PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3579, 16 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30. MUNICIPAL SUBSIDIES. Mr Sutton presented a petition from the Napier municipality, praying that the subsidies be continued for the present year. LAW MAKERS LAW BBEAKERS. Mr J. B. Fisher directed attention to the fact that the statutes of the last two sessions had not been gazetted in terms of the law, and therefore it was doubtful if they were in force. The Hon. J. Hall promised that the matter would be looked into immediately. HAWKEBB' LICENSES. In reply to questions, Government stated that a bill would be brought in to mitigate the hardship under which hawkers labor respecting licenses in connection with the County Council fees. ADVANCE TO A DIBTMCT BAILWAY. Government had advanced £40,000 on the debentures of the Wa'mea Eailway Company, in virtue of Clause 19 of the Public Revenue Act, 1879, gives power to make cash advances to district railways. ELECTIVE LANDS BOARDS. Government had no intention of making the Waste Lands Boards elective bodies, even partially so. LETTERS VIA SAN FBANCISCO. Letters not specially addressed were directed to be sent from England by San Francisco. The arrangement benefitted the postal revenue, but of late the instructions had been disregarded. The attention of the London office had been called to the matter, and Goverment would do its beat to put an end to the inconvenience recently experiences in the matter. TOPHOUSE CONTBACT. The amount due to contractors for work on the Tophouse-Nelson line had been paid. PATTING CONTBACTOBB' MEN. Clause 23 of the general conditions of Government contracts providing (or the payment of workmen's wages at least every fortnight, in cash; would be confirmed. THE BOTOBXTA SPRINGS. Government had every desire to secure the country included in the Hot Springs district, at Kotomahana and Botorua, for the public benefit, but the Maori owners were averse to parting with. Government had prevented it passing into the hands of private persons, but their negotiations for its acquirement were still far from, being completed.

OBBEB OF BUSINESS—BEGULATIOS OF ELECTIONS BILL.

The Hon. J. Hall said that as the papers, in connection with the inscription of the £5,0CD,000 loan had only just been circulated, and the Government desired members to peruse them before proceeding with the debate. On the financial proposals, they proposed'to adjourn the debate in the meantime, and go on with the second reading of the Native Land Sales Bill. .

Sir Geo. Grey objected to the second reading, until the whole of the Native Lands legislation was before them.

After farther discussion, the Govern* ment agreed to go on with the Regulation of Electors Bill in Committee.

Mr Hutchinson moved amendment of clause 28, so as to empower returning officers to put as a question to electors, " Have you already voted in this or any other electoral district."

The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.