TELEGRAMS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1601, 16 September 1885, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Wellington 15. The business of the House this afternoon was confined to a number of unimportant questions of no interest to the Coast. Major Atkinson gave notice that lie would on the loan going into Committee of Supply, move that a sum of money be placed upon the Estimates in recognition of the services of Sir W. Fox in connection with the West Coast Settlement Commission. Mr Menteath leaves for Sydney on Thursday, and will be absent about 8 weeks. The session is expected to close on the same day as very little busiuess remains to be done. George Augustus Sala >he famous -journalist, delivers three lectures' here, commencing this evening. He goes hence to Christchurch. A deputation from Friendly Societies ] and Exhibition Committee waited on the Minister of Publio Work to day, and secured a large concession on nil way fares throughout the Colony as an inducement for members of those societies to attend the proposed demon-* stratiou here on the 18th October. Nogoti.i lions are in progress with the Anchor line strain, is for a reduction to visiting 'm. Mtt-ij iVoiii the West Coast. The L7io:i (■onii^iiy have consented to do so from olher parts of the Colony. In the House yesterday, the Committee of Enquiry re tlie alleged disqualification of Mr Seddon, reported that there was no evidence to show that that gentleman had pecuniarily entered In contracts relating to the j K^uinara sludge, cuauucl.

I The Colonial Treasurer regretted to tell the House then* was no chance of carrying out the mail service, with Auckland as the terminus, for anything like the terms contemplated by the resolutions of the House and comuiittee. They were now negotiating for a s-rvice either with Auckland as the terminus, between Auckland, Honolulu and Frisco, or for a service equally with Sydney as a terminus, but running only as far as Honolulu, there to be met by the steam i -r now running fortnightly between Honolulu and Sau Francisco. Government was now corresponding with the Govern- j ment of New South Wales on the I subject. Thoy would submit the matter to the House before incurring any responsibility. Several amendments to the Hospital j Charitable Aid Bill as made by the Council were agreed to. The Council's amendments to the Land Transfer Bill was agreed to excepting clause 191, which, on the motion of Mr Stewart was altered to read that a person should not be liable for negligence who had not land under the Act. The Municipal Corporation Act Amendment Bill was rreommitted, A new clause was agreed to providing that no pioceedings should be commenced under section 63, of the Municipal Corporation Act, unless with the written consent of the AttorneyGeneral. The penalties recovered shall be paid into the Borough Fund, and | auy penalties now or hereafter sued for may be remitted either in whole or in part Clause 2, was struck out. Several other amendments were disagreed with, and the Bill was eventually re id a third time aud passed. A long discussion took place over a proposal by the Premier, in favor of the British portion of New Guinea being created a Crown Colony, and that New Zealand cont-lbu'sd for a term of three years from Ist June 1886, its share of -815,000, proportionately to population on condition that the other Colonies of Australasia join iv contribution on the same terms, was strongly opposed by Sir George Grey. Major Atkinson, Montgomery and others. The first part ofthe resolution to create New Guinea a Crown Colony was lost, and the Defence Minister then said the Government would tike the vote just taken as conveying the whole three resolutions. The matter was therefore dropped. The House then went into committee oti the cable subsidy between Australia and this Colony. Sir Julius Yogel moved that the Government be authorised to undertake and continue the cable service for 10 years, the charge for messages being ; for press messages, not more than 3d per word, ami for other messages not more than Od per word, After along discussion", during which time several amendments were proposed, it was decided to leave the matter of arrangmeut with the Government, tha latter undertaking that the cost should not exceed £5,000 a year. Christchurch 14. Mr H. J. Mathias, Chairman of the Selwyn County Council died yesterday of brain fever, he was an early settler, arriving here in 1857, and was very Widely respected. A general meeting of the West Coast Railway League was he!d this afternoon, the meeting adjourned for three weeks. A sub committee is being appointed to draw up a programme oT future action. J