PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 172, 24 July 1890, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day, SHOOTING OF NATIVE GAME,

Some discussion took place in the House yesterday afternoon as to the best date to be fixed for the opening of the shooting _eason for native game. The Colonial Secretary said he thought by fixing the Ist of May no possible harm could be done, while the birds would then be stronger on the wing than on the Ist of April. This view was taken exception to by several members, and the Colonial Secretary expressed his willingness to be guided by the acclimatisation societies and other authorities in arriving ab any definite decision on the subject.

POSTAGE RATES,

The Postn_9ter-General has inforowd Mr R. Reeves that the Government cannot issue instructions to the postal department to the effect thab the rate of postage for all letters throughout the colony (outside of towns) shall be twopence for lotters not exceeding one ounce and one penny additional for every half-ounce or fraction of half-ounce, as had been suggested. To do so, he said, would involve an annual loss in the revenue of £5,167, and then it would be of benefit almost solely to business people, a 9 private letters seldom exceed half an ounce in weight.

EAST COAST LANDS,

The Native Minister mado a statement in the Houso yesterday afternoon in roply to a question asked by Sydney Taiwhansa with reference to land transactions wibh tbe natives at Poverty Bay. Ho said he could not inform tho Houso in whab year the native owners of Pakovvai Block, Maraetai, and other blocks of land at Poverty Bay, were induced to dispose of their interests in theso blocks of land to Messrs Rees and Wipore, but ho understood from tho natives themselves that thoy were induced to part with the land withoub any monetary consideration on a promise of shares in the proposed company. Ho also understood that a portion of the land had to be sold to Mr Woodbine Johnßton for £3,000, that Messrs Wiperc and Rees a? trustees for the natives wero to receive six per cenb. interest upon thab amount. The natives themselves have received neither principal nor interest. The Native Minister also stated that lie had received a telegram from Mr Rees stating thab ho was anxious for the appointment of a committee to inquire and reporb as to how the money in question was expended. The Native Minister added that the natives had foolishly parted with the whole of their interest in theso lands, and he did not know in whab way the Government could assist the natives in the matter.

SLAUGHTER OF PENGUINS

Sir George Grey stated in the House yesterday afternoon, thab there was an enormous slaughter of penguins on the Islands to the south of New Zealand, and he urged upon the Government the desirability of taking measures to prevent a continuance of the practice. The Hon. Mr Fergus, in reply, said that the Macquarrie Islands, although near to the New Zealand coasb, were under the control of Tasmania, and at present the Government of this colony had no control over them. Tasmania, however, had no objection to transferring the control of tho Macquarries to New Zealand, and tho initial steps had been to give effect to this arrangement. Sir George Grey drew attention to bhe fact thab he also referred bo bhe Snares and Auckland Islands* bub the Hon. Mr Fergus urged that a difficulty existed in making any restriction on the slaughter of penguins there unless the same would apply to the Macquarrie Islands.

CORONERS' INQUESTS BILL.

The Hon. Mr Hialop moved the second reading of the Coroners'lnquests Bill, which provides that the dead house of every public hospital shall be the public morgue where there is no such convenience within two miles, and thab the inquest shall be held in a licensed bouse, except where a Courthouse, Police Station, or other suitable public building shall be available. Mr Samuel iutimatod his intention of moving an amendment to the Bill at a a later stage, making provision for payment of jurors. Mr Marchanb urged the desirability of Mfovision also being made for the payment of publicans for the use of their premises. Messrs Peacock and Saunders urged the desirability of doing away with coroners' jurors, and placing inquiries now conducted by them in the hands of a responsible officer, but Dr. Hodgkinson strongly objected to this proposal. The second reading was eventually passed and the Bill committed for to-morrow fortnighb.

DOG REGISTRATION.

The House went into Committee on the Dog Registration Act Amendment Bill, and a lengthy discussion ensued on a clause permitting any shepherd or driver to register dogs at 2s 6d per head. This clause was amended by substitution of the word " person " for " shepherd," and the addition of the words'" not being a resident of any borough or town district." Sheep and cattle dogs were brought within tho operation of the Bill, which was reported with amendments and the amendments set down for consideration to-morrow.

WASTE.

LANDS AND SURVEY DEPARTMENT.

