PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 704, 28 August 1885, Page 24

PARLIAMENT.

Continued from Page 10. cost of shunting, as well as the consequent extra injury to the rolling-stock. For the Post Office Department, work has been done during the year to the value of about L 19,000, and for various other departments, and especially for the Education Department, free tickets have been issued, and reductions made in the rates, to the value of about L 9009, all of which would be credited to the revenue if the railways were iu the hands of private companies. These items alone amount to fully 5s per cent, on the total cost of railway construction. Much has been said lately as to the prospects of the railway revenue for the current year, and a considerable amount of unnecessary alarm has been created by statements as to' probable decreases in revenue made both in this House and out of it. We have now before us the actual results of the first four months of the year, and although the anticipation expressed in my Statement last year, and again in the Financial Statement of my honorable colleague the Colonial Treasurer this session, that there would be a substantial increase in the receipts during the current year, will not be realised, still, considering the depression which has existed all over the Colony, and more especially in the Middle Island, I think the result of the year’s traffic will not be unsatisfactory. It is true that a great falling off in the quantity of grain carried has taken place during the four months ending the 31st July ; but it is equally true, and beyond doubt, that the amount of grain now along the lines which has at some time to be carried, is much larger than usual at this period of the year. While it must be admitted therefore that some reduction has taken place in receipts, it is also a fact that a very large reduction. in expenditure is at the same time being effected, and this I shall be prepared to explain in detail when the Estimates are before the House. Comparing the receipts since the date of the last published returns with the same period last year, there is therefore no reason to doubt that the estimates of net revenue from the railways recently brought down by the Hon the Colonial Treasurer will be fully realized. EXCURSION TRAINS. Although some small attempts had been made in previous years to provide cheap excursion trains on some of the lines, they were made on such a limited scale that they did not produce much revenue to the railways, and the season was so far advanced by the time I had an opportunity of looking into the matter that I could not get this traffic organised to such an extent as I hadjwisbed. It will be seen from the General r Manager’s report, however, that no less than 46,539 passengers availed themselves of these trains during last season, and if present instructions are carried out I hope that

fully double this number will be carried during next season. .Independently of the fact that these trains give an opportunity of travelling to a very large class of the public who could not otherwise afford it, they will, I hope, so accustom the public to travel, that a general reduction of the passenger fares may be found possible within, a reasonable time. Before leaving the subject of the railways I have to state that I have seen no reason to alter my opinion that the best method of managing them is by Boards of Commissioners. I have taken a considerable amount of pains in preparing a Bill providing for the appointment of these boards, and the measure of success or otherwise whica will attend their labors, always providing that due care is exercised in selecting good men, will much depend upon the amount of power Parliament will give them. After very careful consideration of this question, however, the Government has come to the conclusion that it is not desirable to ask the House to pass such an important measure as this Railways Commissioners Bill until hon members and the country generally have had an opportunity of fully studying it, and it has therefore been decided that the House shall only be asked to carry the Bill through its primary stages this session. When that is done, it is proposed that the Bill shall be widely circulated, in order that the subject may be fully studied and discussed by all who are interested in it before it is again introduced next session. The present staff is good, many of the officers having had much more experience than _men receiving much higher pay in the adjoining Colonies, and our system of accounts is far superior to that in force in some of the colonies, and enables .us to complete our accounts much more rapidly and accurately than they can do. Indeed, in one instance lately, we have lost a valuable officer through his being offered higher pay in an adjoining Colony, and the same Government which took him from us is adopting many of our methods of keeping statistical accounts. ROADS NORTH OF AUCKLAND.

The amount voted for these roads last year was L 103.800, and against this there were liabilities to the extent of L 30.130, leaving L 73.670 available for further works. Of this stim, L 3670 was kept in hand to cover contingencies on works in course of construction by the Public Works Department, and the balance (L 70.000) was allocated to the various counties for works to be spread over the period ending the 31st December, 1886. The amount allocated to each county was as follows: —Waitemata, L 12.000 ; Rodney, L 11.009 ; Hobson, L9OOO ; Whangarei, L 12.000 ; Bay of Islands, LIO.OOO ; Hokianga, L7OOO ; Mongonui, L9OOO ; total, L 70.000. Of this amount, LB2OO was for the. main north road on the east side of the Island and L3OOO for main road on west side, and there was also the sum of L 5700 directed to be expended on works which were specially defined, leaving L 53.100 for ordinary county works.. Special care has also been taken to provide in the agreements made with each of the counties concerned that the whole of the money must be expended on new construction works and not on anything of the nature of maintenance.

ROADS AND BRIDGES GENERALLY, INCLUDING “MAIN ROADS” AND “MISCELLANEOUS ROADS

AND BRIDGES.”

North island. —South of Auckland : The road works »n the hands of the Government in this portion of the Colony, during last year, have consisted almost entirely of the maintenance and improvement of main roadsgin outlying districts, such as the roads from •Cambridge to Rotorua, Cambridge to Taupo, Tauranga to Napier via Taupo, Seventy Mile Bush, and various roads in the Bay of Plenty ; and also the maintenance of the Auckland to Drury road to such extent as the tolls collected upon it would admit of. As a considerable amount of misapprehension seems to exist as regards the Government’s connection with this latter road, and the keeping up of the tolls upon it, it may be well here to state, that as it is not a road in an outlying district, the Government would, under ordinary circumstances, have nothing to say to it, but has consented to assume control of the maintenance for the reason that the Counties Act is not in force in the district through which it passes, and because the numerous Road Boards concerned have never been able to agree amongst themselves as to what proportion each should bear in the cost of the maintenance. Theselocal bodies, however, are continually urging that the tolls should be taken off, but it is manifest that this cannot be done until they either arrange to take over the control themselves, or else subscribe amongst them the necessary funds for the maintenance in lieu of the tolls. The amount which it is necessary to contribute towards the Seventy-Mile Bush-road this year, will be much less than last year, in consequence of the advance of settlement along it, and the shorter distance which has to be maintained owing to the extension of the railways, and it is hoped that after this year the contributions from General Government funds may cease altogether. Middle Island;—The chief road-works in the Middle Island have been the completion of the road from Blenheim to Nelson, via the Pelorus Valley and Rai Saddle, and various improvements in the road from Nelson to. Westport and Greymouth ; also the construction of the Kaikoura to WMau-road, length about 30 miles, which is well in hand. A survey has also been made for a road from Kaikoura to the Clarence, and the works along this distance will soon be put in band. The bridge over the Clarence is now well advanced towards completion, and we may therefore shortly expect to have completed a coach road throughout from the Waiau Townshop to the north side of the Clarence River, and thus get rid of a longstanding obstruction to the progress of settlement bet ween North Canterbury and Blenheim. Bridges are also in progress over the Taipo River on the road from Christchurch to Hokitika, the Taieri River in Otago, and the Clutha River at Beaumont and Roxburgh, also, in Otago. In the case of the Beaumont bridge, as in the case of the Wingatui Viaduct, which I have already alluded to, the plans of the superstructure, as originally prepared, would have entailed the work being ordered from England, but I have had these plans altered similarly, so as to admit of the work being done in the Colony. A contract has also been let for. the construction of a bridge over the Waiau River at the Hanmer Plains, and this will supply a want which has long been felt in the shape of a safe road to the thermal springs near Jollie s Pass, as well as to the whole of the interior of the Nelson and Marlborbugh districts. The Hanmer Plains springs, the curative properties of which are well known, have been almost inaccessible hitherto, in consequence of the dangerous nature of the ford over i the Waiau. When the Railway is opened to the Red Fosfc the coach journey to the springs will be reduced to about 24 miles, and there is every reason to expect that this sanitorium will then be largely patronised by persons in the South who cannot afford the expense of going to Rotorua, or other similar springs in the North Island. -Lhe bridge, which is almost entirely ironwork, is being manufactured in the ColonyROABS TO OPEN Ur DROWN LANDS BM’OBE SALE. On these works, which are under the control of my colleague the Minister of Lands, the expenditure during the last financial year has

