PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 138, 12 June 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PARLIAMENTARY

REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day.

THE VACANT JUDGESHIP. There is a good deal of speculation respecting the probable appointment to the vacan* judgeship. Justice Ward is considered the most likely, but doubts are expressed whether he will get the seat. The follow' ing on the subject appeared in " Puffs " column in the "Times " :—" I am told that there are likely to be some queer things about this judgeship! wheels within wheels! Why, surely the Government would never dream of disposing of an appointment of Judge for political reasons ! Oh, wouldn't they, that's all ? Like a shot! Anyhow, other things being equal, as old Macandrew used to say when defending a job, they wouldn't hesitate to appoint a man whose appointment would suit them best politically ! But mind you I never said they had any political object in view ! Well, which way is the cat going to jump ? It is lying coiled up before the fire at present as if she hadn't got a jump in her, but I notice she has one eye open, and there's scarcely a perceptible movement at the end of her tail. Mysterious creature, what do you mean ? Well, I fancy B. C. Haggitt, at Dunedin, wouldn't refuse the judgeship if it were offered him. Whew ! Haggitt, oh ? By Jove, I never thought of him. I should have thought he was too well off to bother aboutit! Oh, the Supreme Courtßench is a pretty snug seat for a lawyer whose done alot of hard work in his time and who's getting on in years ! Haggitt has a vei y large practice, hasn't he? I wonder who'd get that ? Well, now Stoufs out of politics, I should not be surprised if he got a good fat _hare of it. He's uncommon sharp, is Stout! Yes ; I suppose he knows his way about. Still, I'm inclined to think you've go. hold of the wrong end of the stick ! I can't tell you why just now, but I think so. Ah, well, we shall see."

CLAIMS TO NATIVE LANDS. Mr Arthur Owen has arrived here from Nelson to prosecute his petition and claims before Parliament to some native lands on the north bapk of the Mokau. The jf:t§ tion will come before Parliament immediately, and objection will probably be taken to several members of the Native Affairs Committee to sit on the case. Sir R. Stout, who was to have appeared for Owen, has been called South, butMrSkerrett has taken the case, and will act before the Committee.

SHOP HOURS BILL, A m eeting of citizens opposed to Joyce's Shop Hours Bill was held last night, when it was resolved to petition Parliament in opposition to the measure. ~ EXEMPTIONS FROM DUTY. The Wellington Harbour Board have about £10,000 worth of machinery on the way out, and the Premier has assured them that all machinery ordered prior to May 31st shall be exempt under the new tariff. AN IMPORTANT MEASURE. Ministers "have under consideration a measure for the suppression of disorderly houses, and for dealing with offences against the person. The age of consent is raised to sixteen years and provision is also made whereby the police can remove from disorderly houses girls under that age. Flog- | gings may be ordered for offences against women and girls.

REPAIRS TO GREAT SOUTH ROAD.

Mr Mitchelson gracefully assisted those Road Boards who have had to take over the Great South and Onehunga roads in their present dilapidated condition. The Otahuhu Road Board were promised a certain quantity of metal for their section of the road broken.at Mount Eden by the unemployed. The Board, however, found that the cost of carting the metal to the station, loading trucks and paying freight and again carting it from the station would amount to the sum equal in amount of the value of metal. Representations being made to Mr Mitchelson, he has consented to have the metal broken, at St. Ann's Bridge by the unemployed near the centre of the locality where it will be required for use.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. ! This session, the Public Works Statement will possess exceptional importance. Nothing has been done so far towards its compilation, although the general i plan has been sketched out. I believe the importance of the statement will centre upon the large reduction made, and the fact that the rates asked for expenditure will be the smallest since the initiation of the public works policy. ■A TAX ON SUGAR. ' A movement is on foot in the direction of making a proposal to the House in the direction of adopting a halfpenny duty on sugar. It is contended that this tax would realise £115,000, that it would ! remove what is considered to be the certainty of another large deficit, and would avoid the necessity for some present taxation in cases where it is considered I cumbersome. The proposal would, how- ; ever, meet with strong opposition from ' those whrr object to so much indirect taxation on the poorer classes. AUCKLAND RAILWAY SERVANTSThe Minister of Works has inquired into ! the reported dismissal of railway servants ; at Auckland, and says the facts are | these : —On the recommendation of Mr Rotherham, one foreman was promoted to Greymouth, and replaced by a man from Addington, while another was disrated in '■ aonsequence of the amalgamation of offices. ! There has been no reduction of wages * except those announced in the House in i the way of lowering carpenters, coachi builders, and painters to a uniform rate.

INJUSTICE TO AUCKLAND. Should Mr Monk speak to-day he will make a protest against the excessive property tax valuations in the North, compared with those of the South. He says he has known an instance of Auckland property being sold at 25 per cent under the property tax valuation.