PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 209, 4 September 1899, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

ASSETS BOARD PROPERTIES

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

In the course of his "flagrant party attack," as the Hon. W. C. Walker designated Mr Ormond's speech in the Council on the motion to set up a Committee of Inquiry into the working of the Assets Board, Mr Ormond said the Government had failed in its duty with regard to the Waikato, where settlement was being blocked. The Board's lands there started with a value approaching three-quarters of a million, and were supposed to be fit for settlement at a price. How did they stand now? They were being carried on as large farming concerns, and the land was of such a character that under present methods of management it was depreciating in value.

A FO'CASTLE YARN.

It will be remembered that during the recent discussion on the first item of the General Estimates Mr J. Hutcheson, member for Wellington city, made some rather startling remarks on the condition of the ketch Envy between this port and Auckland. It appears that the whole of the damage has been repaired at an outlay of £10 or £15. It has transpired that Mr J. Hutcheson has been the victim of a joke which deserves to compare with the 'Frisco mail canard, to which an Aucklander was so easy a victim. I believe the matter will come up again in. the House. THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN. The Joint Library Committee recommend that a chief librarian be selected in England at a salary of £400 to control all departments of the Parliamentary Library. Dr. Garnet, of the British Museum, will consult with the AgentrGeneral in making a selection. OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. Mr Millar, member for Dunedin, is dissatisfied with the Government not spending the amount allocated last session on the Otago Central Railway, and his relations with the Liberal Party are somewhat strained. WORKS ESTIMATE. Referring to the contention of the Opposition that public works estimate should precede or accompany the Loan Bill, it is worthy of note that tinder several previous administrations full . details of works upon which; money was to be expended was not laid upon the House until several months and in one case three years after the loan had been authorised. SPOILING FOR A FIGHT. Among lobby gossip it is reported that the Opposition leaders are spoiling for another fight on som^i items in the Loan Bill.