PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7383, 18 July 1885, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[IT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. | Wbllington, Friday. PURIRI TREES. The Minister of Public Works this afternoon, in reply to a question by Mr. W. F. Buckland, expressed a doubt aa to the alleged extensive destruction of tho puriri tree. Aβ to planting the trees, that matter would come before the House in proper order, when the Forest Planting Bill would be in committee. Mr. Backland said the puriri was one of the most valuable trees in the country, and he hoped the matter would not be lost sight of. ST. MARY'S CONVENT, PONSONBY. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Tole (Minister of Justice), the St. Mary'a Convent Property Leases Bill wae read a eecond time this afternoon. The Bill recites that the trustees to whom the property was originally convoyed are dead. Tho original deed was between Biahop Pompalior on the one part, and Ellen Maher, Maria Frankliu, and Margaret Dwyer, all of thorn now deceased. The land is now vested in Catherine Delany, Margaret Marie Ennos, and Annie Comerford, as trustees. It further racites that the said last-named trustees are desirous of leasing a portion of the said land, but for divers reasons it has been found that the power conferred by the said deed is inadequate for the purposes thereby intended, and it is deemed advisable to extend the said power. By this Act it shall be lawful for tho present trustees (with the consent of the Roman Catholic Bishop of the district) to lease all or any part of tho said land for any term not exceeding 6ixty years in possession, without covenant for renewal, at a rack rent, upon such terms and conditions as may be deemed fit. The third clause euables the trustees to lay off streets, &0., and dedicate the same to public uses. This Act illustrates fairly the advance of tho Ponsonby suburb. LIQUOR TRAFFIC-SUNDAY TRADING. Mr. Peacock presented a petition, signed by 259 residents of Auckland, praying that publicans shall bo prohibited from serving liquor to children under 16 years of age, and further, that the liquor law relating to Sunday should be made clear. Tho petition will probably be referred to the House on consideration of the Clauses of the Licensing Amendment Bill. OFFICIAL COMPETITION. Mr. Hatch presented a petition from a number of skilled persons, who complained that Government ofiicers were allowed to compete with them in tho ordinary labour market, which showod '* either that such officials in the Government service were not adequately remunerated, or had not sufficient work to employ their time." BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES. The Registrar at Auckland does not appear to be so well remunerated as the Registrar at Wellington. Dr. Newman gave notice of a question to ascertain upon what principles such salaries are regulated. DE PROFUNDIS-THE WHITE SWAN. It is well known that a largo number of State documents went down in the White Swan, which was wrecked in lSti:> on her passage from Auckland to Wellington with the members of Parliament on board, SirG. 1 Grey to-day asked the Government to move the Governor to apply to the Secretary of ■State for the Colonics tor a copy of correspondence which passed in the summer of I ISO2 between the tlon. Captain Frazer and the Secretary of State, relating to certain claims of the Maoris in the Middle Island. The motion was carried. MAORI HOSTELRY, MECHANICS' BAY, Mr. Uargaville this afternoon asked tho Minister of Lands whether he was prepared to convey that property to the Corporation of the city of Auckland. The question brought out Mr. Moss from the corner which he usually occupies. Ho urged the higher claim of the borough of Parnell. He reminded the Minister that this property was almost on the boundary of that municipality. Ho pointed out that tho city of Auckland had most valuable endowments, and that Parnell had no endowments. The Minister said this property was trust property ; more than that, it was property in trust for the benefit of the Maoris. It was therefore a sorious matter to deal with, but tho Government would give the subject attention. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. The motion announced by Sir S. Vogel that the Government should be requosted to negotiate for a fresh mail service between Auckland and San Francisco for rive years, at a cost not oxceeding £30,000 a year, was agreed to thie afternoon. Sir Julius used no argument, and expressed no opinion, as he was only auxioud to give the Houee an opportunity of considering the whole subject. Mr. Rolleston thought that the subject could not be discussed until the House had before it returns of the cost of the direct Bteam service, also details of tho oost of the San Francisco service. The G)vernment promised the returns asked for, and the discussion of the subject (in committee) was fixed for Friday next. THE TELEPHONE AND GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMKNTS. Sir Julins Vogel said that whenever practicable, and not too costly, the various Government establishments would be connected by telephone. ARREARS OF LAND SURVEYS NEAR AUCKLAND. Mr. Moat made out an excellent case today for the necessity of overtaking the Government surveye in arrear in tho province of Auckland. He said that in consequence of no less than seventeen surveyors and draftsmen being discharged from the service in Auckland, the surveys had fallen into considerable arrear. The rcsoll; of this arrear was that the Bales of Crown lands in Auckland were prejudiced. No less than 129 persons had made application for lands to the Waste Lands Board. These persons belonged to a class most likely to settle and cultivate land. They had for tho most part capital to go upon the land. He hoped tho Government would be able to give an aeeurance that this state of thines wonld not continue. The Hon. Mr. Billance replied that it was the intention to keep up the steady prosecution of