PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 213, 9 September 1896, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

(B* lELBOBAPH—PABLUMBNTAKT BB

rORTEIi. )

Wellington, Tuesday. THE ESTIMATES.

Prelimikartes were diapoeed of in a few minutes in the ffouee this afternooo, after which.the Estimates were considered.

The Mines Department votes were discussed for half-an-hour or so. Questions were pub to the Minister as to his intentions reepecting the appointment of an Inspector to replace Mr Gordon, and his intentions respecting mine managers. In connection with tbe former matter, the Minieter intimated that applications had not yet been dealt with by the Cabinet, and, respecting the latter, prorision waa tobe made ia the Mining Aob Amendment A division waa called for on vote of £641, Meteorological and Museum Department, but the vobo waa retained by a large majority, apd the remaining votes paaied without being challenged. Tbe Department of Agrioulturo votes were next dealt with. Mr Hogg complained that the expenses of this Department were inoreaaing very ra'pidlv, at>4 that very little bene.&b was derived from the increased expenditure. He objected to tho. large earn of over £21,000 being spent in attempts to destroy rabbits. Mr Allen spoke to similar effect, ana moved to reduce the total vote for fchi» Department by £98, as an indication bbab money spent in the eradiettou of rabbits is not effectively expended, He considered thab farmers should individually deal with the peet. ■ , , ~' The Minieter for Lands defended the, increased expenditure for this. Departments, He admitted that tho .present) method of eradicating rabbits was not) wcQe.Bßju.lt but ib was the best known. The matter was discussed at considerable length, and ultimately Mr Alien's motion WBB negatived, The Agricultural Department estimates passed unaltered. The railways estimates were considered next, Thera was considerable debat© on tho question of the Under Secretary, aUo Under Secretary for public works, £100. . The Minister intimated that the status of this officer could be fully dealt with when the Bill dealing with the classification of railway servants was under consideration. After several hours' discussion, th& railway votes were agreed to. . The estimates for public and school buildings, domains, and. Inspection of Machinery Department passed. without alteration;

The defence estimates wore discussed ab considerable length, but a motion to report progre.Bß until the defence report) was forthcoming was defeated. Votes were passed under this head unaltered, and the remaining'clauses of the Estimates also passed unaltered trad.-with but little discussion,. j MORTGAGES. j From a return laid on the table, of the House, ib appears thab during the year, ondod 31at March, 1896, there were, exoluaive of money lent under the Qovernment Advances to Settlers.Act, 8,413 mortgages registered, representing a total-.amount of £5,573,790. According to provincial districts, numbers and amounts were: — Wellington, 3.458,- £I,sßo,o3l;.Canterbury, 1,765. £1,114,544; Hawke'a Bay, 807;: I £631,115 ; Souihlond, 596, £520,788; Auckland, 1,465, £474,593; Otasro, 935, £444,495; Taranafci, 905, £399,865; Nelson, 5525. £324,596; Marlborouub,ll4, £69,931 and A\'estland, 43, -£13.,87.2, Of tho total amount £695 is fit the rate of 2$ per cent., £195 in Auckland province and £SQO in. Wellington; £300 is lent in Southland ab 3 per cenb., £9,G64 is lent in various districts ab4per cenb, £12*376 ab 44, £3,250 ab 4g, £780,153 at 5. £700 at SJ. £52,373 ab 6i; £732,764 afi sjs: £116,600 ab 5f ; £1,359,021 at 6; £355'.13G ab from 6£ to 6£: £711.193 ab from 7 to % ; £399,671 from 8 to 8&; £66,484 from 9 to 9A; £78,209 ab 10; £2,192 at 11; £i; 617 ab 12 ; £2,463 ab 12i s £35 ab 13 ; £15 at 13J; £1,524 at) 15; £2,084 at 20; £70 at 214 ; £40 ab 30 : £134 at 40 per cent, (thip is in Canterbury provinco); £100 at 40f; and £100 ab 63f. Both these latter sums have ■ been lent in Auckland district). There is £853,801 lenb at unspecified rates. PETITIONS. Mr Crowfcber to-day presented a pebitioh on behalf of Henry Phillips, who pays lor red.re.ss of certain grievances' Mr McGowan presented eighteen largely signed petitions from the Thames diatricb in favour of the. resumption clauses of the Mining Acb Ajaendme.nt BUI, Mr Button*1 presented a petition this afternoon protesting againsb the Order-in Council providing that) youths who join the Civil Service shall serve three years in a volunteer corps.

