HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 18 July 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, 16. In the House yesterday the principal business was the final passing through committee of the Licensing Bill. Jones moved the retention of the- ori ginal clause limiting barmaids working hours to ten o'clock, and permitting ihpra to remain in the bar till 11 o'clock. The only other important amendment was the re-insertion of the clause relating to bottle licenses, both amendments bein^ carried. In reply to questions the Treasurer stated that the Estimates would be brought down on Tuesday next.

The Regulations L°cal Elect-ons Bill was read a third time, and passe J. Dick moved the second reading; of the Gaming, and Lotteries Bill, which was agrped to. Sheehan gave notice that he would on Wednesday npxt bring in a Bill to repeal the Abolition Provinces Act. "Referring to Sheehan's motion *o night's Post says : —We understand Sheehan ; ntends to press his Bill for rescinding Abolition of Provinces to a division, in order that distinct demarkation of parly outlines on that question may be forced, lie does not, of course, entertain the remotest hope of carrying his measure. Government did not intend appointing nn inspector "of mines for the West Coast of the Middle Island, but existing inspection would be made niore efficient, and be extended to gold-mines. Weston introduced a Bill amending the Offences Against the Persons Act, by providing corporal . punishment for wi'e beating. . ■? ■ Government buildings so extensile that it would not pay to keep them insured, consequently the policies falling in were not being rsnewed. Fox intimated bis in"*ention to oppose the clause legalising the use of the totalizator, and several members objected to the proposed c xemption in favor of works of art. The making of adhesive stamps of on.c description available for all purposes for which stamps are used was under cons s'deration, and wotold probably be pro* vided for. The House then went into Committee on the Surveyors* Institute Bill, on a division of 30 to 29, Rolleston and several others strongly objected to the Bill, and after considerable discussion progress was reported, * The order for calf lymph was sent Home, in an emergency before they had bad time to ascertain if a supply could be got in the Colony. They understood a limited supply was now available, and it would in future be taken adyantage of. Wellington, July 13. Atkinson's scheme of local finance and local government, giving very extended powers to local bodies but still mainly depending on the ratepayers for revenue, has hardly come up to the expectations of the House, and the debate stands adjourned till Tuesday night to allow time to consider the position. The Licensing* Bill was recommitted yesterday on several clauses. It was subsequently decided that unmarried females may hold licenses ; that a publican may hold an interest in more than one hotel ; that clubs must pay a license fee, and be subject to police surveillance ; that bottle licenses Ibe forbidden except in districts where they are now existing ; and that Colonial wine licenses he issued. The safety of the Bill is doubtful. The Crown and Nalire Lands Rating Bill, introduced by Major Atkinson, provides that Native borough lands shall be rated under "the Rating Act, 1876," and the value of other Crown and Native lands for the purposes of the n^w Act shall be fixed as follows ; — Crown town s land and Native town land, at £30 per iacrcj Crown and Native agricultural "lands, at £1 per acre; Crown and Native pastoral lands, at six and eightpence per acre. The rateable value for pmposes of the Act to be deemed to be six pounds per centum ppr annum on values mentioned. The first rates to be payable for the year ending 31st ; March, 1882, In the case of Native lands "r 'er lease the teDant will be liable for cue rates, and the Governor may, any time, proclaim that in any district or portion thereof, Native lands shall be subject to Bating Act. 1876, and the owners held liable for payment of rates. .

Wellington, July 16. The libel case of Griffiths versus Johnson, was concluded in the Supreme Court yesterday. A verdict was given for plaintiff for £250, with costs. A change of venue had been granted in this case from Blenheim to Wellington, as a Blenheim jury were unable to agree. Dunedin, 16. Somnus and Sir Modred will be sent to Melbourne; they are backed for £5000 for the Cup. Auckland, 15. A serious affair occurred at Otuka gum 6eld ; there were three Englishmen, brothers, named Lilley, a Frenchman and his son, an Austrian, living in a whare quarrelled between the younger Lilley and the Frenchman ; Lilley removed his goods from the whare, and then burst open a tin of kerosene with his knife and threw a cup full of oil over the whare and some over the Frenchman and his son and the Austrian, the two latter being in bed, he then struok a match and set the whare on fire. The Frenchman and the Austrian got out of the flames barely in time to save their lives. The whole whare was soon a mass of fire, a large quantity of kawri gum contained therein intensifying the conflagration. The matter was reported to constable Hanjmond, who went in pursuit, but failed to capture Lilley.