TELEGRAMS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1588, 17 August 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellixgton 15. A question of privilege came before the House yesterday in whioh Mr Seddon figured. It had been stated by Mr Snttw that Mr Seddon had been interested iv certain contracts in connection with the Kumara sludge channel, which he alleged had cost the Colony from 1872 to 1834 £225,000 odd, and there were How oifly 55 men employed on it, notwithstanding the petition that had been sent in against the work, and vtnttng tlmfc H. J.'SecMon was personally interested. A contract was let tn R. J, JJeddon and others,; at a cost of £2432 18*. Miners in that district pleaded that Government would not have the work commenced, they pointed out that the contracts were not worth a straw, and they asked Government to protect them against these men. In conclusion Mr Slitter promised the House another treat by-and-bye. The hon. member for Kunvtra, had brought himself under the peitHJ clause of the Disqualification Act, and he moved that all correspondence in connection with the construction of the Kumara sludge channel No. 2, be laid before the House. Mr Seddon seconded the motion, and courted the fullest enquiry. The Premier said there was a sludge channel at Kumara into which the miners sent their tailings, and it was found this privilege was taken advantage of by too many miners, and that the channel was occasionally blocked. The Government last session placed t'2ooo for the construction of a second channel, and that was carried without question. He found later, however, that the £ work would cost £10,000, and he did not think it advisable to expend such a sum. Several pe'vnns had grievances on the matter and the member for Kumara had consented on his (Mr Stout's) advice to sign a bond indemnifying these miners from loss. There was no contract between the Government aud Seddon at all, but in or<tyr to indemnify the Government against loss, Mr Seddon aud other gentlemen had acted as trustees for the performance of the work. The money wits paid to these gentlemen to pay the contractor. Mr Martin, said ns far as he knew, the hon. member for Kumara had no interest iv the sludge channel whatever. The Minister of Mines believed the whole matter had come about by a feeling on the part of Mr Setter that too much money had been spent on the gold mining industry. After some further remarks from j Messrs Rolleaton, Hurst, W. F. Pnckland and Fisher, Mr Sutter's motion for the production of the papers was agreed to. The Premier then move that a Committee be appointed in connection with the matter, to report in 10 days, and to consist of Messrs J. v. Buck land, Fruce, Fraser, Hislop, O'Conor, Hursthouse, Mosfl, Russell, Suffer and the mover. — Curried. In the evening Sir Julius Yogel introduced the District Railways Purchasing Bill, and a Bill to provide for a guarantee of fidelity of Government officers and to repeal the existing Act. Sir J. Yogel said in regard to the first mentioned Bill that was in peiauaiice of resolution of the House last session, and was to give effect to various contracts in connection with the District Railvvayu. Government proposed

when the bill was read a Becond time to ask lite Public Accounts Committee to examine into and report upon the various contracts. The House disagreed with the amendments of the Legislative Council in the Admission Act Amendment Bill, in so far as rotating to the property of married men or women dying intestate without children going to the survivor of the marriage. A committee was appointed to draw up reasons for the disagreement. The Otaao Dock Amendment Bill was read a second time and the Gold Mining District Amendment Bill was committed, partially considered, and progress reported upon a certain clause. The Public Reserves Bill was next committed and an addition was inserted prohibiting the charging for admission to public reserves on Sundays, Good Fridays and Christmas Days, and the bill was passed as amended. The amendments by the Legislative Council to the School Committee- Election Bills were also disagreed, with the exception of the clause which provides that the minimum age for school children be seven years. Iv reply to Mr Ormond for the drtte of the cablegrams that had passed between the Government and the delegates re the East and West Coast Railway proposals the Premier read tho whole of the tele- | grams received and sent, and complained that no member of the Government had communicated with the syndicate except the Agent-General. The only new feature proposed was that in the last telegram as to constructing the line in three portions. Tt would be seen by these telegrams that the House had communication either with the syndicate or Messrs Meiggs and Sons, and he expressed regret that thp motion for a committee had not at this time been carried, because it would have afforded an opportunity of freeing the delegates from many slurs that had been cast upon them. The papers were ordered to be laid on the table and printed. It is rumored the Opposition will table a motion of uo-cou6dence on Monday, but so many stories are afloat to as the actions of the various sections of the Opposition party that little importance can be attached to any of them. Undoubtedly the Government are weak, but their supporters, although in a minority,' are a compact body sis against a majority of the House presumedly in Opposition, but broken op iv sections, each having special fada. The following curious advertisement appears in tonights Font : — "Applications are requested from persons willing to join a new Government. They must be sent in by 11 o'clock on Monday. Applications will be treated 83 confidential and are to be addressed to Major Atkinson, JJr Ormond, or Mr Wakefield. If more than fonr apply a ballot will be taken." Mr Richardson did not bring don-n h's Public Works Statement last night as he or^inally intended, but purposes it is understood to deliver it on Thuradar or PrTffify next, providing no nljfcuiei fo interposed by any diivctly hostile movement on the part of the Opposition. The vote for commencing the West Coast railway works will b« taken conjointly with thu E-juui -itej foll.iwiiij tlu delivery of the Statement.