PARLIAMENTARY fIOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXII, Issue 165, 15 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY fIOTES.

[From Otm Own Correspondent.] Wellington, July 14. Contrary to all expectation tbe great event of the session came to a sudden oollapse this afternoon, although the dehate on it was expected to occupy a day or two at the least. It was evident howevtr that some arrangement had been come to, as after the Premier had moved his resolution nobody rose to spnak, and the question was put and earned without any comment whatever. Aa far as I can gather the general view of the House is that the- Premier's resolution -te fleets more upon the Colonial ' Treasurer and consequently on the Government than did tho report of the Committee. As to the Committees report it remains and will of course be placed on the records of the House. Some members are also of opinion that the collapse of the discussion on the subject is not what the public had a right to expect, and that the whole business should have been thoroughly veutila't'eVrin tlie House." -....- --• The Midland Railway Bill has now t fi> : ally paaaediboth Houses. ] The supporters of the measure walblisd its.pas-iage through the Upper House with unusual interest, as it was expected to .meet with consularable opposition. It passed the Cmneil, however, without am.enJment, except the striking ont of the words "to be." The bill pr ividtd that maps were to be attached to it, but tho- "Lords" thought they could improve on this, and made tbe sentence read " map 3 attached." Although the present session is generally admitted to hive been a singularly dull and uneventful one, it will at any rate be remarkable for the "warm 1 ' disclosures revealed by Select Committee-; on various matters. The next sensati >n will be the leport of tho. Public Aocoiinls Committee on the purchase of Stark's property for defence purposes ut Auckland, particulars of which I forwarded to you about a week ago. Ministers are likely* to have' a" bad time when that report is received, an, according to rumor, the purchase U utterly indefensible, on the gronnd, as I previously stated, that it was offered for sale; some months befo^etho Government honght'if, at about a third of the price paid by Government. . ■The Beer Duty Act Amendment Mill, introduced by Sir, Juliua Yogel, provides that a license issued under the Act of 1880 shall entitle such brewer to sell m quantities of not less than two gallons of beer brewed at his brewery, without it being necessary for him to take out a wholesale or other license under an; actor ordinance, brit a , license issued under the Old act shall only entitle the holder thereof to sell beer m casks of the prescribed sizes at his brewery or other place where beer may be ■legally stored prior to the duty being paid thereon i or to sell beer m bottle at his bottling Btore, which store ehali not be situated on his brewery premises. No person shall sell or deliver for sale or consumption any beer m bulk other than m stamped casks of the prescribed sizes. The following addition Bhall be made to the eighteenth section of the Aot of 1880, namely :— ln the fourth line thereof, after the word "affixed" the following words shall he inserted, "as required by this Aot." Any brewer who affixes a stamp to any cask of beer of larger extent than the quantity denoted on such stamp, shall be liable to' the penalty speoified m the sevenI teenth section of the said Aat. If any brewer or other person carries on m any brewery any business other than that of brewing beer he shall be liable to a penalty of £20. The Commissioner may direct and require any colleotdr to refuse to renew the license of any brewer who has been csnvioled of any offence under the Aot.