TELEGRAMS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1583, 5 August 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

-♦--- — — (FROM OUK OWN UOKKR.St'ONIiKNT. ) WEILISOTnX 4. Tliat morn than usual interest is I taken in the West Coast railway proposals is shown this evening. The public and ladies galleries are crowded with ea<jer listoneis, some hundred others l»oiii«j unaltlo to obtain adiuis sion. Members of the Upper House are lankly in attendance. Sir Julius Yogel is now speaking in support of his motion for the appointment of a Select Committee, and is being attentively listened to. The debate is expected to finish tomorrow night, as the result is regarded as a foregone conclusion. The Housh met last evening for Government business only. Sir George. Grey gave notice to move the following amendment on Sir Julius Vogwl's motion lo appoint a Select Committee on the East and West Coast Railway question : — That in the opinion of this House the Government of New Zealand «honld, with as little delay as practicable, commence the construction of the. East and West Coast railway in the Middle Island, and that as its construction proceeds the settlement of the people along the line at all advantageous points should be facilitated by the grant of small farms upon a perpetual tenr.ro. Sir J. Vogel's motion to refer the question to a Select Committee comes on to-night. The Opposition claim having 48 votes to 38 in favour, with 6 doubtfuls, four of whom they think they can secure. Two seats are unrepresented and the Speaker has only a casting vote. This return makes up the total strength of the House. This afternoon Mr Seddon asked the Minister of Mines whether ho will furnish the various Schools of Mines in the mining com muni lies in the Colony, free cost, with a copy of Professor Black's report on his tour and lectures on the goldfieldsin the Middle Island. Also with copies of the report l>y Mr H. A. Gordon on the mining machinery of Victoria and New South Wales ; also with copies of the Annual Report on the goldh'elds in New Zca*> land. The Minister replied that h<> would issue instructions to have, the returns furnished ns requested \>y the lion, member. In reply to a series of questions from the same memticr re the requirements of i-oldik'lds, the Minister of | Min< s Miid lie would endeavour to p!;it\> a sum on the Estimates for de fraying the cost of increasing the supply of water on the several uoldfields in the Colony. He whs entirely with the hon. member as to the importance of obtaining the most valuable information relative to hydraulic sluicing, and tl:e most modern appliances connected with the same, ogether with information on the several other matters referred to in the

question. During tha recess the whole matter would lie carefully gone into, find he would endeavour to give ■ effect to the lion, mouther's wishes. All yesterday evening and a part of ■ to-day's sittings have been taken up over the second reading of the Nativp Lands Disposition Bill, the object of which is to reserve native lands along route of the North Island inaiu trunk railway. The Native Minister made a capital speech in moving the resolution, and quoted the following interesting figures in regard to the disposal of Native lands :— The extent of Native land in the North island was 11,576, 000 acres ; land sold to Europeans, 2,474.400 acres ; land leased to Europeans, 1,G53,000 acres ; in the hands of Natives, 78,249.600 acres; the average amount owned per bead was 801 acres. In the South Island the average amount held was al.out 40 a .-res. He held that it was the duty of the Government to deal with these vast lands, and that they should act upon the principle of properly admin istering them for the Natives, and allowing the lands to be settled. The quantity of land sold under the Native Land A«.-fc, of 1873, in blocks of over 2,000 acres, was 730,460 acres, in quarter Mocks, at the. total price of £206,297. The property tax valuation of that 'and was £645,222 ; in blocks of less than 2,000 acres, 74,302 acres ; price paid, £'52,824; property tax valuation. £114,427. The Bill was opposed by Mr Ormond j and Mrßryce, and supported ».y the j Premier and Mr Holmes. The Maori j members favored the Bill heing amen- j ded in committee, or withdrawn j altogether. Mr Dargaviile also opposed the ■ measure. ; The. debate was interrupted l-y the adjournment. j It is rumored that the Opposition ; yesterday had in contemplation a no j confidence, motion in regard to the '■ East and West Coast railway, l»ut that | Sir George Grey's motion tabled yos- i terday has totally upset their calculations, and compelled them to hold the no-eonfidonce preposition in abeyance for the time. ; Some 700 visitors paid for admission j to the Exhibition yesterday afternoon, ' notwithstanding the- weather was wretchedly inclement. i There is now every appearance of clearing np. , Tha Steamer Tamsni arrived from Foo Chow this afternoon, with a cargo of tea. ; The Union creamer Teknpo arrived ' from Sydney tin* morning atter a j rough passage- of ei«,'ht days, She j reports having encountered a whirl- i wind on the Ist instant, lint did no j damage. Ckistchurch, 4. John Hehden, editor of the Canter- j bury Times, who was injured in a ; coach accident on the 22nd July, died j from his hurts late last night. He was . connected with the limes office over I 20 years, and was only 43 years of ■ age. Nelson, 4. One of the largest and most enihns- | iastic meetings held in Waimea took i place at WakehVM last night. Mr llird, Coirity Chairman, presiding. It was unanimously resolved that this meeting of residents and property owners fully approves of the Ministerial prapo«als for the construction of tiie East and We?t Coast an.l Nelson railway, and that a copy of the. resolution t c sent to the Government, and the member of the district was also requested to support the proposals to the utmost. !