WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11320, 2 September 1899, Page 3

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

« [prom our special correspondent.] [bt telegraph.] AVellinoton, Friday. PRIVATE MEMBERS' DATS. The Premier's motion this afternoon to take Wednesday for Government bus* nebs for the rest of the session, provoked a lively debate. Mr Pirani strongly pro. tested against the Government absorbing all the private members' days at this stage' of the session, when they had af least two months before them. He also protested against the practice, which the Premier invariably pursued, of taking private members' days whilst the Address-in-Reply and Financial Debate were proceeding, and pointed out that although they should have have had about 18 days for private members' bills they had really had only three or four days during the whole session. Another grievance ventilated by the member for Palmerston was that members of the Government party frequently stonewalled private members' bills at the dictation of the Premier, and he told the House that whenever Mr Seddon absented himself from the Chamber it could be taken as a hint by his supporters that he did not desire the particular bill under discussion to go through. ("Oh, oh.") Mr Morrison (Caversham) strongly resented this charge, and challenged members to poiat out any instance in which he blocked a private bill. (Mr Pirani: " What about the Little River Bill ?") The member for Caversham again denied that he had acted as Mr Pirani " had stated, and issued a further challenge. Mr John Hutcheson took up the challenge, and stated that last session the member for Caversham had. deliberately come across to his seat, and threatened to prevent him (Mr Hutcheson) from getting his bill through. He added that a scene had occurred in the House in consequence of the threat when Mr Morrison had to climb down. The member for Caversham rose to order and denied that any scene had occurred on that occasion. (The Speaker, " Oh, that is not a point of order.") After Mr Hutcheson had finished, Mr Morrison in personal explanation and said that the two case 3 referred to were thoße of local bills, and not private bills. ("Oh, oh" and laughter.) The Premier in reply said he really did not know what private bills he could seleot for the top of the Order Paper. (Mr Carncross : " The Libel Bill.") Mr George Fisher angrily retorted to this: "I'll settle that bill for you." The Premier said that if he gave facilities for considering that bill it would be blocked to prevent the Local Option Scrutineers Bill from coming up. Then there waß the Removal of Women's Disabilities Bill, and he felt sure the House did not want the Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill. (Laughter.) He ooncluded by saying that his desire was to get members to their homes as soon as possible, in order to fight their election battles, as other men were at present securing votes from their constituents. The motion was passed without division. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. A return was laid on the table this afternoon to the order of Mr James Allen, from which it appears that the total number of children in the Government industrial schools in the colony on the 31st March, 1899, was 172, of which 45 were convicted of offences, but not sentenced. The total number in private schools was 398, of whom 30 were convicted, but not sentenced. The total number in all industrial schools was 571. PAYMENT OF JURORS. The amending bill provides that every juror who is summoned and serves as a juror at the Supreme Court or the District Court to try civil issues or assess damages shall be entitled to be paid jurjrs' fees at the rate of 8s for every day, or fraction of a day, that he serves. The jurors' fees are to be paid to the Registrar or any other proper officer of the Court by the party on whose application the jury has been obtained, or by the plaintiffs in .every assessment of damages.. In the event of the jurors attending, but no jury being sworn, the fees received by the Registrar for the firßt day's service shall be applied by him towards defraying the reasonable expenses actually incurred by such juorors as have travelled more than three miles, and if there is any surplus the Registrar shall divide it equally amongst all the jurors who attend. Jurors in criminal cases at the Supreme Court shall receive 8s for every day if they attend for more than four hours in the day, and 4s per day if they attend for not more than four hours. . JOTTINGS. Mr James Carroll intends replying to Captain Russell's Patea speech to-mor-row evening. A few other members intend accompanying tho acting-Colonial Secretary to Patea. A Liberal demonstration is shortly to take place, either at Pahiatua or Woodville, at which several members of the House will be present and speak on behalf of the member for Pahiatua (Mr O'Meara).