PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 202, 24 August 1904, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Telegraph. —Parliamentary Reporter.) (w. WELLINGTON, this day. USGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tn the Legislative. Council yesterday afternoon, the roliee Offences Act, bicb regulates boxing contests*, was q a second timo after a brief debate, he Eon. J- F>'??•'• who is against mo3t things, opposing it. The Land Drainage gjU was committed. Tlic clause velatfair to bye-laws of drainage boards' sub«titu'ti on was ameuc ' o( l To provide that iucli boards may make by-laws preventa or regulating the overflow of artesian water into drain-. The bill was then reported wilh amendments, and (be Council adjourned. NEW BILLS. gjv Joseph Ward gave not ire of a jbeaf of new bills to-day, including the Public Health Act Amendment Bill, filter Supply Act Amendment Bill, (ilaori Antiquities Act Amendment Bill, Sating Act Amendment Hill, Plumbers' Registration Rill, and Local Bodies' Bill. The Hon. MoOowan has Introduced the Petroleum Mining Bill. THE LAND QL'ESTON. I Ihe Government, having announced their intention of deferring further Wislation on the land question until after the report of a Royal Commission has been received, and having declined ihe invitation of Mr. Massoy to sot jpart a day for the discussion of the freehold versus leasehold question, the Reader of the Opposition has announced in the House, his intention of taking! the first opportunity of obtaining a vote on the question. That opportunity will oome in the course of a few days, wht;n the Imprest Supply Hill (No. 3) comes down. Mr. Massey will then be able to move ao intercepting motion in thp direction ho desires. There is little ebancp, however, of the motion being tarried, many members who favour the freehold considering it advisable to wait cntil after the report of the Commission before deciding so important a jnestion. WATER SUPPLY. Mr. Bollard"s bill amending the Water supply Act is designed to enable the Epsom Road Board to strike a water rate at so much per annum nn all houses within the district, in addition to the rate levied a security for the special ban. PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE. Mr. Alison i= moving for a return -sho-wing separately the total amount ippropriated for an<l expended in each ■ electoral district throughout the colony in the following clause-?, viz.. public buildings, tourist and health resorts, construction and maintenance of roals und bridges (including roads on gold'•nelda), and dewlopm<>nt of gokfiields for ihe three years ending the .'list March 2904.

THE THREE" KINGS. Mr. Witheford has given notice to ask the Minister of Marine whether the aovernment is aware that a light and iog signal are urgently required at the Three Kings, mid in the intr.res.t3 of ■mariners will such he provided at an . early .date ? PAPER MAKING IN THE COLONY. "Mr. Witheford is to Ook the Oovern'inent whether they will coasicler (ho question of distributing their orders lor paper among Ue three paper mills 'a the colony, rach taking a proportionate share of waste paper for re-m'nking? THE ELECTORAL BILL.

A number of objections have ah-eadv »een threatened again.-st the Electoral Bill. Uγ McXab, vhanv. Absolute Majority Bill has beer, reod a second time, considers the pit; itaktn for a second ballot a mistake, and holds that this Has been proved by the various bv-elcc-fcoDs held during the past two Porliajnenis. In no instance has anything i.-:e a full vote been cast at these election?, this being due to the tact, that •-ne local option poll was not being taken. •Mr McNab, who perhaps lakes a prejudiced vie*, considers that a majority « the House favours the Absolute Marjv as against the second ballot. A 'nrther objection raised by members of Jwno.hcr.Dßf.. party is to the non-strik-ag;OfT of voters who do not exercise ■Mr privilege. The result would br- the wfls would be so '-stuffed- with dead voters that a local option poll, once JPwt. could never be carried, hair the uwtore baying to vote. Knrolmeiit after he issue of the writ, and to within five of the election, is also considered fm.stakc supervision of late, applififflts being practically impossible. A RETIRED OFFICER. The former Auckland Commissioner v rovrn Lands. M r (icrhard Mueller. * Portioning Parliament through Mr • Uwry in rosp ,. ot io , |js roliri a) _ )7ZT MP Muci,er P° ints ""> ,hat it n ?T' d lhe '■° lonv for 38 £ I VlB nlontbs - 'van, 1875 to «M Provincial (iovenunonr. he being It, r. aiKSferr ° rl t0 tht ' '■ nlr,ni '-' 1 >>tl* St V r , Ct . ition " now informed by th f Claim i 0 v P pnsio " " ys barred EL- h0 " ?h there> Ilad no ingj 11 /Pl'ointment wa. from the Colo--sth I" 1 "™ 1 - ri * ''"before submits nat th e objection to the payment, of the upon T 1 1 T? allowance wa~ based few , tct ' hn i< , al interpretation of the i Md hG t hcreforß asl " that the to.', 1 '™ 1 ' h "» a pension from the lB 01 Ins appointment in 1871. RAILWAY AND ROAD ( OXSTRUCTION. Alarpe series of petitions irom Xor th(Mμ I?** J ah P rpsen^d to the House J"? by Mr r. M . HouMon. praying "angare, railway line. Mr Houston f/f/lOOfortheTirohan.ea-Pakani eran'f t anothpr petition asking for a kiS lan^on,,i ;ind Kaitaia. and