MONDAY, JULY 14. STONEWALLING THE ESTIMATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 17

MONDAY, JULY 14. STONEWALLING THE ESTIMATES.

In the event of the Opposition stonewalling the Estimates, as threatened, Ministers intend simply to keep them at it, putting up supply every day until completed, even if it should take till sth October, when the House expires by effluxion of time. In that case Ministers will leave with the obstructionists the onus of paralysing the business of the country. THE WEST COAST SOUNDS. Mr T. Mackenzie and Mr Cowan waited on Mr Fergus, Minister of Publio Works, to-day and introduced a deputation from the West Coast, including Sutherland (the West Coast hermit), Rennie, Maonataara, and others, The objeot of the deputation was to secure the establishment of regular communication between the Bluff and Big River. It was explained that between 50 and 100 men were now mining on an island called Coal Island, and there are also other parts of the coast where gold mining is being carried on at the present time. The only communication they have with the outer world is by the nncertain medium of the Government steamer. The deputation thought that for a small subsidy the Union Company's boats which convey coal from Westport to the Bluff would call and do the work. Mr Fergus said he would write to the Union Company and see if they would do what the deputation wished for a moderate sum; if so, he would consider the matter favourably. Mr Fergus also referred to the Government proposals to put a sum on the Estimates for opening a road for tourist traffic between Milford and Wakatipu. Mr Mackenzie is in hopes that the route to the Sutherland Falls will also receive attention. THE BIBLE-IN-SOHOOLS BILL. The operative clauses of Mr Tanner's Biblereading in Schools Bill are as follows :— " The school committee of any school district already, or which may hereafter be constituted under • The Education Act 1877,' may sanction the daily reading, with or without comment, of a portion of the Bible in the publio school or schools in such district within school hours, and such reading shall be in accordance with the schedule attached to this bill. Where comment is allowed, the instruction given must be of a strictly unseotarian character suited to the capacities of the children, who may be questioned thereon. The time during which such reading shall take place shall be at the beginning or at the end of the meeting of the eohool, and shall be inserted in a time table,

to be approved of by the committee, to be permanently and conspicuously affixed in every schoolroom in which such reading shall take place. Any aoholar may be withdrawn by his or her parent or guardian during such reading, without forfeiting any of the other benefits oi the school." The schedule specifies 118 lessons from various portions of the Old Testament, 18 additional Psalms, 98 New Testament lessons from the Gospels, and 31 from the Acts of the Apostles. The Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments are to be committed to memory.