been L 49,314, and the liabilities at end of March last amounted to 31170,072. The individual works done and in progress are so numerous that I cannot conveniently describe them in detail, but they will be found fully recited in Table No. 4 attached to this Statement ; and from that table hon members will, I think, be enabled to realise that a fair amount of attention is being given to]the opening-up of lands for settlement in all parts of the Colony. There are still, however, many millions of acres of Crown land to be opened up, so that a large amount of work of this class will require to be done for many years to come. The expenditure during present financial year is expected to reach about the amount of the liabilities existing in March last, namely, the sum of L 70.072, and that is all that it is proposed to ask for as a vote; but, in addition to this sum, it is proposed to ask the House to authorise the incurring of further liabilities during current year to the extent of, say, LBO,OOO. ROADS UNDER THE ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT. Main Roads. —One-fourth of cost of work to be provided, or repaid in ten years, by the local body, aad the balance to be found by the Government.—Under this heading the total amount of the applications received on the 30th June, 1884, when reduced in accordance with the Act of 1883, came to Xi 250,484. Of these applications, those which were for bridges were granted in full, while as regards those which were for road works, exclusive of bridges, the available fund only admitted of their being granted to the extent of 30 per cent, of the amounts applied for. The total amount thus distributed for bridges and road works together amounted to L 103,294. In addition to these ordinary applications, there were also applications for repairs of extraordinary damages by floods amounting to L 13.577, and grants were made on these to the extent of L 9005. The total applied for altogether on account of main road 3 was, therefore, L 264,061, and the total granted 1i112,299, of which £60,975 was for bridges and £<51,324 for other works. The amounts granted within each of the several provincial districts will be found in the following table :

District Roads and River Works : Total amount granted to be repaid in fifteen years. —On account of this class of works the total amount applied for during the year ended March last has been L 34.593 (including applications amounting to Lllß6 for flood damages); and, in pursuance of these applications, loans have been granted to the extent of L 96,002. Of this sum, £25,402 was for roads and L6OO for river works. The several amounts granted within the various provincial districts are shown in the table below :

It will thus be seen that the total amount granted for the year has been L 138,301. As several local bodies have, however, since decided to deal with their grants under different sections of the Act to those under which the grants were originally made, the amount finally granted has been thereby reduced to L 108,678 for main roads, and L 25.274 for district roads and river works, so that the grand total for the year, as revised up to 31s b March, has been L 133.952. ROADS AND TRACKS, ETC., FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOLDFIELDS AND OTHER MINING DISTRICTS. It has hitherto been usual for these works to be described in the Public Works Statement, but as my colleague, the Minister of Mines, has already made a statement to the House dealing with the whole question of mining works, it will only be necessary for me to allude to them very briefly. I may state, however, from my previous knowledge of such works, that the rough and mountainous character of the country where gold and other minerals exist renders the construction of roads and tracks imperative before the mineral resources of the Colony can be developed, and that it is impossible, to expect that individual miners, or even mining companies, can do this work without considerable aid from the Government. The expenditure during the year on works of this character has been L 15,630, and the liabilities at the end of year L 33.122. Of these amounts a considerable portion is represented by subsidies to local bodies, who have undertaken to do the works required on the principle of receiving L2 to LI on the cost of construction. WATERWORKS ON GOLDFIELDS. These works are also under the control of the Minister of Mines, so that I need only state with respect to them that the expenditure on the construction of water-races during the year has been L 8029, and the liabilities at the end of the year L 7369. The principal portion of the expenditure during the year has been on the Mikonui Water-race, in Westland, and the Mount Ida Water-race, in Otago. PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS, NORTH ISLAND. Through the operations of the Native Land Purchase Department during the past year sixteen negotiations, some of which were open for the last thirteen years, have been brought to a close, thus increasing the public estate of the Colony by an area of over 70,000 acres. This includes the bulk of the Mangatainoka Block in the Forty-mile Bush, which will form a very valuable addition to the lands available for settlement between Wellington and Hawkes Bay. Several other open negotiations have been considerably advanced, and are now in the final stages of completion. Under these circumstances it is only considered necessary to ask for an appropriation of L 70,000 for the current financial year, as against L 90,000 last year. A return, similar to Parliamentary paoer lettered C.—2Jof 1884, on this subject, will shortly be laid before the House. This will show the whole of the land-purchase transactions, complete and incomplete, the results jj being in round numbers about as follows Completed transactions, 4,040 000 acres ; incomplete, 1,100,000 acres ; total expenditure, LI, 005,000. IMMIGRATION. The number of immigrants introduced for the year ending the 30th June, 1885, was 1262. These consisted principally of persons whose passages had been held over during the temporary suspension of immigration, and to whom I referred in my Statement of last year.

So far .as the Government has been able to ascertain, these engagements have how been fulfilled with all persons who wished to . take advantage of nominations in their favor, and there are therefore now no outstanding obligations on the part of the department with respect to these passages. Since the 19th November, 1884, even nominated immigration has been restricted to special cases of separated families. This is done under a system devised to meet; cases where husbands have come out to the Colony on the understanding that they would be. permitted to nominate their wives and families when they had succeeded in providing homes for them. Nominations in favor of 310 persons have been received since the issue of these instructions. Payment of half passage money is required to the extent of L 8 10s for each adult. and L 5 for each child, including cost of outfit. The total number of immigrants of all classes introduced into the Colony since the inauguration of the immigration scheme by the colonial Government is 111,948. A return which has already been laid before the House gives the details of the classes and nationalities of these immigrants.

TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The telegraph extension during the year consisted of the erection of 190 miles of new lines and 437 miles of additional wire. The work of connecting Taupo with Cambridge by a new line, 65 miles in length, has been completed. . This was undertaken with the view of providing an alternative route to the north, and has had the effect of shortening the distance to Auckland by 90 miles, besides cutting off a considerable length of coast line. A line from Collingwood to Cape Farewell Spit Lighthouse has also been finished and opened for public, use, and as a weatherreporting. and signalling station for passing vessels will be. of great value. The telegraph lines in use in the Colony at the end of March last extended to a total length of 4264 miles, carrying 10,474 miles of wire, of which 2820 miles is duplexed. Telephone exchanges were set up during the year at Nelson and Oamaru, and arrangements have been completed for the erection of such exchanges at Timaru and Napier. The exchanges now in operation are seven—namely, at Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill ; and they yielded a gross revenue during the last financial year of LIO,OOB 3s 6d. The expenditure on new works and extensions of all classes last year was L 25,799, and the vote proposed to be asked for this year is £25.900. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The expenditure on public buildings during the last y ear has been considerably less than for either the two previous years, having been only L 117,361, for 1884-85,- as against L 164,376 for 1883-84, and L 153.072 for 1882-83. The liabilities on account of public buildings at the end of last year were also considerably less than at the end of 'the two previous years, having been only L 10.424 in March, 1885, as against L 41,753 in March, 1884, and L 83,862 in March, 1883. The principal words in hand, when considered individually, have been the new convict prisons at Auckland and Wellington ; but the largest portion of the expenditure during the year has been for school buildings, L 66,069 ; lunatic asylums, L 24.992; and post and telegraph offices, L 8955. The expenditure on lunatic asylums consisted principally-of the final payments on account of contracts for asylums at Sunnyside in Canterbury, and Seacliff in Otago, which had practically been completed before the date of my last Public Works Statement. / The designing and construction of the Industrial Exhibition building in Wellington has also been carried out by the Public Works Department, and several small courthouses have been erected in various parts of the Colony. Of the works proposed for the current year, the largest item is for school buildings, but there are also considerable additions required and proposed under the headings of Judicial Buildings, Lunatic Asylums, and Hospitals. LIGHTHOUSES AND HARBOR WORKS. The lighthouse at Kaipara, which was stated last year to be in progress, has since . been, completed, and the light has been exhibited there since the Ist December last. At Jackson’s Head the beacon which was recently erected was unfortunately carried away during the very heavy gale which occurred on the 13th and 14th * March last, but steps are now being taken to replace it with a structure of more substantial character. In pursuance of the Act passed last session the construction of harbor works at Westport, which had only to a very slight extent previously been undertaken by the Government, was placed in the hands of a Board, with power to borrow to the extent of L 500.000, and that body is now taking vigorous steps towards the opening-up of quarries by railway, and the acquiring of all necessary plant, in order to carry out the works with efficiency and despatch. All the harbor works plant and rollingstock which the Government had upon the ground has been handed over to the Board. The harbor works at Greymouth have also been handed over to a Board, in pursuance of the Act of last session, with power to borrow to the extent.of L 150.000, and they are being carried on in a vigorous and satisfactory manner ; the whole of the harbor works plant and rolling-stock which the Government had upon the ground, and which in this case was of considerable extent, having been handed over to the Board, as in the Westport case. In this Greymouth case, however, a considerable amount of work had previously been done by the Government costingin all L 127,018. Before leaving the subject of harbor works, I may also mention that the Government has decided to ask the House to give the necessary power to both the Greymouth and Westport Harbor Boards to expend some of their funds in supplying further facilities for shipping coal at the ports, and extending the railway accommodation to the mines. In view of these proposals it should be remembered that the works are really being carried out for the benefit of the Colony, as it is open to Parliament to claim'them at any moment. Meanwhile under local management they appear to be progressing very satisfactorily. HARBOR DEFENCES. Existing Defences. —At the end of March last it was considered advisable, owing to the threatened outbreak of war with. Russia, to place the chief ports of the Colony in a state of defence as far as the means at the disposal of the Colony admitted, and to commence the construction of the necessary works for the reception of the guns. These works were proceeded with vigorously, and in about three months the whole of the guns available in the Colony were mounted, and the necessary magazines, stores, barracks, and enclosing parapets are now in a fair state of completion. Defence Works.—At Auckland works were undertaken at North Head, Point Resolutiou, and Mount Victoria. The first two works are almost completed, and the third will be completed for about LI2OO. The total cost of these works when completed will be about L 13,200. At. Wellington works have been erected at Point Halswell, Gordon Point, and Xaiwarra. These works are all in a fair state of progress, and barracks have also been erected for the Constabulary at Haitaitai Peninsula. The cost of the works at Wellington, when finished, will be about L 15,000, which includes the making of a considerable extent of road and the erection of a redoubt on Mount Craw-

At Lyttelton works have been constructed at Battery Point, Spur Point and "Rrskine Point, and barracks k ive been erected for the Constabulary working there.. lhe works will shortly be completed, and their cost will be approximately £5200. Works ha e been constructed at Taiaroa Head for the defence of Port Chalmers, and also on the Ocean |e»h to PJffi* “Sfi&S ihe ;’ ?, h'l «;c6 The cost o£ the lend SrinS*e'to b tl»or all these work. to about Defences. -A small number of submarine mines were *®j n Squadron, miral mm^i^? k rdownatA uc kland, and ?he O G4 Plunder concerted guns, also supplied by the navy, will be mounted at Auckland and Additional Def ences.-Taking into consideration the recent improvements which have been made in the construction of ordnance, and the methods of mounting guns m coast defences, it was considered advisable, for the better protection of the harbors, and to prevent their bombardment at long range, to provide 23 guns of the latest type, as well as 20 machine-guns, Whitehead torpedoes- au other necessary accessories for uoast defences. * These will be supplied shortly at a cosc 1,166,000. It is proposed to mount the 23 heavy guns and the 20 machine-guns at the several ports, and also to provide for the defence of the. Bluff. The cost of the works S be greatly reduced by the employment of the constabulary in their will be extended over a period of af-out three years It is also proposed to establish complete systems of torpedo defence for all the ports, as, without this additional outlay, the batteries themselves are not considered to be thoroughly effective. The cost of these, mcludfn- all necessary firing and observing stations, boats, cables, and stores, will be about 1,35,000, and will include all the m°st modern improvements in this Dranch of science The total cost of the scheme of de fence will not exceed 1,300,000 S which is considerably less than has been paid for the fort fication of any of the pnnci P al f Yadvam •nnrts At the same time the natural aava_ tages’afforded by the places to be defended 1 New Zealand, and the ado P t^f fl < l n fc j! r their improvements in ordnance, should render their security from attack equally ■public works fund. 8019 On the Ist April, 1884, there was 1,488,912 t Vu of the Public Works Fund, to W) d to he added L 389.000, the last instalment of the loan of a million negotiated in t * iftftt Together these amounts make S 7 912 To this must be added receipts j^l^ e^. e ceWed a im^ec r 'secWon r 9 f off the deficiency bills and the temporary advances The expenses of negotiating tne to! million of the tWmillioa loaned tg ot been brought to but, on the otner hand an instalment of L15a,000 of this loan remained 1 10 be paid. It will be seen, therefore, that, of that famous three-millmn loan, together with its little sister, the 1,250,000 co lonial inscribed loan, all had P as^ d a ' va^. fc ° e r ■ the 31st March last, excepting about a quarter of a million and about a h^ e a^ un j^h e sl hands of officers to be accounted for. In these figures the million loan authorised for the North Island Trunk Railway has not been included; that loan, as hon members are aware, not having as yet been raised, and ■the funds for the works so far undertaken on that railway having, been temporarily pro vided by advances from loans authorised for other purposes. These advances wi , •course, have to be recouped when the loan for the North Island line is floated. I he •credit balance, therefore, at the commencement of the present financial year, was, as A have already stated, £99v 298. To this has t be added £.155,000, the last instalment, • to which I have also alluded, of the threemillion loan, and 1,1,500,000 for the loan of that amount floated in May, making together 1,2.645,298. On the other hand there must bededucted from this sum the L 600,000 required to pay off the deficiency bills, and to repay •the temporary advances obtained last year. There will thus remain a little over two millions available for expenditure on the Ist April last, subject, however, to the quarter of a million in the hands of officers to be accounted for, and subject to the cost of negotiating the million loan m Jannary, and the million and a half m May last. It is necessary I should say a few words as to liabilities, because, although the subject is yearly explained by Ministers, there yet seems to be a considerable want of knowledge ■concerning it. The votes taken each year for public works expenditure do not represent, and are not meant to represent, the expenditure within the year. They represent expenditure on account of liabilities already existent, and authority to enter into further liabilities without reference to the time it may take to fulfil them. Hence, with two exceptions, which will be seen in the Estimates when brought before the House, the votes which I shall ask .for will represent in all cases a. great deal more than the proposed expenditure during the year. But non members, before I detail the votes, will like to know the Abroad estimate I make of the. expenditure within this year, and of the period following it during which Parliament will have probably met, and the session be proceeding. I must first say that when war seemed imminent, it was deemed expedient to contract exV*ponditure, and it has not been considered .. desirable to much extend it during the session. i Thus, during the first four months of the present year the expenditure irom the Public Works Fund has proceeded at little over the cate of £850,000 a year. Some heavy orders for defence material have been given, and payment may have to be made on this account shortly. Even taking the defence expenditure into account, however, I estimate that lhe amounts coming in for payment up to the 31st March next may be kept within £1,250,000. Expenditure, however, will continue to proceed binder the liabilities contracted without reference to any further expenditure tobe authorised next session. W e must always. calculate upon about a quarter of a million being in the hands of officers for advances. Taking this into account and the million and a quarter of expenditure which I anticipate within the year, we shall have available, of the balance with which we began this year, about half a million for next year on the 31st March. Seeing the period at which Parliament generally meets, and the pressing business which first engages its attention, we think it desirable that provision should be made, for another million, which might be negotiated at any time after March, when the opportunity seems best. I hope it will take us well into 1887, but of that, of course, the House will best be

