PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7161, 29 October 1884, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[by telegraph.—own cobbespondent.] Wellington, Tueday. THE MINISTERIAL CAUCUS. The political tension has become slackened, the Government having considerably modified the attitude which they assumed on Friday last, in regard to the District Railways resolution. The Ministerial caucus to which tbo matter was referred,met this morning at half-past eleven in the Cabinet-room, and sat till past one o'clock. There were 47 members present, but a far from unan.mous feeling prevailed, there being evidently great opposition to the resolution proposed by the Government. Sir J. Vogel made a statement to the effect that the Government would further modifv the resolution, so that while still enabling the Government to enter into agreements for the purchase of the railways, it should be incumbent on them to apply to Parliament next session to ratify such agreements. In reply to questions, however, it was stated that the latter won Id not contain any provis-ion rendering them subj- cc to ratification by Parliament, and the Government would not consent to any alteration being made in the terms of the agreements by Parliament, so that, unless the House next session did ratify the agreements entered into by them, they would feel it incumbent on them to resign their seats or appeal to the country. In point of fact, •they considered the colony would be in honour bound to carry out the contracts. A long and animated discussion ensued, several members speaking at once, while a few left the meeting when it was about half over. Two or three new amendments were proposed and lost. One was to the effect that no further action should be taken in the matter this session. Another, moved by Mr. Montgomery, was to the effect that the Govern ment should ascertain during the recess on what terms the companies would be prepared to sell the railways, and submit proposals next session. Both these found supporters, but were rejected by the majority. Finally, a notice agreeing to Sir J. Vogel's proposed modification of the original resolution was proposed by Mr. J. C. Brown, aud carried by 26 votes to 16. This, of couise, is net a very encouraging result, and it is still possible, as I suggested last night, that the Government will quietly let the matter drop, unless they see a more favourable opportunitv before the session closes cf getting some tort of authority from the House to enable them to enter into agreements with the companies. It was gathered by those present thst the Government, at any rate, did not int. nd to stake their Ministerial existence on the lesolution this session. During the meeting it was elicited that the Government only wished to take the sense of the House on the second reading of the South Sea Island Trading Bill, but they desired to pnsh through the following measures : — Road Boards Acts Amendment Bill, Westland Education District Subdivision Bill, Ilivers Boards Bill, Wrst Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill, Land Act 1577 Amendment Bill, Life Assurance Policies Bill, Codlin Moth Bill, Civil List Act Amendment Bill, Timber Floatage Bill, Empowering Bill, Consolidated Stock Bill, Production of Beet Sugar Encouragement Bill, .Native Lands Settlement Bill, Animals Protection Act ISSO Amendment Bill, Sheeps Act IS7S Amendment Bill. Wellington College Rtserves Confirmation Bill. These comprise 16 orders of the day out of a total of 45 at present on the order paper. Among the-dropped measures may be mentioned the Local Courts Bill, Electric Lines Bill, and a whole host of measures brought in by Sir George Grey, and other private members, which are thus mercilessly slaughtered. The Government Btated that they hoped to be able to close up the session at the end of next week.

EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY. The East and West Coast Railway Bill was recommitted in the Legislative Council to-day, bnt the Government, upon consideration, . made no attempt to reinstate the sth clause; in fact, the only alteration made was in the 6th clause, it being provided that the agreement with the company in respect to running powers should be determinable on either side by one year's notice, instead of providing, as the clause passed yesterday, that no such agreement should be for mora than one year. In this form the Bill was read a third time and nassed. MR. BUCKLEY. ! The Hon. J. Buckley, of Christchnrch, who was summoned to the Council to-day, and SWOrn in, is the Councillor who lost his seat recently—being absent for two whole i sessions without leav<!i He was on r* visit to ; England, and supposing the session this year would be of the usual length of time, Tie returned eo as to reach New Zealand, as he thought, about the middle of it. He arrived in time to find the short session just over, the second during which he had been absent, and himself disqualified. Mr. Uuckley i 3 regarded a3 a very able member of the Council, and the action of the Go■vemment in again summoning him to the Upper House is generally approved. NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT ACT.

