boards were passed without amendment. The Committee then adjourned and the House rose at 3.30 a.m. The House reassembled at 11 a.m. questions. ' _ , Replying to questions it was stated— 1. That the Government would consider the recommendations in the report of the Printing Committee. 2. That -if Tawhiao' and the other ■ natives who had taken part with him in the late war forwarded their claims for land_ to the Government they wonld be considered. . »• . ' . • 3. That, the Government had- not received a report from Sir William Fitzherbert respecting his attendance at the Colonial Conference. • .: •'< 4. That the Government would appoint an independent commission to report on the alleged defective foundations of Seacliffe Asylum, r . « - - 5. That the Government had under consideration regulations for protecting sealing grounds, and the Stella, which- was leaving to-day, would look out for any poachers. ''■■■- 6. That, the Government intended . to abolish the State Forest Department, but precautions would be token to preserve certain kinds of tintbei-. 7. That the Government ' had under consideration the question whether' certain Legislative Councillors had- lost their seats by being absent two sessions without leave. S. That Ministers had no intention to introduce a bill authorising the straightening of the railway line between Wellington and Petone. 9. That the Government would probably place a sum on the supplementary estimates for the Melbourne Exhibition, and would on a, future day state the intentions of the Government in connection with 'the colony being represented at that exhibition. • • ' 10. That .the question of making any material alteration in the present system of education would be dealt with by the House. ' ; ' 11. That Ministers hoped the Midland Railway Bill would be introduced in a day or two. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. ■ The House went into committee to further consider the Public Works Estimates. The vote for harbor defences, £80,000, woji under discussion when the committee adjonrned for lunch. - *