able to judge next year. Having already detailed, under their several headings, the nature of the works proposedto .be undertaken during the current year, it will now, sir, be only necessary for me to state the amounts of the votes which we propose to ask for on account of each class of undertaking. This being done, I shallhave a fewspecial remarks to maireonthe subject of expenditureon road works, and then 1 shall bring this Statement, which, for various reasons, I have been obliged to make an exceptionally long one, to a close. For the year now current the amounts which we propose to ask the House to authorise are as follows :—* or immigration, with liabilities at the end. March amounting to £BOOO, we ask for a vot of £30,373, thus providing for new unuertaKi’n"S to the extent of £22,373. 1 .^,°F,., mental expenditure, with l i abdl | ies F L 779, we ask for a vote of L 2&931. *or railway works of all classes, with liabilities of £497,525, we ask for a vote “f 1A.347,400 the details for the severai clas.es of works being as follows, namely rof struction and land, Wit £231 444 *, amount asked for, £904,3W. -a.a ditions to opened lines, liabdifcles f £83,563; amount asked for jre manent-wav sleepers, and rolling-stock, with lHbilfiies of £181,586; amount asked for £268 000 Surveys of new lines of railway, with u-i’-I- ft l.q® • amount asked for, L3OO0 tle The grand total, as before stated, beffig £1 347,400, including liabilities existing at end of March last amounting to £497,520, This will give £849,875 for new undertakings For 9 roads of all classes, with liabilities of T r<?o 453 we ask for a vote of £000,7i.4. This ’includes various classes of roads as follows :-Roads north of Auckland with liabilities of £66,301; amount asked for, £69,229 Main roads, with liabilities of £15,209, amount asked for, £45,100 Miscellaneous roads and bridges, with liabilities of £29,420 , amount- asked for, £83,974. Grants-m-aid under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and subsidies to local bodies, with liabilities of £166,329 ; amount asked for, £268,329. Roads to open up Crown lands, with liabilities of £70,072 ; amount asked for expenditure this vear, L 70.072. Roads on goldfields, with liabilities of £33,122; amount asked for expenditure this year, £50,000. Total for roads of all classes, as before stated, £556,704, with liabilities of t£3Bo 453, being an addition of £206,251. For waterworks on goldfaelds, with liabilitiesof £7369, we ask for a vote of £30,200. For public buildings, with habilities of £lO 424, we ask for a vote of £156,510. 1 his includes school buildings, £68,230, aslagainst liabilities at end of March last of £2230. The vote proposed fo'r buildings as a whole this year is considerably less than last year, although the gross amount for school buildings is practically the same, and the amount available for school buildings, exclusive of liabilities, some £6OOO more than last year. F° r lighthouses and harbor works (including harbor defences), with liabilitiesof £119,220, we ask for a vote of £266,010, thus providing for new undertakings. The amount included in this for harbor defences is L 250.000, as against liabilities at 31st March of but the liabilities since .that date have been largely increased, and now mount up to close upon the amount of the vote proposed. For telegraph extension, with liabilities of £6OOO, we ask for a vote ,of £25 900. For purchase of Native lands, with estimated liabilities in all of £173,200, we ask for a vote of £70,000, that being sufficient to meet the probable payments which will become due during the current year. For charges and expenses of raising loans we ask for a vote of £60,000. The total amount proposed to be voted is thus £2,602,036, which includes liabilities amounting to £1,202,970. Deducting from these liabilities the sum of £103,200, prospective liabilities on Native land purchases, which are not at present required to be provided for, the amount .available for new undertakings would thus be in all £1,502,266 ; but, as already stated, it is only contemplated to spend this year about £1,250,000, which is very slightly in excess of the liabilities already existing. In considering the proposed votes, honorable members will be reminded of what has been pointed out by the Government: the inadequate proportion for railway construction compared with that for other works. Roads and bridges have assumed a position in the expenditure charged to loans that calls for the most earnest consideration of Parliament, and, if the borrowing powers of the Colony are to be restrained within reasonable and prudent limits, some change will have to be brought about in the way that sums out of loan are voted for these works. With our present land revenue and our probable future returns from the .land fund, the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, if left unrepealed, will entail such a burden on the Colony that either our borrowing will have to be extended, or our loans will not be spent m the constructing of railways. To show how borrowed money has been expended for roads and bridges, I need only flu?* 16 the following figures : —IBBO-81, £230,844; 1881-82, L145T948 f 1882-83. L 210.605 ; 1883-84 L 328,641; 1884-5, £317,043. The Roads and Bridges Construction Act only comes into the amounts of the last two years. The amount I have mentioned for 1883-4 includes for grants under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act £106,398, and for 1884-85 £149,982 is included and, when we are about to propose its repeal, we have to vote L 216.000 to fulfil obligations under it. If this Act remains on the statute book, I hesitate to hazard ah estimate of what the yearly vote out of loan would grow to. The Government does not under-value the need of such colonising works as roads - and bridges, nor has the House denied their utility : but the question is, shall the Consolidated Fund, and the districts concerned, bear the main part of the burden, or must we go on increasing the debt of the Colony for roads and bridges ? This is a matter which requires grave consideration; but meanwhile, without risking the dangers of a too hasty alteration of the present system, we shall strive to bring about a change in the mode of charging such votes to loans. At first we can do little more than stop the tendency to increase the votes ; but, notwithstanding the increase under the Act last year, we reduced the expenditure on these works by LII,OOO. The total vote for roads and bridges, including the amount under the Construction Act, and including the amount for subsidies, is about £170,000 less than last year, and I hope we shall be able to do with a less actual expenditure. , , Mr Speaker,—l have extended my remarks this evening to a somewhat unusual length, so many important points having to be dealt with by anyone holding the position of Minister for Public Works, and no doubt I have trespassed too long upon your patience and that of hon members. It only now remains for me to thank you, Sir, and the House for the great indulgence you have afforded to me to-night, and to express a hope that when we meet next session the anticipations I have ventured to make may be found to be fully realised. Major ATKINSON said an. important omission from the Statement was in reference to the acquirement of land for settlement along, the North Island Main Trunk £ine. The MINISTER replied that his colleagues would make a statement in respect to that natter.

