PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7611, 23 July 1890, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

f**3Y Telegraph. 1

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON. July 22.

Almost the whole afternoon was occupied with a debate on the introduction of the Railways Authorisation Bill, which provided for the extension of tha Wellingtoa Railway to Te Aro. In the end it whs passed, but the Minister for Public Works agreed to alter the titlo to suit the via ..a of the House. It will more explicitly indicate the object of the Bill than doei the present title.

No questions were answered this after, noon, it being intended to make all practicable progress with tho Labor Bills. These came on to-night and were advanced one stage. It is said that members aro signing a round robin, asking Sir R. Stout to stand for the Timaru seat.

Nothing further was done in tha dummyism enquiry before thc Waste Lauds Committeo to-day, ns tho Mimste. of Lands was engaged on another Com mittee.

The Public Works Statement was under, going further revision in the Cabinet to-day, and has gone back to the printers. Mr Fergus hopes to bring it down on Friday. An absurd rumor was astir to night, thst a Ministerial resignation and appointment were impending; of course it waa uq. founded.

Some of the Australian papers recently published a statement to the effect that Captain Russell, the Colonial Secretary of this colony, is very largely indebted to tha Bank of New Zealand. Captain Russell was at first inclined to take no notice of this canard, but his friends have advised him that a public contradiction of it in necessary. I am, therefore, authorised by Captain Russell to say that tho statement is absolutely without foundation, that he does not deal with the Bank of New Zealand, and has, consequently, no overdraft at that institution.

Dr. Bake well, of Auckland, has forwarded a patition to Parliament, through Mr Seddon, detailing his long and varied experience of leprosy, and expressing hfaj opinion that leprosy has obtained such a footing in New Zealand as imperatively to require measures for its treatment, and the firevention of its spread among tho popuation, many thousands of whom are peculiarly liable to take the disease. He therefore prays the House to appoint a Committee to enquire into the matter, aud into the best methods of preventing the spread of the disease.

A copy of the examination papers for Mine Managers' certificates was laid on the tablo to day, on the motion of Mi Allen.

A copy of the correspondence between the Railway Commissioners and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, together with a verbatim report of the C<__ xerence, was laid on the table to-day,

A return was laid on the table to-day, giving the length of service of members ol ParUament. It shows that Sir H. Atkia* son has attended 29 sessions, Mr J. 0. Brown 2_ sessions, Mr John Bryce i_ sesaions, Mr Ormond 30 sessions, Sir M. O'Eorke 38 sessions Mr Vincent Pyke 21 sessions, aud Mr E. Richardson 21 sessions. AU the other members have a record undei 20 sessions.

Mr Moss presented a petition to-daj from Franz Herman Kummer, merchant, complaining that for a number of years he has been cruelly persecuted by means o! " hypnotic electricity," or a simUar agency, with the result that he has been consigned to the Avondale Lunatic Asylum. Since then the persecution by "unlawful meaiw has increased in force," and he prays for a Commission to investigate his grieyanoe. The Reporting and Debates Committee have reported on cases of members putting sensational headings to Hansard reports ot their speeches, recommending that the Gov. rnment Printer aUow no other bead" ings but the name of the member and ths heading under which the debate appearin Hansard. The reprints which gave rise to this report were one of a speech by Mr Fisher, which he had headed " The condition of New Zealand —Supineness of the Government," and another of Mr Hutc_i« son's speech, which he had headed " Indie. ment of the Ministry." The Government are beinff urged to give ParUament an early opportunity of discussing the desirabUity of Now Zealand making proposals to the Australasian colonies for laying a federal Pacific cable on a basis to be agreed upon by tho Federal Council, subject to the approval of the legislature of each colony. Mi Hobbs is agitating the question. Mr R. Reeves gave notice to-day that oa an early day he wiU move—(l) "That fa the opinion of this House the Governmeashould without delay bring down a. ; Absentee Tax BiU, compelling absentees ! and absentee Companies deriving an u_ come, revenue or pension of £300, or upwards, per annum, to contribute a percentage of such income, revenue or pension towards the Government of the colony. (2) That the above resolution be communicated by address to his ExceHeac? the Governor." Mr Hobbs is pressing th© Government to lay on the table of the House the report of Dr. Ginders on leprosy amongs. tte Natives in the Rotorua district. I Mr Fish is going to ask the ColoaM Treasurer--(l) What amount of doty have the Customs audit been instrument**** in coUecting through mistakes in Customs entries discovered by them, and (2) whs* has been the expense connected with to* said Audit Office in the way of salaries, «. It is suggested that the Government *| any interpretation of the tariff should give country settlers and importers of corn or flour mills the same privU.«eß3 granted to importers of " roller mill' floor machinery, viz., that all such shall &"> classed as " agricultural machinery •" am be admitted duty free. Three new Bills were announced to-d&S* The CivU Service BUI by Mr Miteiwlso., the State Bank BUI by Mr Verrall, aad J BUI limiting the Agent-General's term « office to three years. , The Waste Lands Committee reportsa on the petition of Geo. Coleman, of Chw. church, who stated that he had paid s deposit of £12 16s at the ChristeaiW" Land Board for a section at Spaxton, auo during his absence in England the deposit was forfeited, the deposit being lodged w revenue. He prayed that the money m'g "j be refunded. The Committee are $ opinion that petitioner has no claim. , The Committee to whom was referred the Church Property Trustees (Caatf bury) Indemnity BUI report that the? find the aUegation contained in, to* preamble proved to their satisfaction, es« that they have passed the various claam of the BUI without amendment. It ww be remembered this Bill authorise* repayment by the Church Proper!*? Trustees (Christchurch)" of sums aa* vanced by Messrs Murray - AvnaW' Bowen and Westenra, ou accon** of the property tax, with interest aw costs, and empowers the trustees to t*9 property tax to the mortgagees. A similar report is made as to the Bo*"****® CathoUc Lands Act Extension Bill, whics vestsin the Soman Catholic Archbishop of New Zealand all estates which formenj vested iv him as Eoman Catholic Bifih °F of WeUington.