PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 169, 19 July 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Wei.ijngtox, this day, FAIR RENT BILL.

Government have declined to take up the amendments made in the Fair Rent Bill by the Waste Lands Committee, th 0 members of which, therefore, are obliged t° propose the several alterations. When the Bill was further considered in com" mitteo lasS night, very little progress was made with it, most of the latter part of the evening being spent in considering the interpretation clause. Sir G. Grey endeavoured to alter the definition of the term " land," so as to make the Bill general and applicable to all lands, pr-ivate and otherwise. His proposal to this effect was discussed at great length, and was ultimately negatived by 50 to 15. The Waste Lands Committee had struck out a portion of the clause which brought bhe deferred uaymonb lands, and all lands vested in pubiic b'odie.s, within the operation of the Act. Mr Whyte moved that the amend ment be agreed to. The Government opposed this, and the propositions were ultimately separated, and were lost by 38 bo 19 and 35 fco 22, respectively, thus reversing the Waste Lands Committee's principal alteration. Further consideration of the clause was further postponed. The Bill was traversed as far as clause 13, when the Colonial Secretary agreed to report progress. NEW RATING BILL. . The Crown and Native Lands Rating Acts Repeal Bill has just been circulated. It provides that the Bill shall be retrospective and shall take clTecb from April lsb, 1888. All native lands in boroughs shall bo rateable. RELIEF WORKS. I believe it is nob intended to continu 6 the stone-breaking relief work at Mount Eden alter tho winter months are over. There ar&aboub eighty men employed on this relief, andlunderstandbheMinisterof Works proposes to send them into country districts in the spring to nlako roads. His reason is that tho metal id being given away to local bodies, and men would be more prolitably employed opening up the country. LIME FROM WAIKATO. Messrs J. Wilson and Co. have wired to Mr Goldie, complaining that the limo burned in Waikato is free by rail, and saying that justice demands that the came concession should be made to all producers in the colony. The matter has been brought under the notice of the Minister of Works, who denies tho statement in tho telegram, and says the only concession that exists is the special rate for lime. THE EDMONDS CLAIM. Several Auckland members have con* tinued to urge on the Government the claims of the widow of tho late S. J. Edmonds to consideration in connection with her hueband's petition. They, however, havo very little hope of succeeding in the matter. WADIATE GORGE RAILWAY. The annual accounts in connection with the Waimuto Gorge District Railway are before the House. They show a totaldeficiency of £1,690. The balance above half the deficiency proposed to be rated for is £678. The total co*t of the railway to tho Government was £33,900. METAL FOR THE DOMAIN. Mr Goldio has been endeavouring to obtain from tho Government a quantity of 500 tonri of broken metal for the completion of the paths in the Domain. The Minister of Works cannot give a definite answer till he has ascertained what promises of metal have been mado. KOHIMARAMA TRAINING SCHOOL There appeared to be a likelihood some weeks ago that this school would require to bo removed to Mount Eden, in consequence of the expiration of tho present seaside lease. I learn, however, that the lease has now been extended for a further period of 7 years. Mr Goldie is endeavouring to induce Government to make a grant to assist in the purchase of steam-launch for the uge of the school, and if the request is granted it will only be on condition that the launch is suitable for conveyance of supplies and other similar purpose?. THE' AUCKLAND VOLUNTEERS. The annual returns of Auckland volunteer corps havo reached tho Defence Department, and they show that volunteering in Auckland is at a very low ebb. Few of the companies can claim more than the minimum strength, and if the Minister for Defence carries out his intention of amalgamating weaker corps, several of the Auckland companies will be swallowed up. THE CARLTON CLUB. This hotel appears to occupy an anomalous position in regard to its privileges. It holds a club as well as an hotel license, and can therefore sell liquor nil night. Representations on tho subject havo been made to Mr Goldie by various residents of Newmarket, and tho anomaly is now engaging the attention of the Colonial Secretary, who will probably cancel the club license. EPSOM AND MOUNT EDEN BILL. The Epsom and Mount Eden Recreation Reserve Bill hass been reported on by the Local Bills Committee as follows:—That tho land affected by the Bill was set aside 'in 1874, as an endowment for the maintenance of the lunatic atid other asylums within the Provincial District of Auckland. It is proposed by tho Bill to diverb tho land frota such purposes and set aside the greater portion of it as a public recreation ground; the other portions—about three and a half acres—being set aside as a gravel pit for the use of four road boards. As the Bill deals with a question of policy, your Committee refers ita consideration to the House. POINT RESOLUTION. The Point Resolubion Committee had a longand full meetingyesterday bodrawup a report, bub adjourned till to-morrow. It is said the Commibteo consider tho price paid to the trustees for the freehold was probably at much or even more than would have been realised for it if sold publicly, subject to the outstanding lease of i'l7 per year for forby-eighb years. But with the objeob of preventing the aberation of any trust, tho proceeding should, if possible be cancelled and Mr Kissling bo separately compensated for liis lease and the trustees for such damages as may have been sustained by the loss of freehold. These are said to be the chief points Of the prepared report. CAUCUS OF FREE TRADE PARTY. A caucus was held yesterday, when it was resolved that the Freetraders are not disposed to hamper their future action by joining any party, except on a question of privilege., VACILLATING MEMBERS. It is said that Messrs Ward and Loughrey are again in ranks of opposition. Mr Turnbull stated in the House a fortnight ago that he would sever himself from the Opposition and attend no more of their caucuses, and yet Mr Turnbull haa undoubtedly' attended at least two Opposition caucuses wibhin the last week, so has Mr Levesbam; who was said to have trodden in Mr Fish's footsteps. SIR JULIUS VOGEL. A letter has been received from Sir Julius Vogel in which he definitely abandons all hope of returning to the colony before the end of the present session. Sir Julius had read a precis of the " Budgot " with which, especially the primage duty, he was not <

