Thursday, August 13. The House met at 2,30. Replying to questions put, it was stated information as to several processes ia use in England and America for pre serving railway sleepers would be sought, with the view of adopting it in this Colony. No provision would be made this aea aion for the continuance of direct grants to aid local bodies, as these would be provided for by the Roads and Bridges Construction BUI. :•. ■. •'■••. : :■■' The advantages presented by the, sec tional ship designed by Mr Isbister, of Port. Chalmers, would be investigated, with the view. of adopting in the case of immigrant ships and ships employed: under public contract with New Zealand, if found desirable. County Councils hid no power to levy a general race over the whole of a county with tho intention of only collecting it from : the outlying districts. Railway employees had no deduction made from their wages for the time they were engaged on compulsory attendance at Courts of Law, or on Coroners' In-: quests. ; The Home adjourned at 5.30, On resuming at 7-30, Mr SMITH tnovod that a resolution be reported from Committee (subsidies) to public libraries.; Mr DICK said that when the vote, £6000, on the estimates was brought down, he would also submit resolutions as to the equitoble distribution thereof. He asked that tho resolutions be with drawn, Mr HALL suggested that the resolu tions of the Government should be submitted as an amendment upon Mr Smith's resolutions. By that means in; opportunity would be given for diaomsing both propositions. The motion was carried and resolutions agreed to. s^/The Public Health Act Amendment Bill was passed with amendment. Tha Resident Magistrate's Act, 1876, Amendment Bill was passed with amend ments. The Patent Act Amendment Bill passed witb amendments. The Council's amendments in the Bluff Harbor Foreshore Bill and. Small Bird Nuisance Bill agreed to. Oq the motion for committal of the Road Board Bill (Grey), > Mr ROLLESTON spoke against the Bill. He argued that if members re- Biding at remote parts of the provincial districts were elected, it would be im possible for such persona to attend regularly. The districts would have to be lemodellad to meet. that difficulty alone. Eleotive boards would require much larger powers in the administra tion than boards 1 now have. 