POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 193, 15 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAM—SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' DAYS. Thkee was some opposition shown yesterday to the Govei-ninent taking their only remaining day from, private members, but they carried their point by 39 to 22. The Premier has, however, promised to facilitate the progress of local Bills that are unopposed and are desirable. He has also proposed to consider the desirableness of the Government taking up any Bills introduced by private members that it might be necessary to have so taken up.

REPORTING SPEECHES.

Mr Saunders is anxioue to effect an alteration in the reporting arrangements of the House, .and at a meeting of the Reporting Debates and Printing Committee he moves ns follows : —" That ro member of either House except a member of the Cabinet or a leader of tho Opposition should be allowed to occupy more than fifty pages of Hansard in any one session. As soon as that limit has been reached any speeches by such member for the rest of the session should remain unreported. No member shall be allowed to strike from his proof anything that has been reported, with a view to evade this regulation ; but any member may give a general direction to the Hansard etaff to abbreviate his speeches in their report." The motion was, however, euperseeded by an amendment which shelved it until next session. MORNING SITTING. There are no less than 80 nnhices of questions on the order paper. Mr Turnbull suggested to the Premier yestoiday that a morning sitting should be held to get through these. ThisSirH. Atkinson has promised to consider, bub he pointed out the opportunity there wa3 for delaying business when answering questions by moving the adjournment of the House. KAIWARRA MURDER. The Government promised last week tha* 1 all the papers relating to the reprieve of Cheniis, convicted of the murder of Hawkias, should be laid before the House. Yesterday the Premier informed Mr Fisher that some of the affidavits included in the Chemis papers had been found to contain paragraphs reflecting upon certain innocent persona who had already suffered a good deal- The papers were therefore being carefully looked inbo in order to provent matter of that kind from creeping in, and aa soon as that was completed they would be laid on the table.

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT FOR

WESTERN AUSTRALIA,

Replying to Mr Seddon yesterday, the Premier said New Zealand had not received an invitation to a conference of the colonies to impress upon the Imperial Government the desirability of granting responsible government to Western Australia. The Government had, however, agreed to join with the other colonies in urging this, with the reservation that they did not think the northern part of Australia should be handed over to the new colony, holding strongly that those lands which never could" be occupied by Europeans should be governed by either the Federal Council or a separate Government. He had received a letter from Sir Henry Parkes on ihe subject, giving; the views of the New South Wales Government, and asking for those of the New Zealand Government in return. In conclusion the Premier promised to consider the desirability of giving the House an opportunity of discussing the question.

COST OF PARLIAMENT.

A return has been presented to the House showing what isr.he average cost per day of the sitting of Parliament, in respect of messengers, lighting, and all other services and items of cost, the amount of which depends upon the duration of the session; and not including any fixed expenses, such as the honorarium of members, stationery, annual or sessional payment of officers of either House, or any expenses which do nob vary with the length of session. This return shows that the average cost under these conditions of the Legislative Council is £3 9s, of the House of representatives £16 6s 6d, while £12 12s 5d is down for general expenses, making a total of £32 7s lid per day. _ A sum is placed upon the estimates which suffices tor the cost of printing " Hansard " for about 14 weeks. After that the additional cost per week is about £194, or per day £32 6s Bd.

COMMISSIONS

The following are the expenses incurred during last year for Commissions appointed during that period :—Chinese immigration (held in Australia), £85 ; Mokau native land leases, £539 3s lid ; re charges made by G. W. Ell ajiainsb Official Assignee at Chriatchurch, £61 17s; Point Resolution inquiry, £158 14s 9d ; Lincoln Agricultural College inquiry, £120 16s sd. Total : £962 12s Id.

PETITIONS

The following Auckland petitions hav e been presented -.—From Alexander MkcMillan, praying for a grant of land for military services (Sir George Grey); from the Puhoi Road Board, praying for assistance owing to lawsuit lost by them and damage caused to the roads, which they are unable to meet (Mr Moat); from the village settlers of Hukerenui and Kamo,

prayingfor a re-valuation of their holdings. The petition of T. H. Smith, of Maketu, claiming compensation for loss sustained through the action of the Government, has been referred to the -Native Affairs Committee. PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE MARKS BILL. This measure, which was amended in three or four directions in the House of Representatives, was again considered in the Upper Chamber yesterday, when the amendments were agreed to and the Bill passed.

NATIVE MEETINGS BILL,

This measure was amended by the Committee of the Upper House, to which it had been referred, by making it apply to both races. This met with considerable opposition when the Bill was again brought up yesterday, and a long discussion has been postponed for.a day or two.

OUR GOLDFIELDS,

Mr Cadman .wants to know under wha* Actor by what .authority have the rents' miners' rights, fees, or other revenuea ecru* ing to the native lands of the Northern goldfields been reduced.

OUR LOANS.

Mr Saunders is to ask for a return to be laid before tho House showing the amount of loane raised or of money borrowed in each year since 1861. Also the amount expended during each, of the same years for interest, sinking- fund, conversion, brokerage, or any obher expense connected with such loans.

THAMES APPOINTMENT.

Mr John Wilson, of the Thames, is gazetted as a member of the Board of Governors of the Thames High School.

LORD CRANLFJY,

During tho financial debate last evening, bhe Premier interrupted Mr W. P. Reeves, and asked leave to read two telegrams he had received from His Excellency respecting Lord Cranley. These were of a most satisfactory character, and showed the Governor's son was progressing very favourably. The telegrams were received with oheers by the House.