PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2250, 18 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Tbiegeape.] [paosr ihb oto coebespondbnt op tj pjjESS. **J WELLINGTON, Juno 17. The papers laid on the table to-day ooi prise the following—(1) Scale of pay on Ne Zaaland railways, as approved on the 23i ult., and issued by circular : (2) Arrangemen for working the Waimea Plains and Asbbn: ton Forks railways ; (3) Beturn of the expei diture of County Councils and Boad Boarc for the last year; (4) Written correspondent relating to Messrs Grant and Foster special settlement at Te Aroha. A were more or less stale. The last item in tho Grant and Poster correspondent ire cables from the Agent-General, respet tively dated the 9th and 10th ult. Sir F. Be! sables “Grant and Foster offer to pay leposit of three thousand; instruct m whether to accept.” Mr Hall replies 1 Accept Grant and Foster’s deposit.” AJ ho rest has already been published. Strong representations were made to th 3-overnment yesterday respecting the out ireak of small-pox in Sydney. The Premie ablod last night to Sir Henry Parker, askini or authoritative information on the subjeo rom the New South Wales Government, anc

tho reply received from Sir H. Parker to-day en tirely confirms tho news telegraphed by Eeuter Ministers accordingly came to the conclusioi that however unfortunate and inconvenient tho interruption, they had ho alternative but to put in force the ninety-second clause oi the Health Act, and declare the city oi Sydney and tho harbor of Port Jackson infected districts. Some discussion took place in tho Cabinet as to whether Newcastle k hould bo inolnded, but it was decided to it a day or two to see the extent of tho sprcu'd of the disease before taking a step which would so seriously affect the New Zealand n." 13 ! supply. All steamers arriving from Sydney will, therefore, have to undergo quarantine, in eluding the mail steamer now on her way then ce to Auckland. The small pox sOaro had a remarkable effect on the Chinese Bill tu'« afternoon, for it ran through committee with surprising velocity, half-an-hour finishing it/ Dr. Wallis again championed the Chinese, and denounced the Bill as the offspring of the lowest and most truculent class of newspapers ; but, nevertheless, said he should vote for it. I hear that there was rather a droll scene at Government House this afternoon, when

the members went to present the Address in Reply. All were seated in mute expectation of his Excellency's approach, when the door was suddenly thrown wide open. Everybody rose hastily and bowed profoundly, while through the open door entered hurriedly Mr Shrimski, the member for Oamsru, who had arrived late, and was immensely surprised at his reception. As he is positively of nonimposing aspect the revulsion of feeling was severe, and when Her Majesty’s representative really did enter he was greeted with quite familiar and friendly empressement, which he seemed cordially to reciprocate. At a special meeting of the Executive Council to-day, the appointment of Sir Julius Yogel, Sir Penrose Julyan and Mr W. Sergeant, as loan agents for the colony, was formally revoked and determined, it being considered that they had completed all their duties connected with the loan and stock. Mr Pyke has already commenced work relative to the Otago runs agitation. He has just issued circulars calling a caucus for Monday morning, at which the press will be invited to be present. He is making strenuous efforts to Sir W. Eox as a party leader on this question, notwithstanding the disclosure of the Government intentions. In the present deplorable lack of political gossip and Parliamentary papers, some attempts are being made to get up some daily rumours as to the new Minister. The latest is that Messrs Bain, Bastings, and McLean have all positively declined the offer of a seat in the Cabinet, which consequently will go either to Mr Wakefield or to Mr Richardson. I have the best reason to believe that these are pure canards ; certainly the offer has not yet been made to anybody, Probably Ministers Have so far troubled themselves less than anybody- about filling up the vacancy. They consider that there is no hurry, and that the matter- can very well stand over for the present until more pressing domestic legislation, shelved last session, is pushed on. Regarding the Brogden claims I may add that their claims are divided into three classes —(1) Those on the score of immigration, which are now the subject of a petition to Parliament for rehearing, and which amount with interest to about £20,000 ; (2) those on account of two contracts not passed according to the Government Contractors Arbitration Act of 1872 s they amount in round numbers to about £30,000 more; (3) a balance of about £200,000 is at present prevented by the Government Contractors’ Arbitration Act from coming on for trial, but a petition of right is to be filed. The Public Petition Commission met yesterday for the first time, but only re-elected Mr Kelly their chairman, as no petitions were received from the Petition Classification Committee, which also met to-day, and got through their preliminary business.