PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 193, 22 August 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

(BY TELEGKAriI—SPECUL REI'OKTEK.)

Wellington, this day. The business of tho Houbb yesterday was very quiet. On the reading of tho report of tho Local Bills Committee on the Napier Gas Company's Bill, Captain Russell moved, " That the report of tho Committee bo not agreed to, but that the Committee ot Selection bo instructed to select a now committee to < ona'dor tho bill." This woa carried by 1 to :-'. It is a strong testimony to Oap .in Russell's undoubted populoilty In .j House that on his motion tho ( Djnm ...<i's report has been twice dis Bgroeu t Mr tji.,nuol said he had given notice of a motiun regarding tho recent dismissal of tho rtatf ot Wellington Hospital, but having received from tho Premier an assurance that it was tho intention of tho (government to appoint a Commission to inquire iully into tho subject, ho askod leave to withdraw his motion. Personally, he thought tho appointmont of such a commission was proferrablo to a committoo consisting of membei'H of Parliament. Tho JJ oiii»o wont into Committco for tho purpu-iO of considering tho more important clauHc.s of tho Land Bill and now clauses, aonsiderution of which had beon deferred In (Jluuse 34, Sir George Groy moved to hnvo boiirds elected instead of appointed, as proposed Cluuro 'M, making it compulsory lor membors of tho L'ind Boards to take an oath, was struck out of Sir George Greys motion

In tlio Houso yesterday uitornoon, tho Minister of Public Works utated that ho would, on Tuesday evening, at 7.30, bo propared to deliver his Public Works Statement.

It U understood that on tho mooting at noun on Mouduy, tho House will at ouco proceed to eousidoi Mr Mucundrovt's grand political confederation resolution. Tho House nut tiil an early hour this morning in ordor to linish tho Lund Bill. Mr McKenzie endeavoured to roinforco tho olaui-u limiting tho arcti of runs, but wua unsuccessful Tljouidpi-sal of educutionul endowment!) wa- revetted in Schuol Councillor.' ami liouid.- of Povernors as horotoforo subject, to directiuti by tho Govornmont, us to tho moana of dealing with tho samo. Ah 1 mentioned v duy or two ago, thero is strong feeling in tho Ilouso that members of tho Lands BoardsHhould in future bo elected. Indeed, judging by thediscueeion which took place on the question this afternoon, ono might almost say that thofeoling is nearly unanimous that v change from tho present nominee systora if desirable ; but as I it-.;' ■!.'■', 111 11 v hon. members think

ii;mrl.uit a change should iy the Government, and with

jig another bill dealing with

t!i " uiion of Boards to bo intioducod ni n ■■ >n. No alteration will bo effected till . . .. ihlli aiii.r Uioelost; of that cession o( 1' .iuUitnt.

A petition was presented by Mr Peacock o:i behalf of twelve ratepayors of Nowmarket objecting to the stoppago of tho i liiwuy crossing ovor tho old Manukuu Ko id and BWinij.rkot-i'treot.

Mr Moat presented another petition from Dick Fcltus to-day. He alleges " that he U confined ui.jnstiy, illegally, inhumanly, and dinhonouruu ■;. in the Whau Asylum."

With reference (o tho petition of Hone Werahiko and -ui.'iui Porter (discoverers of To Aroha goldfkld), the Goldfields Committee ruu'iuimend the p'yinent ol £350 to the legal ropiosenlati-.> nl (lone Worahiko.

Mr Moss presents a petit i n from J. i\ FitagArald, making a clam. fir land on ac -onii* r.f military servico. Mr Dargavillc has given notice to ask tho Minister of Woiks on Monday Whether tho difficulties ia tho way of t!ie construction of ihe duplicate line of railway from Auckland to Ponroso cuusod by tho demands of tho Auckland llarbnur Board havo been removed so far as to permit of the work boing proceeded with without further delay. If not, whether ♦ho Minister will take auch steps during the present pesMon an will enable him to surmount tho difficulty and go on with the woik.

The influences that I mentioned yesterday continue to stagnate everything in the world of rumour. The no confidence motion ia nevor mentioned. Tho Opposition seem to be quietly watchiug tho courso ul* events, but an Oppositionist to-day guardedly informs me: "Tho general opinion of mir party ia tliat when tho Public Works Htatement is mado, a noconfiiioiico motion will bo necessary." Tho Native Lands Disposition Bill is still occupying tho attention of tho Nativo Affairs Committeo, and is likely to do so for upwards of a week. In his ovidonco, VVahanui is stated to have said thatho would prefer tho pre-emptive right by tho Cr«wn to Mr Ballancc'fl bill as it is at present, and ho would bo proparcd to consider terms of treaty with tho Nativo Minister for the cession of land under tho pre-omptivo system. This fully sustains what Mr Ormond said tho othor night when ."peaking on tho second reading of tho measuro, that tho bill waa impracticable.