PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7648, 27 May 1886, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[by telegraph.--own correspondent.] VVrllinoton, Wednesday. AUCKLAND FRUIT AT WELLINGTON EXHIBITION. Mr. Hobbs has just told me that, in reply to a letter which he addressed to the chairman of the Exhibition Commissioners, as to when the certificates to the exhibitors of fruit at the exhibition will be issued, he had been informed that the certificates will be issued within a few days. NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. There has been a rumour of a no-confi-dence motion lurking about the corners of the Houee. I have sought to trace the rumour to its source, but have failed. I can say nothing special as to the authority upon which the rumour ie founded. In reply to the question who was to bring tho motion forward, the answer wae " Major Atkinson." I can only speak to the fact of the rumour being current. AUCKLAND RAILWAY TUNNEL. Mr. Dargaville asked the Minister for Public Works this afternoon whether he would take steps to provide better means for the constantly-increasing traffic, so as to obviate tho delay and danger now attendant upon such traffic ? The Hon. Mr. Richardson admitted the work was one of preseing necessity; that two or three alternative proposals were now before the department; that it was proposed during this session to appropriate £50,000 to provide a duplicate or loop line, which would vary much relieve the traffic through the tunnel. KAMO-WHANGAREI RAILWAY. The Minister of Public Works, also in reply to Mr. I'argaville as to tho prospect of extending this line to deep water, said that the extension to deep water would cost between £30,000 and £40,000, which was more than tho traffic appeared to warrant. lie had received information that that the waterway to the present terminus of tho line at Wharigarei could be deepened by the removal of a certain obstruction at a cost of about £5000. Hβ would be prepared, if it were found practicable, to proceed with that work. AN EPISODE. There was a refreshing little episode in the House to-day, which created much amusement. It was quite unexpected, and arose in a manner that could hardly have been foreseen. Mr. Guinness moved that the regulations in reference to granting free passes along the railways to children attending State schools should also apply to children attending schools other than State eohools. Major Atkinson moved an amendment which somnwhat modified the proposal, but acknowledged the right of children along the railway to similar accommodation. Sir G. Grey seconded tho motion. Sir R. Stout pointed out that private schools conducted with religious objects or by religious persona, might use the acoommodation indirectly for religions purposes. In this way, he said, the member for Auckland East wanted to insert the wedge of denominationalism into the present educational system. This statement brought Sir G. Grey once more upon his legs, apparently in mighty wrath. He rebuked the hon. member who assailed him with criticisms on various subject?, but he declared that on this subject his mind was always made np. He had been ever the advocate of the free and secular system. But what was the case with the hon. gentleman opposite, Sir R. Stout. That hon. gentleman was in the habit of eaying that Sir G. Grey would agree to nothing which he proposed. What had the hon. gentleman been doing in the iNew Hebrides question ? There he (Sir G. Grey) was obliged to oppose a giant armed with a flail endeavouring to thrust missionary enterprise out of the Pacific Islands. This was one of Sir G. Grey's home thrusts. Whether it hit straight the object at which it aimed I cannot say, but the House perceived that it had a scathing force whether it hit the mark THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Touching the denominational side of the education question, I may state that a caucus of members of both Houses of the Legislature interested in having Biblereading in schools was held to-day. Abo»t twelve members were present, and Lγ. Menzies presided. It was resolved that the chairman should raise the question in the Legislative Council, either by Bill or motion, so as to keep the public interest alive in tho Suestion. It was probably the knowledge of leso proceedings which made tho passage of arms between the old knight and the new knight so trenchant and reverberating. AUCKLAND MEMBERS. A meeting of Auckland members interested in roads and works north ef Auckland was held this morning to consider what action should be taken with a view to impress upon the Government the claims of the trunk line of railway, extending northward. The meeting was attended by all the Northern members, and the matter was discussed. It was the opinion of the meeting that the sums stated in the Statement, £70,000, was wholly inadequate to continue the trunk line northwards for any appieciable distance ; that at such a rate of progresß the line would not be completed under 15 years at leait. It was resolved that a deputation should wait upon the Minister of Public Works to point out to him that this was a "trunk " line, not a branch line, and had-special claims derived from that fact, as well as from being handed down by a succesgion of Governments. PAYMENT OF EMPLOYES. A movement seems to be afloat in sotno parts of the South to induce the Government to pay their employes fortnightly instead of weekly. THAMES GOLDFIELDS. Colonel Fraser presented a petition to the House tbia afternoon from Samuel Alexander, stating that in 1867 he was one of the pioneer prospectors of the Thames goldfield, that he it was who found that the field was a quartz reefing field, and not a field of alluvial deposit, that he was one of the original sbarehalders in Hunt's Shotover mine, but lost his interest tor want of registration. The petition is a very voluminous one. He sets out that tho Provincial Government of Auckland voted £5000 as a reward for the discovery of » payable goldfield, but no part of that vote has ever been applied. He considered himself entitled to share the benefit of that vote; he therefore prayed from the Houso such substantial relief as might seem meet.

