HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 323, 21 December 1887, Page 4

HOUSE.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Major A'kinson moved that questions be postponed till next d»y, Agreed to. Replying to Mr Steward, Major Atkinson said ho enw no renson why tho businofs of the session should not bo concluded by Wednesday evening. He intimated that the Government did not intond proceeding with Iho Crown and Native Lands Rating Act Repeal Bill this session, but it would be introduced early next session. Tbe Premier further stated that he wished local bodies to unierat-nd tha*. no obligations would be inourrcd under tbis Act next year. Mr Richard.oa brought up the report of the Conference on the Land Bill, the effect of which was that a compromise had been effected with the LegMative Council, by which ihe present Land Board would bo maintained until rn-xt session of Porli<»menfc at a reduced rate of pay to be delermined by tho House. The report was adopted. Mr Hislop moved the second readingof the BuildiDg Societies Act 1880 Amendment Bill, tbe effeot of wbich was that Building Societies should bo allowed to possess powers exercisable by an ordinary mor'gagee. The Bill was olso to havo a retrospective character Agreed fo. Mr Fergus moved the fecond reading of the Taranaki West, Licensing District Bill io validato certain proceedings under tho Licensing Act 1881. Agierd 10. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Sounds County Hospital ltepresenta'ion Bill. Agreed to. Mr Mi cbelson moved ihe second reading of tho Public Works Act Amendment Bill. Agreed to. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Municipal Corpor<Viiona Act Amendment Bill (No. 2). Agreed to. Tbe Crown and Native Lands Rating Act R* peal Bill waß discharged from the Qrder Paper. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Ameudment Bill, dealing with leases on the West Coast and propoi-iug to grant new leasts on surrender. Mr Taipua opposed tho Bill atßomo leDgtb. Mr Carroll suggested that ib be poitponed till next session, and deprecated h»Bty legisla tion of this kind. Mnjor Atkinson snd the Bill was not hasty legislation. It wai only brought in to fulfil engagements with cer'ain persons which were entered into in 1871, and was merely an act of justico to the people of the West Coast. Agreed to. Major Atkinson movel the Becond re»d« ing of the South Island Nativo Reserves Bill, which was similar to tbe pievious Bill. It provided for the management of native reserves in the South Island. Mr Prait said it would not be necessary to offer any factions opposition to tbis Bill, i>b certain amendments suggested to tbe Premier bad been accepted. Agreed to. Major Atkincon moved the second reading of the Looal Bodies Finance md Powers Bill, the objeot of which wbb to reduce subsidies as provided in the Financial Statement. Agreed to. * Mnj'-r Atkinson moved the second reading of the Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill. Agreed to after some discussion. Mr Mitcheleon moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Counoil in the Government Railways Bill be agreed to. He said the amendments were unimportant. Agreed to, The Building Societies Aot Amendment Bill, Taranaki West Licensing District Bill, Sounds County Hospital Representation Bill, and Publio Reserves Salo Bills were committed, read a third time, and passed. The House went into Committee on the Public Works Act Amendment Bill and progress was reported to enable members to consider clause 4. The Houbo rose at 5-30 p m., and resumed at 7-30. The Public Works Aot Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 7 '• Cost of exercising power to be paid by local authority." — Mr G. Richardson moved that this clause be struck out. The amendment was lost and the clause retained by 35 to 32. Clause 8 " Power to Minister to construct or authorise' construction of bridges " was struck out on tbe voices. Mr Withy proposed new clauses re-enacting the provision struck out of the Railway Bill by the Council giving the Licensing Commissioners control over issue of licenses to railway refreshment rooms, but the Chairman ruled that the motion would necessitate a reversal of the previous decision. Mr Withy afterwards moved that the Commissioners' power of licensing such rooms Bhould only be exercised with tho consent of the local Road Board, County Council, or Borough Council. Lost by 36 to 35. J£A new clause was adopted on the motion of Mr Fitchett empowering Tramway Companies to purchase suburban railways. A condition was attached, on the motion of Mr Mills, that the purchasing company must within 18 months run six trams per week each way along the whole length«of the line. The provision iv the schedule for the payment of £570 to Lord Hadsbury for land on the Napier Woodville line of railway taken for railway purposes was struok out on the voices. The Bill was ordered to be reported with amendments. The House went into Committee on the Public Bodies Powers Bill. Clause 17 providing that a leasing authority (local body) shall " have power to cancel, modify, and vary any contract or agreement for sale of land. Mr Percival moved that tbis clause be Struck out. — Mr Fitchett moved to amend the olause so as to provide that the modification or variation of any contract for the sale of land oould be allowed. The olause finally passed with amendments. A new clause proposed by Major Atkinson elicited a lengthy discussion. The olause was to the effeot that overdrafts inourred by Harbor Boards before the passing of the Harbor Act of 1.86. jbould bo legalised but not any othors. The clause was passed by 45 to 16. The House, went into Committee on the Munioipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. Mr Fish suggested that this Bill be postponed till next session as there were eeveral amendments to be proposed, iWhioh there was not time to consider this sqesion. Its only object . was to legalise certain Jubilee expenditure and to give the Wellington Corporation power with respeot to lighting streets by electricity. Mr Ormond hoped the Bill would not be postponed, as there were other clauses which required to be passed. Major Atkinson asked the Committee to pass, this Bill, and nest year the other matters

referred to could bo introduced in an Amending Aot. He promised to give facilities for I tbis legislation. The Bill passed through Committee and was ordered to ba reported. The West Ooaßt Settlement Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Bill was passed with amendments. The South Island Native Reserves Bill, the Looal Bodies finance and Powers Bill, and the Naval Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill were passed with unimportant amendments. The House went into Committee on the Mining Amendment Bill. A new clause providing for depasturing, timber, and other licenses within mining districts to be granted by the Wardens only, was struck out, and the Bill was reported with amendments, read the third time, and passed, and the House roso at 2-50 a.m.