HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 8062, 17 July 1885, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, July 15.

The House met at 2.30 p.m.

Replying to "Mr Brown, the Premier said all the papers re Fiji requiring .annexation would be laid on the table.

Replying to Colonial Trimble, the Hon. "E./ Richardson 1 said full information regarding the district railways proposed to be purchased by tbe Government would be laid on the table in a day or two. Several local bills were introduced and read a first time, and sever*! motions for returns agreed to. :'-_

The Employment of Females and Others Bill was recommitted, to consider i new clause, which was amended and carried as follows:— No young person shall be employed more than 48 hours in any week, or more than 8£ honrs in any d»y,— The bill, as amended, was reported.

July 16.

Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government were considering tbe question of tbe preservation of the rock oyster fisheries in the North Island with a view to having a report prepared. — The question of tendering ocean steamers off the Bluff would be inquired into.— The treasurers of counties who had not supplied returns of their balance-sheets would be asked to do so at once.— Copies of the Statutes passed during each session were already supplied in all large centres, but the Government did not think it desirable to incur the heavy expense entailed in Bending them to every library in the colony. Mr Johnston introduced a bill to amend tbe Financial Arrangements Act, 1376. Several unopposed letnrns were agreed to.

Tbe House went into Committee on the Wellington Corporation Leaseholds Bill, which passed with some additional clauses. The House went into Committee on the Timaru Harbour Board Loan Bill, which passed with verbal amendments. The Otago Harbour Board Leasing Bill, Invercargill Loan Consolidation Bill, Christchurch Market Reserves Bill, Dunedin Cattle Market Reserves Leasing Bill, •nd the Napier Harbour Board Empowering Bill were read a second time. The Armed Constabulary Act, 1867, Amendment Bill and School Committees Elections Bill were reported, read a third time; and passed. . Mr Levestam moved the second reading of the Employment of Females and Others Apt, 1881, Amendment (No. 2) Bill, which provided that extra hours be worked in cases of emergency, and for changing the half-holiday from Saturday to any other day,— Agreed to. Mr Downie Stewart moved the second reading of the Bible«reading in Schools Bill.

: Mr Stoat opposed the bill, and moved that it be read that day six months. Messrs Macandrew, Tarnbull, Fulton vxi Braco spoke stnngly in favour of the bill ; and Messrs Montgomery, Thompson (Anckland) and Levestam opposed it. The House rose at 6.30 p.m.