PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 184, 12 August 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY OUR bPECIAL REPORTER)

WkMilnoton, this day. As will be scon by the report of the Hoiiso proceedings in Committee on tho Forests Bill tho, railway clause was thrown out. you will remember that oven before th e bill was circulated I wired that tho introduction of such principles into tho bill was intended, but that it was regarded merely as a device to catch tho vote 3of tho North Auckland mombora. Somo thought it was to sweeten Mr Dargavillo re Kaibu railway. Others fancied that Mr Hobbs, with the Bay of Islands railway, was the object of this Ministerial blandishment. From the start the Government were not credited with sincerity of intention regarding the clause, so that it goes " unwept, unhonourcd, and unsung." It will bo recollected that early in tho session a petition was received from T. B. Honnaford, matrimonial agent, Auckland, asking for some recognition for his services in obtaining wives for set'ler.-. The Petitions Committee yesto-rduy report.! they had no recommeudaticn io make ou tho subject. Among the petitious presented yesterday was one from \V. A Graham and five thousand others, conii.-ting of mayors of boroughs, chairmen of counties, road boards, and other representatives of commerce, signing in their representative capacities, also of members of those bodies and eettlers generally all over the colony, praying that v Commission may bo appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the general question of reform in the management of New Zealand railways, and moro particularly to examine and report upon, tho scheme of railway management proposed by Mr Samuel Vaile, and also upon any other scheme which may be brought under the notice of the Commission.

Sir Julius Voxel's supp^mentary Financial Statement to be delivered this evening i 8 looked forward to with considerable curiosity The Government purposo entering upon consideration of the estimates immediately afterwards.

The New Financial Proposals.—lncrease

of the Property Tax.

All sorts of guesses are being hazarded as to what will be the nature of Sir Julius Vogel's financial proposals. Ministers informed me at noon that the matter waa not then definitely settled. I fancy, however, the statement will include a proposal to increase tho property tax to one penny, and a large reduction of the ex penditure in an unexpected direction. The property tax will bo levied on the new valuation, and in view of the depreciation of values in the South, it is feared that the source of revenue will not produce as much as it did under last valu ation ; that is, unless", if for the purposes of keeping mortgages right, an inflated and false value is given by Southern land owners. Tho Land Bill. The Waste Lands Committeo having cxaoiinod A. C. Beggand P. McKenzie finally passed tho Land Bill to-day. Mr Bnilance's now clause, having reference to the Education reserves boing handed to tho Crown for administration was retained on a division by seven votoa to throe. Messrs Fulton, Lake, and P. B. Whyto voted with tho minority. Mr Macandrew was absent. The question of the disposition of revenue wus deferred till tho bill is before the House.