HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3469, 12 November 1879, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. "Wellington, Tuesday. The House of .Representatives met at 2.30.

The Hon John Hail announced, in reply to inquiries said to have been made by a number of lion members, that, in the event of tho legislation now before the House getting through with any degree of despatch, the Financial Statement would be brought down on Monday. .In reply to Mr Swanson, Mr Bbyoe said that without first obtaining the .opinion of the House Government is not, disposed to take aolion in reference to the report of the Public Petitions Committee, during the session of 1878, in reference to tho petition of Samuel J. Edmonds. Jackson's BAY settiiEment. Beplying to Mr Giaborue, Mr Oiivee said that the question of making a valuable wharf begun under the authority of a preceding Government at the speoial settlement at Jackson's Bay, as recommended by the Jackson's Bay Commission, is being considered, and will be decided before the Estimates are brought down. Beplying to Mr Wright, Mr Ham' said that during the recess Government would consider whether the services of Public Analysts throughout tho oolony cannot be made more practically useful than at present, and the steps to be taken therein. Beplying to Mr|Tole, Mr Hah said at present Government was not prepared to plate a sufficient sum on the estimates for the erection of a post offioe at Newmarket in conjunction with the telegraph office of that place. Beplying to Cap'aiu Colbeck, Mr Oliyeb said Government' would very, likely take steps to have a small landing wharf erected at Paroa Bay, near WhangareiHeads. THE PULLMAW CABS. Mr Pm asked whether it is truo that the Pullman railway cars lately imported from America cannot pnss through the tunnel on the Christchurch Invercar. gill line P Whether, if snob iB thecaße, the cars can be altered so as to render (hem available for through traffic on that line? Wbat is estimated to be the cost of suoh alteration, and who is responsible for the blunder.

Mr Oliver replied he was sorry to answer the first question in the affirmative. They might be altered, but the cost would be very considerable and unjus'ifiable in the circumstances. 'J he Government agent at JNew York was responsible for the blunder. Seotions of the tunnels were, sent to him, but he appeared to give no attention to these. The Government was not prepared to say whether or not he would be held personally responsible. In reply to Mr George, Hon J. Hall said the following'question would be dealt with in the Financial Statement s"lf Government will place a sum of money on the Estimates for the purpose of constructing roads through and opening up Crown lands in various districts in the colony in which the Counties have not sufficient funds to do so."

Mr Babhon asked t wbether, as a report furnished to the Commissioner of Railways on the 28th of May, 1878, that Green Island, Walton Park, and. other native coals can be ÜBed for locomo tive purposes at less cost than imported coal, Government intend to. encourage the nse of such native coal. Mb Oiiveb replied thateffeot had been given to the reports in question. The Green Island coal was being largely used. Withaview ofenoouraging its use the Government had offered firemen a bonus of sixpence per day for its efficient em* ployment. SHAII-PABH SBITLEMENT3. Replying to Sir George Grey, Mr Boilebton said Government would bring down a bill dealing with the establishment of small farm settlements to be taken up on the system of deferred payments by _ settlers to whom employment will for a time be afforded upon public works, but the locality of these would have to be decided when the fate of that bill was decided. COUBT-HOCSE AT WAIKAIA. Replying to Mr Ireland, Mr Rolleston said that the question of the efeciion of the Court-house at Waikaia the Publio Petitions Committee referred to the Government on the 29th ultimo, had been referred for the opinion of the District Engineer. THE BAIIAVAY. Replying to Mr Murray, Mr Olivee said a report ,had been received from an engineer employed by the Rangitikei County Council of a good praeti cal route for a railway to Ranuitikei by the Murimulu Plains to Taupo and Auck< land. THE CASE OP MB HABOH. Mr Buhny asked what course thsy ■ meant to pursue upon the recommendation of Waste Lands Committee on the petition of John Maroh. Mr Hah said that the Cromwell Municipal Council had certain vested rights in the question at issue, and Government did not feel justified in interfering with these. MEW bills. The following bills wer<) introdused and read a first time— < bill to promote the union of river districts (Mr * s eymour); to amend the Utago University Site (exchange Act, 1875; and Otago Uni versity, 1878 (Mr Macandretv); ilie land tax collection (Atkinson); and tho Ku. mara Educational Koserve (Oliyer),

| QUALIFICATION OP ELECTORS BILL. The Qualification of i- Ifctors Bill was further considered in committee, An ammdment was moved so as to mike substitution of clause 2 read 'every pmon of tho ago 21 yetirs or ut wards, beini? a ra'opnycr, on any ratepayers' roll in the colony," and onu division the amendment was lost on the note of 26 to 22, M> Gisbobne moved, as a further amendment, that the property qualifica tion in olause 2, set down al £25, be made £50, The amendment was lost on the voices. Colonel Tbimblb moved tho following, as a further addition to clause 2:— " Evory woman of the age of 21 yoars or upwards whose name appears on the ratepayers' roll for the time being in force in ;he electoral <iistrict, for which the vote is to be given," was put and negatived, » A further amendment was moved, with the view of making sub section 2 read so as to confer the franchise on fomales who have resided one year in the colony, and who are not registored in respect of freehold qualification, On a division the amendment was lost, the numbers being 27 to 19.