PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7140, 30 August 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

[By Telegraph.] £PBOH OVTR SPECIAL COiSSSSPOKDEST.] WELLINGTON, August 29. Although Parliament has been sitting, on and off, all day, it is difficult to find anything of general interest in the proceedings calling for special reference. Tarions conferences took place between two Chambers relative to amendments in Bills, and in most cases fairly satisfactory compromises were arrived at. The Mokau Jones case occupied the attention of the House for a considerable portion o* the day, but the final outcome appears un" likely to prove satisfactory either to Jones or the Natives. It is almost certain that the question will come up again next year, when it will be proposed that any actual damages or losses sustained by Mr Jones through the default of the authorities shall be equitably assessed, and paid for by the colony, not by the Natives. _ Several Native chiefs intend to wait on his Excellency to-morrow-with the object of urging him to withhold his assent from the Native Policy Bills. This is rather a new departure, but one which, is hardly likely to prove so successful as to invite imitation. It is understood that the Government will in all probability appoint the Eailway Board within a month from this date. Ministers are still in communication with the Agent-General, with a view of obtaining a co i-petent Chief Commissioner from England or America., but failing t is a Board of colonial men will most Jikely j be elected, and it is thought probable that in view of the small salaries which in such a case would be paid, the Government may ' possibly ask the House next session to authorise an increase in the number of Commissioners to five, the aggregate of salaries being even then less than if English experts had been obtained; but the latter course is preferred if feasible. The Minister for Native Affairs has promised to make careful enquiries during the recess into the condition of Natives rendered homeless through the great eruption of Tarawera, and to settle them, if prac- ! ticable, on land suitable to their necessities, or to give other aid such as circumstances may require. A large number of members left last night, and others went to-day. The remainder go to-morrow and Friday. Several say they are staying expressly to guard against any repetition of the proceedings at the close of last session, when most of the members had left. The House wiU meet at noon to-morrow to clear up the remnants of measures, but the session is virtually over. It is understood that Parliament will be I prorogued by gazetted proclamation, and I not either by his Excellency in person or by commission. This course is adopted for the sake of members , convenience, as it involves no necessity to keep a House together. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT ] WELLINGTON, August 29. It is improbable that Parliament will again be summoned for the dcs" patch of business before the end of June. The session just over began on May 10th, in consequence of a hitch in the Loan Bill, but experience has shown that the effect of meeting so early in the year is that a deal of time is cut to waste before the business of the country is really tackled. The rumor is revived that a change in the personnel of the Cabinet is probable during the recess, the idea being that Mr Mitchelson is still anxious to be relieved of-office. Ministers will be scattering within a few days. The appointment of Railway Commissioners- will be made, and, after disposing of few departmental matters, some of the members of the Cabinet will leave Wellington. It is the intention of the Colonial Secretary to leave for Auckland on Tuesday next, in order to settle some difficulty that has arisen there in connection with the Lunatic Asylu >, and the • Minister for Mines has pro ised Mr Cad" air that he will' early during the recess,' visit the'Tha es, Corbmandel and Ohine\i>uri goldfields. He will also inspect the North of Auckland village settle <■ ents. The Defence Minister leaves for Melbourne on Monday week, and will "be absent fro <> the colony about six weeks. Mrs Fergus joins her husband at Donedin, and will accompany hi to Australia. The effect of the ne - tariff in increasing the cost of living is brought prominently under the notice of the public by an application yesterday made to the Hospital Trustees by the contractors for the supply of groceries. They, of course, find that they can no longer furnish goo s at fonder' prices. Now the Hospital supplies are chiefly necessaries, there are not many luxuries included, and if the cost of living in Hospital is icreasedn by the tariff, the cost of maintaining a family must also be considerably enhanced Opinions are divided , as to whether Government will again meet the House with its position strengthened or otherwise. For my own part, lam inclined to believe that they will : come back stronger after recess. Mr Lougnrey, member for Lin wood, -who was returned as a pronounced supporter of the Stout-Vogel Ministry, h&s openly avowed' that when he meets his constituents he will declare for' the Government, and Messrs J. Mackenzie (Moeraki) and Jones (Heatiicote), whose political planks were retrenchment and reduction of members, are expected to take a similar stand!