PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 429, 12 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(uv TIJMiC.KAPII.) "Wellington, September 12. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon,

Mr. Oi niond, in replying t > a question, said that experiments were being tried to adapt the locomotives to the use of native coal.

In reply to Mr. Pyke, Sir. Ormotid said the Government had not yet had time to consider the recommendations of the Otago Central Railways Committee. Leave of absence for fourteen days was granted to Mr. Reader Wood. Mr. Seatou asked if the proposed reduction of expenditure under the head of Overseers in the Dunedin Gaol for the current financial year, amounting to L 2836, as compared with that of last year, is to be ellectid by the reduction of the rates of wages of the ofiic j rs. Mr. Bowen, in reply, said on going through the Estimates they found most startling discrepancies in the cost. In Auckland prisoners' cost was Lls per [ head, in Lvttelton L2O, and in Dunedin actually L 62 per head. There were 38 warders and gaolers to 115 prisoners, and salaries were very high. They had less work to do in Dunedin than elsewhere. The Government had askid the Visiting Justices to suggest reductions, and they had sent a memo, from the gaoler saying that practically none could be made. The Government then took advice from the travelling Superintendent of Police, and proposed the lump reduction on the Estimates. This they hoped to el It ct more by reducing the number of officers than pay, except in cases where the salary was exceptionally high. Several new Bills were introduced and read a first time. The House then went into Committee on the Edu ation Bill. Clauses 40 to 43 were passed. A long discussion took \ place on clause 44, as to whether Committees or Boards should appoint teacher?. I Three separate amendments were moved

o# the first lino to give Committees tlic, power respectively to .appoint, nominate,' and recommend teachers. These lust on.' a Ylivirion of 25 to 41, 32 to 33,, ami 21 to 34. The clause remained tin. 1 pasad when tlio usual adjournment foi dinner took place. ' ' The whole of the evening was spent it Committee on Hie Education Bill, andj after a further lengthy discussion, clause! 4t was passed, trie words "by leavo <4 an inspector" being struck out in Inn; 50, an I a proviso added that all appointments and dismissals of tcncliem bliotihlj bo recommended by the School tees, and none to be made without tli(j Committees being consulted. Clauses 4Jj to 48 were passed. Clause 4;) was post, poned. Sever.il hour* were spent ovet clause 50. Mr. Wakelicid moved at? amendment to render scholarships open 1 to all children wlm.se parents paid tlii 1 capitation tax. Tnis was lost by 40 U 10. Mr. Howen proposed an amend ment to a'low of the establishment o! op n scholarships fur all children o| school Tnis was carried by 51 ti 10. Mr. Stout then slid that as deiioiiii, nationalism had been introduced into tin 13JI, he would move that the chairman tl< leave the ei.air. Tins would have hud the i-tl'vCt, of shelving llii Bdl, an l the motion was lost, by 42 to 18. Progrem was then reported. The llonsi! rojv- at 12.2 > o clock.