Mr Lang presented a petition on behalf of John Kinneo McDonald, praying for a grant on account of military service. Mr W, Kelly presented two petitions asking tor the construction of a light rail< way between Paeroa and VVaihi,

. Mr Button presented two largely-signed petitions from residents in the vicinlby of Auckland asking for legislation to suppress gambling. The Native Affairs Committee, on bbc petition of Anibipa Pakatea and 28 others, report fehab the petitioners, who ask thab legislation be passed to enable a re-hearing of partitioning of lot 66, Waipa survey district), have a jnab claim, and that the Government should bring in legislation to give the relief prayed for. JOTTINGS. Mr McGowan is to ask the Government U they will place a Bum on the Supplementary Estimates for the erection ot a wharf at Cabbage Bay, for the convenience of settlers and miners in thab district. While the agricultural estimates were under discussion, Mr Maseey drew the Minister Qf Lands' attention to the facb that no provision bad been made for salary for the vibtcultural expert, which the Government, he understood! intended to appoint. The Minister said tho fruit expert) already engaged would do this work. Mr R. Thompson said the Government should increase the number of entomolot gists, who were of more use than the fruit experts, who only went around petting information from fruitgrowers and finishing their education at the expense of the State. When the railway estimates were under discussion, Mr GrQwther took the opportunity to draw the Minister's attention 60 the rates charged on the OoehungaAuckland section, and referred to the fact that) horse traffic successfully competed with the railway. The Minister said he tbowghb it would be unwise to reduce fates. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, . The Hon. C, C, Bowen gave notice to ask whether ib waa intended by the Government to propose a vote for the Vancouver mail service. In reply to the Hon. Reeves the Minister of Education said the questions opened up in Mr Gray's recent reports concerning the frozen meab and produce industries waa being coneidered by the Joint Stock Comnutitoo. On the motion tq commit this .Bill, The Hon. Morris moved an amendment that committal of the Bill be postponed for a week. ■ He saw no reason for haste in passing this measure.

The Minister for Education said he would nob oppose a ppatponemont, bub.he did nob see any roaaon for such delay, . The Hon. Ormond wu •urprieod to gee a new policy initiated by the Govemmoot is

the expiring days of a preferred delay in order that *QeC°™°ll might learn if there waa tha urgency alleged by the Government. # t. The Hon. Reynolds supported the amendment. The Council, heawd,.should know what the people of tha colony thought °f The 8 H°on? yStewart thoughb the proposal a safe one, aodba hAd no heaitatwn in supporting the Bill whea it came to a question of pnblic works stoppioff, •«J»1. th«™ I?. 8, no doubt the cporse proposed »» "»*«J was pre fer ß b.le')t <> tecteased. gabion, and when they c W «dere4 tbe imporbanca of the works requixwk he. was ««rP"Bed.^^! moderation, of the Qoyernment ,n wkwrf for a million. »» «««W ""P^L intoreita of cause it was* ftceassary w t)b9, interests oi Council wq,uJ& uot throw.oub tbe B»U, baft there we., pacts- of ife which they abjectea to. and he objects to tha proposal to take £210,000 fee nature lapda. _ -. . worn -iwceattisv «nd **? f S carried on withoat money. /J» '»** *5* nalive land* wm;.lw cottteadad, the main justification; far fcfoßHl. ■'••m-j. Tbe Hofl,StevQ»awarned membera that ther©*a ß adaDKW thftb m were entoxiug on a.v wUmitod period of borrowing. Not Z\y cfSdTwe naTpay talewH.pa the loan, in this Bilt v bub we coald oob pay interest on existing; loan?, • ■ • , The Hon. MoatKomary held that tne : voice of tbe country should bo beard before further borrowing was entered upon, we Sd not say they should rojecib this Bill, but ha was aura that> a much leas cum would p$ requirad, apd;. h* counselled delay until : further- information was obtawod. The Hon. Macgregor considered the Bin bhe beginning of a long and protracted caurae of borrowir\& Moat of the rosmbere i Q f the Howe of Representatives had been | pledged, to tbe ey«s amlnab borrowing, bub ibhe House had paaaed Dhe, Bill, and. the Council co»ld nob taka the rotpotwibuity of throwing ib out, They .bUquW, however, ask fcbe Govornmenb for furbher laformaThe Hod. Grace objected nob to barrowing of itself, bub to borrowing-for speoulft. tive purposea. What, he asked, was, the gpldfielda vote bat? borrowiag fof 8P«oh1v bive purposes* - ' . The Hon. J« Kerr saw no reaßon_w postponing the copeWeration of, tbe BUI. Ib had been before tha ooantry far ftome time'and bad been thoroughly dwcuaseOj He defended the goldfields vote, and earn thab the industry' had ab one period saved the colony frouvbankruptcy. , • The Hob. WbUwore held;-thab some of the proposed vot«a reqaired. niora' esplanaThe Hop. Refive? thought the sobedale of the Bill a very fair one. It waa perfectly evidenbbhab f>r. Grace knew nothing about the goldfields. New Zealand bad been broughb to her present copdition of prosperity by the goldmining industry. That industry, be thought, should have a whola millifw" Under this. Bill, and they would gee tbe money back with a handsome profit: There would be disaster bo bhe colony if the Bill were not passed. An amendment postponing; committal ofthe Bill for ft-.week waa carried on the voices. '.■■':, The Mlniaber of Sduoatwn moved the second reading of the Oovernmenbglebblera Act Amendment Bill, which, after a short debate, was agce.ed to.