The NATIVE MINISTER said he thought the vote of £70,000 would be sufficient for that PU jYLr° S OItMOND asked for information, in respect to the East and West Coast Railway. The PREMIER replied that the Government had no other information than that which the House already had. The contract expired in January next. , , Mr ORMOND said it had been stated that a gentleman at Home had been trying to dispose of the concessions. The PREMIER said he had heard nothing of the kind. Mr SUTTER suggested the adjournment of the debate. m.-nirTu-n In answer to Mr Hurst, the PREMIER said the Government had no power to go on with the East and West Coast line at present. Mr ORMOND explained that he had wished the Minister to make inquiries, and tell, the House what the Colony was now committed to ’Mr BARRON asked whether the Government would enforce the terms if the contract for PUBLIC WORKS said the contract would simply fall through. Mr BARRON asked whether he was to understand, then, that the Government had committed the Colony to a contract, so unbusinesslike and one-sided, that there was no provision •for such a contingency as the contractors failing to keep their agreement. ■ . The MINISTER replied that he could not discuss the matter now. On the motion for the second reading ot the Railway Commissioners Bill, _ The MINISTER, in reply to Mr Bryce, said he would consent to an adjournment of the debate on the second reading. The PREMIER said he should ask the House to adjourn till 10 o’clock (it being then 9 15) ' Major ATKINSON hoped the Government would adjourn for the night. He pointed out that hon members who sat m the House till late in the morning could not find time to master the Statement. This was a most important Statement the House was asked to vote L 2,600,000, and it was essential that they should have time to consider it. The PREMIER said he wanted the Land Transfer Bill to go through. It’ would not take more than an hour. T m , It was decided to take the Land Transfer Bill at once. LAND TRANSFER BILL. _ The House went into committee on this Bill, and then rose at 11.15 p.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26. The Speaker took his seat at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented. REPORTS. Reports from the Goldmining Committee and Public Petitions Committee were presented. ADMINISTRATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The report of the free conference of the House and Council on this Bill was agreed to. QUESTIONS. In answer to Mr Fisher, the MINISTER for PUBLIC WORKS said that tenders had been called through the Public Works Department as well as through the Prisons Departmept for building materials used at Mount In answer to Mr Reid, the MINISTER of DEFENCE said the Government was considering the advisability of appointing constables in agricultural districts inspectors under the Rabbit Nuisance Act. Mr ROEEESTON asked the Government—(l) Whether the Government have obtained a report or reports as to the working of the Contagious Diseases Act in the Colony during the past year, as promised at an early period of the session? (2) Whether, in view of the statements made by the Resident Magistrate from the Bench in Christchurch, as to the evils which have ensued upon the cessation of the operation of the Act in Christchurch, and of facts which have been brought under, their notice as to the spread of the class of diseases dealt with under the Act, the Government will take steps during the present session to bring the Act into operation throughout the Colony, by the introduction of clauses into the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill or otherwise ? The MINISTER said he had received the reports, and he would lay them on the table. It was the duty of the local bodies to carry out the Act. As to introducing a clause into the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill, that would involve an alteration in the appropriation clauses. In answer to Mr Buchanan, the MINISTER for PUBLIC WORKS said his attention had been called to the fact that carriers were offering to carry wool between Masterton and Wellington at lower rates than those charged by the railway department. The wool tariff on this line was the same as that on other lines, except that five miles extra was charged for the Rimutaka. He promised, however, to make inquiries into the matter. In answer to Mr Buchanan, the MINISTER for PUBLIC WORKS said no alteration had been made in the hours of surface men on the Wellington-Masterton Railway line. In answer to Mr Samuel, the MINISTER for PUBLIC WORKS said the railway official referred to in a public journal had been disrated for insubordination. His case had not been referred to the Railway Board, because it was not a suitable case for the Board to determine. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The PREMIER said the Government were of opinion that they would not. be able to pass the Municipal Corporations Bill this session; and there would probably be some difficulty about the Representation Act Amendment Bill. The Friendly Societies Bill would also have to be deferred. The Magistrates Courts Bill and Criminal Code Bill were simply consolidating measures, and should be passed this session. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Major ATKINSON said he would intimate to the Government his intention to give notice of a series of resolutions traversing the Government financial policy during the afternoon. These motions he proposed to move on the following evening, and he might say that the effect of them was to limit expenditure under the Public Works Fund ; and to traverse the East and West Coast Railway, the new loan expenditure, and other matters. He would like to know whether the Government would. give him an opportunity of moving the motions. If they did not, he would have to wait an OP The fc PREMIER said it was impossible for him to say until he had seen the terms of the resolutions of which the hon gentleman intended to give notice. It was quite unusual to move such resolutions on the second reading a Loan Bill; and as to reducing the public works expenditure, that was usually done when the Estimates were under consideration; and the Government would take such direction as a no-confidence motion. , Major ATKINSON said the resolutions were very reasonable, and, judging from what the Government had already .accepted, he should think they would not hesitate to accept these. (Laughter.) The last would be a: re*

quest to the Government to take immediate steps to act upon the motions. Mr HOLMES rose to a point of order. The hon gentleman was making a long speech without moving any motion. (Oh !) The SPEAKER said the hon member was speaking with the indulgence of the House. The PREMIER moved the adjournment of the House till the following evening at 7.30. Major ATKINSON said perhaps the Go vernment would prefer to wait until they had seen the notices. There was no doubt the motions would be of that nature which an ordinary Government would take as embodying a no-confidence motion. (Laughter.) Mr SMITH suggested that the House should adjourn till that evening at 7.30, and take the discussion then.

