PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4400, 1 June 1882, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

r* [PBOM OUB BPBOIAL OOBBBSPONDENT.] THE OHEISTOHUEOH POLICE FOBOE. THE OPAWA STATION MASTSE. THE STAETMORE OABE. MR HOLMES' ATTACK. WELLINGTON, Mat 31. Mr Hamlin's notice that he would ask Government if they were prepared to place on the Estimates a sum of money to defray the expensos of the uneeated candidates at Wakanui and Franklin North, as the elections were rendered void through mistakes on the part of Government officials, mot with the evident approval of the House. Beer drinkers will be glad to hear that tho Colonial Treasurer gave Mr Seddon hopes that when tho Financial Statement conies down it will be found that tho duty imposod upon Colonial beer in the hard times hns been removed. Slight hopos were also hold out by Mr BolleDton that nominated immigration will shortly be resumed. Mr Wynn-Williams had placed upon the paper a question of considerable interest to the inhabitants of Christchurch. r lko hon member wished to knowwhotber Government intended to take any stops to increase the efficiency of tho police force in Ghristohurch and its neighbourhood. Mr Bryce, in reply, stated that, on enquiry, ho found that tho number of police in Chrietchurch at the present time was very large — viz., one policeman to every 4(50 residents in the city, while in Dunedin thero was only one to every 600. In the former oubo, too, there wore moro suburban polico than in the latter. An increase in Ohristchurch meant an increase throughout the Colony generally. This cry for extra police came not only from Christchurch, but from other parts of New Zealand. It had been represented to him that " burglaries wero rampant " there, and that what was wanted was rather a good detective than a large force of constables. He would take ctopa to secure the appointment of a deteolivo thoroughly well up in his work. The star that watches over tho fortunes of Harbour Boards seems likely to be in the ascendant this session. Mr Hwanson's Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Act authorises the borrowing of £150,000 for the construction of a graving dock, and Dunedin is also in the field with proposals to borrow j £300,000. Of tho firet, £120,000 is to be spent on the dock itself, at Calliope Point, and £9000 for now Ta to tho quay. The arrival of H.M.S. Nelson has created a great fluttering in tho breasts of tho wor:hy citizens of "Wellington, Tho City Councillors yesterday presented Commodorq Erskine with an address of congratulation, and it is now decided to give a ball to tho ship's offioers in tho drill-shed at an early dato. Mr Thomson, member for Ohristchuroh North, gavo notico thi3 afternoon that on Tuesday next ho would aek Government if tho 6tationmaßtcr at Opawa has recently been dismissed, and the reason for his dismisrul. Miijor Atkinson will, I boliove, bring down the Corrupt practices Amendment Act tomorrow, and Government will push it through with ull Bpccd. An additional chvuso will be moved by Mr Turnbull having roforenco to Mr Pilliet'o ease, and will be accepted by Major AtkinsoD. Tho Stanmoro ca3o will then bo referred back to Judgo Williams, and he will be asked to report upon it, as it the amonded Act had been the ono in force at tho timo the former decision of himself and 1 Justice Johnston was arrived at ; in fact it

will bo made retrospective as far aB the Stanmoro case is concerned. It had been hoped that a division upon the weary debate over tho Feaoe Pre»ervation Bill would have been taken last night. No such good fortune, however, was in store for the tired listeners, and it was resumed at 8.30 to-night by Mr Holmes. Before he sat down, the hon member for Christohurch South had succeeded in embroiling himself with three other members of tho House and laying himself open to what virtually amounted almost to a rebuke from the Chairman. His speeoh, as ÜBual, was in the 'Ercles vein, and in the sensational style which is now becoming fatally familiar to members. Could Mr Holmes divest himself to Borne extent of his very aggreattivo manner and tone down bis superabundant powers of invective, he would in timo become a hard opponent to tacklo in debate • but with all hia faults of Btyle and delivery, ho must be given the credit of having given a new turn to the line of thought employed by Opposition members who were too prone to run in the commission and legal groove laid down by tho first speaker. The vials of hia fiercest wrath were emptied upon what he called the disgraceful proclamation of Got. 19 last, and he demanded that Te Whiti and his people should be made to accept tho large reserves made for tham whether they liked it or not. He concluded by driving this idea homo in the form of an amendment, jthat the Bill should be postponed till Government hrought down another dealing with the reserves made for Te Whiti and his people. This ho substituted for one proposing that the chiefs should be heard at the bar of the House. Mr FitzGerald delivered his maiden speech, which was received with great applause, on tho Government side of the question, reading Mr Holmes one or two sharp lessons in the course of it. In him a groat addition to the oratorical powers of the House has, it seems, been made. His language is well choaon and telling, though in delivery he id just a little laboured. After a short speech by Mr Steward, at the olose of whiohhe stated he should give his support to Government, Mr Tomoana moved the adjournment of the debate, which will drag its slow length along again tomorrow. Tho Post to-night expresses a hope that a seat will be provided in the Upper House for Mr Brandon, who for so many years represented Wellington Country district in the Houso of Bepresentatives,