A return has , been prepared, on the motion of Mr R. Thompson, showing the number of officers employed by the Auckland Waste Lands and Survey Departments whose salaries do not appear in the estimates, as follows: —Crown Lands, Francis Kilfoyle, engrossing Crown land grants, 8s per diem ; R. Richardson, clerk, £2 2s per week; ■ George Abercrombie, nursery man, 8s 4d per day; W. D. Abercrombie, labourer, 6s per day ; Thos. Lee, spadesman, 6s per day ; all these being temporary appointments. Survey Department: E. Fairburh, road surveyor, £375 per annum; J. C. Blythe, ditto, £250 per annum and £50 allowance; A. B. Wright, ditto, 20s per diem; H. P. Kavanagh, village steward, 15s per diem ; G. Menzies, D. A. Grut, and A. M. Sheppard, 10s each per diem ; D. A. Kailander, draftsman, £16 13s 4d per month; A. Nicholson, draftsman, 12s per day; A. G. Allom, W. Tole, and A. Harding, 10a each per diem; H. C. Wrigg, £10 per month.. VAILE'S RAILWAY SCHEME. The Committee, as previously graphed, with the exception of Mr W. P. Reeves, was set up yesterday afternoon to inquire and reporb to the House upon the eubiecb matter of the petition of VV. O. Daldy and 1,550 others, as recommended by the Public Petitions Committee. Other petitions on the' same subject will probably be referred to the same Committee.

HUTCHISON INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of tbe Hutchison Investigation Committee yesterday, ib is stated an animated arguraenb took place on the question whether or nob the Bank ot New Zealand should be compelled to produce the books of that institution for the purposes ot the enquiry. Mcssre Bell and fetafford were heard on behalf of the Bank, and Mr Hutchison replied, after which the Committee adjourned until to-day for further discussion of the question at issue. PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARIES. The reason why the Library Committee postponed the appointment of tbe librarian was strong representations made by the Retrenchment Party and obher economists,

who are of opinion thab a saving of £300 can be effected by doing away with this office altogether. The position of chief librarian has been vacant for eighteen months, and during that time the duties of the office are stated to have been efficiently performed by the assistant librarian in addition to his own duties. The salary received by the assistant librarian is £250 per annum. It is currently reported that the appointment is proposed to be conferred on-Mr Tregear, of Wellington, who stood second on the liab when Mr Collier (the late librarian) was appointed. Mr Tregear, who is a good Maori scholar, is author of a book entitled : " The Aryan Maori," and is ab present engaged on a vocabulary of Polynesian languages. JOTTINGS. On the 30bh June last there were no infected sheep in the colony. The Christchurch Property Trustees (Canterbury) Indemnity Bill, and Roman Catholic Lands Acb Extension Bill, were read a third time in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The Government have been drafting a Bill to promote mining on private property on the same lines as the "Victoria Act, and it will be circulated amongst Schools of Mines shortly. The Auckland Native Hostelry Bill will nob be re-introduced this cc—ion.

The Government propose to provide for. giving the usual subsidies to local bodies for the present financial year unless the Hi<J_e orders otherwise.

Mr Taiwhanga lia3 been informed by the Native Minister that) Government cannot undertake to place a sum upon the supplementary estimates to recoup the Tokomaru natives for their loss in attending the Commissioners' Court.

Tho Native Minister stated in reply to a question yesterday afternoon that the women arrested ab Kerephi were taken into custody because thoy offered obstruction to the erection of a trig station there. When the ease was called in court, on the application of their solicitor ib was adjourned indefinitely on the understanding that nothing more would bo dono in the matter if the obstruction was not continued. Nothing moro has been heard of the mattor since.

The Government do not propose to legislate this session for the ieolaoion of lepers or tho spread of leprosy in fche colony.. Some difficulty having been experienced in tho direction of providing extra facilities for loading coal into large vessels at Westport, tha Government havo submitted to Sir John Coodo for his approval plans of certain work proposed to be done.

The Government recognise that the present system of making up bho agricultural statistics to March is unsatisfactory, owing to tho grain nob being then threshed, and will consider the desirability of effecting some improvement in this respect. The Newspaper Law of Libel Amendment Bill of last session has been re-intro-duced in the Legislative Council.

The Local Bills Committf— recommend that the Gisborne Harbour Bill be allowed to proceed with some amendments, but draw attention to tho fact bhat bhe Bill proposes to vary tho arrangements entered into between the Harbour Board and the debenture holders as seb forth in tho Gisborne Harbour Act, 1884, Amendment Act, 1887.

Mr Hamlin presents a petition from Valentine Blagrove, of Auckland, asking for some assistance to enable him to extend the export of fruib, fish, etc., preserved by his patent drying process.

Mr Ver'rall wants, the Government to bring in a Bill this session making Bank hoteS a first charge upon the Bank assets.

The Hon. Mr Mitchelson has given notice of the following Bills:—-Native Edjuitable Owners Amendment Bill, Native Trusts Bill, Native Land Survey Bill, and Native Land Court Acts Amendment Bill.

Colonel Fraser is urging the Commissioner of Telegraphs to have the Kuaotunu Goldfields connected by telegraph.

Mr Marchant proposes to move that in the opinion of tbe House it is desirable that an export duty should be imposed upon baulk timber, with the object of conserving the timber in the interests of this counbry and protecting workers now engaged in that industry.