HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Thursday, July 12.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 119, 23 July 1866, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Thursday, July 12.

In reply to a question from Mr. Crosbie Ward as to the time of tho steamer leaving for Panama, Mr. Stafford said that the manager of the company had waited on him a few days ago and said that there was a doubt whether the Mataura would arrive in time to start irom Sydney on the Ist of August, and suggested that either she should wait till the 15th. or that the. Rakaia should turn round from Wellington, or that the Prince Alfred or Otago should do the service for th.it voyage. The Government felt that one of the latter courses would involve the throwing out of byiiney from the benefit of the service that month, and did not like to take the responsibility of doing that under the negotiations that were still going on: It was thought better that the Mataura should wait till the loth of the month, but the Government would not undertake the responsibility itself, and threw it en the company, as any fine for detention could not be imposed under other circumstances, and the agent of the company had said that the company considered the contract to have been fully entered upon from the beginning of June. Leave was granted to extend the time for bringing up tho report of the Reporting Committee. Mr. Hargreaves moved for copies of report 9 from inspectors and otlier tcurces relative to the working of the Debtors and Creditors Acts of 1862 and 1863, now in operation. Mr. Hall added, as an amendment, " and any _ correspondence explaining the amounts of salary paid to inspectors in bankruptcy. Major Richardson seooiided. Mr. Stafford defended the present Act. The motion, as amended, was agreed to. Mr. Armstrong thanked his Excellency the Governor for releasing him from prison; and moved for a copy of all correspondence relating to his case. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Fitzgerald moved, That a. copy of a letter from Mr. Fitzgerald, dated the 11th day of July,