PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 52, 30 August 1894, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOT ES.

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. The Railway Committoo's report on the Midland Kailway, as presented to tho Ht '"se yostorday, is, in two particulars, varied « pm tho draft roport already published. pe first and Bocond payments of of '"8 •£(318,250 of Government deboutureu in H». 'v of land grants are to bo made on?jr on th*? Company satisfying tho Minister for Public Works that satisfactory progress ia being mado with the work of oonstruction, an>^ the balance of .£218,250 is to be handed ovei." ou completion of the through line. Tho proviso , of tho draft that if tho conditions of the? report are not accepted negotiations be ' ■ broken off, is omitted from tho report as ' prosouted, and in its plaoo is substituted tho ' ■ following clause :—": — " That the Government f bo requested to give offeot to these proposals, ' providod the Company consents to rescind the original contract,^tnd acoopt. a new coutrnot in the terms hereinbefore mentioned." The General Manager of the Company, it is understood, has telegraphed to his directors in London in reference to the report, and it • < is understood that its terms will be acoepted by the Company and the work procoeced with. Meantime, however, the report of thfv. Committee has merely been laid on the tab' ,c of the House and ordered to be printed, b at. haß not yet beon approved by the Hoc The Premier wished to move without no tj C g yosterday that a copy of tho reporb be to the Company. This, it is believed, w ov id have given the Company the option of or , pt- caing the new terms before the Hou» „ a W a s considered thorn, but Mr. Vroser objf ,©ijndto the motion, and it oonld not be put. THX VAILS STBTEM. There was a division on the v -^. yosterday, upon a motion by V '*«Ie System a section of the railways be I , **• 'Piram that Mr. Vaile to experiment r Jandod over to' the division list :— For the -P° n - Here -was Carncross, Crowther, * motion, 20^-Bell, , GninneßS, Hall, Hall-Jr iJaTnshaw, Green,. G. Hutohison, W. Ke' *««. Harris Hogg, Morrison, O'Kegan, ' j&, fang, M'Gowan, G. J. Smith, Stewar' «ram, E. M. Stmrh, Buiok, Carnell, C »- Allen, Platraan, Housto «*oll> Collia*. Dunaan, Moslin, M'Guirr Maokenzio, M'Nab, Mered' 1 ,£ J i M / ? e , n * le • »• M'Kenzie, Newman, Pin' '"£■ *»tonelp' O n, Montgomery, RubboU, S' "£J°f> * W. Russell, W. R. Tanner, V y'*?? <^ t SI Stevens, Thompson, Button,. T £5?: J^irs-For the motionthe m< • -K* ll ?* ./ilson, Graham. Against Beever •>**">— -J'jyce, Parata, Buchanan, rj- **-*I*',B DKPABTMENT BXPORT. f 1 £' of the Marine Department recent inapeotion showed that «ho lighthouses visited were in good ordor. XEar u he_r experiments in the using of mineral < oolza oil for the lighthouses have resulted in i its being given a trial at Penoarrow light, : as a oonsequenco of whioh it is to be used at f other lights, being much cheaper than paraffin. The total cost of completing tho Stephen Island lighthonse was .£9319 9s lid. Both Dog Island and Puysogur Point lighthouses were struck by lightning in . Jane, 1893, but without damage. In May of the same year a ball of eleotrio fire oame • from tho telephone into the middle of the lightroomat the Nugget Point lighthouse, - and burst into sparks with a sharp report. ' %The ><»nly oocasion on which any light was temporarily extinguished during the year 'was at Taiaroa Head, where, owing to a -«ao«rn, draught during a heavy gale, the light ■^Was out for a few minntes. .£15,431 163 Id wasrocoived as light dues during the year, as against .£15,797 10s 9d in the preceding year. Legislative authority ia to be sought next session to permit of the leasing of the oyster bods at the Manukau and Kaipara in small sections. A conviction was obtained against the steam trawler Result for having 3sh under the regulation size, but this was np j et by tne Supreme Court on the ground that the Department could not prove that the fi3h were caught within seven mileß of the ooast and therefore within New Zealand waters. An alteration in the law is necessary to make it an offence to possess undersized fish, however caught. At Wellington an Inspector has been appointed at a small remuneration to assist the police in peeing that the Fisheries law is observed. The services of Captain Fairchild in various connection? are testified to. A reserve of .£2OOO has been fixed on the Stella. Thirty-five wrecks, representing 9599 tonß, occurred on the coast during the year, as against 41, representing 14,805 tons, in the previons year. There were 11 total wrecks within the oolony, and 25 lives lost. The sum of .£127 was paid for the relief of distressed New Zealand seamen during the .year. THE LICENSING BILL. The Hon. Mr. Steward this afternoon road A petition which was unrolled by himself and Mr. Geo. Hutohison, reaching from the side •of the Speaker's desk to the Bar of the House. The petition was from Southern electors tasking that the passing of the Licensing Bill be delayed until the country has had an opportunity of considering an'" 4 expressing an opinion npon its provisions. JOTTINGS. The Cadman-R*es election coatep' 4 j a oo vu b j by Mr. O'Kegan as an inatanoe of E fer- e■ondum. ■ . '■-•»* he would be very sorry to think that 75 men who | conßtitnte the meaent Fr,, li&lnent reprment oream of the lnt'^eot o£ the oO i ony . *\c. Wi Pere wants to know— Had the referendum been in force where would the Bank of Now Zealand have been now ? The Colonial Treasurer believes Mr. Vaile s railway Boheme is on the right lines, though ho may be going too far. t,-^ 1 ? 