PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 22, 26 July 1893, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

• MB. FISH " CATCHES IT." It ia very seldom Mr. Fish finds those be co freely assails turning on and rending him, bnt yesterday afternoon ho " caught a Tartar " when he moved the adjournment of the House and spent a considerable time in trying to show that the proposed legislation ia connection with the Fernhill railway was for the benefit of Sir Eobert Stout. The moment Mr. Fish had resnmed his seat, Sir Kobert rose and seconded the motion for adjournment. With warmth he said he was glad snch a personal matter had been brought before the House. That was bettor than haying it t liked about in the lobbies, coupled with all sorts of insinuations made behind his back. This Mr. Fish had been doing for the last week or two. It was a pity the time of the House should bo wusted by one member casting a slur upon another, but when ho remembered such things as "bribes," "ohoques," and " members of Harbour Boards," it did not much matter what came from Mr. Fish. He (Sir Kobert) might move that the writ in the case of Mr. Walter might be laid before them, and that a committee be set np to see if he (Mr. Fish) was a fit member to sit in that House. " I will second that with pleasure," said Mr. Fish. Fussing on. Sir Robert dealt at length with the transaction, saying his firm were but the first mortgagees of the line. Messrs. Hamil and Grey, who had been spoken of, and who were said to be unsatisfied, had no claim. If they thought they had a claim against him (Sir Robert), let them sue him. He was not in the habit of taking advantage of the Bankruptcy Court, like some others he could name. The snbject had been brought forward solely for the purpose of having a fling: at himself, because he and Mr. Fish did not asrveo in politics or in other ways. He suggested that a fair thing would be to set up an impartial committee, composed entirely of members of the Opposition, and let the matter of the lino be there discussed. As far as personal reflections went, they were only of moment when they came from a, puro source. HOW RESERVES (30. A significant petition was presented to the House yesterday fromsettlersoftheMakaretu and Blaokbnrn districts, Hawke's Bay, who itate that a movement is on foot to have the forest reserve in their district handed over to a Special Settlement promoted by an individual, in order that he may obtain 6d per acre commission, The petition, which was presented by Mr. W. C. Smith, Bhows how fore3t resorves are dissipated. This is a reserve that should be carefully preserved as it is on the Buahine watershed, and the petitioners point out that it is not suitable for settlement. THK NATIVE rtJBPOSKS APPROPRIATION. The utilisation of the sum of £7000 annnally set apart under Imperial arrangement for native purposes has frequently been a snbject of enquiry. Yesterday the Hon. Mr. Carroll told Mr. Kapa that this sum is not usually expended fully, but unspent balances are placed to the credit of the fund. This year the prevalence of the measles and other sicknesses is expected to lead to a much larger expenditure than usual. Mr. Parata, speaking Liter, also reforred to this appropriation, and said that, though the vote was not expended. Government were continually sayinf they had not funds to grant medical assistance to natives. THE HARPER BANKRUPTCY. The success of Messrs. Fattison in securing a recommendation from the Public Petitions Committee that duty be remitted on certain sums misappropriated by the firm of Harper & Co. has led to the Trustees, Executors & Agency Co. making a similar application as executors of the late W. R. Scott. They ask for the refund of legacy, duty paid in respect of a sum of £6962 178 10d similarly misappropriated. TAWHIAO's TENSION. Some curiosity has been shown regarding Tawhiao's pension by Dr. Newman, who has been informed by the Hon. Mr. Carroll that the pension was granted as the result of an interview between Tawhiao and the late Wative Minister (Mr. Cadman), from motives of policy. Tawhiao's private secretary had, however, returned a portion of the amount paid, and declined to receive any more. A NATIVI LAND PURCHASE. The Government is about to purchase a fine block of 7500 acres in the Hawera district, known as the Ngaire Block, situate in close proximity to the Eltham and Ngaire railway stations. The price to be paid to the natives is 10s per acre, payment to be made in cash. Mr. M'Guire, who has been instrumental in urging on the purchase, ■states that land in the vicinity is worth £i to £G per acre, so that the Crown will have secured a bargain, which will be conducive to the interests of settlement in that district. THAT AWKWARD EKP.OB. The breeze in the House last night, in which the Premier was charged with falsifying the records of the House in the case of the Public Works Statement of la3t year, came before the Public Accounts Committee this morning in the shape of a motion that the Premier be examined. The motion was opposed on the ground that the Committee could not deal with the matter unless it was referred to it by the House, and the motion was lost on the casting-vote ot the Chairman. The facts arp briefly that ihe matter came about in this way: — In the preparation of a Public Works Statement, the Department fiist does the work, supplying the figures and accounts, and various paragraphs elucidating them, and giving the Departmental views as to various works. The Minister-in-charge next supplies the political paragraphs, and copies of the Statement so prepared are supplied to each member of the Cabinet, who in his turn analyses bis copy, making marginal notes of his views. The whole are then considered in Cabinet, and the final Statement, usually ready at the last moment, is a joint production. Last year the final revision of the Statement was ready at about 5 o'clock, and the ink was still wet when the copies wore taken to the House at 7.30 p.m. The figures respecting the amount expended m public works for tho year were correctly given in one portion of the Statement, but a group of figures given in another portion appeared to show a gradual tapering off in tle public works expenditure, the item for the Ballance Administration being the liweßtof all. On the strength of this there was a glowing paragraph as to the reduction of expenditure by the Ministry. Unfortunately, there had been a clerical error of about .£90.000 in the figures given, the expenditure being understated in this particular place by that sum, and instead of being lower than in previous years it Bboulc have been higher. Mr. Itiobardson noticed this, and called attention to it. The Minister says he was asleep, and didn't hear tbe correction, and tho motion to go into Committee of Supply was carried without bis replying. Next morning the Undersecretary for Public Works corrected the figures before further issue was made from the Printing Office, without altering the rest of the paragraph, which he considered he was not entitled to do, and without informing tho Minister. It is contended that scarcely a single Statement has been finally issued without somo correction after it has been before the House, but this is believed to bo the first time the alteration has been brought before tho House. The paragraph, after the correction, was of course misleading. JOTTINGS. The Government has no intention of remitting the duty on fencing wire — so tho Colonial Treasurer informed Mr. Palmer yesterday. Notwithstanding the gale blowing yesterday, there were no draughts in tho House — thanks to tbe new ventilation. The number of sheepskins exported with wool during 1892 was 3%,537, and without wool (as basils) 1,809,979. The cO3t to tho country of the legal proceedings in the case of Mr. W. B. Edwards was .£1320. The bill of costs of the Privy Council appeal was X 750. The settlers of the Sannon bmall Farm Block are urging by petition through Mr. G Hutchison that the Rangjtikei bridge be forthwith constructed at Vinegar Hill. There is a similar petition from the Hunter' ville and Paraekaretu settlers. ' If native lands are to be rated, Mr. Parats thinks the rates should be devoted to making roads through them. A good part of yesterday; afternoon wai tiken up by Mr. Fish in a discourse on th<