surveys. He assured the lion, member that no time would be lost in renewing the surveys. MAORI ELECTION PETITION. Honi Paratene petitions the House that a new election should be held for the Southern Maori district, on the ground that things were done at the election which in tho opinion of the petitioner were illegal. The Native Affeirs Committee reported that the questions to be determined were purely a matter of law. THE PARIHAKA NATIVES. Colonel Roberts' report to tho Native Minister upon tho recent assemblage of natives at Parihaka has been laid on the table. There were from ISOO to 2000 natives present at one period. One of the objects was to preeont gifts to Te Whiti, and to hear an address from him. Titokowaru'e people gave the prophet £47 in money, and other Maoris made presents of more or less value. But the principal feature of the report is the account given of the Maori banquet that took place during the recess. Tho Maoris expended a very large amount of money in Wellington in purchasing all sorts of crockery. Thie despatch of Colonel Koberts confirms the account then sent to yon, that the Maoris were giving outward and visible signs of an inward aud growing politeness. Colonel Roberts himself writes as if he felt some surprise. He never saw a Maori feast so garnished before. The tables were decorated, the viands were despatched with the assistance of knife and fork, the piece de resistance (ribs of beef and legs of mutton, pork, and bacon hams) were followed by pastry—pies, puddings, sweetmeats, cakes, and niceties. There was also a tangi, which passed off with the usual demonstrations of grief. There was an industrious sending round of the hat to a fluctuating response until one old Maori Puritan stood up and rebuked the proceeding, crying out, "Its all beg, beg, beg." and shortly after the meeting broke up. SPENCER WATER RIGHTS RESTORATION BILL, THAME3S. Mr. Hamlin (Chairman of Committees) brought up the report of the Local Bill Committee, whioh was in effect that thie Bill was not a private Bill. The preamble of the Bills sets forth that Thomas Spencer was, in 1572, the proprietor of the Parawai

Gardens, that the Waikiekie Stream, whioh watered his land, was dammed up, and his riparian rights were destroyed. It further , recites a decision of a committee of the ; Aisembly that the Borough Council of the Thames ihould take steps to arrange with the eaid Gliomas Spencer in respect of his equitable rights. The second clause of the Bill provided for the restoration of the rights of whioh Mr. Spencer had been deprired. Jpon the report of the committee being laid on the table, Mr. White moved that it be considered on Wednesday next. A NEW FRANCHISE. Mr. Bruce (Rangitikei) presented a petition this afternoon from 26 seaman, complaining that they were wholly unrepresented in the New Zealand Parliament. They acknowledged that there was no such (ranohise in England aa that which they contemplated, bat they affirmed that they had as good right to representation in Parliament as any other class of Her Majesty's subjects, wherefor they prayed the favourable ooneidcration of the premises by the House. LICENSING ACT. Mr. Thompaon (Auckland North) presented a petition signed by Joseph Potter, and a large number of residents of Auckland, against any amendment in the existing Licensing Act. KAIPARA HEADS SIGNAL STATION. Mr. Moat prosented a petition this afternoon from a number of shipowners, «hip masters, sawmill owuers, and ethers, calling attention to the lose of shipping in entering Kaipara Harbour. They cited as instances the loss ot tho Anabelle, the Mary Ann Annison, and tho Mathieu. The petition sot forth that William Francis was formerly employed as signalman at Kaipara Heada ; that most of the shipping disasters took place since Francis left that position ; that Francis was prepared to undertake again the discharge of the duties of signalman. They therefore prayed that he should be reappointed to his former position. [BY TELEGRAM,—OWM CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. THE SEAMEN FRANCHISE. Mr. Bruce to-day presented a petition of twelve hundred seamen, praying for representation in the parliament of the country, as now they are as a body disfranchised. THE PARIHAKA NATIVES. The Native Minister today laid on the table a report, by Colonel Roberts, of the native meeting at Parihaka last month. About a thousand natives were present. Titotokowaru presented Te Whiti with a sum of £47. Some of this money wae probably immediately spent, for the report saya that a few days afterwards a great dinner was given by Tohu. It was entirely different from the ordinary Maori feasts, everything being carried out in European style, even to the waiters, though the report does not say whether or not these dark skinned attendants wore the orthodox clawhammer and white tie. The food consisted of confectionery, puddings, cakes, etc. An advertiement inserted in the Taranaki pipers announced a hako for the following Sunday, and this duly took place, it is presumed, before a large crowd, for I note from the report that tho hat was sent round after the performance, and the verv respectable sum of £68 was collected. Some days afterwards as many as ISOO Maoris hail assembled, and speechifying commonced. The speeches wore considered to bo of a satisfactory nature, evincing a strong desire on the part of Tβ Whiti and Tohu to preserve order and peace among the natives. That Te Whiti's influence over the natives is as great as ever, is shown by the means which they adopt to procure money for him, horses, cattle, and other property being sold to obtain it. THE EDUCATIONAL STATEMENT. I believe it was Mr. Stout's intention to deliver his Educational Statement this evening, but it seems to have been again iadefinitely postponed on account of more pressing business in the shape of the debate on tho second reading of the Land Bill. The Minister of Education will probably take the earliest possible opportunity of gotting off his speech, and will make it on speaking