Wednesday, September 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 14

Wednesday, September 11.

bills dealt with. In the House of Representatives, The Public Works Act Amendment Bill was • committed and reported with amendments.

The following bills were read a third time and pas&ed: — Public' Health Act 1876 Amendment Bill, Waitohi River Bed Bill, Riverton Corporation Empowering Bill, Geraldine Racecourse Reserve Act 1881 Amendment Bill, Waimate Public Reserve Sale Bill, Napier Harboar Board Amendment and Further Empowering Bill, Waimate Public Library Bill, Geraldine Public School Site Bill, Branner Borough Enabling Bill, Timaru High School Act 1878 Amendment Bill, Wellington City Empowering Bill, Masterton Trust Lands Bill, New Plymouth High School Bill, Rating Act Amendment Bill, Nelson Foreshore Reserve Bill, Gisborne Harbour Act 1884 Amendment Bill, Dog Registration Act Amendment Bill.

The North Island Main Trunk Railway Bill was read a second time, the Attorney-general promising to alter the clause referring to the disposal of lando in Taranaki.

The Lincoln Agricultural School Bill was discharged.

The following bills were read a third time and passed: — Licensing Act 1881 Amendment Bill, Timaru Harbour Board Land Bill, Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill, Educational Endowments Bill, and Kumara Sludge Channel Bill.

PUBLIC RETENT7ES ACT.

The PREMIER moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill, and explained that its principal objects were to appoint a deputy auditor-general in the absence of the Auditor-general, and to carry out the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee as to the investment of trust funds being controlled by a board, one-third of the Savings Bank deposits being invested in London — a course which, he said, had always been followed by the present Government. It also provided that the name of deficiency bills be alcered to that of exchequer bills. After some discussion the second reading was carried by 46 to 29.

The Public Debts Sinking Fund Act Amendment Bill, which provides machinery in connection with the Public Revenues Bill, was read a second time ; and on its committal several motions to report progress were lost.

After further" discussion, the motion by the Premier to report progress was carried by 32 to 29.

The Public Revenues Bill was committed, but progress was reported.

MINISTERIAL STATGMKNT.

The PREMIER made a statement to the effect that the Government intended proceeding with the Public Health Bill, Licensing Act Amendment Bill, Rating Bill, WestportNgakawau Railway Extension Bill, Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill (No. 2), West Coast Settlements Bill, Land Transfer, Native Land Courts Act Amendment Bill, Property Tax Bill (fixing the tax for the year), and Public Revenues Bill. He saw no reason why the whole of the business should not be finished by Thursday night.

THE HONORARIUM.

Consideration of the honorarium report of the Honorarium Committee was resumed by ■ The PREMIER, who moved for leave to bring in a bill of a retrospective character pro} viding that the honorarium should be unassailable in law or equity. '

The Hon. Mr BALLANCE thought the House should first adopt the report of the committee.

Mr BEDDON moved as an amendment that the Speaker's order be given effect to, and that in order to ensure it, a bill be brought in to deal with the question.

After considerable debate the Premier's motion was lost by 59 to 13

TTESTPOHT-NGAKAWAtr EAtLWAT.

The Hon. E. MITCHELSON moved the second reading of the Westport-Ngakawau Railway Extension Bill, to extend the railway Beven miles, at a cost of £3300,

Mr WITHY supported the bill, and thought the money better &pent on a railway than on harbour works.

Mr HUTCHISON moved as an amendment— "That while recognising the importance of stimulating competition in the development of our coalfields, the present is not an opportune time for entering upon public works. Mr SAUNDERS supported the bill, and said it would be absolutely wrong and unwise of the House to do anything that would, prevent noalfields to be opened up by railways from being properly developed. The motion for the second reading was caeried by 33 to 23, and the amendment lost. The House then divided on the motion for the ">mmittal of the bill presently, which was carCo. Sr 35 to 22. sied v 'ospitals and charitable aid. " b.. T. FERGUS moved the second

tfhs Hon. Hospitals and Charitable Institureading of the x- 'iient Bill, to remedy a few tions Act Amsncu. c 1885 ; also to enable the defects in the act 01 " * Board to levy a rate Westlaud Gharitabfe Aiu uncil.— The motion on the Westland County ©t--Was agreed to. - 811/ L, •westfort-n&akawatj BArtrW** . -'tee oorn r On the motion for going into cot&g>v -\ oa the Westport-Ngafeawau- Railway B2#«?*>Bill i Mr FISH moved that the bill be coannit-ted' that day week, and spoke at great ltengeh against it. He urged the Government to withdraw the bill for this session with a view to bringing down a comprehensive measure for this and other lines next session. . Mr HUTCHISON also strongly opposedi the committal of the bill. Mr O'OONOR disclaimed having any other connection with the railway proposed to be constructed except that he was member for the district, and had always taken the greatest possible interest in the development of the coal fields. He strongly resented the innuendoes made against him by Messrs Hutchison aad Fish in connection with this matter, and said that those members who were stonewalling this bill would be responsible for the monopoly that existed in coal. Mr Fish's amendment was then lost on the voices, and the bill was committed, but progress was reported after passing clause 1.

IN COMMITTEE.

The Weßt Coast Settlement Reserve Bill and Land Transfer Bill passed through committee without; amendment.

The Native Land Court; Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee.

Clause 10. — Survey charges may be apportioned at any time. Mr Taipoa moved that the portion of the clause providing that an order for survey fees shall have the effect of a mortgage of land be struck out. — Lost by 26 to 22, and the clause was passed.

THE UNEMPLOYED.

According to a return presented to-day, there are at present 215 men employed upon relief works of the colony. Of these 21 are employed in Hawke's Bay, 37 in Canterbury, and 157 in Otago. The total amount expended on these

works from May 1888 to 31st March 1889 was £36,679, as follows:— In Auckland, £3800; ~m Hawke'a Bay, £4361; in Nelson, £1009; io Canterbury, £13,537 ; in Ofcago, £13,972. '

NATIVE CLAIMS.

The Joint Committee on the Middle Island Native claims brought up their report to-day, The report is very lengthy, but the following extract gives the gists of the committee's recommendation: — "After very careful consideration and discussion, the committee have come to the conclusion that the only practical and effectual way to arrive at a satisfactory settlement is to cause careful inquiry to be made into the condition of the Natives' land. If it be found that any have not sufficient land to enable them to .support themselves by labour on it, to take power' from time to time to make fuller provision by way of inalienable reserves to meet such cases. The committee are further of opinion thai it should be the duty of some competent and reliable officers to report from time to the Government the condition of the Natives in their respective districts, and make such recommendations for their relief as may appear desirable, and that such reports and recommendations should be laid before Parliament each session." The report is of an interim character, and the committee recommend that a similar committee be appointed next session to investigate further cases.