THE AUCKLAND VOLUNTEERS. Colonel Whitmore, in his report upon the Oamaru Easter Encampment, makes the following reference to the Auckland forces. He says : " I cannot close my report without mentioning the generous way in which the Auckland volunteers on this occasion forbore to presa for an encampment during tho present year. Early in the summer I told them, through their commanding officer, that the tentage in the colony was insufficient to supply cover in three places, and that 1 would feel obliged if they would therefore dispense with a camp this year, in order that there might be tents enough for Oamaru and Wanganui. They immediately agreed to do so. I consider it a pleasure to be associated with a force in ' which consideration is shown by one portion it to another. It gives the Auckland men a higher claim to be considered next year in any camp arrangements that may be made. ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT. A return wan laid on the table this afternoon of the amounts applied for and the amounts granted under the Roads and Bridges Act. The totals are as follows :— Main roads, application £255,476, granted £8336 ; district roads, application £12,399, granted £191 ; repairs of roada in consequence of damage by floods, etc., under Sections 31 and 35. Total applications, £275,466 ; grants, £1314. OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. A meeting of Otago members was held yesterday, and a committee appointed, consisting of Messrs. Pyke, Fergus, Scobie McKenzie, Barron, Gore, Bradshaw, and Downie Stewart, to wait upon the Government to ascertain what steps they intend to take to vigorously proceed with the Otago Central Railway. It is understood that if the answer is not satisfactory the Government will be asked if they will offer facilities for the construction of the line by means of grants in the same manner as was adopted in regard to the East and West Coast Railway. It is believed that Otago will testify allegiance to the Government in conformity with the countenance they receive for this proposal. I have heard that a syndicate and money can be found without an effort if •■ffioiiMßfe inducement offers,

NATIVE AFFAIRS. The first meeting of the Native Affairs Committee was held this morning, when Mr. Trimble and Mr. Bradshaw were nominated for the position of chairman. The former wai the Opposition candidate, and the lattor was proposed by the Government side. Mr. Trimble was elected by a majority of one. The supporters of Mr. Bradshaw were Messrs. Grace, Wi Pere, Pratt, Tβ Ao, and Ballance. Those for Mr. Trimble were Messrs. Bryce, Dodson, Hobbs, Locke, Pearaon, and Wakefield. I learn that there are a good many petitions standing over from last year, which was taken up almost wholly in taking evidence upon the Native Lauds Disposition Bill. AUCKLAND ESTIMATES. The following are the changes proposed in the salaries of officers in the Auckland district. The ealariee not referred to remain unaltered :—Registrar of Electors a,t Thames, reduced from £40 to £20 ; an increase of nearly £300 for attendants and servants at the Auckland Lunatic Asylum; H. N. Brewer, addition to pension under Civil Service Act, 1866, for special services, £25; salary of Deputy Registrar Suprome Court, Auckland, increased from £225 to £240 ; gaoler, Auckland, increased from £320 to £330; reduction of £100 in tho amount for clerks at the Chief Post-office, Auckland, and. increase of £60 for cadets; £100 for letter-carriers, and roduotion of £10 for messengers. There is a slight increase in the vote for telegraphists and messengers at Auckland; also a alight increase for Thames operators. Tho postmaster at Kawukawa has an increase of £50. 1 The matron and servants at the Howe.street; Homo are reduced from £150 to £125. The salary of the district traffic manager Auckland railways is increased from £42d to £450. There are large increases in the charges for maintenance, locomotive traffic, and contingencies, Auckland railways. An allowance of £300 is made for the widow of the late Mr. Macffarlane, accidentally killed on the railway at Auckland. The officer commanding volunteers at Poverty Bay is granted £50. In the State Forests Department the following items occur:—Payments to local bodies for assistance, £600; aids to local bodies for planting, £1000 ; Whangarei forestry school, £2000 ; compensation under Forest Tree Planting Encouragement Act, 1871, £4000. £600 is set down for buoy ain Ivaipura harbour.