HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4667, 28 October 1876, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[prjks agency.] Government Buildings, Wellington, Friday. MEJ4BEHS TO LEAVE ON SATURDAY. In. the House of Representatives last evening, the Premier stated that the Government expected the whole of the business would be got through by Saturday night, and perhaps all the measures would not be absolutely passed by the Legislative Council, but it would be known on what date the bills would be passed. Memberß-might therefore leave on Saturday night, and to that end the Government would detain the two steamers sailing North and South until twelve o'clock, if necessary. TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENT BILL THROWN OUT. Sir GEORGE GREY briefly moved the second reading of the Triennial Parliaments Bill, and after a short discuesion it was thrown out by 32 to 22. ANOTHER MINISTER WANTED. _A good deal of discussion ensued on the Civil list Act Amendment Bill, which provided for a Minister of Education. Messrs. SHEEHAN and BRANDON took exception to any more Ministers being appointed, at any rate just then. Messrs. HENRY, WOOLCOCK and BARFF thought that if another Minister was to be appointed he should be a Minister of Mines. Messrs. ATKINSON and WHITAKER pointed out that in consequence of the abolition changes,' work on Ministers would be increased one-third, and they were afraid it wonld not be carried out satisfactorily unless another Minister was appointed. Other member having spoken against it, The PREMIJS A asked that progress be reported, with the view of not proceeding further with the bill. Progress was reported accordingly. THAMES RAILWAY NEGATIVED. Sir George Grey was about to move the second reading of the Thames and Waikato Railway Bill, when The SPEAKER said the third section imposed a charge upon the consolidated revenue, and the bill therefore should be introduced in the ordinary way, after the consent of the Governor had been obtained. The PREMIER said he could not give consent. He said he had refused to grant it in the case of some bills of a similar nature. Sir GEORGE GREY wished to have the bill read a second time, and he would exgunge the objectionable parts of. the bill in ommittee. The SPEAKER eaid if he did that, there would be nothing of the bill left. After some discussion the bill was laid aside. CONSOLIDATED STOCK BILL. The Consolidated Stock Bill was passed, and the House adjourned at 12.45 a.m. THE KATIKATI SETTLEMENT. In reply to Mr. O'Rorke, the PREMIER said that Mr. "Vesey Stewart had been informed that the- Government hoped to be able to set asid c- a quantity of land ::i the neighbourhood of Hatikati, with a view of strengthening that settlement. The land was not to be given away, but to* be ?old at a fair price, on easy terms. ' ; THE PROROGATION. ' The Hiitae met at 2.30. . The PREMIER proposed that they should, on rising, adjourn to 11 o'clock tomonvw morning, as he said the prorogation would probably take place on Monday. THE CANTERBURY RUNS. _ Mr. SHEEHAN raised an exceedingly keen discussion by asking wV.at was intended to be done with the CAnteiLnry clauses in the Waste Lands Administration Bill. He heard it was intended to re-introduce them in the Legislative Council. If so, thirty members were pledged to remain and resist any such attempt. Mr. REYNOLDS said he would net only oppose such an attenipt, but would help to turn out the Ministry upon the question, late in the session as it was.

The PREMIER said the Government would take no action in the ujattcr. They were ".iot aware whether the Legislative Coun Jl would amend the bill as feared, but if tk'.y inserted the Canterbury clauses, Government would support them ae they did before. In any case, he assured the House no advantage wonld be taken of them. Whatever amendments were made in the bill by the Legislative Council, the Hou.-ie would be acquainted with them as soon as possible.. If the Council did not reintroduce the clauses, no question would be raised.

Mr. REES, Mr. DE LAUTOUR, and Mr. BURNS contended that the question, having been decided by a majority of the House, it ought not to be reopened, and strong language was used by Mr. Kees in condemning the Government for having, as he said, socu red the consistent support of Csujterbury rr --imbers by introducing those clauses. The debate was adjourned till 7.30. SCABBY SHEEP ON THE EAST COAST. In reply to Mr. Tole, the PREMIER said £3000 would be put on the Supplementary Estimates, for boiling down scabby sheep on the East Coast. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. Mr. WHITAKER wanted the House to come to some decision on the San Francisco mail service before breaking up. He said they had no further telegrams from Sydney upon the matter. After stating the whole position of the case, he said he proposed sending to Sydney a telegram, to the following effect: —" Parliament has been consulted, and we can only agree to forego the present contract on the following conditions, namely, X 3 services ; the route to be from San Francisco to Sydney, calling at Auckland, and omitting Honolulu, at the same time as you desire. That is giving you the entire benefit. The subsidy to be £70,000, leaving the t\ro colonies to provide a coastal service for New Zealand for £5000. We cannot consent to the Bay of Islands, unless the company takes £75,000, and provides a satisfactory coastal servico, your estimate of the expense being altogether erroneous. Communicaie'lecision at once, as we must make arrangements if in case of discontinuance of the service." He moved that the House agree with the telegram. This led to considerable discussion.

Mr. STAFFORD strongly opposed the sending of such a telegram. He opposed the keeping of the temporary service for the present. The contractors in the meantime should send down some authorised person to arrange with the Government here. That ■was at least due. New South Wales had too much the beet of the bargain. Messrs. RE YNOLDS and BUBNS thought Sydney too selfish, altogether, and opposed sending the telegram. They should adhere to their contract or give it up altogether. Mr. STEVENS moved, as an amendment, "That the House is not prepared to make any modifications, except those in the telegram sent to Sydney on the 14th October, saving as regards calling at Honolulu."

Mr. REYNOLDS would oppose placing the. control of the coastal service in the hands of the Government, and he believed it would cost £15,000 instead of £5000. Mr. Whitaker's motion was put and lost by 34 to 29. In order to prevent Mr. Stevens' motion being carried, Mr. Lusk got the debate

[ adjourned, so as to reopen tie whole d»'.erawn .thia_evenin & . .Hβ. said the Hone* ■wwdd regret what it was doing. "'--•■-- ■'. •'■•'■ '••■ ■ ; ■ j - coxmcTns bill. ■ _ I&a remainder of the sitting was spent indiscaesing the amendments inade m the Couarties-BiU by the Legislative Cquncit