PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 161, 8 July 1895, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— PARLIAMENTARY RE- '

PORTER.)

;-; ■ Wellington, this day. The latest Bills given notice of are Mr Pinkerton's Dunedin Loans Consolidation Bill, RlrCollins' Abolition of Capital Punish-' merit Bill, Mr Millar's Coalmines Ac 6 Amendmenb Bill. f

Mr Lang wants a new punt placed on the Waikato River a,b Tuakau at once, if the Gpvernmeob does nob intend ;to pub . a sufficient sum on the Estimates for the erection of a bridge. ' Mr Crowther wants to know what lands in the Auckland province have been offered to the Government for sale under the Land for Settlement Act, "what blocks have been secured, and what blocks are still under' 'offer.. I ■ \ ' - , ■ Major Harris says the natives are leasing, a portion of the Opuatia block to Europeans, and wishes to know if the Governmehb consented to the block being leased. The Hon. Macgregqr".intends,; re-infcro-1 ducing his Divorce Bill in an amended shape. He will strike oub the proposals to j make lunacy, imprisonment, and habitual | drunkenness; grounds of divorce, .leaving j only two grounds, viz., adultery and desertion. '.. ... :*. ' ,-./. „

A'return is asked by Mr Lawry to show the proportion of New Zealand - born persons -who have been convicted of drunkenness each year since 1886, and the proportion of New Zealand-born persons among prisoners now in gaol.

A potition has been presented to the House by John Lawson, Official Assignee, praying thafc the Government take over survey liens, which form a part of assets in the estate of Henry Walker Wilson. The Premier signifies the willingness of the Government to take into consideration any suggestion bearing on < the question of, subsidising , intercolonial,and other New ; " Zealand steamers which may be specially constructed for service as gunboats, etc., in time of war. ■ • ■ -: