PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2248, 17 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

("By Telegraph.] [fbom the own oobbbspondbnt op thb “pebss.”] WELLINGTON, June 16. Only two papers were laid on the table today, one comprising the correspondence between tho Governments of New Zealand and South Australia, regarding methods of abating the rabbit nuisance, the gist of which, however, was published during the recess. The second paper contains two circulars issued by Captain Hume, Inspector of Prisons, relative to prison discipline, which have excited so much adverse comment in the Press, Oapt. Hume’s minute to the Minister of Justice states that the first circular, respecting information being given to the Press by prison officers, was caused by an exaggerated and incorrect report of a disturbance among the Wellington prisoners, which appeared in the “ New Zealand Times. " Ho odds that there is nothing in the circular not already laid down in the Civil Service regulations, which are in fact still more [stringent in their probibiiion. The second circular directs a full report of any offences of which an officer may be found guilty by the Visiting Justices, to be forwarded to the Inspector with a view of the Minister deciding as to the advieableness of retaining or dismissing the officer, in addition to the Visiting Justices’- sentence. This is explained to have been issued by the Minister for Justice on account of neglect on the part of a Lyttelton warder, who absented himself from doty two consecutive nights and a day, but was let off with a caution, as was also another, who left bis rifle in a place accessible to prisoners. I hear that the Government intend bringing down only such of last session’s Native Bills as are deemed quite indispensable. They will be introduced first in the Legislative Council. Sir G. Grey has announced his intention to move a resolution expressing the sympathy of the House with the distressed laboring classes of Great Britain and Ireland. He also stated that the coarse of action pnrsued by the Government in regard to the hospital and charitable aid question, was calculated seriously to embarrass the hands of the Imperial Government in dealing with the Irish difficulty. This elicited much laughter. Tho House is evidently in an utterly disorganised condition, and as yet there are no symptoms of any approaching consolidation of parties.