HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1100, 14 June 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, June 12. The goldfield members met this morning to pass an interim report to the Government. They advocate the Government subsidising prospecting, and also advocated prospecting by labor as an equivalent for money. They advocate the supplying of several boring and diamond drills to the various County Councils. They recommend that water races and sludge channels, serving whole districts, should be subsidised. They advocate the opening up of the country by tracks and roads. They advocate the increase size of claims in some instances. The sub-committee, Weston, Sheehan, J. C. Brown, and Connelly, met this afternoon, to consider an amendment to the Mines Act and Regulations, and met again on Thursday — Weston brought under their notice the several suggestions made to him at his recent visit to the West Coast. The returns show that the gold duty was between thirty and forty thousand pounds throughout the Colony last year. The Colonial Treasurer makes his Statement to-morrow. The Nelson and West Coast members met to-day, as also did the Canterbuiy and Westland Committees on the railway question, but they again adjourned pending the Financial Statement. Weston intends to introduce a Bill to amend the Mining Companies' Act. It is understood that the Government will advocate a Loan, but the amount of which is not yet known. In answer to questions, the Ministry stated that Government intend to ask for a vote for the purchase of diamond drills and rock-boring apparatus for prospecting purposes, and would either sell or lease the same to local bodies on easy terms. That Government would introduce a measure to deal with educational reserves throughout the colony, and would see that the large reserves in Otago were well administered. That proposal would be made for assisted female immigration. That the goldfields report would be before the House within a few days. Messrs Weston and Petrie have had numerous interviews with the Premier, the Minister of Lands, and Education, upon West Coast matters. In regard to County matters, they have fully set before the Government the positions of the Inangahua and Grey Counties, in regard to subsidies, road maintenance, the need for tracks, prospecting works, and other matters, but as the whole question of local revenue, management of main and local roads, will be dealt with fully in Atkinson's new Local Government measure, until then, the Government are loth to commit themselves. The abolition of the gold duty has I been strongly urged by a majority of the goldtields members, but the Government appear to see a difficulty in the way, which makes the proposal doubtful at present. The Government seem fairly disposed towards the goldfields, and there is hope that liberal concessions may be secured. | Messrs Weston and Petrie fully represented the importance of extending the Nelson Creek water race to Orwell Creek, and the subject is under consideration. With regard to the Inangahua Low j Level Tunnel, the Government are con- ! sidering the terms which have been pro- i posed between the company and the public, re the use of the tunnel. Mr Weston has arranged for a special interview with the Government, re matters effecting the Inangahua County. The question of the Cannibal Gorge track has been strongly urged upon the consideration of the Government, also the bridges over the Left-hand Branch, Larry's, and Stony Creek, and good will probably result therefrom. In anticipation of a new loan being proposed, the Canterbury and Westland members have met, and were unanimous in recommending the Greymouth and Reefton railway, as also a line to the Waiau, 25 miles from Hurunui on the East Coast, and this will establish a strong link in the overland line. Sir George Grey's attitude towards the Government has about it a good deal in the nature of a mysttry, and it is certain that the old veteran has struck off upon a new line of action. That blood and i thunder opposition which marked his conduct to the Government during the proceeding session is conspicuously absent. He is peculiarly docile in the House, and outside is overflowing with affability, particularly to the new members. Montgomery, although standing pretty well with the Opposition, is viewed seemingly with some jealously, if not downright coldness, by Grey, Sheehan, and c>thers, so that with this schism in the camp of the Opposition, its power is greatly weakened, and in their weakness lies, to a great extent, the only strength :>f the Government

I The Eight Hours' Bill provides that from on and after the first day of Jannary, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, the following regulations for defining and controlling the j hours of labor shall take effect within the colony : — Eight hours out of every twenty-fours hours of the legal working days of <he week shall constitute a legal day's work, and forty-eight hours a legal weeks' in all occupations, whether those occupations be of a mental or physical nature : All time employed in work done, or labor performed in excess of eight hours in every twenty-four, or forty-eight hours in every week, shall be and is hereby considered and calculated as overtime, and shall be paid for as at the same rate as the ordinary hours of the legal day in the special occupation concerned, or at such other rate as may be agreed upon between employers and employees. This Act to apply to all persons employed as domestic servants or in dairies, and all persons engaged in avocations such as allow of a lesser number of hours to be worked than eight for a legal day. Wellington, June 13. The Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m. Johnstone formally moved the second reading of the Wellington Harbor Board and Corporation Land Act Amendment Bill, which was agreed to preparatory to it being referred to the Committee of Selection of Motions. The Trustee and Executors Agency Company of New Zealand, Limited, Bill was also formally read a second time. Feldwick gave notice of his intention to ask Government to-morrow whether their attention had been drawn to the overcrowded state of the steamers which plied between Queen's Wharf and her H.M.S. Nelson, on Tuesday last, and, if so, what action they proposed to take to prevent a repitition of such an occurrence. Rolleston announced that hia Excellency, the Governor, intends visiting England on private business, having obtained six months leave of absence for that purpose. A long debate then ensued on the report of the Reporting Debate Committee, which submitted alternative proposals re-issuing Hansard, as follows : — That a daily issue in broad sheet form be made in addition to the present issue, or else that an additional issue four times weekly should be made in pamphlet form, unstitched and uncut, but it was agreed to adhere to the present form. The Minister of Lands announced, just before the House rose at 5 "30, that owing to the continued illness of the Colonial Treasurer, the Financial Satement would not be delivered until Friday next.