POLITICAL G0SIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7402, 23 December 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSIP.

[From Oob Parliamentary Reporter.] ~...,^''Boijgjp'ijfini? \;M'/' The Loan Bilfwas received-by Messa|<||rom the Governor evening amenraents, setting iaiown t|eTL7O,OOO formMly allopgi to ' immtaptfri arMLfI,O(K) and a new clause tinding the Colony to refrain ifrom further borrowing for three yearß, excepting as regards loans already authorised and the Westport and Greymouth Harbor loans, was added. The progress of business was greatly obstructed by Sir J. Vogel and Messrs Reeves and Hutchison, but the Bill eventually passed through allits Btages by a large majority. CV Sir JF. Vosel's'Obstructlon. Twice within as many minutes during Sir J. Vogel's lbrig'winded speech in Committee on Loan Bill attention had to be called to the state of the House, as the withdrawal of two Ministers and some of the Government Bubporters destroyed the quorum. The exTreasurer provoked roars of laughter by plaintively protesting against members travelling in and out and disturbing a speaker who was -naturally nervous. The ex-Treasurer Threatens Legal Proceedings. Sir J. Vogel was in a particularly splenetic humor to-night during the debate on the Loan Bill. His chief objection to the Bill was that two items which had been struck out of the measure on Wednesday night ought to have been regarded as no longer existing,'and ought not to be left in the Bill.. They were, in fact, " unallotted," as proposed by the Government. Failing to convince the Chairman of Committees that the substitution was irregular and unconstitutional, he appealed to the Speaker, who decided that there was nothing irregular in the oourse adopted. Sir J. Vogel argued that the Speaker was mistaken, and said he would obtain legal advice on the point, and would probably take action in the Supreme Court, He characterised the limitation of the borrowing scheme as an egregiously ridiculous clause, which would cause the Colony to be laughed at. Getting the Governor's Assent. An unprecedented circumstance took place in the Opera House to-night. His Excellency was present at the performance of ' Taken from Life,' when a messenger from Parliament House arrived with a document requiring Sir William Jervois's signature. Pen and ink were Boon secured, and His Excellency appended his name without vacating his seat. Fagged Legislator?. The continuous legislative work of the last few days told seriously upon those members who remained for the final sitting of the House. The worn-out, yawning representatives lounged about the benches during tho da} looking as if they would much rather be anywhere else than in their places. The temper of tho House, too, was far from amiable, for Sir George Groy was more obstructive, than usual, and showed no littlo bitterness when Minit>ters declined to place the pair-lists at his disposal. He Inveighed in unmeasured terms against their "tyranny." More Legislative Amenities. The most unhaimonious op'sode of tho sitting was characterised by unpleasant incidents which occurred Ito-night botween Sir J. Vogel and the member for Manawatu. Sir Julius, in tho course of one of his speeches on the Loan Bill, accused Mr Macarthur of having failed to keep a promise to support his policy. Mr Macarthur warmly denied that ho had given any such promise, and Sir J. Vogel, standing to his guns, found it necessary to roject tho disclaimer, and appealed to tho confidence of tho House in his veracity. Mr Macarthur added that when tho ex-Treasurer made his policy known he said it was impossible for one who had the interest ot the country at heart to support it. Notwithstanding tho emphasis with which tho donial was made, Sir Julius still maintained (hat his was the better theory of the two, and that if another member who was not then there woro present ho would support lub (Sir J. Vogel i) version of the affair. After some time tho subject was dropped. Jottings. Mr J. C. Brown thinka it would pay the Colony to give Major Atkinson his wiight in gold on the condition that he will: hold aloof from politics. Mr Taipua put in a word to-night on behalf of the ' Hansard' staff, asking what crime those gentlemen had committed that they should have the last few days' inflictions put on them. Sir J. Vogel denounced the limitation of borrowing for the next three years as a childish proposal. Mr A. H. Ross wants to know what else could be expected from one whom Sir J. Vogel had described as " babying faced "; but says that he prefers Major Atkinson's schemes to Sir J. Vogel's, which are magnificent but absurd. The Premier expects our stocks to rise further as soon as it is recognised that Parliament have fairly faced the position. The vote of LIO.OOO for immigration passed tonight as an addition to the Supplementary Estimates. This amount had been struck off the ordinary Estimates at Mr F«UWg instauoo on Saturday, notwithstanding that the Government had explained that liabilities had been incurred for the