EVENING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4165, 26 August 1881, Page 4

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

IKPBSBT SUPPLY BILL.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Bbowk said ha thought this was a fitting opportunity for ascertaining when Government intended bringing the session to a dose. They were all anxious to get away. Mr Basthtqs Baid it was nonsense to speak about going away. They had done absolutely nothing. If members could not efford the time neceseary to do the business, they, should retire from their position. Major Atkdtson reminded them that this ■was a private members' night, and the more time they wasted in idle discuw'on the less time they would have to do the - work.

Sir G. Gbby said they werr ..->ked to ruah through an Imprest Supply Biu representing £250,000. He did not relish things being rushed on in that way. To mark his sense of the Treasurer's conduct % he would oppose the motion. Government could bring in their Imprest Supply to-morrow, being a Government day, and the delay of a day could not cause much inconvenience.

Major Atkinson said that there was no use for a discussion. From circumstances which must be patent to members he was prevented from bringing the Sill forward at yesterday's sitting* An Imprest Supply Bill amounting to £250,000 was introduced, and passed through all its stages. PBHCISO BIIX. On the motion for the committal of the Fencing Bill,

J JAir Abdbbwb complained that it ought to hare been brought down by Government. The Bill vu not onlj uncalled for but it was

actually calculated to impede agricultural eettlemont. He would oppose every clause. Mr Bowbh took exception to the remarks of the previous speaker. He insisted that the measure was greatly needed. He also took exception to the carping tone usually assumed by the previous speaker, and charged him with an habitual practice of attempting to set claßß against class. Mr Moss suggested that the Bill should be set down on the order paper for to-morrow. It ought to have all the prestige of a Government measure. If that course ware followed it would enable private members' business to be proceeded with. Sib G. Gbby defended Mr Andrews from the remarks made by Sir Bowen.

After further discussion, Mr Bbtok said that the Bill was one of great importance, and he did not feel he would be justified in dropping it as had been suggested. He asserted that it was not the bond fide settlers who had cause to fear a measure of this kind, but the absentee owner. He had no objection to aeeept Mr dwanson's suggestion that the Auckland {fencing Act should be excepted from the schedule of repealed Acts. The House went into Committee on the Bill.

Thirty-five clauses of the Bill were passed with mere technical amendments.

THB^LBASBHOLD CLAUSE IN THB BBPBBSENTATION BILL.

The Hon J. Hall stated, in reply to a question put during the earlier part of the day concerning the new clause . inserted last night in the Eepresentation Bill, that they had now had time to consider the point, and they had oome to the conclusion to consent to its withdrawal.

[Left Bitting at 1 30 a.m.]

[PEOM OTTB SPECIAL 00BBB8P0NDBHT.]

WELLINGTON, August 25.

A copy of the notice, which the Colonial Secretary stated had been sent round in February la9t to the Civil servants, to the effect that the Government would not refund the 10 per cent reduction to those Civil servants whose services had been dispensed with, was laid on the table of the House to-day, on the motion of Mr George, and is to the following effect : — " The Hon the Premier directs it to be notified to Under-Secretaries that the refund of the deduction of 10 per cent from their salaries is not to bo made to officers who lose their appointments, or suffer reduction of their salaries by reason of reductions in the Civil Service or of amalgamation of offices."

The number of uncertificated teachers (exclusive of pupil teachers) in the service of the Education Boards on July 31 was 508. Of these 195 are head masters orßole masters, 108 are head mistresses or sole mispresses, and 205 are assistants. In tha several Board districts the numbers are as follows : — Auckland, 195; Taranaki, 22; Wanganui, 34; Wellington, 31; Hawke's Bay, 18; Marlborough, 15 ; Nelson, 38 ; North Canterbury, 40; South Canterbury, 17; Weßtland, 25; Otago, 46; Southland. 27 There are some interesting items in the correspondence re inscription of stock. The agenta report to the Premier on March 24, 1881, that on March 16, when the operation of converting the five million loan closed, the total amount of stock inscribed in the books of the Bank of England was £5,371,200, the scrip and debentures surrendered representing £4,476,000. The amount of loan Btill in circulation in the form of debentures is £524,000. The sums which will henceforth be required half-yearly (on May 1 and November 1) for payment of interest and charges for management on the stock debentures of this loan would be as follow : — Half-year's interest on £5,371,200 stock at .4 per cent per annum, £107,424 ; Bank charges for management, at £600 per million of stock per annum, £1611 7s 2d ; half-year's interest on £524,000 of debentures at 6 par cent per annum, £13,100 ; Crown Agents' charge, i per cent on amount of interest, £32 15s ; total, £122,168 2s 2d. In accordance with the arrangements made with the Bank of England the amount of interest on the stocks must be paid in one month before the dividends are due. The Stock Agents enclose a copy of an advertisement which appeared in the Times of Maroh 8, inserted, as they say, •' Without our knowledge or sanction." The advertisement is as follows :— "lt may be useful to call the attention of those interested to the fact that the 16th instant is the last day when, by the terms of the New Zealand 5 per cent bonds of 1889, the holders can exercise the option of conversion into 4 per cent insoribed stock, transferable at the Bank of "England, at the rate of £120 stock for £100 of the 5 per cent bonds." The Government have given directions that " Further insoription of stock is inadvisable at the present time." It is quite understood that the Bepresentation Bill is to ba further stonewalled. The tactics of the Opposition will probably be to raise a question of privilege, or move the adjournment of the Houee and keep up the debate to-morrow until half-past 12 at night, after which no new business can be taken. In this case the Bill cannot be proceeded with until Monday, thus giving the Opposition time to make their arrangements. A member who is well behind the scenes writes to ma— " The Government, under pressure of their friends, will withdraw the leasehold clause inserted last night, and bring in a new ' Qualification of Electors Act -Amendment Bill,' to provide for the same. The Nelson members will oppose this, because they feel sure that the Bill will be lost while the leasehold clause remains. They intend to ' stonewall ' first the permission to withdraw, and failing this, they will renew the attack." I was talking to some of the Nelson men tonight, and it is most probable that they will stonewall the schedules of the Representation Bill electorate by electorate. In this course they will be helped by many men who have as yet stood aloof from the stonewalling, on account of the leasehold clause added to the Bill last night. It is quite on the cards that the House may sit all day on Saturday over the question, possibly up to midnight if the Representation Bill is brought on, and Government refuse to withdraw the leasehold vote.

Captain Fraaer has brought in a Bill in the Legislative Council to reatriot and confine the privileges of the Press, but it is not yet printed. Mr Driver put in an appearance yesterday.