PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6145, 28 July 1881, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[by .correspondent.J

, ' Wellington, Wednesday. THE DIVISION. ' V"'

It was for some time : expecteiV that - the > divisionwouldtakeplace to night, and. there-' .was unwonted and ominous activity on the part of the whips 'on;both sides.. But at 10! o'clock it became generally known that an agreement had : been come to for ; the division riot to be taken.until- to-morrow'.evening. The.' Government whips now count on" a jmajority; of four, the Opposition admit a■ minority of two or three. There is a rumour, ■this evening that Mr. fyke will ; not "vote- ! against the Ministry in : the, division. I cannot vouch for its accuracy, but should thinkit not improbable. . • . - ; J AN AMUSING INCIDENT. • "The debate to-day has'been' very .dull. ;Mr.' Reeves was declamatory; and denuneia--tory of the Government, but made no new points. Only .one amusing little incident occurred during his speech. He. appealed to his colleague (Mr.' Weston) to corroborate something he had said about the West Coast grievances. Mr. Weston, with his usual politeness at once intimated his corroboration, adding that he had already said the' same thing-himself in his speech, on which Mr. Reeves, turning . fiercely to --Mr. Weston, said angrily, ".Well, I suppose, Sir, there is no : objection to .my saying it over again, is there ?" Mr. Weston, with imperturbable courtesy,' replied,- "Oh, dear, no; certainly not," oh which Mr. Reeves thanked him several times with exaggerated earnestness and gratitude, and the House roared. This was the only enlivening episode. , Mr. Hutchison maundered drearily on his invariable . topic, "the poor working man," and his oppression by the present Conservative and ; aristocratic Government. He never made a; weaker speech. Mr. Bryco is now speaking well and effectively. THE AGENT-GENERiAL'S OFFICE. Correspondence has been laid on the table between the Government and Sir F. D. Bell,; Agent-General. The Government point out | to Sir F. D. Bell that Parliament has reduced the vote for the Agent-General to £3000, and request him to reduce expenses within that limit. Sir F. D. Bell replies that this is impossible, because though £360 was put down for "rent and contingencies," rent alone comes to £400, and contingencies average more than-£350, of which postage alone exceeds £100. He therefore urges that £3500 be voted, and' promises to do his best to keep as much within the limits as possible. - Government reply acceding to the request, and promising to increase the estimate to £3500. This concludes the correspondence. THE PRINTERS' PETITION. Among'the notices of motion was one by. Mr. Hutchison, " That the report of the Public Petitions Committefe on the petition of the printers of the colony with reference to the employment of prison labour to the injury of their trade be considered." PAYMENT OF COMMISSIONERS. Mr. J. B. Fisher, M.H.R., has given notice to move for a return showing the amounts paid to each member of the West Coast Native Commission, Railways Commission, and Civil Service Commission, for travelling expenses, honorarium, and otherwise., FEMALES TRAINED AT NORMAL SCHOOLS. The following return, moved for by the Hon. G. SI. Watcrhouse, -uas laid on the table of the Legislative Council to-day, showing the number of females trained at normal schools within the colony now engaged in the work of tuition under the various Education Boards, and the number who, having been so trained, are now connected with other pursuits than that of education. The following were the figures : —Now engaged in the work of tuition in the public schools, S9; in private schools, 4; absent on leave to study at the University, 1 ; waiting employment, S; known to be connected with other pursuits than that of teaching, 21; those respecting whom there is no information, 18; deceased, 2. Two of the four engaged in private schools refunded the cost of their training. Of those known to be connected with other pursuits than that of teaching one paid £20 for permission to attend for the sake of the instruction given, and two paid a forfeit. MR. MOSS AND MR. PARRIS. Regarding the notice of motion given by Mr. Moss for a return of land and money awarded or paid to the native chief Hone Pihama, and of grounds or services for which such land has been awarded or money paid, some explanation may be needful. Mr. Moss, in speaking on the motion for going into Committee of Supply, referred further to this matter, explaining that this action was based on the fact that in the schedule of Crown grants attached to the last report of the West Coast Commission, in which it is stated that of 5073 acres for which Crown grants had as yet been issued 2263 acres had been granted to Hone Pihama alone, partly "in fulfilment of former promise," and partly as "reserve formerly set apart." On this Mr. Moss based a violent attack on Mr, Parris, whom he declared to be the real commissioner and ruler of the West Coast, and against whom he launched various insinuations, which were warmly replied to by Mr. Rolleston. PETITIONS. Sir George Grey presented a petition from the Thames Liberal Association, praying :— 1. That the record of the proceedings of the committee on the Christchurch election bo erased from the journals of the House, as forming a precedent inimical to the liberties of the people of New Zealand. 2. That land held on timber lease in Thames County should be opened for settlement. A number of native petitions have been received against the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill. The Native Petitions Committee reported on them, declining to make any recommendation, as the matter is one of public policy. PETITIONS FOR GRANTS OF LAND. The Waste Lands Committee have reported on various petitions for grants of land, in consideration of military services in the colony, that proper investigation into such claims involves an amount of research which it is impossible for the committee to perform. - It is therefore of opinion that all such petitions arising from circumstances prior t* the military settlement, should first be inquired into by the Government, during the recess. THE TWENTY PER CENT. OF LAND FUND. The same committee report on the petitions cf several County Councils, for restoration of the 20 per cent, of land fund hitherto enjoyed, that " As regard restoration of the 20 per cent, of the land revenue, the committee is of opinion that such restoration is fair and reasonable, and recommend- accordingly."