Sir JULIUS VOGEL asked whether the hon gentleman proposed to let the House see the motions before he brought them down. Major ATKINSON replied that he should bring them before the House that afternoon. Sir JULIUS VOGEL expressed his regret that the hon member found so much difficulty in drawing the resolutions up. Mr MAC ANDREW said that notice having been given of a no-confidence motion, the Government had no other course open than to adjourn the House. Mr BARRON said no motion that could be made would at all alter the minds of hon members, and he should, therefore, suggest going on that night. Mr DARGAVILLE said the country, no doubt, wanted this question properly debated, and therefore he supported the adjournment. He wished to have some time to consider the motions. He had some faith in the hon member for Egmont, but not blind faith, and for that reason he supported the adjournment. Major ATKINSON asked whether the Government would give him an opportunity of making the motion. The PRE MIER said yes ; the Government would give the motions precedence. With regard to the hon gentleman’s remarks about “ an ordinary Government,” he might say that he considered the Opposition was an “ extraordinary ” one. It had been difficult to find out who was its leader ; and he congratulated the hon gentleman on having at last found courage to make these motions instead of giving them into other hands. It would be a mistake to force the motions, and besides the mover would require time to get his votes. The motion for adjournment was carried, and the House adjourned at 3.10. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20. The Hon. the Speaker took his seat at 2.30 p.m. PETITION. Mr CAMPBELL presented a petition from deferred-payment settlers and farmers for amendment of the land laws throughout the Colony. MESSAGE FBOM THE GOVERNOR. A message was received from His Excellency the Governor, stating that he had given his consent to certain Bills. A RETURN. On the motion of Mr TAIAROA, a return showing the amounts of rents collected for certain Native reserves in the South Island was laid on the table. A REPORT. A report was received from the Waste Lands Committee recommending that the New Zealand State Forests Bill be allowed to proceed. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENT BILE. The managers appointed to draw up reasons why the Council insist on the amendments made by them in the Administration Act, 1879, Amendment Bill, submitted : —(1) The existing law as to the disposal of the property of a husband dying intestate and leaving children bears hard on the widow in the case of small properties. (2) The cases of intestacy under such circumstances are most excusable among uneducated owners of small properties. (3) The cases of parents surviving adult married children are comparatively rare. Those of a wife surviving her husband or a husband surviving his wife are ordinary, not to say universal. (4) The burden of maintaining destitute or infirm parents surviving a deceased husband or wife may preperly be borne by the property, by allotting to the next of kin a portion of (say one-half) of the excess of the value of the property of the deceased beyond a reasonable fixed sum (say L 3000). WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. Mr RANDALL JOHNSON, with the leave of the Council, wished to make abatement in reference to the late irregularities in connection with the Wellington Hospital. On the last sitting day of the Council he had confined himself to merely stating what had been done by the Hospital Committee in answer to the reference made to him, as Chairman of the Committee by the Colonial Secretary. He would now add that on Tuesday, the day on which the dismissals took place, he found on returning home, at half-past 1 o’clock, a letter marked urgent awaiting him. It contained the documents signed by the nurses and other members of the Hospital staff, endorsed with the Colonial Secretary’s minute requesting the Committee to carry Out his wishes regarding the dismissal. He (Mr'Johnson) went to the Government Buildings as soon as possible, and in consequence of' communications with the Under-Secretary he at once summoned the Committee for 4.30. Before leaving to attend the meeting of the Committee, he intimated to the Under-Secretary the probability of the Committee declining to act as requested, and asked what should be done under those circumstances, as he was informed the Resident Medical Officer and the Lady Superintendent had stated they would not remain another night in the Hospital under existing’ circumstances. The Under-Secretary then arranged with him (Mr Johnston) that in such case he should see the Resident Medical Officer, and tell him that the Under-Secretary wished him to carry out,, the opinion expressed by the Colonial Secretary in the minute upon the documents referred to. Accordingly, after the Committee, meeting he (Mr Johnston) saw the Resident Medical Officer and handed him_ the papers mentioned, at the same time stating that the Under-Secretary desired him to act upon them. The Resident Medical Officer objected to act without authority, and he (Mr Johnston) wrote a letter requesting the Resident Medical Officer to dismiss at once certain nurses, and to give notice to the other persons mentioned. He did this fully believing that it was absolutely necessary for the Resident Medical Officer to act at once. He was sorry the Government had not seen fit to dismiss the nurses in the middle of the day, and then inform the Committee of their having done so, instead of waiting for the decision of the Committee, which naturally caused a delay of some hours. He did not wish to shirk responsibility. He had now given full particulars, but he thought the whole affair had come about in consequence of the divided authority in connection with the Hospital. He acted , under the impression that what was done by him was absolutely necessary; and had he been informed by the Resident Medical Officer that there was no immediate cause for dismissing the nurses, he. would at, once have acquiesced, and, indeed,; he thought some inquiry would

