PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7383, 8 August 1889, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

[Bx TmLBORiLPH.] {.VBOM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. August 7. The Mercantile Law Act Amendment Bill, introduced into the Legislative Qouacil to-day, proposes to appty the Mercantile Law Act, 1880, to all parts of the colony. The Shipping and Seamens Act Amendment Bill provides for the application of the Shipping , and Seaniens Act, 1877, to all vessels on inland navigable waters, and enacts a nevr scale of fees for surveying steamships. The Public Petitions Committee have reported on the petition of K. C. Shearman that the Government has dealt with him in a liberal manner, and that he has no further claim against the colony. The first motion on the Order Paper today was one to rescind the adjournment of the dabate on the Otago Central Railway for a fortnight, and to adjourn it instead till to-morrow. This of course was to remedy the extraordinary blunder made last night. The Premier explained how he had been called to the telephone for a minute, and had gone not expecting the debate to collapse so suddenly. Messrs W. P. Beeves, Taylor, and Seddon indulged in some good-natured banter at the expense of the Premier and his colleagues, after which the motion was agreed to on the voices, the feeling among members opposed to the Bill being that if they took advantage of such an accident it would only serve to create a feeling in tavor of the Bill as having been unfairly treated. Almost the whole of the remainder of (the afternoon was occupied with a dull and dreary debate on the WardHialop correspondence, a subject which has now been worn threadbare. The motion for the third reading of the Representation Bill came on at five o'clock, and would have been agreed to at once had not Col. Fraser announced his intention of " embalming a history of this Bill in Hansard." Thia occupied only about ten minutes, but gave rise to a number of explanations from other members. Mr Samuel was one of these. In the cenirse of his remarks he said, speaking as a email borough member, "We have found ourselves sold. Sir." " Having been originally bought," interjected Dr. Fitchett amid loud laughter. The debate was not concluded at the dinner adjournment, and was resumed again at 7.30. When the Premier had announced that the Public Works Statement would be brought down at that hour if the Representation Bill was disposed of, a large number of members, however, seemed anxious to follow Colonel Eraser's example by registering their views in Hansard, and spoke ac some length. Major Steward's Waimate Public Reserve Sale Bill is introduced with the object of empowering the authorities to submit to public ,auction an unclaimed reserve at the back of the Anglican Church in the town of Waimate. Parata has given notice to ask the Native Minister whether he will arrange that Mr Mackay may be instructed to complete the certificates for the Native lands at Kaiapoi and on to Murihiku, that is to say, to complete the unfinished work of the Native Land Court which sat in 1887. ; One of the mysteries which for some years post have exercised the minds of members has been the disposal of fines imposed on Railway employe v. Mr Fish is now moving in the inatcer, and has given nofcioe to ssk the Minister for Public Works:—(l) What has been done with, or what is intended to be done with, the fines which have been levied on Railway servants previous to the Railway Commissioners taking office ? (2) What is the accumulated amount of tiie above fines up to the before-mentioned period ? Mr Fish also intends to move for a return setting forth—(l) The number of members, the present value of the benefits, present value of contributions, the amount of funds and surplus or deficiency in each district of the affiliated Orders of Friendly Societies as at the last valua tion, together with a statement of the date up to which, such valuation was made, and the amount of surplus or deficiency for members in, such case. (2) A summary of the actuarial'position of the several Orders, including the Order of Druids, containing the same particulars of information as in section 1.

Major Steward intends moving for a return showing for each and every financial year, commencing with the year 1869-70 down to and including the year 1888 89, the names of all persons who have been members of the Executive Government of the colony, and the sums drawn by each such member in each year in respect of—(i) Ministerial salary: (2) house allowance ; (3) travelling allowance ; (4) iv any other way.

Among the strangers in the House today was the Hon. John Bryce.

Mr T. Thompson has received a petition with about 1(500 signatures, asking, on behalf cf the licensed victuallers, for an amendment of the Licensing Att to prevent arbitrary closing of licensed houses by Committees of their own motions. He is holding it back till similar petitions ar<* received from other centres. Mr Goldie has received, a counter-petition to this from Sir William Fox.

The Goldiields Committee passed the following resolutions to day :— 1. The Committee recommends Government to send suitable mineral exhibits to the Dunedin Exhibition, and place some official in charge to give information to visitors. 2. The Committee is of opinion that a suitable handbook of New Zealand mines and minerals should be prepared and placed before the public at the Exhibition. 3. That the Chairman and Mi' Allen prepare a circuLar urging upon mine owners, mine managers, and local bodies in mining districts the necessity of being represented at the Exhibition. The Chairman (Mr Cadman) read a letter which had been sent to him from W. H. Hammond and Son, Auckland, respecting a patent safety cage and hook for mining shafts, invented by Mr Allen, of Coromandel. As it was the intention of the writer to exhibit a model at the Dunedin Exhibition, it was thought it would have an opportunity of recommending itself, and the Committee accordingly took no further action in the matter. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, August 7. In reply to a (communication sent to the Railway Commissioners, Mr Rhodes has been informed that the extension of regulations applying to religious bodies will be authorised, so that the delegates will be granted special fares when attending not only the annual meetings of the Synod, but all duly authorised meetings. Clergymen will be al owed during the session of Synod to return co their homes to preach, on payment of the special fare provided. Mr Ward informs mc that it is hie intention to move, before the session closes, a direct motion on the question of ocean going mail services. The hon. gentleman who, last session, successfully led an attack against a continuance cf the San Francisco Service, -will return to the charge with a proposal that the subsidy to it be discontinued, and that any subsidy for moil services be paid on the basis of weight to direct steamers.