agreeably impressed. He believes thab protection would do the colony much good, but only after a lapse of time.

DOCKING THE GOVERNOR.

It is said in connection with the visit of His Excollency. to Melbourne, that when the Governor is absent from bhe colony for more than a month the Administrator who takes his place geta half his salary, but that no deduction is made from His Excellency's for any less absence than a month. MIDLAND RAILWAY. There was every reason to believe that the Midland Railway contract was signed yesberday. The Premier received a cablegram inquiring whether certain amendments, asked for by tho Home syndicate, had been agreed to by the House, and slating bhab in that event the contract would be signed. A reply was forwarded in the affirmative, the Cabinet at the same time giving an emphatic declaration thab no fun her amendments could be allowed, and insisting on the contract being immediately signed. THE HONORARIUM QUESTION, An inquiry was mado by Mr Hobbs yesterday afternoon as to whether Hon. Mr Larnach, who had been granted leave of absence for a fortnight on account of illness in his family would be entitled to draw his honorarium for that period, seeing that it was well known ho was making arrangements for leaving tho colony. The Speaker, to whom tho question was addressed, said he could nob reply to ib offhand. This drew from Mr Hobbs bhe remark that he had inquired from tho 'officers of the House, who had told him thab Mr Larnach would be able to draw his honorarium on account of the form in which the resolution grantingleavo was worked. The Speaker curtly retorted that he, and nob bhe officers of the House, was the proper authority to decide the question. In the course .of a short discussion which followed Mr Walker emphatically declared thab tbo hon. member for the Peninsula was absent on account of family illness, and said that Mr Hobbs appeared to know a great deal deal more about other hon. members' business than he did of his own. REFRACTORY ORES. Mr Cadman received a direct assurance from the Minister of Mines ye.-j----terday that ib was tho intention of the Government to offer a substantial bonus for the ?uccessful treatment of ores of both low and high grade. The conditions are, as I .said last week, being drafted by the Department. GOVERNMENT HOUSE. Mr Samuel made a protcsb yesterday against the further maintenance of the Government House ab Auckland. He said the reserve should be sold, an tho property was not only useless, but necessitated an annual expenditure to keep it in repair and pay for the custodian. Tho only excuse for keeping it up was thab tho Admiral of the station occasionally resided there. It was very desirablo that tho property should be sold. WAIKATO MODEL FARM". The Bill which vests 137 acres of land at Kirikiriroa in Waikato County Council) us an endowment for an Agricultural Collogo and model farm, has passed the Local Bills Committee, with a now clause, which onables tho Council,, by a majority, when at least two-thirds of the Councillors are present, to apply part of the county funds in carrying oub the purposes of the Act. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. Ono hundred and twenty-three officers aro now employed in the Public Works Department. Since lsb April, 1887, senmty-one officers havo been dispensed with. The most highly paid officials aro bhe Engineer- in-tHiTcf (Mr Blackctt), £1,000 per annum ; Assistant Bnginear-in-ChJef (Mr W. N. Blair), £900; Under-Secretnry (O'Connor), £800 ; Mr W. H. Hales, District Engineer (Auckland), £600 ; Mr J. T. Stewart,- Disbricb Engineer (Wanganui), £600 ; Mr E. R. Usshcr, District Engineer (Otago), £550 ; Mi- A. D. Austin, District Engineer (Canterbury), £550 ; Mr W. W. Dartnall, District Engineer (Nelson), £500 ; Mr W. F. Martin, District Engineer (Westland), £425. The principal victims bythoretrenchmenb scheme were: Mr C. B. Knopp, who has been in receipt of £750 per year as Inspecbing Engineer, Mr John Rochfort, whoso salary as engineer in charge of tho North Island Main Trunk line was £10 per week ; and Mr C. E. Boatson, who drew £365 per annum aa architect. Ar has already been mentioned the Public Works Department is to ccaso to exist ns an independent department at tho expiry of the present session, and considerable retrenchment will then bo made by amalgamation with tho Railway Department. CHARITABLE AID DISTRICTS. A meeting of those favourable to the division of Charitable Aid districts into smaller areas was held this morning - Dr. Newman presiding. The serious injustice that would be dono if country districts were blotted out as proposed by bho Bill bofore ( tlio House was pointed out by tho Chairman. After full consideration tho meeting decided to uso every effort to frustrate the abtoinpts of those who are trying to throw extra burdens on tho ratepayers in cities and thus relieve themselves. Messrs Newman, Jones and. Rhodes were appointed to determine the best means of giving effect to' tho resolution of the Committoe, which practically means stonewalling. Tho members present wera: Messrs Goldie, Taylor, Perceval, Fitchctt, Jones, Rhodes, and J. Reeves, • NATIVE SCHOOLS. Tho Minister of Education hjas not decided whether to accept the offer of the Auckland Board of Education, made through Mr Goldio, to take over the control of native schools with a view to more economical management. THE PRIMAGE DUTY. Mr Goldie intends to ask whether the primago duty should not be charged on the net amount of invoice instead of on the invoice with 10 per cenfc. added as is done ab present. NATIVE LEGISLATION. The Committee on tho Native Bills have retained the clause providing for tho taxation of native land. The Bill is to be redrafted by the Government THE FRENCH ESCAPEES. The Minister for Education has written to the Minister for Justice asking him to secure the services of an Italian interpreter for Gasparini, the French escapee. OTAGO CENTRAL. TheCabinethave nob considered bheOtago Central Railway question matter yet, bub there is strong feeling in favour of affording Mr Pyke every facility to bring on his Bill. Mr Thompson, of Marsden, threatens to stonewall ib at every stage from bho preamble to the schedule. JOTTINGS. The Sheep Acb Amendment Bill has been read a first time. The telephone system of. the colony has already paid fifby per cent, on the capital cost. The Premier has promised bo consider the question of reducing telephone subscriptions during the recess. The Premier considers that the session will be over in a month. . , Mr Walker has a_ committee set up to report on the question of privilege raised by bhe laying of Judge McDonald'slebter on the table. Mr Fish fears that the popular political cry of the " poor working man " will soon give place to that of " the poor farmer." Government refuse to vote any sum of money to pay expenses of last issue of 11 Korimako" Maori newspaper,

The Minister of Justice has given notice of the Offences Against the Person Bill. Mr Feldwick will ask bhe intentions of Government relative to Chinese immigration to-day. Government obtained two of bhe amounts towards bhe £400,000 raised on debentures from Auckland Savings Bank. The Government aro in'communication with the adjacent colonies relative to^the cable between New Zealand and Vancouver.