be made by the Resident Medical Officer before turning the nurses out as to whether they could find accommodation at that hour of thle night. Mr Johnson pointed out to the Council that everything in connection with the Hospital should have been carried out by the Committee alone, or else entirely by tlie Government. Captain FRASER said he had visited the Hospital and had seen the letter written by Mr Johnson, and it stated that the nurses were to be dismissed at once. Dr Levinge told him (Captain Fraser) that he asked Mr Johnson whether the nurses were to be dismissed that night, and he said “Yes; to-night.” It was G o’clock in the evening when Mr Johnson, drove up to the Hospital, and he (Captain Fraser) did not wish the Medical Officer to be made a scapegoat of. Mr JOHNSON said he could not remember whether he said “Yes, to-night.” He might or he might not have said so. Colonel BRETT said the Committee were to bP-me for the whole affair, and he censured Mr Johnson.as chairman. Mr McLEAN thought it was no light matter that ladies and unprotected females • should be turned out on the streets late at night. He was of opinion that it would be wise to have the matter discussed. Mr SHEPHARD said the mildest term he could use in describing the affair was by say- ■ ing that the whole management of the Hospital was disgraceful. He thought the Committee should have resigned in a body when they wareinterfered with by the Government. The act of turning out the nurses at night was barbarous, and it would have been hard to say what would have been the result had not the Premier interfered. He could not, however, see why Mr Johnson should be censured. Mr SHRIMSKI agreed with Mr Shephard, and thought that Mr Johnson should be complimented, and not censured. If nurses would . insist in being insubordinate, he was of opinion that they should be dismissed at once, if it were 12 o’clock at night. Sir F. WHITAKER made some remarks on the inconsiderate manner in which the order had been given. The matter was then allowed to drop. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr REEVES. gave notice that -he would move, That certain words be inserted in various clauses of the Employment of Females Act. Captain FRASER gave notice that he would ask the Colonial Secretary, If he willtake the opinion of the law officers of the Crown as to when a resident magistrate has any legal authority of his own motion, anti iy without any preliminary inquiry, to commit any individual to a lunatic asylum ? NEW BILL.. Sir F. WHITAKER moved, For leave tobring in a Bill intituled “ A Bill to alter the Constitution of the Legislative Council of New Zealand.” Carried. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of this Bill, and that it be referred to a Select Committee! Mr McLEAN thought it was a necessity to get this Bill on the Statute Book, and if ifc were referred to a Committee it would probably not be passed this session. It would bet better to allow it to pass with its imperfee- ( tions, which could be amended next session. The second reading was agreed to, and th* Bill was referred to a Select Committee. RIVER BOARDS AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was re-committed for the purpose* of adding the following new clause :: ‘ ‘Section 791 of the said Act is hereby repealed.” Progress* . was reported and leave granted to sit again. SECOND BEADING; ; . The Coroners Act, 1867, Amendment BilE was read a second time without debate. IN COMMITTEE. ... The Council went into committee on the Middle Island Half-Caste Grants Bill and the Public Reserves Act, 1881, Amendment Bill. . , The former Bill was reported without amendments, read a third, time, and passed ; pro- \ . gress was reported with the latter. . • The Council rose at 5 p.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21. The Hon the Speaker took his seat at 2.30 p.m. , ■ v- ; PETITION. ■ ; v ■ Mr TAIAROA presented a petition from Paora Paran, and 37 others, praying that consideration be granted them for services during the war. , " . , .REPORTS. ■ . i . A report on. the distribution of subsidies to -i public libraries was laid on the table. _ •:. A report of. the proceedings of the Otago V v University for the year ending the 31st March, .v ' 1885, was laid on the table. . , The Native Affairs Committee had no recommendation to make in regard to the petition of Paora Parau, in connection with cer- • f tain lands at Poverty Bay. The Stamp Act Committee suggested that a recommendation should be. made to the Government to propose certain alterations in the Deceased Persons’ Estates Duties Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, and the Stamp Act, 1882, Amendment Bill. The Local Bills Committee, upon the Tauranga Harbor Board Bill, reported that the it. Standing Order which requires plans and estimates to be lodged with the Clerk of the House, in which the Bill is to be initiated > ; before it is introduced, had not been complied with. - Captain MORRIS said he would give notice that he would move that the Standing Order* be suspended in order to enable the Bill to * proceed. .> Mr RANDALL JOHNSON reported that the Joint Library Committee recommended Mr Collier for the appointment of librarian. THIRD READING. The Christ’s College, Canterbury, Bill was read a third time and passed. FIRST READINGS. - The following Bills were received from the House of Representatives, and read a first time : —the Property Law Consolidation Bill, the New Plymouth Exchanges Completion Bill, the South Rakaia Domain Empowering Bill, and the Gisborne High School Bill. . - QUESTIONS. . In answer to Captain Fraser, the COLONIAL SECRETARY said he would take the opinion of the Law Officer of the Crown as to whether a Resident Magistrate has any legal authority, of his own motion and without any. preliminary inquiry, to commit any individual to a lunatic asylum. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was given to Mr Acland for fourteen days on urgent private affairs. BILL INTRODUCED. Mr TAIAROA moved for leave to introduce a Bill intituled “An Act to amend the Qualification of Electors Act, 1879.’ Leave granted, and Bill read a first time. ° IN COMMITTEE. The Council went into committee on the Employment of Females and Others Amend--ment JBiil (No. 2). It was agreed by the casting vote of the Chairman to retain the clause providing that all persona working overtime shall receive additional wages for such work. Mr Reeves moved a new clause providing that young persons should be employed in newspaper offices until 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Carried. The Bill was reported with amendments^ L- .... _.;b 'jii i

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PROPERTY BILL. Mr MENZIES moved that this Bill be now read a third time. Captain FRASER moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a third time that day six months. whitakei > took exception to the Bill, and thought that the third reading should be postponed until next week instead ol lor six months. _ . , , , . ■, Captain FRASER withdrew his ameaddebate was'suspended by the 5 o’clock adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The debate on the Presbyterian Church Property Bill was resumed, and on the motion of SirF. WHITAKER, was further adjourned till next week. DISTRESS BILL. The Distress Bill was read a third time, and P OTAGO HARBOR BOARD LEASING BILL. This Bill was fuither considered in committee, and was reported with amendments. OTAGO DOCK BILL. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved t;he second reading of this Bill. Mr McLEAN strongly opposed the Bill, anu moved that it be read a second time in six months. , , Mr BATHGATE supported the Bill in the nterests of the public of Dunedin, and he held that the Otago Harbor Board had not discharged the duty entrusted to them. Mr MILLER said the evidence taken before a Select Committee on the subject was conclusive that the endowments were not nearly sufficient to warrant the undertaking of the After a short debate the Bill was read a second time by 19 to 10. The Council rose at 10.20 p.m. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25. The Hon. the Speaker took his seat at 2.30 p.m. PETITION. Mr BONAR presented a petition signed by residents of Hokitika, praying that the Licensing Act might be so amended that women should be prohibited from being employed as barmaids in publichouses. PAPERS. • ' The report of the Post and Telegraph Department for the year 1884, the annual balancesheet of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, the' Municipal Corporations balancesheets, County Council balance-sheets, and the reports ofjthe Native Affairs Committee on the petitions of Utiku Potaka and Takerie Te Uawe were laid on the table. _The Free Conference, on behalf of the Legislative Council ©n the School Committees. Election Bill, reported that, having met the managers on behalf of the House of Representatives, they have been unable to come to any arrangement. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.^ The Printing Office Committee appointed to take into consideration the working of the Government Printing Establishment, reported that they had taken the evidence of Mr George Didsbury, Government Printer ; Mr A. G. Horton, one of the proprietors of the New Zealand Herald, Auckland ; Mr George Fenwick, Managing Director of the Otago Daily Times; Mr H. Brett, proprietor of the Auckland Evening Star ; Mr J. Ivess, M.H.R. ; Mr J. R. Blair, stationer, Wellington ; Mr R. Burrett, printer, Wellington, upon the above matter. “This evidence, in the opinion of -your Committee, proves conclusively _ that a considerable portion of the printing and-lithographic work could be done equally as well and cheaper by tender than by the Government Printing Office, and that if tenders were called for throughout the Colony there would be a large number of competitors for the work. With regard to the supply of stationery, your Committee consider that a saving in freight and expenses would be effected by obtaining some stationery, in the locality in which it is required. The witnesses examined were decidedly of opinion that in order to thoroughly investigate the subject it would be advisable to appoint a commission of experts to report on the whole question. Your Committee, therefore, recommend —(1) That the Government should take the subject of the Government Printing and the supply. of stationery into their consideration during the recess. (2) That it would be advisable to appoint a Commission of experts to be chosen from various parts of the Colony, to examine and report on the working of the Government Printing Office, with special reference to the expediency of having some of the work distributed over the Colony.” NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr BATHGATE gave notice that on Wednesday, 26th, he would move that a return be laid on the table, showing the amount of interest, commission, brokerage, exchange, and all other expenditure charged or debited by the Bank of New Zealand, its branches and agencies in the Colony or elsewhere, against •the Government or Colony of New Zealand, without deducting interest due by the said Bank to the Colony, for each of the years -ended March, 1883, 1884, and 1885. MOTIONS. Mr HART moved that the report of the Committee, to whom was referred the Stamp Act Bill and the Deceased Persons Estates Duties Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, be taken into consideration on Friday. Colonel BRETT seconded the motion. Mr McLE AN moved that all the words after Amendment Bill be omitted, with the view of adding an amendment, “be referred to the Government for their consideration.” Mt RICECMOND moved the [previous question. Carried by 23 to 19. Captain MORRIS moved that Standing Orders Nos. 6 and 7, referring to Local Bills, be suspended, in order to allow the Tauranga Harbor Board Bill to he proceeded with. The motion was lost by 27 to 10. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE. A message was received from the House of Representatives, announcing that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Distress Bill and the Christ’s College, Canterbury, Bill, had been agreed to. FIRST READINGS. The Land Act Bill and the Imprest Supply {No. 3) Bill were received from the House of Representatives and read a first time. SECOND READINGS. _ q'jj© Property Law Consolidation Bill, and the New Plymouth Exchanges Completion Act, 1874, Amendment Bill were read a second time without debate. OTAGO DOCK BILL. On the motion to go into committee on this Bill, Mr McLEAN spoke against the Bill on •the ground that the dock would not pay the expense of its construction, and he therefore moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr PEACOCK thought the dock was not necessary at the present time. Mr MILLER said if the Bill stood on its merits ■ only it would not have the slightest it advisablethata little further postponement should be given in order to allow the Bill to be further considered. Captain FRASER hoped the Council would K allow the Bill to go on at once, as there was pimple reyenue .to construct the dock.

