GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 769, 2 October 1900, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. YESTERDAY. The Council met at '2.30 p.m. BILLS PASSED. The Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment and the Inspection of Machinery Act Ameudmeut Bills were read a third time and passed. PUBLIC IIKALTII BILL. The Council considered the reasons advanced by the House for objecting to certain amendments in the Public Health Bill. The Lower House objected to the amendment limiting the use of lymph of a heifer, and providing for public vaccinators being medical practitioners, aud to the definition of local authority. The Council decided by 30 votes to 5 27 to 9 and 24 to 11 to adhere to the respective amendments. The Hods. McLean, Jennings and Jones were appointed a committee to frame reasons for adhering to the amendments. POST OFFICE BILL. The Post Office Bill was considered in Committee without important amendments, read a third time and passed. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BILL. The Government Railways Bill was considered in Committee. At Clause 8, giving powers to the Minister to construct or alter auy embankment or groin on any laud for the protection of the railway line, the Hon. G. McLean objected to arbitrary power being given to the Minister without hope of redress for land owners. The. Hon. J. A. Bonar pointed cut that the clause gave power to divert the whole of the water from auy watercourse in contravention of the provisiou of the Mining LIW3 The Hon. A. J. Cadman stated that under the Public Works Act, compensation would be paid iu the cases of diverting all the water. Consideration of the clause was postponed. Progress was reported at 455 p.m. aud the Council adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY. The House met at 7.30 p.m. LAND FOB SETTLEMENT CONSOLIDATION BILL. The Land for Settlement Consolidation Bill was read a second time pro forma and committed. Clause 33, defining an absentee as a person who was absent from the colony for a three years' term, was altered to one year. A number of new machinery clauses were added to the Bill, and it was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 12.10 a m.