amount. The Premier stated to-night that the Supplementary Estimates for the Defence Department were swelled by the fact that Government wore obliged to meet liabilities of L 8 000, being the balance of an expenditure of L 13,000 incurred by the late Government on a vote of L 5.000. The Committee struck out of the Supplementary Estimates a vote of L 1,00 0: for a con-' tribution to the Imperial Institute. ' A renewal of the San Francisco mail contract l for another year has been agreed to. The member for Inanaghua wants light tramways in place of railway lines constructed to' the gumfields and bush districts. The sugges-: tion has been favorably received. . ■ The Lords have thrown out the Naval ami Military Settlers Land Claims Bill, : The votes passed through as Supplementary Estimates to-night amounted to L 201,636. Sir G. Grey adopted his usually peoulmr tactics on the last day of the session, and proved unusually obstructive. The only members ot the Government who will remain in Wellington during the next fork night are Messrs Fisher and Richardson. The' others are off to their homes on furlough. The report tbat the' Hon. Mr Mitchelson' intends resigning tho portfolio of Works at the closo of the session has been but it Is authoritatively denied. Mr Hutchison made up for tho time which he, lost in seouring his seat against Mr Bryce's petition by inflicting upon the House in its last momentß a. prosy speech on the subject of colonial defences. It was of greater length than those of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition put together. .\ During the discussion on the raising of the salary of the chairman of the Railway Board; several members expressed the hope that Mr Hannay would bo appointed to a seat on the non-official Board. Tho present Parliament U tho most talkativo one that has been elected for many years. - In order tbat members may leave for their homes to-morrow (Friday) morning, it has been decided to prorogue the Houso by proclamation in lieu of by Commission. ' The General Post Office Vote. Tho first Urge vote on tho Supplementary Estimates attaoked was the appropriation of L 20,000 for the re-erection of the Goneral Post Office. Sir J. Vogel spoke on tho question oh tho motion, to go into Committee of Supply, and afterwards moved to rcduco the amount by L 6,500, objecting to the construction of the clock tower at a time when there was need for small buildings all over tbe Colony. The Minister of Public Works said he had ordered new specifications to be prepared, and he hoped the L 20.000 would provide for internal fittings as well in the restoration of the building. Sir J. Vogel's amendment was lost on a division by 29 to 9, and the vote was duly passed. Sir J. Vogel warmly denounced the Government's boasted retrenchment policy as a sham, which had been used as an instrument for paity purposes. If he had been ten years younger, he declared that he would have stonewalled the item rather than have allowed it to pass, and kept things going in order' tbat absent members might be enabled to return, as he was convinced that the vote would not have beon passed in a full House. The Minister cmsented to only take authority to spend L 2.000 or L 3,000 during the present financial year, and allow the balance to stand as a liability. Australasian Defence. ■ ■ ' The measure providing for so important a matter as the defence of our coast line was discussed before a bare quorum this afternoon. In the moving of the second reading of the Australasian Naval Defence Bill, < The Premier described it as the first real step towardß bringing about a dose union with the Old Country. The proposal was that seven Bhips of the most suitable class for the work and two torpedo boats sh'duld be obtained for the colonies, four of the warships and one torpedo boat to form the peace establishment; The cost of construction (L 700,000) was to be provided by the Imperial Government, and the colonies were to pay interest for ten years at the rate of 5 per cent, —namely, L3s.ooo—besides the cost of maintenance (LfJl.OOO), or, in all, L 126.000 per annum. In the event of war, three other vessels would be commissioned at the costjof the Imperial Government. In time of peace two vessels would be stationed in New" Zealand waters. It would take two years to build] the ships, bo no time should'be lost.! iffiTew Zealand's contribution, upon the population basis, would be L 21.602 per annuity and a clause would be introduced providing that this Colony should only bo required to contribute on conditidh Ithdt all ijhe other colonies did so. With regard to tho land the House would have to oonsiqer whether it was necessary to maintain the fortifications at more than one port which could be used by the vessels as a harbor of refugej and where they could refit and ooal. The Colony could not expect to .remain so ina;grMcant as not to be a temptation to the enemies of the Empire, and he urged that the present