"Mr. Baliance's Native Land Settlement Act, the primary object of which is understood to be to prevent speculators from snapping up land along tliQ route of the North Island Trunk Hail way, was circulated to-day. It is accompanied by an elaboratecoloured map, showing the land proposed to be brought under its operation. It enables the Governor to proclaim land held by natives in Maori tenure, and land held by natives under award of the Court on Crown grant to be subject to this Act. A very large extent of land is proclaimed in the ! schedule of the Act. Without going minutely ' into the boundaries, it may be stated roughly that it comprises the whole of what is known as the King Country, and in fact the native land for a considerable distance on both the Stratford and central routes of the North Island Railway. All lands subject to the Act are to be disposed of only under the authority of a commissioner appointed by the Act, assisted by two native assessors. Previous to the disposal of any native lands nnder the Act a sufficiency of reserves is to be made in all cases for the natives and for public purposes, etc.; the purchase monies and rents are to be paid by the commisaioner to a special fund, to be called the Native Land Settlement .Fund. - Out of this fund there are to be transferred into the public account such a proportion as the Governor may from time to time direct, not exceeding one half of the gross proceeds of the sale of any lands and of any rents received from time to time, and the remainder shall be paid in manner as the Governor shall direct, to the owners of the land in respect whereof such proceeds and rent arise in the proportions of their respective interests therein. The moneys so to be paid into the public account as aforesaid, shall be the consideration for the payment by the Government of the following charges (1) of all expenses connected with the investigation of title by the Coart, the fees of Court, and the cost 3 ordered by Court (if any), the disposal of such lands including surveying such lands, and of opening up lines of road to give access to such land, advertising the same for disposal and of the expenses of distributing the proceeds amongst the owners ; (2) acting as agents on "behalf of the natives in such disposal ; (3) in satisfaction of the duties payable to Her Majesty in respect of such land, and of any rates lawfully payable in . respect thereof, and (4) in carrying out the orders of the Court according to the wishes of the natives. The expenses attending the investigation of a title to land or the survey thereof, or the disposal thereof, shall in case the same be not disposed of, be deemed to be part of the expenses attending any subsequent disposal thereof. The Government is to approve of any town to be laid out, and may advance •monies to native "owners of land subject to the Act. There is a saving clause as to the lights of the natives to sell and of Her Majesty to buy land under the Act. It is especially in reference to this Bill that Wahanui wishes to be heard at the bar of the Souse, and it was unanimously agreed to, on the motion of Wi Pere, that he should be so beard before the second reading of the B : ll. It will be an interesting spectacle when the great chief appears before the House to state the wishes of his countymen. No more complete evidence of the break up of the isolation policy of the Kingite natives could possibly be afforded. Later. Since sending my previous message, two matters therein. referred to, which had not been definitely settled, have now been disposed oh The South Sea Island Bill has been rejected on the second reading, and the amendments made by the Council to, the East and West Coasts Railway Bill have been agreed to by the House, the Goveruxneat sUting that they hoped to be able to

! get a company to undertake the work, but I that if it failed they would not consider | themselves responsible, but rather those who ! had been instrumental in carrying the amend- | ments. The debate on the South Sea Island Bill excited but little interest, it being known that the Government, at best, only hoped to secure its second reading thi3 session. The features of the debate were Sir J. Vogel's speech in moving the second reading, and Mr. Wakefield's reply. The Colonial Treasurer exhibited to the full his vivid powers of description and rhetorical skill, and unquestionably put the project in a most attractive light. Mr. Wakefield's reply was more argumentative and less satirical than is his usual wont, and was unquestionably a very damaging attack upon the Bill. PETITION OF ALFRED KIDD. In reference to the petition of Alfred K.idd and others, leaseholders of allotments at Rotorua, praying for a repeal of the Thermal Springs Act, the Waste Lands Committee to-day reported that au the subject matter of the petition was one fcr Government to deal with, they had no recommendation to make. [BY TELKGAEPII.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.J RAILWAY EMPLOYES AT AUCKLAND.

