PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 140, 14 June 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH—OWN REPORTER. )

BUILDING ..STONE' FROM

HIKURANGI,

A FAVOURABLE REPORT.

Wellington, this day. The Geological Department in Wellington have reported very favourably as to the stone from Hikurangi which Mr Hobbs sent for analysis, "being mottled red and an excellent stone for building purposes, and should be tried for marble." Mr Hobbs has arranged to have a specimen sent cut into square blocks and polished. PUHIPUHI FOREST. Mr Hobbs intends to ask Government whether they will appoint experts to value Puhipuhi forest as bo the value of standing bush through which fire has passed, and the value of the block as a whole.

GOLDFIELDS TRACK. Mr Cadman has arranged with the Minister for Lands to continue the track from Piriri to Tairua, and-he has given instructions to Mr Percy Smith, Assistant-Sur-veyor General, to expend the balance of vote (£200) remaining from last year. It is considered that this will complete the track as far as Tairua diggings. MR BEETHAM'S AMENDMENT. Free traders admit thab Mr Beebham's amendment is not proposed at an opportune time, nor was it moved with any intention of turning out bhe Government. They take up two grounds, viz., that as free traders they must firstly enter their emphatic protest against the imposition of a protective tariff; secondly, that it is their duty to try to carry out the pledge which the country demanded ab bhe elecbions, that no further taxation should be proposed till there has been exhaustive retrenchment. THE TARIFF. The free traders have appointed Messrs Withy, Barron, Macarthur and McKenzie (Clutna) to go through the tariff and make a report on which the party will base their line of action. The sub-committee met today, and considered theduties that arecharge able on different kinds of drapery and the difficulty in definibely allocating some articles to their proper ad valorem class. THE TARIFF DEBATE. The debate still occupies the attention of the House, and the general opinion is that it is being dragged out to a woarying length. There was nothing exceptional in the speeches delivered yesterday, although Mr Monk made a telling speech against the property valuations. Mr Fisher vindicated himself from the charges of inconsisi ency. Mr John McKenzie spoke strongly in comparing the present Government with bheir predecessors to the disadvantage of the present occupiers of the Treasury benches. Good speeches were made by Messrs Ormond, Moss, Izard and others. The quietness of the Premier and his colleagues in this no-confidence debate is commented upon, although their silence and the languid tone of the debate are attributed to the fact that the result of division is regarded as a foregone conclusion. Mr Ormond made a forcible expression of opinion in favour of Richardson's Land Act as againsb bhe land policy of the previous Government. STRONG COMMENT. Severe stricbures were passed on the Rail wav Department last evening by Mr J. McKenzie (Waihemo),who said the Department was rotten to the core. It was a huge family concern, being stuffed with members of the families of officials all through the country, and he was satisfied that most of the complaints made in reference to it were those for which the head of the Department could in no way be considered, responsible

CODLIN MOTH BILL. The adjourned meeting of members of both Houses interested in the Codlin Moth Bill was held this morning. Amongst members present were H'ons. Swanson, Captain Morris and Moat, and Messrs Jackson, Hobbs, Hamlin, Lawry, R. Thompson and J. B. Whyte. T. Thompson was absent on the Petitions Committee. The clauses of the Bill were considered, and finally the meeting agreed to recom mend that stone fruit be struck out all clauses between sto 20. Mr Hobbs suggested that the best course to pursue would be for the Council to read the Bill a second time, and when in committee objectional clauses could be eliminated. Hon. Mr Stevens, who has charge of the Bill, had no objection to accept the suggestion of Mr Barnicoat to refer the Bill in due course to a select committee of the Council and this course will in all probability be adopted.

'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. One of the burning questions of the session will be the 'Frisco Mail Service, Many of the southern members are making a dead set against it, and are agitating for its discontinuance. Peacock, who is wary in the matter, has ascertained that Government are practically committed to a renewal for another twelve months. In order that time may be given for consideration of new boats if necessary proposals for newcontract must be submitted before the close of the present session, and it is then that the fuss is expected to take place. Mr Peacocke says an attempt will be made to bolster up the Direct Service with the argument that letters now sent via San Francisco would go that way. He is convinced on the contrary. MEETING OF OPPOSITION. At a meeting of the Opposition held this forenoon, at which thirty members were present, Mr Lance presiding, a tacit understanding was arrived at that Government should be given a general support in carrying the tariff. Members are to be at liberty to oppose any item in the tariff they feel inclined to. EXHIBITION COMMISSIONER. Government have appointed H. D. Bell, Crown Prosecutor at Wellington, Honorary Commissioner in connection with the Victorian Exhibition. Sir R. Stout and Hon. R. Oliver are also likely to be appointed. RUMOURS OF RECONSTRUCTION. The feeling is growing among members that reconstruction of the Cabinet will be forced on Ministers, and that one or two members from the Opposition side of the House will have to be included in the Cabinet. Discussing matters this morning with a Minister, he said that the Premier was ceterminedthat himself and colleagues would stand or fall together. There seems to be a set in the House against the Hon. Mr Fisher especially.

THE SHOP HOURS BILL. Ib is not intended by Mr Joyce that his measure shall apply to all trades people. Confectioners, fruiterers and fishshops will be exempted, and tobacconist, say, up to 9 p.m. The Bill is specially intended to apply to those who are employed in the drapery and grocery shop in the four centres of population. Outside ot these it is proposed to give local option. AN UNPOPULAR MEASURE. The Council, holding that each different matter should be provided for by a different Act withoub intermixing in one and the same law such things as have no proper relations to each other, will refuse to sanction any proposed legislation of the nature of bhe Special Powers and Contract Act. A motion to the effect was moved by the Hon. Mr Waterhouso yesberday afternoon, and was opposed by bhe AttorneyGeneral, who urged thab a Special Powers and Contract Bill was an absolube necessity this session. The motion was, however, carried by 15 to 7. Thereupon Sir F. Whitaker gave notice of introduction of the Fulfilment of Contracts and Promises Bill. NEW PETITIONS. Petitions from Auckland were presented yesterday as follows : —Leonard Simpson, for payment for certain surveys in Bay of Plenty District (Mr Kelly); Henry Gerard, for relief for injury received while in Government service (Llr Monk). The Committee reported that J. Williams, formerly station-keeper at Motuihi, has no claims against the colony. JOTTINGS. Mr O'Connor thinks that the next economy should be the abolition of B'ansard, bub bhe House did nob bake kindly bo the suggestion. John McKenzie says this Government will give concessions to Midland Railway Company thab the Stout-Vogel Government would never have consented to. Monk says the insight he has got into the position of the colony leads him to regret very much that he voted for tho loan. Tea and salt are duties which members seem determined shall not be imposed when the tariff is under consideration. Heslop has introduced the Municipal Corporations Bill. Ormond says the policy of the late Government was to stop all laud settlement save pauper land settlement. Auckland Harbour Improvement Bill has been reported on by the Local Bills Committee with slight verbal amendments and the recommendation that it be allowed to ■proceed. Sir G. Grey is introducing a Bill to provide for tho granting of licenses to vine growers to distil spirits for fortifying wines.