PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 20902, 18 May 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[from our own special reporter.] Wellington, May 1 7. A few days ago I infoimed you that Sir George Grey was so much annoyed at Fir Robert Stout’s appearing in the law courts instead of attending to die business of the country that he intended to introduce a bill to prevent any Attorney General while practising as a solicitor liom holding the post of Premie ', and notice of the bill was given to-day. Replying thi -.afternoon to Dr Newman as to whether steps would be taken by the Gove: mient to largely reduce the fees a ul travelling expenses of members of Land Boards Mr Ballance stated that his op 11’on was that the only way to reduce the amount of expenses was to hold the meetings less frequently than at present,

A compromise has been arrived at between the Government and the opposition with reference to tho Representation Bill. The country districts are to be allowed an actual percentage of 15 and a nominal percentage of 18. Tha proposal to amalgamate the city electorates was lost in the House this afternoon by 47 to 34.

Nothing has yet been decided with re’ ference to ihe adjournment of the House for a few days to enable members to visit Dunedin at the miveibng of Burns statue. Mcst of the members are anxious to go, but many are afraid of being blown up by their constituents if they do so.

The extent of the injury sustained through the rabbit pest may be gathered from the fact that up to the present time no fewer than 1,347,554 acres of land in Otago alone have been surrendered by the ravages of bunny, the loss to the Colony being £32,80'?, Of the area mentioned the greater portion has been relet at considerably reduced rentals, lily 414,000 acres being still unoccupied. A meeting of the Joint Rabbit Committee was held this morning and tlio lion Randall Johnston was circled Chairman. It was resolved to ask, the Government for a return shewing the present extent of the rabbit pest, and the number of skins exported. During the discussion, the Government were adversely criticised for t’n ir remissness in not carrying out the wishes of private owners as regards private lands, ami in not themselves complying with the regulations forced upon private owners The Minister of Justice informed,Mr Guinness t is afternoon that tho Government could not see their way to introduce bills ti abolish coroners and grand juries, but if lie could see his way clear lie would do so himself

A very peculiar notice of motion was given in the Legislative Couneil this afternoon, when Mr Swanson stated his intention of moving that all boating and yachting clubs in the Colony should he permitted to use the totalisator upon the time terms as racing elu s. Mr Dodson presented a petition this afternoon from John Dow Bursby, of Upton Downs Run, Marlborough, praying the House to remit a fine of £289 17s (id imposed upon him for having scabby sheep in his possession. According to a return laid before the House to-day, the area of land brought under cultivation in the Marlborough district between 1879 and 1886 was 71.891 acres.

A curious potition was presented today by George Nead, a compositor in tho Government RrintingOflice. He complains that house rent in Wellington is dear, that land is difficult to get, and that if war broke out the city could he easily shelled by foreign vessels. He, therefore, prays that the seat of Government be clian ged to some inland town. No doubt Mr Nead had the Wairau really in his mind’s eye when lie indited the petition.

The whole evening lias been taken up with the Repre eiitation Bill. The Auditor-General was unable to act upon the Board of Adjustment, and the nains of the Property Tax Commissioner was inserted instead. The Premier, to the astonishment of the House, fixed in the new number 3 clause the number of members at 91. He stated that unless tho House accepted the compromise agreed to this eveningj he did not see any chance of the Representation Bill passing this session.

In C nnmittee a division was taken just before 11, as to whether tho number of members should be ninety one. Tho numder of Ayes were 39, and of Noes 39. The Chairman (Mr Hamlin) gave his casting vote in favor of the Noes, It is rumored will tegar l lo the Ilaprj* sentation Bill ihat a compromise is certain, and th it it will remit i.i tha number of members being increased from 71 lo 80, including the N,tiTß members, an increase of 15 per cent ofihcactml popnUtioi of conn'ry ditfr ets and a m irgin of 750 in the ditcretion of the coinmbs'one s.

The Colony is now free from scab, tho 1 st clean i e tide ue having been issued to a sheep fanner in Queen Chario t* •Sound.