opportunity of providing for defence should be taken advantage of. Sir Jcxius VoGEt supported the Bill, but was less sanguine than the Premier that it would bring about Imperial federation., , 4 t measure *cpjheprtMgpally wgo urged 'that tbjgpestion aiffptded sufMerjlfrbundß fogftdjouMpg the . or tvWH next sSpon. jpjt j 'Mhe Bilfwas passed tbroug|p[]j itjlfjpp*A ' The End. The House formally rese at ten minutes to five this morning, and the Northern members left overland two hours later. The Appropriation Bill passed without any discussion. The Governor had to be roused at B,3oforhisassenttothemeasurev j '- ™ "it?r; Mr Boss (the member for Boslyn) has scored thettest on record. He was present at the opening of Parliament, was at the prorogation, and never missed a single sitting.' • -■.*.-».*-.-.-. The Cable Subsidy. Before the House rose this morning tbe Premier said he did not think it would be wise to recommend the House to authorise the granting of a Cable subsidy, and if the cable were notpaying, as stated in the communication from the Cable Company, they should raise, the rates and make those using the cable pay and not the Colony. Under their contract the Company had the right to raise the rates # to 7s for a message of ten words, but if they went over that amount theL Government would further consider the question. The Work of the Session. ! Parliament sat forty-four days, the average being seven hours thirty-four minutes. Of this, 277 hours were before midnight and 66 hours 30 minutes after. Five hundred'and eleven petitions were presented, of which 429 were European and 82 Maori. The number of public BUIb which originated in the House was 122, and those brought from the Council 10. Nine Bills were dropped in the Council and seventy-three in the House. The following is the schedule of , Acts which passed both Houses:— Public Ac's Appropriation, Australasian Naval Defence, Buildiog Societies Act 1880 Amendment, Civil Service Refotm Act Amendment, Fisheries Conservation Aot 1881 Amendment, Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment, Government Railways, Governor's Salary and Allowance Aot Amendment (reserved), Imprest Supply (No. 1), Imprest Supply (No. 2), Imprest Supply (No. 8), Land Aot Amendment, 1 Local Bodies'- Finance and Powers Act 1885 Amendment, Ministers' Salaries and Allowances, Municipal Corporation .Act Amendment. New Zealand Loan, Order in Council Validation, Parliamentary Honorarium and Privileges Act 1884 Amendment, Pharmacy Aot Amendment, Property Tax, Publio Bodies Powers, Public Revenues (No 2), Public Revenues (No. 3), Public Works Act Amendment. Public Works Appropriation, Representation' Acts Amendment, Sheep Amendment, Soupdß County Hospital Representation, Wellington College and Girls' High School, Wostport and Nelson Native Reserves, West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment. Local Acts.—Akaroa Borough Council Reserves Vesting and Reclamation, Christohurch District Drainage Act 1876 Amendment (No. 2), Christchurch Drainage Boards Reserves Sale and Exchange, Christchurch Hospital, Gisborne Harbor Boatd Act 1884 Amendment, Gisborne High School Act 1885 Amendment (No. 2), Hammond Fencing Claims Compensation, Invorcarpill Waterworks Reserve, Napier Harbor Board Amendment and Endowment Improvement, New Plymouth Recreation and Racecourse Reserve, Oamam Harbor Board Loan, Otago Harbor Board Act 1883 Amondment, Pukekoho Borough, Tamaki West Licensing District, W&irarapa North County Council Empowering. Private Aots.—Church Properly Trust (Canterbury), Phronix Assuranco Company ol London, and Wesloyan Motbodist Churoh Proporty Trust. Changes In the Volunteer Vote. The prizos for rifio shooting are put down 1 at LG00; rifle ranges, L 1,000; Volunteer encampments, LlOO; purchase of arms, L 5.000. The Volunteer Force vote for Dunedin is: One officer commanding, L 300; one drill instructor, L 128; one musketry, L 128; forago and travelling allowance, L 75; office allowance, L2O; total, L 650. The Defence Force. The Defence Minister to-day issued a circular to all Volunteer Corps preparing them for large reductions in the capitation allowance, and advising them not to incurany new liabilities on the strength of the capitation vote. Ho also gave notice to all musketry inspectors that in consequence of the retrenchment proposals of tho Government their services were dis-

pensed with. 'The country corps will probably be disbanded. Play after Work. A casual visitor dropping into the Parliamen tary Chambers at daylight would have found the representatives of tho people unbending from the dignity of their legis'ative offices and going in for a little " toucband-go jocularity." While awaiting the return of the Speaker from Government House, the members spent an hour in making mock speeches, cracking small jokes, and indulging in puns and other levity. Parliamentary usages were mimicked in a very disrespectful degree. Ono hon. member was solemnly named by a mock speaker and arrested by a mock sergeant-at-armp, who shouldered an : improvised mace and hustled the offender into limbo. Members seemed to enjoy their diversions immensely.