PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2607, 26 August 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.

(BT STAR SPECIAL WIRE).

WELLINGTON, this day.

THE SEPARATION RUMOUR,

The "Times" to-day, referring to the question of Separation says : "The rumour subjected Ministers and supporters to anxious enquiries from supporters as well as opponents." The " Times" then goes on to accuse Ministers of making separate departments iv each Island, iv order to pave, the Avay for the separation of the Islands. It quotes from Sir George Grey's speech when a caudidate for the Superintendency in Auckland, in March, 1875 ; also from Mr Macandrew's address on the 6th November, 1875, in view of the coming election, in .vhich. he briefly sketched out a form of insular separation, with a Federal Government. The "New Zealander" speaks of the separation scare, and the " dernier report of disappointed aud defeated journalists." Speaking or Dr. Pollen, the same papers says : " Of course if the bos;, doctor whoso gravely hints at the existence of this imaginary disease were entrusted with the case" the dangerous symptoms would pass away, and as the Government guineas greased his itching palm, so would the recovery of the patient be sure but slow. The scare was well arranged—so well in fact that it deserved better success than it achieved, but with sound common sense a community like that amid which we dwell it will take something more substantial thanan idle surmise to effect for the alarmist a translation from the drudgery of a professional journalist to the comparative ease and bribery of a Colonial Secretaryship.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT,

The Public Works statement will be brought down this week. THE TRIP SOUTH.

Messrs Fisher will represent the Ministry at the opening of the "Christchurch-Dune-diu railway, and.about forty M. P. 's will be present. The Governor will go to Lyttelton in the Nymphe to open the Hue, and will be accompanied by Colonel Whitmore.

COST OF ASSESSMENT.

A return moved for by Mr Gibbs of the cost of assessment for 1577 in various districts of the colony under the Rating Act of 1876 is as follews' -.—Borough of Auckland, £130 12s 6d; Wellington, £140; Napier, £160 ; Nelson, £134 17s 4d ; Christchurch, £81 17s 4d; Lyttelton, £100; Dunedin, £170 ; Port Chalmers. £25 ; Oamaru, £80 ; Balclutha, £23 14s ; Cavesham and Reslyn made by officers of the Council for Milton, £10 10s. Counties : Thames, £256 16s; Waitemate, £172 ; Waitaki, £77 ; Waikomati, £71; Maniotote, £145 ; Viucout, £119; Lake, £158; Tairei, £74; Tuapeka, £228; Shorthand. £423. HARBOUR BOARD ENDOWMENT

BILLS,

It was general lobby talk tnis morning that the present political calm presages a coming storm. Amongst the Harbour Board Endowment Bills are those of Waikato, Tauranga, Manukau, Patea, Riverton, Timaru, New River, Oamaru, and Mitford. This general rush for harbour endowments is merely a ruse of parties to defeat the .attempt to secure land for places where the import and export trade is comparatively insignificant. Most, if not all, of these bills will be slaughtered. _ _ PUBLIC WORKS!STATEMENT. The Government propose to introduce the Public Works Statement bill to enable the Waste Lands Boards to make roads through forests and country lands on the security of the adjacent blocks. This scheme is based on a bill introduced last session aud withdrawn. It is proposed < o construct roads so that they may be convertible into tramways

WAIKATO RAILWAY. Mr Hobbs will on Thursday ask the Minister of Public Works when the promised reduction in the rates on coal aud settlers' produce on the Waikato railway will come into effect. „,,.„., FALLON'S PETITION.

Mr Tole will ask the Government in ■what manner they intend to carry out the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Samuel Fallon. . . . Mr Dignan presented a petition from Franeia Connelly, of Auckland, for a grant of land for military services. BAY OF ISLANDS ROLL. Mr Williams presented a petition from A. C. McGarey and 70 others,_electors and settlers of Mougouui,[.Bay of Islands District, relative to the revision \of the late electoral roll of that district, and other electoral matters ; also a petition from John Webster and 36 others, electors and settlets of Mongonui, Bay of Islands District, on the same subject; and a petition from H. J. Archer, and 90 others, electors and settler of Mongonui, Bay oi Islands District.

THOSE WIRES,

Workmen were employed to-day altering the wires so as to improve the acoustic properties of the Lower Chamber. This is tbe fifth time time they have been altered.