HEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 6

HEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

[BY TBLSGRAPH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION,] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Fiudav. The Speaker took the ohalr at half-past two p.m. divisions. The motion of Mr. Baillie, that divisions should be taken in the same manner as in the House of Lords, was lost, as also an amendment to the motion made by Sir F. Whitakrr.

. WELLINGTON GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. The Speaker having considered the mistake made in the division list on the seoond reading Of the Wellington Girls' High School Bill on Wednesday last, whereby Mr. Whawha'a name was recorded with the "noes" instead of the "ayes," said he should reinstate the order for the second reading of the Bill on the order paper for next day. Mr. Buckley complained of a paragraph appearing in to-day's Wellington Times relative to the manner he had recorded his vote on the second reading of the Girls' High School Bill, which taxed him with voting against the same Bill he had fathered in the Connoil last year. He had not introduced the Bill, and had voted against it. The matter then dropped. BILLS PASSED.

The Civil Service Reform Bill, the Native Land Administration Repeal Bill, and the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill, were read a third time and passed. LAND BILL, Mr. Stevens moved the second reading of the Land Amendment Bill. Mr. McLean and Mr. Miller supported the motion. The Council adjourned at half-past five p.m.to half-past seven. The, Council resumed, at 7.30 p.m., the debate on the second reading of the Land Bill, which was agreed to on the voices. The Bill was committed, and Mr. Bonar moved that clause 33, constituting Land Boards, be struck out, thus abolishing the Boards.

Progress was reported, and leave waa given to Bit again.

MISCELLANEOUS. The Christohurch Hospital Bill and the Christchnrch Drainage Reserves Sale Bill, tnd Building Societies Bill were committed, reported without amendments, and passed through their final stages. The Otago Harbour Board Amendment Bill and Pukekohe Borough Bill were read a second time. Mr. Johnson moved the second reading of the Wairarapa North County Council Empowering Bill. Mr. Buck lit moved the adjournment of the debate, which was agreed to. Mr. Holmß3 moved that the Council do not insist upon their amendments in the Oamaru Harbour Board Loan Bill.

The motion was agreed to. The Council, at ten minutes to eleven, adjourned till next day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. The House met at half-past two p.m. WESTPORT HARBOUR.

Mr. Whyte brought up the report of the Westport Harbour Committee, and moved that it be laid on the table.

Mr. O'Conor said that the evidence was obtained at great cost, and he thought the fullest publicity should be given it. He moved that the report be referred back to the committee so that the evidence might be attached to it.

The report of the committee was read. It recommended that the colony should resume control of the Westport harbour works. Mr. Whtte explained that the reason why the evidence was not laid on the table was because the committee considered it reflected on private persons who had no opportunity of defending themselves. Considerable discussion ensued, Mr. O'Conob defending his action on the Board at great length.- Mr. O'Conor's amendment was eventually lost, and the report ordered to lie on the table.

SATURDAY SITTING. Major Atkinson moved that the House at its rising adjourn till eleven o'clock tomorrow. Agreed to. QUESTIONS. Major Atkinson asked that the questions on the order paper be postponed till next day. Mr. Samuel pointed out with respect to the question he had pat on the paper refer* ring to the disqualification of certain members of the Legislative Council, that on further inquiry he found Messrs Menzies and Holmes had not forfeited their seats owing to absence without leave. tie had found, however, that Sir F. Whitaker, AttorneyGeneral, had been absent two sessions from the Council, which was » far more important matter, as the Attorney General was the gentleman who had to inquire into the alleged disqualification of the other councillors. '

Major Atkinson said the matter was at present nnder the consideration of the Crown Law Officer. NATIVE LAND. The Native Land Administration Act Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council and read a first time.

THE POLl&y Of THE O .VERNMENT.

Mr. Kerb resumed the debate on the notion for going into Committee of Supply. He condemned the borrowing proposals of the Government. Mr. Dowxik Stewart also expressed his opinion against large borrowing. Mr. Buchanan throughly agreed with the last speaker that there were various amounts on the estimates which it was very desirable should be straak oat, and he hoped that many of these sums would be thrown out. Mr. Mills said he and some of his friends had decided to endeavour to reduce the loan by £250,000. He admitted that a certain amount of borrowing was required, bat thought it might be limited to £750,000. Mr. Ward would like to know who the hon. gentlemen were who had been referred to by Mr. Mills. If certain voten were struok out these members might find that other combinations of members would retaliate.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply, and rose for the half-past five adjournment. The committee resumed at hall-past seven on the Public Works Estimates. Class 4:— Roads and bridges and wharves north of Auckland, £3870 Passed. Vote for main roads, £18,650: Mr, Bkcok moved that,the committee reduce by £1000 the item for the road, Hokitlka to Christchurcb, After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn, and the vote was passed. Vote for miscellaneous roads and. bridges, £34,500: Mr. Menteath moved to reduce the vote £1, in order to test the feeling of the committee as to this class of vote being retained on the Estimates in future. The vote was passed. Vote for grants in aid, £72,600 : Passed. Vote for roads to open tip land before sale, £60,000: Passed. Vote for village settlements, £23,000: Passed. Vote for Minister of Mines, roads on goldfields, £31,000 : Passed. Class 5 Vote for waterworks on goldfields, £1200; Passed. Class 3: Vote for Mew Pljmoutb-Foxton railway, £1200 1 passed. Wellington-Foxton. £500 : passed, flurunoi North, £100 : passed. Springfield Braffeh, £900 : passed. Lincoln-Little River, £800: passed. Class 6: Vote for the purchase of native lands, £16,000: passed. Class 7* Vote for telegraph extension, £20.100: passed. Class 8: Vofco for public buildings, £109,000 Mr, OfCallagaan moved to strike out the item £3000 for departmental buildings, Auckland. On division the amendment was lost by 48 to 28. Mr. MoKeuzle (Waihemo) moved to reduce the item by £1000. Lost by 41 to 33. The item was then passed as printed. Mr. O'Callaghan moved that the item £300 for Port Chalmers Courthouse be utrnok out. Lost by 47 to 28. Item retained. Item new prison, Mount Cook, Wellington, £4000, was reduced by £5 (?), the intention being that the Government should not commit the committee to further expenditure until full information was before them. Item Ponrua Lunatic Asylum, £2000. Mr, Allan moved to reduce the sum by £100. Amendment lost by 26 to 15. Item passed, [Left sitting.]