FernMll Eailway and tlio alleged connection of Sir Hobert Stout with it. Dr. Mackenzie, of Wellington, and bis brother, Mr. J. R. Mackenzie, of Otago, aro petitioning, through Mr M'Lean, fora grant of land for the military services of their father, the late Captain Mackenzie. While Mr. Parata was speaking yesterday tho new ventilators were blown about by the gale, making a terrible clatter. Mr. Parata "• brought down tho House" by remarking that he heard a great noise, which ho presumed ho might interpret as applause. Tho Minister for Labour cays that tbo Government will consider tho question of accommodation for shearers. The Colonial Treasurer told Mr. Hogg yesterday that tho question of support of J Fire Brigades will be considered when tho Municipal Corporations Bill is before tho House. Replying to Mr. Hope, the Colonial Treasurer said that before the Government could make advances to Government leaseholders on tho security of their improvements, the matter would require to be very seriously considered by tho House. It had already been considered by the Government, and it was unlikely anything would be submitted to tho House. Mr. £. M. Smith says that the plans of the new Courthouse at Falmerßton North ore so fine that he would like to have them used at New Plymonth. The Premier says be will show him the remaining 18 plans, and he can oonsider them while waiting for the Public Works Statement to see whether provision is niado for the Now Plymouth building. Mr. Parata urged tho Premier yesterday to make the Hqn Mr. Carroll Native Minister. He considered lid would be most acceptable to the Maori people, and said that his present position was most unsatisfactory as he appeared to have no power at all. The Minister for Lands told Mr. Tanner yesterday that it wonld be almost impossible to brin? down any measuro dealing with the Codlin Moth pest which wonld receive anything like fair acceptance and support. Tho Native Affairs Committee had the petition of Major Kemp in favour of the formation of a Mnori Parliament before it this morning, and deeded that it had no recommendation to make upon it.

Miss Bowater, who ivne accidentally -.hot in the face in her parents' house in Arthur, street tlie night before last, ii 5*5 * doing fairly well at the Hospital. At a meeting of the Council of tlio Wellington Acclimatization Society, the question of the large export of gaino fi om New Zealand in a frozen state, and the consequent very serious diminution which it is causing in th 9 game in the colony, came up for consideration, and the following resolutions were passed : — '■ 1. That the export in a frozen state of any game whatever should be prohibited, and that the law should be co amended as to entirely prevent dealings with native or imported game, frozen or otherwise, out of season." 2. " That it bo a recommendation to tho Government that the sale of native and imported game should be prohibited for one yenr." The proposil to lay down an electric tramway to Karori ia meeting with a good deal of favour, and tho promoters anticipate no great difficulty in raisin; the necessary capital. Messrs. Seaton, O'Douahoo, and Anderson will probably be employed to make a flying survey, and when their report is available a public meeting will be held to discuss the scheme. Two routes have been suggested. One proposal is to lay down a line running from the Albert Hotel, corner of Willis and Manners streets, np Willis and Wordsworth streets, Polhill Gully, and along the Cematory - road into Karori. The otb— jm ronte is from the Wellington Club, np the Terrace, past tho Catholic Cemetery and Moxham's Farm, across the hills to Baker's Hill, and thence along the present road into the township. The route via Polhill Gully would be a mile longer than the other, but it would tap a populated district between the Albert Hotel and ilitcbelltown. If. on the other hand, & line wero laid down via Moxham's Farm, a beautiful view of the harbour and the city would be obtained, and the trams would, it is thought, be extensively patronised by peoplo in search of the picturesque.

bar cutu-innauon 0/ reuavng tnallm tea fourth DM.'.