Mr REYNOLDS disagreed with Captain Fraser. . ... „„„ , The motion to go mto committee was agreed to by 21 to 11. IN COMMITTEE. The Council went into committee on the Ofcao-o Dock Bill and the New Zealand State Forests Bill. The former was reported without amendments, read a third time and passed. The latter was reported with slight amend- ™ The Council then adjourned till the evening sitting. EVENING" SITTING. The Hon the Speaker took his seat at 7.30 p.m. IN COMMITTEE. The Council went into committee and further considered the River Boards Act, 1884, Amendment Bill. The Bill was reported with slight amendments. The Coroners Act, 1867, Amendment Bill was reported without amendments, read a third time and passed. The Public Reserves Act, 1881, Amendment Bill was considered in committee and reported with verbal amendments. THIRD READING. The Town of Invercargill Loans Consolidation Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 8.45 p.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26. The Hon the Speaker took his seat at 2.00 p.m. PAPERS AND REPORTS. _ The annual report of the Civil Service Examination Board, reports of Native Affairs and Goldfields Committees, the report of the Local Bills Committee on the Patea Harbor Board Bill, a statement of receipts and disbursements of Native reserves for the year ending the 31st December, 1884, and the correspondence and memoranda relative to certain defective imported railway axles, were laid on the table. The managers of the Conference upon the Administration Act, 1879, Amendment Bill, reported that they recommenced certain amendments in clause 3 of the Bui which provides for the distribution of the estates of persons dying intestate. The report of the Select Committee upon the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill contained the following resolutions : — <c That in establishing a system of relief for the aged and the indigent poor, it is expedient that it should be conducted by boards elected by contributors ; that the funds to he administered should be derived from endowments, voluntary legacies and subsidies from the State, but that no special rates should be leviable for this purpose.” THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Mr BATHGATE moved, That a return be laid on the table, showing the total amount of interest, commission, brokerage, exchange, and all other expenses charged or debited by the Bank of New Zealand, its branches and agencies in the Colony and elsewhere against the Government or Colony of New Zealand, without deducting interest due by the said Bank to the Colony, for each of the three years ended 31st March,. 1883, ISB4, and 1885. Mr MANTELL thought the return asked for would be very costly, and of very little service. , , , Sir F. WHITAKER said he understood the return was asked for in order that the Council might know how much the Colony had paid the Bank of Zealand during the last three years. He considered the motion a perfectly legitimate one. The motion was carried. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, Mr REYNOLDS moved, That the report, evidence, and minutes of the Select Committee upon the Government Printing Office be printed. Carried. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE. A message was received from the House of Representatives announcing that the amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Town of Invercargill Loans Consolidation Bill had been agreed to. FIRST READINGS. The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882, Amendment Bill, and the Bankruptcy Act, 1883, Amendment Bill were received from the House of Representatives, and read a first time. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. Sir F. WHITAKER moved the second reading of this Bill. In doing so he reviewed the evidence taken by the Select Committee on the proposed reform of the Council, and explained the scope of his Bill. . , Mr BATHGATE gave Sir F. Whitaker credit for introducing what he thought was a. suitable measure. He (Mr Bathgate) looked at the Bill as being a step in the backward direction. The people of this Colony, through their representatives, must hold a check on the Legislature of the country. He. should therefore vote against the second reading of the Bill. Dr. GRACE considered the Bill well worthy of the consideration of the Council. Mr SHRIMSKI said he thought it advisable that the debate should be adjourned in order to enable members to further study the Bill, and he would therefore move that the debate be adjourned until that day week. The motion was carried on the voices. THIRD READINGS. The Employment of Females and Others Act, 18S1, Amendment (No. 2) Bill was read a third time and passed. Dr MENZIES moved that the Presbyterian Church Property Bill be now read a third time. . , Mr SHRIMSKI moved that the Bill be read a third time that day six months. The SPEAKER said in answer to a question that he was not in any way shaken in his previously expressed opinion that the Bill was a private Bill. , ... The Council divided when 11 voted on either side. The Speaker gave his casting vote with the noes. The debate on the question that the Bill be read a third time that day six months was adjourned. . The Otago Harbor Board Leasing Bill was read a third time and passed. SECOND READING. The Imprest Supply (No. 3) Bill was read, a second time. , At 4.50 the Council adjourned until Friday next, at 2.30 p.m.

Provincial Districts. Applications. Grants. Auckland £ s. 69,201 d. 0 0 £ 26,466 s. 0 d. 0 Hawltes Bay... 14,921 0 0 8,438 0 0 Taranaki 10,000 0 0 4,116 0 0 Wellington ... 36,934 0 0 15,572 0 0 Nelson 31,839 0 0 23,242 0 0 Marlborough... 5,125 0 0 1,715 0 0 Westland 9,940 0 0 4,965 0 0 Canterbury ... 19,715 0 0 5,513 0 0 Otago 66,386 0 0 22,272 0 0 Totals ... 264,061 0 0 112,299. 0 0

Provincial Applications. Grants. Districts. £ s d £ s d Auckland ... 10,880 0 0 5,314 0 0 Hawkes Bay 250 0 0 250 0 0 Taranaki 800 0 0 800 0 0 Wellington Nelson... ... 15,958 0 0 15,958 0 0 Marlborough Westland 600 o 0 600 0 0 Canterbury ... 2,101 0 0 451 0 0 Otago ... ... 4,004 0 0 2,629 0 0 Totals ... 34,593 0 0 26,002 0 0