PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5084, 18 October 1894, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

TPeb Pbsss Association. l j LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I [ Wednesday, Oct. 17. AFTEENOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PETITION. The Public Petitions Committee> oa the petition No. 2 of Charles Brown, of Tarn. ialri, rfported that, after hearing farther evidence", it considered the petiuc^ers case ahoald be investigated by tha Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court, and the Government should take steps to eee this recommendation carried out. B-WITCHBACK RAILWAY ' The Colonial Sbcbetaby road a letter from the Chief Inspector of Machinery relative to the recent accident on the Christchurch so-called switchback railway. The •Chief Inspector statod that the Inspeotor in Christohurch reported that, m Wfl oninioß, the accident occurred owirg to the points not acting The Chnstchurch aailway was self-acting and not propelled by Bteam, and consequently waa not under the control of the Government. The Wellington Bwitchback was driven by Bteam, and consequently was under the control of the Government, and before it was allowed to be thrown open every^eare would bo taken to ensure the eafety or the people. AtiT. The Tiuateea Act AintSt.imerit Bill was read a third time and passed. TOSr<3ABIRO NATIONAL !PAB*. The Colonial- S-'ittaaTAßY mo^fed the second .reading of the Ton gailiro National Park Bill, Tbe motion wa3 sgreed to, ai&a the JBUi referred to the Native Affairs Committee. JtlNlßTtiß^li BEBIDKWCSS. The GoiiONiAi SBOBETARt moved the second reading of the Miataborialßesidences Sale BiU. , The Hon S. $3. SHBitaSxi thought •!* would be far betttr if the residences wfcra let for a term of years instead of being ecld. He moved—" That the Bill be feflS a • second time thattday three months." The Eon B. EicHAßffitedN expresses regret that tie Government proposed fo'sell these residences. The Hon T. Hbllt was oppo*ea 4o tho proposad sale, but was still more opposed to the amendment. However, iS)»sb.oald -vote for t3ie aeoonfl reading.. The Hon E. -P^ssaAztN rematffced that the Coxincil had alve&ys jealously guarded the Government reserves. He, therefore, trusted the Government woul3 not be empowered to sell tho houefc?. The purchase money would "be of little to the country and would be s wallowed up in the j Conßaiidatad'Ea'peEtue. The Hontf. B. Whttb said.'srhether tbe bouses were'-saia or ; tiot» he hoped thoy would cease to be Ministerial residences, as they wftrefoe costly to nsftintain. The Eon C. <3. BowEH^sras adverse *o alienating the properties, bat if they were j to be diaposeo 1 of he tho«£ht the Tinafcori; Boad resideneffi should be^ot apart foe4&e< Wellington 'University CcUege. The Hon ■$. Eebb supported the »m, which was Btrongly • oesdemned by *he. Hon J. A. Booar. The amendment ctf the Hon S. E. Shrim&i was agreed to 'by 21 to 18. The f oHowing is the'fiivision list *— Eor the am#ndm©fi^ (21)— The Son* Reynolds, Bicbardsoa,' Bonar, Sir ;G. Whitmore, Bolt, Swaneon, Shnms*i, Pharazyn, Williams, Macgregor, Bigg, Taiatoa^eldwick^-E^any, Morris, Acland, Oliver, Ormond, Bswen, Maxell, -Pea-: Against the amen&nenfe (13)— The 'Hons : Steward L. Walter Baillio, Barniocat/ Kerf^eUy, 1 Jennioffp, Jenkinson, M'-Lean, M'Cnlloogb, Whyte, Montgomery anS. -Sir". P. Suckley. Thus the Bill was killed. 3SAWF* IiAND COUBT* Tbe "Native Laad Couct Bill w&s -committed, reported with unimportant amendments, read a third iitae.and passed. . tfffisirawa companies. The Mining Companies Bill was .committed 3 ;-atid,«Tr£th Mr Bonar m the chair, clause 37, providirg for the audit of accounts, -waß: -slightly amended %y "Mr Bolt in vtbo direction of the application £or an audit of accounts being signed by one-third-ef the shareholders, representing one-Bisth, instead of bya rrajority of ehtaea. The*Billis.3 amended was reported and passed'-therernaining stages. - CRIMINAL CODE. The Colonial Secbetabt announced thai the management of the Conference on the Criminal Code Bill had been unable to arrive-ab any understanding. The Council adjoucned till next da^.