all the local bodies in the colony were languishing for want of funds. The Colonial Treasurer was the author of all the mischief that had been done, and the people demanded of him a solution of the local Government difficulty. It might be well to give him another year to do it. With regard to the borrowing, the Government should introduce the safeguard that was at first attached to the public works policy—lands through which the rail ways passed should be taxed. He did not, for a moment, say it was not necessary to borrow some money, for it would not do to stop public works. In conclusion, he would say that ha intended to follow the hon. member for Akaroa into the lobby, and he hoped by the beginning of the week there would be a Government on the benches capable of carrying on the business of the colony. Mr W. C. BUCHANAN was sorry so many hon. members had burned their wings by flut tering round the candle of finance, at the same time admitting that they did not understand’ the question. In supporting the loan of one million for the North Island trunk rail way, he said that only justice was being done to the ' : North Island, while he defended the allocation of the three million loan. The L 300,000 for public buildings was mainly for schools, and he was surprised at the objection that had been taken to it by some hon. members. He need scarcely say that when the question of the Loan Bill went to the vote he would, be found sup porting the Government, but in Committee he reserved his right to take exception to any item if it was not for a reproductive purpose. In doing that he carried out a pro mise he had made to his constituents. He de fended the action of the Colonial Tieasurer in’ telling the truth about the finances of the colony in 1879, and then proceeded to criticise the speech delivered on the previous evening by the hon. member for Dunedin East, attributing his vacciiating action since he had been in the House to the fact that he had a strong desire at the outset for a Public Works portfolio that was beyond his reach, In the question before the House he gave the Government his hearty support. 