PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7385, 10 August 1889, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

[Br T*£«nui»H.j DrftOk otTH spbciax connisspoifDßirp.l WELLINGTON, August 9. After the division on the no-<!dnfldehce debate (referred to elsewhere), attention was again turned to the Property Assessment Bill, the understanding being that the Financial Debate would be taken upon it. The House expected that the flrat speaker would be the Premier, and there was able surprise -when he announced that to save time he would reserve any remarks which he might deaire to make till tha conclusion of the debate. The Houae did not appear at all prepared for this, and Dip one rase to spaak. The motion for the second reading of the Bill was accordingly put by the Speaker, and be had called for the voices when Mr Moae suddenly rose and asked if he could uiov« as an amendment the motion of which he had giv"en notice some weeks ago. The Speaker said it was quite in order to do so, and Mr Moss at onoa moved —" That in the opinion of thie House the property tax is unfair in its incidence, harassing in it 3 effects, and an obstacle to the progress and settlement of, 'tii&j country." As the House had just declared its confidence in him, the Premier could not very well declare this amendment a aoconfidenee motion. Mr Seddon proposed that the debate be adjourned till next sitting , day, and the Premier at once agreed to this.

Various other Bills were gone on with. By tacking on his amendment! to the Property Assessment hill Mr Moss has ensured it 3 being fully discussed and taken to a division. As it is simply ft declaratory resolution it may probably be carried..

Mr Taylor wants to know whether the Government will make provision t'orihe granting of free passes to bands in uniform who aye desirous of competing at the grand colonial band contest, in order to encourage throughout the colony a class of music which is of an educating and elevating nature, and because free passes were granted to the bands attending the Queeustown band contest held last November at Queenstown.

It will be remembered that some time ago the Minister of Lands promised to distribute to settlers who would ■ undertake to plant them young forest treea front the Government nurseries at Whangarei. Mr Valentine has now received tm following telegram from a squatter- in Obago:—'f I will plant out 10,000 or 20,000 trees at once. Kindly g-t forwarded according to ministers' oifer." .., ..it

A very largely signed petition baa been presented from residents oil Maryborough, aeking that a reward may be granted to Jaokaon and Paterson, the prospectors ivhb discovered the. Mahikipawa gqldflfcTdts, NVjlicb. hag now produced 2O,QOQop q? ffftld., Mr Feldwiok dceiree to Jsttow. Qovernioent will uext seaaion bring in a Bill to eatablieh a Criwmal Court <d Appeal.

Members find telegraphing to their oon« Btituonte an expensive item. Some <>t them complain that telejrrama of ten co?t them JeS and £10 a aesaipn, and Mi; Beeves wanted the Poßtiu»Bter-Q'enetal tp members the privilege o£ lifcy words by delayed wire on public bueinees and twentyfive words on private buaineaa for 6d. .

As the Gold Duty Abolition Bill is n<st likely to pass this session, through the Government appropriating private meaibera' days', Air iJrown, ia desirous toat %he J&inis,jer of Mines should take charge of the BUI ac a Government measure. The Premier announced to-day that Government had decided to lay the papers relating to the Chemie oaae on the table. [FItOK OUB ' WSfcLINXJTON, Augusts The House will not sit on Monday alter* noon, but on Monday night, there will be a sitting tor the transaction of Government business only. The Civil Serf ice classification will be pushed through all stages tbia session. : Tne Bankruptoy Bill and Charitable Aid Bill will probably be included, among the elaasjhtered innocents. ■*■ ~..'■■■• . ■■■.'... -. . , Bjrttfenty-one to thirteen the Council carried Mr Wilson's motion for a Select Committee re the Ward-Bislop correspondence. The Attorney-Geueral strongly ofyected to the motion. ( "it is understood that the Naval and Military Settlers, and Volunteer Land Ciaiwa Committee have decided that the promise* to give land to the old "Forest .Rangers Corps was complete, and will therefore recommend their claims for recognition.. They wiU also propose that ail Volunteers who have* complied with.- the terms of the Act shall be given tßeir land scrip, and that no technicality shall be - allowed to prevent land grants being made to old soldiers who are equitably entitled to them! ■ •■■•■■ '•'•■■ ■ ''• v »f The M-iniister of Works hag prtoaisp'fj, to put .£4500 oh the Supplementary' , Baiii« mates in accordance with the PetfMons Committee's recommendation to meefe'tha Otago Harbor Board's claim. Mesere :Ee*3 and Fitbhett saw Mr Mitchelaon yesWrdSJy about the streets on the Harbor Board!a

reserves, over which a cootliot h&a between the Board and the City Ckmpcj(l. It seems that the Council refuses t<p take over the streets till they are metalled and. put in order. The Board has no power to form streets, and the Council refuses to do so. The Minister promised to look xinto the matter, and to take the neceaa'arjr ftteja by" legislation to compel tkd form the street?. . r ' ~, * ; ,^ e ?«x . ' There seems to be a probability, at* f*%t, of the long-stfl'Uding clainos by> the Harbor Board agftinat the Goverameafc,<idr lands taken for railway purposee, adjusted. The matter has been repeatedly rfeported on by various Committees, from session to session, who have recommended (hat the petitioners have souifi' against the colony. This year the matter was referred to the A to Z branch or Petitions Committee, and they unanimously decided on making a definite xeport. They will recommend that, in tbalr opinion, the petitioners are entitled to"'tflte payment of i 54600 for the laud taken/ v'l