\ Mr Sheehan objected to the system ai a useless dissipation of public estate, and a bar to boha'Jde 'settlement, while it unduly led to land sharping- He would not object |o rewarding services of the kind referred to, but let the reward be in money, and if they wanted land they could buy it ; Mr Ormond said the services rendered by this able band of men were something extra ordinary, and they well deserved the land proposed to be given to them. , Mr Katene agreed with the member for Rodney that these Volunteers should be paid in money. If you gave them land you gave it also to the Maoris who fought on the Go vernment side. They did more service than the white Volunteers. Parting with the in this Way only led to trouble. Mr Carrington said, as he understood, it this land had been previously promised, that promise ought to be fulfilled, but he entirely objected to the system of rewards in grants of land. Mr Macandrew said the experience of Otago showed the unwisdom of granting land to persons who were not compelled to benefici ally occupy it. ... ; Several other members expressed opinions against the practice of rewarding by grants of land as a waste of the public estate, and retardation of settlement. I Mr Wales defended the Volunteers as fully deserving of being rewarded either by land or money, as was;inost convenient to the Go vernment of the day. It would be monstrous to give these men forty acres and expect them to drag out a miserable existence upon it. l i Sir Donald M'Lian asked that the Bill be read a second time. The Government would then consider the suggestions -of hon. mem bers that these men.Bhould be rewarded in money. The Government were anxious for a little time to consider as to the best means of carrying out the suggestions of hon. mem bers. There was po^dqubtsome of the men would prefer being rewarded in money, others in land, and it seemed reasonable they should be allowed their choice. ;■ The Bill was read a second time. : Mr Richardson moved the second reading of the Inspection of Machinery Act Amend ment Act, which introduces several improve ments on the original Aot regarding holding inquiries on boilers, and inspection, and fees regulating steam pressure, &c. 