PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 204, 30 August 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(by telegbafh.—?abliamentakv

KEPOBTEE.)

1 Wellington, this day, CLOSING UP THE BUSINESS.

A dull and uninteresting sitting has to be chronicled for yesterday. In accordance ■with the usual custom in the," washing up » stage of the seasioh, more than oiice both Chambers adjourned in order thab conferences might be held with a view to fixing up differences between them over various measures, but an understanding wa3 always arrived afc without much friction.

In. the House the reports of the Public Petitions and Waste Lands Committees on the petitions of John Lundoti and others ■were taken into consideration, and on the motion of the Minister of Lands it vras resolved that if oh further inquiry by the Government the several claims appear to be jnst and reasonable, the Government may pay the same. It was decided nod to insist upon the amendments made in the Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill, to vrhich the Council had objected. Messages were received from the Legislative Council to the effect that tho Council did not insist on some of its amendments in the Native Land Court Bill, but did insist upon others. On the motion of the Premieij, it was decided to agree to all the Council's atflondinents, except one providing that i'eH^aringx shall.not take placo in. regai-d to the Porangahau, Mangamaire and Ngarava blocks. Managers were appointed to representvthe House at a conference in relation to this clause, and at the conference an understanding was arrived afc that the blocks in question should not he alienated till after, next session.

The Mokau Bill vvaa considerably amended, owing to the opposition of the natives, and tho provision giving Mr.Jones, tho exclusive rig ht to negotiate for the land in question was excised. The House has to meet again to-day, the Council having yet to dispose of the Gis borne Harbour Bill and the Mokan Bill.

A LONG RECESS.

Ib is improbable that Parliament will Sigain be summoned for tho despatch of business before the end of June. The session just over began on May 10th,' in consequence.of the hitch in the Loan Bill, but experience -lias shown thab the eii'ecb of meeting so early in the year is that a deal of time is cut to waste before the business of the country is really tackled..

CABINET CHANGES.

The rumour is revived that a change in the po'soimel of the Cabiqot is probable during the recess, the idea being thy-t Mr Mitohelson is still anxious to be relieved of office. ' MINISTERS SCATTERING. > Within a few days the appointment of Railway Commissioners will be made, and after disposing of a few dwpartmeutal matters, some ot the members of the Cabinet, will leave Wellington, it is the intention of the Colonial Secretary to leave for Auckland oh Tuesday next, in order to settle some difficulty that has arisen in connection with the Lunatic Asylum, and tho Minister for Mines has promised Mr Cadman he will, early during the recess, visit tho Thames., Coromande], andOhinemuriGoldtield!?. lie will alsoinspecfc the northof Auckland village Bettlenients The defence Minister leaves for Melbourne on Monday week, and .will' be absent about six Weeks. Mrs Fergus joiß&her husband at Duiiedin, and will go with him to Australia.

THE MINISTEEIAI; STRENGTH. '

Opinions"S"r^lSivftited as to whetlrer the GoveniiiaeDiii.wHl'.agaiiitiimeet tho 'House with its position"strengliliened or otherwise.1 For my own part, I am1 i»cUaedrto*!the belief that they will come back stronger after.the recess., Mr Loughrey;, the meni.ber foi' linwood,. who was returned as a pronounced supporter of the Stout Vogel i|iniatry, liaa openly avowed that when he meets his constituents he will declare for th&Governmetiit, and Messrs J. MoKeuzie and Jones, whose political planks were retrenchment and reduction of Eiembers,.are expected to take; a similar stand.*-- The *' Post," which is prepared to find the positioq of the Government'considerably weakened during the ness b. fsw weeks, laHiichecl out last night ia the following style:—"The history of the session is a record of.humiliations heaped on the heads of Ministers and - submitted to by thorn. Amid a lot of bluster there has not been so much: bollock-punching this session.as last, because it was from the first evident that the1 House would not submit to be driven, and that all control of tho team wa3 loat. There "lias, however, been a good deal of bullying and scolding, the Minister of Pefence partiQularlyy cjistiugmshingr himself by his prpficiency in both these arts* throwing the oreviou3 achievements of•fchePremieririt;6ttieshade.' WhenDaeitibera have time to quietly reflect over (;he events of the session, tlie feeling Of disgust whicli now prevails very largely will, we atjS sure 3 be strengthened, and we fully ex* pecti that a good Urtajorifcy of the House will return next session, determined a(i all hazards to efteclj a thorough chmiige of adnjinistratioii."

MEMBERS VISIT THE MAHAKI

Some time agoi Mr McAUster, of Blenheim, and\W I*. fteevea, M.ILK., seemed a mining lease of three and a-half miles of WakamarinO; Kii'ei* in Marlborough, with the object of turning the river and working .th« did. bed..; The venture has now been taken by an influential syntiiuafco fo^ined ■Jia: 'WiglHng'fcon, ahtl ■'& liirge company -f^lll ■■'." prolkbly '■■■; be ' promoted' in- Meh J^Jtifiiiß to carry oqfe the. work, A huajbor of meisaterß of Parliament, including ttoh. Mi* Bitcldoy, Hoii. MrXarnach, ; Mr J. C. Brown,; Mt-'^eeyes and others interested, left 'yes telrtlay in the Kanieri to vMt the cliiim, accQ^anied by Mr Gordon, Mininjj Inspector. The party intend also to visit Hahakipawa before they return.