EVENING SITTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5205, 23 October 1878, Page 5

EVENING SITTING.

HILLS, ETC. When the Houso rcsumed'at half-past seven, Mr TAIAROA moved that tho Chairman leave the chair.

Sir ROBERT DOUGLAS accused members of the Government of being interested as shareholders in newspaper printing. Mr BARFF complained of the complicated Disqualification Act.

Mr HAMLIN supported the motion that the Chairman leave the chair.

The Houso divided. Ayes 15 ; noes, 50. The amendment was negatived. Progress was reported on the Bill, and it was agreed to further consider the amendment tomorro iv.

Tho House disagreed with certain amendments mado by tho Council in the Sheep Bill, and appointed managers to confer with tho Council.

A similar motion respecting the Harbour Bill was negatived or. a division, by 35 to 33, The Hon. Mr STOUT moved that the House agree with the amendments of the Legislative Council ou the Harbour Bill, except in clause 52.

-■Aye", 40; noes, 24. Motion agreed to. The Native Minister laid on the table telegrams between Rewi and the Governor relative to His Excellency's visit to theWaikato.

The PREMIER said Mr Barton was anxious to put in a corrected copy of his HanBard speech specifying his charges against the Judges, and that a copy had not yet been procured. PUBLIC WORKS, The MINISTER OF WORKS, in moving the second reading of tha Railways Construction Bill, explained its objects. With respect to the line from Amberley to Cook Strait a survey would be made during the recess. The line was not included in the schedule because there was no available data. He. believed the lino from Amberley to Hokitika would produce greater advantages to the Colony. The Government could not construct this line and the other simultaneously because the cost would amount to two millions. The Government recognised the necessity of completing through communication from the Bluff to Cook Strait, and hoped that all the lines in the schedule would be completed in five or six years. Moat of the surveys of these lines woro in a crude state, but all the House was asked to do was to affirm the principle of tho Bill, upon which the Government would ask authority to spend L 400.000 within the current year. Next year a larger sum would be asked. In committee he would move to strike out sub-section three, and would insert »n amendment to provide for annual appropriation. Tho sum of L 157,000 would bo spent on immigration during the year. Labour being an important element in the scheme, ample reserves would be iaade|alongthe lines for townships, and for laud to be sold for settlement lor cash and or. deferred payment. The minimum area of blocks of land opened in tha Colony that hitherto been too large. Ho was glad to hear from thetelegram that the proposalsforamonthJysteamservicebetiveenNewZealandandHome ,

were on the way out. Many men in the Colony were able to undertake fifty or hundred thousand pound contracts, and remain out of their money for two years if fair interest were paid. With regard to North Island railways, the Government proposed to spend LGOO.OOO this year out of last year's loan. The new lines would of course depend upon the acquisition of Native lands; but there were lines which might be pushed on with all despatch. The unfinished link between Wanganui and New Plymouth would be completed in from two to three years. In addition to the Estimate which had been brought down, the Government proposed to spend on railways, in the Middle Island, aa follows : — First year, LIOS,OOO ; Becond, L 550.000; third, L 580.000; fourth, L 702.000. With regard to the items of expenditure in the Middle Island, tho following were some of the figures :—Central Otago, first year, LSu,COO, ; 1878-9, L 120.000; Amberley, first year, L 30,000; second, L150,C00; Greymouth and Hokitika, first year, L5O.OO0; second, LSO.OOO; Canterbury, first, L 150.000; second, L 50.000. Ashburton, first, L 10.000; second, L 15.000. He could not state the specific dates when the land will be acquired from the Maori King. With tke exception of the two lines which depended upon this question, all the other lines would be completed within three years.

Mr RICHARDSON regarded this Bill as unnecessary.