PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7655, 4 June 1886, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[BY TBLKGBAFH—OWN OOBBESFONDEKT.I Wellington, Thursday. THE WANT OP CONFIDENCE DEBATE. The Colonial Secretary, in the Legislative Council this afternoon, rose and drew the attention, of the members of that House to the iact that a debate was proceeding in another place which involved a vote of want Of confidence in the Government. The practioe waa in such ciroumetaucea to adjourn until the decidion upon the no-oonfidence motion was taken. Uβ moved the adjournment of the Council, and the Council adjourned accordingly. This proceeding is sufficient by itself to show that we are in the midst of a Ministerial crisis. It has come suddenly, and taken the Homes of Parliament, as well aa the outside public, somewhat by surprise. It does not appear that Mr. Montgomery's motion is th« result of any concerted action of the Otagoi members, although it oannot be doubted that he consulted Messrs. Macandrew and Barron upon the propriety of it. The general surprise has somewhat affected the tone of the debate which is spread ovei: the details of the Financial Statement. Mr. Bryce opened the discuasion this afternoon. He spoke with great force, and was frequently applauded. It is not possible even to imagine what other amendment may be proposed now that the temper of the House is aroused* Mr. Ballance followed Mr. Bryce. There have been many estimates of the probable result of the division. The present notion is that the Government will be beaten. The speeches are above the average of ordinary Parliamentary efforts. The Treasurer, I understand, has complained of the inaccuracy of the newspaper report* of his answer to Major Atkinson, but the explanation is that he was scarcely audible in the Press-gallery overhead. Sir Robert Stout's answer to Mr. Montgomery is spoken of ae an excellent example of debating power ; and Mr. Montgomery's criticism of the Financial Statement was a little heavy, but lucid and to the point. As the debating is at its best, the galleries are fall, and the scene is very animated. 1 CARDINAL MORAN. The Public Petitions on the Legislative Council have had before them the laet two days the conduct of certain persons connected with the Government who were conepiououe in doing honour to Cardinal Moran. The Hon. Colonel Brett rose in his place this afternoon and, in the very vehement language which is characteristic of him, moved that the House of Representatives be requested to give leave to the Hon. Mr. Tole to attend the Committee of the Council, and give evidence upon the subject of Cardinal Moran's visit. AN AUCKLAND APPOINTMENT. The Minister of Justice, in answer to a question put by Mr. W. F. Buckland, as to the appointment of Mr. Mcllhone to the office of Conservator of Forests in Auckland, replied that Mr. Mcllhone bad been highly recommended. He was not aware that Mr. Mcllhoue had been refused a hotel license in the Auckland district. NORTH TRUNK LINE EXTENSION. The deputation of Auckland members appointed by the caucus held on Tuesday waited on the Premier this morning pursuant to appointment. Mr. Mitchelion (Marsden) detailed the circumstances under which the meeting was hclc , , and read the resolution to the Premier as adopted by the meeting. He said the objeot of the meeting was to request that the £70,000 put down for the extension of the Kaipara line from Helensville northward ihould be increased. It was especially pointed out that this line was a part of the trunk system, which was to have been made by the colony before any branch line should bo constructed. It was now the fact that the population of the districts north of Auckland had greatly increased—in tome districts doubled—within the last few years, and that this line was a paying line as compared even with the most successful lines in the colony. He thought that the Government would be disposed to listen to a proponal for a large sum of money to be expended, if they knew that it would be recouped by the profits likely to be obtained. Mr. Hobbs : I believe the present line pays no less than 7 per cent. Mr. Mitchelson : The settlements about Port Albert and Tauhoa are flourishing settlements. It would be very desirable to tap that country by such a line as the proposed extension. Mr. Hobbs also informed the Premier that this extcuaion was part of the scheme of public works policy contemplated by the Treasurer, as it was part of the trunk system which he 'defined as having prior claims to construction. Mr. Mitchelson said the district was progressing very rapidly, that the present line was a paying line, and there was no reason for supposing that its extension would not yield a very fair return for the money expended. Mr. Dargaville admitted that the Government had treated the district north of Auckland with greater consideration than previous Governments. He believed the extension would be a profitable one. Mr. Moat concurred in the statement which had been made by the previous speaker. Hβ thought that the sum put down in the schedule to the Financial Statement was sufficient. Mr. Hobbs said that the Northern districts had long waited in the hope of receiving from the Government a fair share of expenditure. They were kept back for want of some encouragement to their industry. The Premier : I can very well understand that the members of the House of Representatives should desire to see their districts prosper; but I think it is a misapprehension to regard this line as having any special claims. I think that practically it must be regarded as a new line, because it had never been proclaimed, the route had never been decided, the land had not been taken. It was much in the same position as the Gorge line in the Wellington province; but the Wellington members had recently held a caucus, and among other things disapproved of any new lines being undertaken. If they adhered to their preoent view, it was possible that a portion of the £100,000 allocated to the Gorge line might be diverted towards the extension of the trunk line. If that should be found practicable, I would be favourable to the money being rated. Mr. Hobbs said that, on the principal that this extension was a part of the trunk system contemplated from the first of the Public Works policy, the work ought to be done. At the rate proposed, the line would not be finished for the next twenty years. Tho district was growing in importance every day, and was kept back through the neglect of varions Governments. He thought that the line would pay well enough to warrant the raising of a special loan for its construction. The Engineer-in-Chiof had estimated the coat at £7000 a mile. The whole of the country was capable of raising large quantities of various kinds of produce if there were only the means of sending such produce to a market. If a speoial loan of a million were raised the work could be done in four years upon an expenditure of £250,000 a-year. The claims of this extension were greater than the claims of the Otago Central Railway, the construction of which was recommended by the Government to the extent of £200,000. The Premier : I regret I can give you no positive assurance that the vote will be increased. WHAUWHAU RAILWAY. Mr. Dargaville brought under the notice of the Premier the Whauwhau Company's railway, connecting Whangarei and the Kamo line, and inquired whether the Government would favourably entertain a proposition of the company to sell their line to the Government. This was a small line, constructed at a cost of about £0500 or thereabouts. It had been proclaimed, and the Government were running their rolling stock over it, exacting from the owners full rates for haulage. The owners were also under the coat of maintenance of the line. A promise had been made by the late Government, and it seemed to have been understood, that when the email lines should be completed, in accordance with tho requirements of the Public Works Department, the proposition to take over the line would be favourably entertained by the Government. The line was now yielding a large revenue in proportion to its cost, and the coal mine which it served would give a very large yield for many years to come. The Premier, in reply, said there were one or two other lines in the city in a similar position, Hβ