00 ., 13118 been &* oa of Imprest Supply Bill No. o. Mr. Saunders last night said Mr. O Regan's Referendum Bpeooh was ono of the most democratic ever delivered in the House. The Hon. J. M'Kenzie has given notice of the Ngaere and Other Blooks Native Claims Adjustment Bill. Captain Russell does not think the Vaile system woulu be suitable to our population. Though ouetp fares would induce large numbers (y travel on a holiday or aome special QQonsion, next day free passes would nor. "-jfaio* the great majority to movo. As, Bnddo wishes the Government to give T jtp Ibat " obsoleto arm," the Martini-Henry, and procure for the volunteers a rifle with Martini broeoh and Mitford barrel. Mr. O'Regan says that if they had the Referendum in Britain the House of Lords would not long block Home Rule for Ireland. Mr. T. Pou made his debut as Parliamentary interpreter last night, interpreting very •aptly and cleverly a pointed speech by Wi "Pere. Mr. Pou was complimented highly by "the next speaker, Mr. Stevens. His fault 'was that he did not speak loud enough. " I don't go to the country and aoouse the Government of making partisan appointments, and then come to the House to act -as Whip and give the Government most "slavish snpport." — Mr. Pirani, talking at Mr. Lawry. * Mr. Lang is asking that sub-postmaßters in country districts be allowed to sell postal notes. Mr. Wi Poro considers that such " shadowy Bills" as the Referendum, Elective Executive, &0., should be struck off the Order Paper. These "shadows," he says, are killing his own Bill respecting native lands. Mr. Lawry is urging reversion to the single electorate system. Mr. Pirani wishes the Government to oomEensate indigent persons whose cattle may c destroyed by ordor of the Government Inspeotor. The Petitions Committee has no recommendations to make on the request of Wilfred Badger that Government pnrohase his rights to ' r ßadger's Statutes," and grant him a 'Government billet. The Premier last night asked theHonse ■not to adopt the Referendum beoauße the Swiss " fettered their women," i.e., that the women wore harness to assist them in carrying burthens. If people have to carry ' burthens, and harness assists in carrying these burthens, why not wear harness? A heartless Petitions Committee has no recommendation to make on the petition of S. C. Jolly, of Ashburton, for consideration for bis having originated the scheme of loan conversion at a publio meeting. Mr. O'Began says there is not a politician in New Zealand who leads the people. Like newspapers, politicians reflect, not lead, publio opinion, "While sympathising very much with the position they have been plaoed in thrown the agreement entered into with Wi Parata sot having been legalised, the Committee considers they have no olaims against the oolony." Thus the Petitions Committee on the petition of Emily and W. J. Hunt, of Wellington. Mr. O-'JBegan doesn't believe in second Chambers, but also doesn't heliove in the members of the Upper House being slandered . They are, he says, gentlemen of oulture, position, and politioal experience. Horaoo Norgrovo, of Plcton, is asking for

a grant of .£IOOO to enable him to construot the working model of his submarine boat which was asked for by tho Britieh Admiralty on the New Zealand Government forwarding plans of the invention. One of tho very best speeches on the Referendum Bill last night was mado by the Minister for Labour. It was the best speech against the Bill — a vory spirited and wellinformed contribution to the debate. Tho Key. Gideon Smales, of Auckland, whose petition for consideration for his sorvices to the colony was a delightful piece of early Maori history, has obtained a favourable recommendation from the Potitions Committee. Mr. O'Regan made a very effeotive speech lost night in roply to his critics on the Referendum I'ilJ. lie fairly wiped the floor with some of tho ho who had been airing their want of knowledge on tho subject. The Native Affairs Committee finds that Kipa te Whatanu>, of Otaki, has a gennme grievance in the Native Land Court having deprived him of part of tho Ngakaroro Blook No. 2, known as Te Waka, and refers his petition to the Government for enquiry and favourable consideration. D. M. Bruoks, of Mauricoville, having resigned his appointment in tho Railway Service, after having a^rocd to accept a lower salary or removal, tho Railways Committee cannot recommend his potition for compensation for loss of office. The Petitions Committee considors that the grievances of C. V. H. de C. yon Blaramberg, of Palmerston North, against the Wanganui Education Board demand diligent enquiry, and recommends the Government to caute a thorough investigation. A Magisterial enquiry into the alleged ill-treatment of Robert M'Connell, of Dunedin, by two constables, is considered necessary by the Petitions Committee. The remaining Estimates are to be considerod to-night. The Premier says the Railway Bill is to pass tho second reading stage this afternoon, pro forma, and be referred to the Railway Committee. hero were again no Order Papers for the Preaß Gallery till 2.40 this afternoon. "* efc if majors were incorreclny reported Ministers and members would be the first to complain.