on some Bill dealing with educational matters— that is to say, it will not be a set statement, as in the case of the Btidget or Public Works Statement. NON-POLITICAL RAILWAY BOARDS. Referring to the latter, which seems to have been indefinitely poutponed, 1 underetand that the proposal for non-political Railway Boards is likely to be dropped. It will be made in the shape of a Bill, and the Bill after being introduced, will be quietly but firmly kept down on the order paper, and will be among tho list of innocents sacrificed at the end of the session. TOE REFORM OF THE COUNCIL. The first meeting of the committee appointed by the Legislative Council to take evidence and report on the proposed reform of the constitution of tho Legislative Council was held this morning, when Sir G. Grey attended by request, and gave evidence. I understand that Sir George recommended that in case eithor House paaeoa a Bill in two separate sessions, and it should be twice rejected by the other Chamber, thn Governor shall then refer it to a plebiscite to be taken in each electorate, the electors simply voting either aye or no. If the ayes have the majority, the Bill shall thereupon become law. This is hardly a suggestion in the direction of reforming the coußtitution of the Council, bus I believe Sir George Grey holds that if this were done no reform would bo necessary beyond limiting the number of Ministers in the Council. But, of course, it must be remembered that Sir Georgo Grey considers one Chamber sufficient, and would be glad to reform the Council out of existence. THE LAND BILL DEBATE. Tho afternoon and evening sitting has been occupied with the debate on the second reading of the Land Bill, and it may be said here that in moving the seoond reading Mr. Ballance made a capital speech, which drew from Mr. Rolleston, the late Minister of Lands, and other leading members of tho House great praise. From conversation with a number of members on the Bill, I think it is gonerally very favourably received, and that with a few amendments it will pass. These amendments will probably be in tho direction of removing restrictions on purely pastoral land, the limitation of areas dealt with under the perpetual leasing eyetem, and making all endowments under the whole control of the land boards, who should see that a portion of thn proceeds therefrom should be devoted to roadmaking. I shall take an opportunity of sounding other members on the subject later in the evening. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. Noticing an indication on the part of some members to question the desirableness of withdrawing the subsidy to the San Francieco mail service, and giviDg more encouragement to tho direct steam service, it was rumoured that Auckland members were to-day putting their heads together in defence of the San Francisco service, and it was further stated that a meeting of Auckland members on the subject was to be held on Monday. If such was the intention it has since been abaudoned, as likely to create provincial illfeeling, and 1 am told that no such meeting ia now contemplated, if it were eo contemplated. SIR J. VOGEL'S PETITION. I hear that Sir G. Grey will take an early opportunity of moving that Sir J. Vogel's petition be not referred to the Public Accounts Committee, that being, in hia opinion, mostly a Government nominee body, but that it should be dealt with by a Select Committee chosen by ballot. It is understood that Sir G. Grey proposes making a strong speech on the occasion, and reviewing Sir J. Vogel'a action in somewhat pungent terms. EXPORT OF FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. A return was laid before the Legislative Council to-day shewing the export of agricultural and dairy produce from New Zealand to Rio Janeiro via Magellan Straits during the past three months. The respective values were : Flour, £1450; potatoes, £463 ; oats, £135 ; onions, £27 ; maize, £14; cheese, £11 ; salt beef, £6 : total, £2133. SOME CURIOUS FACTS. A paper was presented to the Council by Dr. Menzies, embodying the report of the Scottish Fisheries Improvement Association. Among other curious items, one is the statement chat young salmon hatched from ova taken from a dead fish stricken with salmon disease had thriven remarkably well. Another is that a tank of ova in the hatchery was taken from female trout after being twenty-four hours dead, and impregnated with milk from the male fish, fully four days dead. These eggs have now been in the tank three weeks, and are looking well. The loss at present is only 1£ per cent.

DEFENCE MEASURES. The Public Work* Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr. Richardson, includes forti- j fications amonaat the public works to be undertaken under the Aot. LATEST. Referring again to tho subject of the feelins; amongst membera as to the merits of the Land Bill, I gathered from an ex Minister of Lands, who represents an Otago constituency, that in his opinion the Bill does not contain any new principles of importance. The chief feature of our iecent laud legislation is the perpetual lease system. The Government seem to attach rather too much importance to this. The only advantage it has over the deferred payment system is that it prevents the amalgamation of properties. Mr. Montgomery spoke as if there were any amount of land for settlement and few purchasers, but the very reverse is the case, as shown by Mr. McKerrow in his report, and he is the best authority on the subject. Mr. Montgomery also seemed to convey tho idea that the land in heavily mortgaged on account of the high price paid to the Crown. The chief cauee of this unsatisfactory state of things is the high price paid for land to private individual*. Persons who have bought land from the Crown at about £1 per acre aro usually in comfortable circumstances. Since this was written the Bill has been read a second time. Mr. Ballance had set his heart upon carrying the Bill, and it is a pleasant surprise to find a Government measure going through bo smoothly.