admitted that it was a hardship upon the shareholders that they should be compelled to construct and maintain these lines, at the same time that Government demanded of *.hem full rates for haulage. He did not know how the House would entertain the proposal that the Government should take these lines over. If a formal offer were made to the Government he would have the subject referred to the Public Accounts Committee, in the same way as the district railways last year, and if the committee reported favourably the Government also would take the matter into favourable consideration. ROAD BOARDS. In the House, Mr. W. F. Buckland asked the Premier whether in any future Bill providing for the improvement or amendment of the Local Government Act, the Government will insert a clause providing that the annual meeting of ratepayers of Road Board districts be held at least three weeks before the date of the election of members for the same ? Sir R. Stout said it was not the intention of the Government uO bring down any measure dealing with Koad Boards. THE FRISCO' MAIL CONTRACT. In answer" to Mr. Johnston, the Premier said there was no truth in the report that a condition precedent to the beginning by the Government of the San Francisco mail contract was an undertaking that sugar was not to be carried by the mail steamers from San Francisco or Honolulu to New Zealand without the consent of the New Zealand Sugar Company. THE CASK OF JUDGE PUCKEY; Mr. Hobba presented a petition from Mr. Puckey, late a Judge of the Native Land Court, in which he requested relief in the following oircumetances :—He entered the public service (Native Department) in 1863, and continued to discharge the duties of hie office until 1880, when hie services were dispensed with. He received { the usual allowance upon retiring, After some time he was replaced in his present office, but, upon being restored to offioe, he was required to refund—and he refunded—the compensation he had reoeived for the loss of his previous office. Hβ has received an intimation from the Auditor-General that the break in the continuity of his employment under the Government, bar his rights to olaim a pension under the Civil Service Aot of ISG6, wherefore he prays relief. WAIKATO AND CHARITABLE AID. Mr. J. B. Whyte this afternoon presented a petition from the Waikato County Council on the subject of charitable aid. AUCKLAND WASTE LAND BOARD. Mr. J. B. Whyte presented a petition today from Denis Murphy, who prays for relief under the following circumstances :— In 1880 the Board advertised for sale certain blocks of land at Te Aroha, amongst others j block|7, on the deferred payment system. The petitioner applied to purchase section 15 in that block. There were other applicants for several sections, including 15, but the petitioner was the only person who selected 15 itself. In consequence of this competition for section 15 the Board caused it to be put up for sale by public auction. The petitioner protested against this proceeding, but his protest was overruled. The petitioner believes he was right in the interpretation of the law, and that the Board had no power to act as they did. The result of the action taken by the Board was that the petitioner had to purchase this allotment at a premium of £105, wherefore he asks for relief. PUHIPUHI GUMFIELDS. Alfred and Roberts petitioned the House for leave to dig on this field during the winter. The chairman brought down the report of the committee this afternoon. The following is the effect of the report: The committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petitioners. TfclE TAIAHA. The Hon. Mr. Ballanoe laid on the table to-day the report of an inquiry made by the Hon. John Bryce (Native Minister) in 18S3 with respect to the murder of Mo flat. The inquiry was held at Kihikihi. Rewi or " Manga," as he is styled, was examined among others. The object of inquiry was to determine whether there should be any names excepted from the amnesty then proposed. To ascertain this it was necessary to determine whether the murder of Moffat was a political murder. The Hon. Mr. Bryce 'examined the witness and reported that the murder of Moffat was in the nature of a political crime. Among the passages in the evidence were references to the "taiaha," which was sent into the district, and gave authority to anyone to kill any European that crossed over the aukati line. I presume this paper is produced to authenticate the taiaha placed in the library, and which called forth some allusion from Sir G. Grey. Rewi certainly declares that the taiaha was a symbol of authority, recognised by the natives, and its possession by any tribe or section of the native people gave the fullest license to kill an enemy. The taiaha was sent from tribe to tribe of native people, and was regarded as peculiarly sacred.

NEW ZEALAND MIDLAND RAILWAY,

Among the papers laid on the table was a letter from the Agent-General, containing a narrative of the proceedings up to the assignment of the contract. At one time he had some fears that the whole matter would fall through, owing to the circumstance that only £150,000 was to be called up, and that the capital was to be half a million instead of a million, but in consequence of various conferences he had with the members of the syndicate, the apprehended difficulties were overcome. The correspondence encloses the memo, of the proposed articles of association, Iα which the company takes very large and varied powers. It reserves to itself all rights and privileges of ownership over the land, and power to grant licensee of all kinds for various purposes. This document possesses a good deal of interest for those who would care to study the details of such documents. At firat sight the documents created an uneasy impression that some obstacle had arisen to prevent the work being prosecuted, but those who have studied the document carefully think that no impediment has arisen to the successful carrying out of the contract.