PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 278, 25 November 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

L [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN REPORTER.]

Wellixgtox, this day.

Petitions. Me Lawey is asking tho Government to ppen a poßt-office at Maraetai. Mr Kelly presented petitions yesterday from the Catholics of Te Aroha and Paeroa praying for State aid to Roman Catholic schools.

Mr Fulton also presented a petition from •3. Murray Moore and 22 other Aucklanders in favour of Bible reading in schools.

Mr Withy's Maiden Speech. ! Mr Withy, who has been a silent member so far, made his maiden speech in the.Houso yesterday afternoon, on the Midland Railway question. He spoke logically and well, holding that the country was bound in honour to carry out its agreement. He objected to the principle of the giving away of the public estate of thecolony, and much as he disliked borrowing he would have preferred that course to the giving away ot a large extent of country. Land increased In value as time went on, and while he desired to avoid doing any wrong to the contractors, he thought they should be careful not to give away more land than was necessary to carry out the agreement. •' The Koramako." Sydney Taiwhanga has given notice of his intention to move a resolution affirming the desirability of giving a larger sum than £50 per annum for the maintenance ot the " Koramako " (Maori newspaper). Reports on Auckland Petitions. The Petitions Committee reported on the petition of George Hardy yesterday. The petitioner states that after nineteen years service in Auckland Lunatic Asylum, he was compelled by persecution on the part of Dr. Cremonini, the new Medical Superintendent, to resign his appointment, lhe Committee report that, having inquired fully into the matter, they are of opinion that the petitioner's conduct after the appointment of Dr. Cremonini was not such as to entitle him to any consideration from the Government. < The same Committee, reporting on the petition of Lieut, Archer, whose services as extra clerk in the Land Transfer Department in Auckland have been dispensed with, and who prays that employment be found for him, report that they have no recommendation to make. Bankruptcies In Auckland. From a perusal of bankruptcy business in Auckland, last year, it appears that there were 211 bankrupts whose assets, as per Etatemcntliled, inclusiveof securedcrcditors. amounted to £110,686. The amount realised by the Assignee was, however, £20,831, or less than l-sth. The debts proved against these estates amounted to £138,550. In Christchurch the debts proved were £94,891, and in Dunedin £.103,939. Girls' High School. " Mr Goldie has, at the request of the Board of Education, been in communication with the Minister, with a view to bringing in a bill with the object of borrowing a sufficient sum of money upon the endowments set apart for the Girls' High School to erect a. school, as the present lease of the building will expire in 1888. The Minister of Education has promised to assist in the matter, and will give instructions to Mr Curnow to at once prepare a bill on lines to be agreed upon after consultation with the Auckland members. Native Land Administration Act. * The Native Affairs Committee have had under consideration native petitions asking that the Native Land Administration Aot may be repealed, as its provisions bear -heavily on the Maori race. The Committee reported that as Government have already intimated their intention of legislating in the direction asked for by the petitioners, this petition be referreed to them for consideration. Amendments In the Mining laws. Some important amendments in the mining laws are to be made by the bill introduced by the Minister of Mines. Provision is made that the Government may take the • land for the deposit of tailings or for sludge or tailings channels, and that future purchasers of land or water courses in mining districts shall acquire no riparian rights. _ A clause is introduced to provide for mining operations on the foreshore or under the sea. State forests are made subject to tho Mining Acts, and the Thames Drainageßoard '■ is to be deemed duly constituted. A number of technical amendments in the Minoa Act are also made. Volunteer Retrenchment. Government will take no steps to fill the ■ vacancy caused by the death of Col. Lyon, Commanding Officer of Volunteers in Auckland, pending the receipt of General Schaw's report on the defence.s Lieutenant - Colonel Shepherd will therefore have command in the meantime. Volunteer corps are certain to suffer severely in the retrenchment to be carried, out, but the idea is to keep up corps in cities and larger centres of population, and let upcountry corps go. Seamen's Grievances. The grievances of the seamen in the colony have beeu set forth in a petition from W. Horn and others, praying for special representation for seamen, and protesting agairst the employment of coloured labour on board New Zealand ships and against the admission of foreign vessels to . New Zealand ports. The Committee report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to Government for consideration. A Novel Plea for More Railways. As a result of his visit to England five years ago, Sydney Tawhanga has become firmly convinced that New Zealand in order to be prosperous must first be a network of railways. In the Old Country; he saw railways on the top of houses, he rode in railways on the surface and occasionally he indulged in an underground journey, and he attributes England's auccess to its large expenditure in railway construction. To insure settlement and, an increased revenue in the colony, he thinks that railways from North Cape to Stewart Island are absolutely necessary. Judge 'Willlams'e Cose. Two matters of general interest were under consideration at the meeting of the Petitions Committee yesterday. The first was the petition of E. M. Williams,'late Judge of Native Land Court, After full consideration the Committee was of opinion that the petitioner had no claim against the colony. Spaulding's Petition. The other was a petition of Spaulding, who was convicted at Auckland of setting . fire to the Remuera Dairy Company's buildings, and who was found to be insane and was sent to Avondale Asylum, pending the pleasure of Government. He prays that as he is now sane he should be removed to Mount Eden Goal. The Committee report they have no recommendation to make. Tnrlff Proposals. The protectionists have repeatedly during the past three weeks taunted the Government with refusing to give them an opportunity of testing their strength during the present session. The Premier's resolution, of which notice was giye.n yesterday, and which it is proposed to discuss tomorrow, is a direct challenge, and no excuse can be offered if the protection section decline to vote on the question. The Amende HonoraWp. Repeatedly of late,, the member fo r St. Albans has fallen foul of Sir G. Grey, who yesterday afternoon charged him with unbecoming and rude interruptions, Mr te£si y SL tO J? 9 * 0 -

in personal respect for the accomplishments and attainments of Sir George, and if he had said anything to offend the hon. gentleman he frankly regretted it.

Miscellaneous Jottings.

Government have ordered the release of boys arrested in Auckland for loquat stealing after they had been in custody fortyeight hours. Tho total number of signatures appended to tho Roman Catholic petitions praying for State aid to their schools is 15,907. There were 211 bankruptcies in Auckland last year, 199 in Christchurch, and 109 in Dunedin.

The Attorney-General has given his opinion that the Midland railway contract, as submitted to the House, sufficiently protects tho colony from compensation claims. A meeting of the Opposition party is to be held to-day to consider the position. The 'Frisco Service last year realised a profit to the colony of £2,496, ojhl the Direct Service represented a loss of £11,070. W. Carkeek is considered by the Petitions Committee to be equitably entitled to his claim for attendance at tho Native Land Court. The Printing and Debates Committee are doing useful work. They are carefully going through the free list, with a view to seeing where the knife can be applied to those who are enjoying the privilege of having all Parliamentary papers sent to them. Mr Allen made a strong indictment against the late Government respecting their anxiety to get tho Midland Railway question settled. Provision will bo made in the Estimates for the representation of New Zealand at the Victorian Exhibition. A number of natives met at tho Royal Hotel last night to consider the drafting of a bill relating to Maori lands. The irrepressible Taiwhanga presided. The Government talk of Saturday and Monday sittinga for the remainder of the session" Major Atkinson says he is determined to call a Parliament together next session at the earliest possible moment—not later than the end of April, certainly, as the Government will, during the recess, have to go thoroughly into the questions of the revision of taxation and the complete reform of the Civil Service, their time will be fully employed meanwhile.