Sir G. Grey asked the Minister for Public Works to-day—l. Did the employes of the locomotive branch, Auckland section of railways, receive their back pay, and if so upon what date, in accordance with the circular of Superintending Engineer, F. B. Passmore, No. 6 74, ISth day of September, 1574, 2. Did the terms of snch circular include officials connected with the traffic department at Auckland, and whether these public servants were similarly treated. 3. whether the Minister for Public Works will take the matter of these traffic railway employes into consideration, and authorise their being dealt with in the same manner as those employed in the locomotire department. In reply, ilr. Richardson made the following statement: —At the period of reorganisation of the Railway Department in ISSO-1, it was found- that different rates of pay and regulations prevailed in different parts of the colony, and that no uniform treatment had been followed. After considering the subject, the Government determined to adopt a uniform system of pay and promotion throughout the colony on the railways, and this was introduced in May, ISSI. The would not entertain applications for exceptional treatment of auy sections of the employes, or for the refund of any alleged arrears on account of nonpromotion, as the subject of increases and promotions was considered in dealing with the estimates for 1579 SO, and such increases were allowed as were then thought proper. The employes in the locomotive branch, Auckland, have since repeatedly claimed sums they alleged were due. They were paid their claims on September, ISS3. The circular alluded to included in the lists rates of pay for traffic employes. The Government has received a petition from the Auckland traffic empoyds for alleged arrears of pa}', and return of the 10 per cent, reduction imposed on all Government employes during 1579 SO, but has declined to accede to them. It has been held that the Auckland traffic are not more entitled to claim promotion or increased pay than any other ot the railway employes or civil servants, unless such increased rates of pay and promotion were allowed by the Government of the day, which was not the case. The circular in quo-tion was an instruction from the Minister to his officer in 1574, had long been out of use. THE SOOTH SEA TRADE.

In his speech to-day in moving the second reaoipg cf the South Sea Islam! Company Bill, t-ir J. Vogel said that although the measiir.- must greatly benefit the whole colony, Auckland would bo the headquarters of the company. He mentioned this so that there might be no misapprehension on this point. He added that it might be desirable to acquire existing businesses, 'but if they did not there would be no difficulty in their carrying on. The field was a vast one. BLOCK 27, THAMES. Mr. Cadman asked the Minister of Mines to-day if he will give effect to the recommendation of the Goldfields Committee on the petition of Elijah Kollerson and other residents of block 27, Thames. Mr. Cadman, in asking the question, said the Goldfields Committee found that they could not go fully into the merits of the case without going to the expense of bringing witnesses from the Thames. Therefore they recommended the Government to instruct the Warden at the Thames to take evidence, and to report on the petition. He now asked the Government it they would give the Warden the necessary instructions. Mr. Ballance, in reply, said he found on enquiry that it would take about £9000 to give effect to the recommendation of the Gold fields Committee. Therefore, he quite agreed with the hon. gentleman that further information was required. The Government would take steps to acquire the information from the Warden as recommended by the committee. CHARITABLE AID. In the House to day, in the course of a reply to a question, Mr. Stout said the whole question of charitable aid was in a mess. It would be the duty of the Government during the recess to try and get some system established. The institutions would have to be locally managed and locally maintained. Tlie system could never be satisfactory as long as the cost was borne by the Consolidated Fund. TAWHIAO'S VISIT TO ENGLAND. Mr. Wi Pere is going to ask the Government if they will lay on tha table of the House despatches from Lord Derby, if any, relating to the recent visit of Tawhiao to England. THE ROTORUA TOWNSHIP. In the course of some remarks in the House to-day, Mr. Ballance said there was no doubt tho wrong place had been selected for the Rotorua township. Mr. Rolleston here interjected " No," whereupon Mr. Ballance added that so far as he had heard that was the case. In regard to the recommendation of the committee, he would make it his business to investigate the matter carefully during the recess.