PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 156, 3 July 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(BY teIegraph—PARLIAMENTARY reporter. )

Wellington, this day.

MR LARNACH'S FAREWELL. The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, C.M.G., on Saturday evening entertained thirty heads of departments in the Civil Service aba farewell dinner at Bellamy's, prior to his approaching departure from this colony. As a Minister, Mr Larnach always showed great consideration for the service, and was exceedingly popular with its members. Mr Larnach presided, and was supported on the right by Dr. McGregor (Inspector of Lunatic Asylums), and on bhe left by Mr W. Blair (Public Works Department). The vice chairs were occupied by Captain Hume (Inspector of Prisons) and Mr G. S. Cooper (Under Secretary). Among th 6 guests presenb were : Messrs Gordon (Mines Department), McKerrow (Surveyor - General), Maxwell (General Manager of Railways) and Blackett (En-gineer-in -Chief.) The proceedings were of a most enjoyable character. FOREST PLANTING. The State Forests Act Amendment Bill, which has been introduced by the Minister for Lands, empowers the .Government to ' wibhdraw open lands from !er the operation of the original Act, am, provides that any unexercised ordero' for forest tree planbing may sbill be exercised up to 31st of December, 1890, when they will become null and void, while any order yeb to be issued shall expire on the same dabe. S. EDMONDS'S PETITION. A deputation of Auckland members waited on the Minister for Works this morning relative to Samuel Edmonds's petition, Mr Mitchelson promised to bring the matter before the Cabinet. POWERS OF PUBLIC BODIES. The Bill amending Public Bodies Powers Act makes endowment reserves subject to the Act, gives Land Boards the power of leasing authorities, enables lease., of two terms of 21 years to be granted in 2 terms of 14y ears, gives theGovernorpowor to interfere in cases of maladministration, and provides that lands acquired under power of sale in mortgages Miay be sold as if they were reserves. CARRIAGE OF FRUIT. The Minister of Public Work seems doubtful whether wishes of fruitgrowers with regard bo rates on fruit carriage can be meb. Ho says what bhey require is the right to send a hundredweight at the same rates proportionately as a bon, and this would really be carrying fruit at one-fifth of a penny per pound. ENCOURAGEMENT TO FRUITGROWERS. A deputation consisting of Messrs Pykc, O'Callaghan, Perceval, Major Jackson, Messrs Turnbull, March, Banks, Hobbs, Fish, Pratt and Major Steward, as representing the fruit-growing industry, waited on Mr Mibchelson this morning. They asked that there should be a separate class for the conveyance of fruit on railways, and that the charge should be by tho hundredweight, representing that at the present time fruit-growers could only take advantage of the low tariff by sending two tons aba time. Ib was conbondeel that the fixing of a low rate for conveyance of fruit by rail would greatly encourage tho* fruit industry, and the deputation also asked that empty cases might be carried at a reduced rate. The Minister for Public Works sai.l that the Premier, who was decidedly in favour of the views expressed by the deputation, promised to bring matters before the Cabinet at once and lot them know the result. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' GRIEVANCES. Mr Moss has seen Mr Mitchelson with reference to the coraplainbs from Auckland as to dismissal of good men and tilling up places with inferior hands in the railway workshops especially. Mr Mitchelson denies this, and cays no new appointments are made, and considerable retrenchment being effected ; that 10 men leave this week in various parts of the colony, also that wages on tho west coast of the South Island are now at the same rate as those in other parts of the colony.

THE TOTALISATOR.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Totalisator Committee appointed by the Legislative Council are inviting suggesbions from the Mebropoliban Jockey Clubs. The Commibbee will probably recommend that tho Colonial Secretary ifsue a permit to all clubs to hold one meeting annually, but if two meetings are held, stakes of the value of £200 per day must be given, if three meetings stakes must aggregate £300 daily, if four mettings £400, and iivo meetings £500. They will also probably recommend bhab bhe totalisator be not allowed bo be used ab more than five meetings in any one year.