PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2196, 5 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

|BY TELEGRAPH.— SPEdAL CORRESPONDENT.] The Stark Purchase. Wellington, Tuesday. It is quite on the cards that we have not yet heard the last of the Stark purchase, and some curious reports are all oat in connection with it. Rumour has it that Mr Stark has consented to stand for the YVaitemata seat at the next general election. Mr Hurst, the present member for Waitematais now on his way to England, having retired for the session owing to illhealth. He i.s a strong opponent of the present Ministry, and no doubt they would not scruple to use all the power at their disposal to displace him.

The Seamy Side. Some Opposition member* evidently take, a despondent view of the finances of the colony at present. It was stated at a meeting of the Opposition, held a few clays ago, that Sir J. Vogel could not have a less deficit next year than £300,000, owing to the serious falling off in the revenue fiom Customs and railway returns.

The Vaile CommitteeThe Vaile Railway Commitctee were expected to have cigreed upon thair leport today, but it is understood that there was a difference of opinion as to the advisability of recommend ing the appointment of a royal commission, and no decision was come to. The committee meet again to-morrow for consideration of their report.

The Treasurer's Joke. The Colonial Treasurer poked a little quint fun at an hon. member this afternoon. Keplying to Mr Beethams question, \^hetper sojne steps could uot be taken by Government for providing a portrait galleiy for historical purposes in the Parliamentary Buildings, Sir J. Vogel said the matter was more for the Speakers of both Houses to determine, but it had his full sympathy. He slyly added that he hud only lately remarked to a friend that it would be difficult to find another 100 men, amongst "whom ther£*\Ve're so, 'many wbb. \\rere so strikingly ''handsome as the members of the present House. .This joke tickled the members imraensJy, and was received with roars of laughter.

The Premier. ' The Premier is still unable to bi in the Souse, and the business to-day was taken charge of by Sir J. Vogel. ,

, The Cabinet TroublesRumours as to dissention between the two leaders of Government are still prevalent, only in a more intensified form. It is now further reported that Sir Root. Stout has serious thoughts of resigning at the end of the session, and allowing Sir Julius Vogel to reconstruct the Ministry.

The Lords and the Loan. Wednesday. > It is reported that certain members of the Legislative Council who felt themselves aggrieved at the passage of the Settled Land Bill are working up a strong feeling agajnst the Loan Bill, with a view of jeopardising the Bill in the Council, but it is expected to pass without much difficulty.

Local Bodies Finance. The Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill, the first reading 1 of which was carried in the House yesterday, provides for payments to Local Bodies for the year ending 31st March, 1887, of half the amount to whioh they would, Obe entitled undei? the plan of distribution described in schedule of the Act of 1885. These payments are to be made half out of the Public Works Fund, and half out of the Consolidated Fund.