PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8926, 15 December 1887, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

|BY telegraph, —special CORRESPONDENT. Wellington, Wednesday.

AUCKLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Some of the Auckland members think it is ft poor rule which does not work both ways, and if the land grant principle is good for the Midland Railway, it ought not to be bad for Northern railways. ' Mr R. Thompson has accordingly given notice to ask the Government if they will have any objection next session to bringing in a Bill to construct the North of Auckland Railway on the land grant principle.

AUOKLAND LUNATIC ASYLUM. In reply to Mr Peacook's question, the Colonial Secretary said the female inmate referred to was not wholly oured, but sufficiently restored to be entrnsted to the care of friends or relatives, if any would take charge of her, As she had a suicidal tendency, she could not be discharged otherwise. The facts were pretty much as stated by the hon. member, but the rule as to maintenance and discharge of penniless patients was not so harsh as he imagined. ONEHUNGA WHARF CHARGES. It appears that a promise was made by the late Government that charges levied on the Onehunga Wharf should be assimilated to those charged on the Auckland wharf by the Auokland Harbour Board. This promise does not appear to have been fulfilled, and Mr. Hamlin is now moving the Government to carry out the promises of their predeoessors.

THE COLONIAL CONf KRENOB, Mr. Joyce &Bks the Government if they have received a report from Sir W. Fitzherbert, the representative of the colony at the Colonial Conference, or any recommendations from him as the result of his visit to Europe in the direction of postal reforms and reciprocal tariff treaties with foreign nations.

PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. In the oase of A. J. Alloin, of the Thameu, a claim for compensation far services under the Provincial Government, the committee report that the petitioner has received a retiring allowance for the whole of his services under the General Government, and does not appear to the committee to be entitled to any further payment. In the case of Mrs. Hargreaves, of Parnell, whose husband died suddenly of heart disease on railway duty, and who prayed relief, the committee reported they could not recommend the prayer of the petitioner.

PETITION. Sir Geo, Grey presented a petition from J. P. Noakes, of freeman's Bay, praying for compensation for discovery of West Coast goldfiald. STATU AID TO DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS. The Education Committee reported today on the petitions relating to State aid to wards denominational schools, principally from Roman Catholics. The committee reported that, as the question is under the consideration of Parliament, they have no recommendation to make. THE POINT RESOLUTION PURCHASE.

The Public Petitions Committee reported bo-day, on Sir G. Grey's petitiou in relation to the purohaae of Point Resolution. The petitioner stated that the Government took for defence purposes the whole of over four acres at Point Resolution, belonging to St. Stephen's Orphanage Trust, and let by the trustees on lease. Only three-fourths of an acre was eventually used for defence purposes, and that the remainder of the land instead of being restored, as the law directs, to the trustees, was unlawfully conveyed to the lessee. The petitioner prayed that the Government would make inquiry and restitution. The committee reported thereon as follows: The evidence before the committee appears to show that the Government, by arrangement with the lessees, took a larger area of land than was actually needed for defence purposes, and that the balance not wanted was conveyed to the lessee, whereby the trust lost the whole of the property, receiving compensation, £632. The committee is therefore of opinion that the Government should inquire further into tho case, with tho view of restoring the trust, if possible, to the position it would have ocoupied if the Government had taken only so much of tho land as was absolutely necessary for defence purposes." On the report being submitted to the House, Sir G. Grey moved that it be read, which was done. He asked the Premier if he would name a time for dis» cussing the report, as the matter required speedy consideration. A grant was ordered to issue, en the authority of the Special Powers and Contracts Act of last session, and it was desirable to prevent any further dealing with that grant which would complicate or obstruct the reinstatement of tha Trust. Every transaction with that grant would embarrass the action of the Govern-

ment, and therefore speedy action was necessary. The Premier said he would read the report, and would state later on what he proposed to do. His desire was to do whatever was right.

THE LAND BILL. There was a sharp interpellation between Sir G. Grey and the Premier over an attempt of the former to insert the first clause of his Fair Rent Bill into the Land Bill, but the proposal was decisively rejected by the House. One of the members of the Ministry stated that the Fair Rent Boards would entail an additional charge of £7000 a year on the country.

TUBUO BODIIS POWERS BILL. Members were reconciled to the rejection of the amendment as they believe that the Publio Bodies Powers Bill, introduced by the Hon. Mr. Hialop, Colonial Secretary, will enable publio bodies to give a large measure of relief to tenants at tbe present time, and do all that is required until the Government next session bring in a general wellconsidered measure. The Bill repeals the Public Bodies Leaseholds Act, ISS6, and tho new Bill provides that tho leasing authority may accept the surrender of the existing leases and new leases granted. The provisions are so important that I give them in extenso i They appear to cover tho oases of the Harbour Board tenants in Customstreet, and the City Council tenants in Karangahape Road. It is contended that the subjoined clauses practically make provision for a fair rent, and utilise the local bodies as Fair-rent Courts without a penny of additional expense to the country. They are as follows : A leasing authority may on such terms as it may think fit accept a surrender of any lease. A leasing authority i may at any timo or times during the ourrenoy, or on the surrender of a lease, compromise with, or make allowances to tho tenant or tenants for any rent due, and may also in the case of the continuance of tho lease reduce the amount of rent to be thereafter paid, and any agreement made hereunder shall be binding on both parties, but it shall be necessary to fix the amount of such allowances by a special resolution. On the surrender of any lease the leasing authority may again, subject to the provisions of this Act, lease the land comprised therein, or such leasing authority may grant to the former lessee a new lease for the remainder of the term of the former lease, at rent to be fixed by the leasing authority by apeoial resolution, either before or after such surrender shall have been made. Notwithstanding anything contained in tho three foregoing (sections it shall be necessary to have any resoluton come to by virtue of the provisions thereof respectively approved by the Governor«in«Counoil in the oases hereinafter montioned, namely: (a) In respeot of any pastoral lands vested in or under control of suoh leasing authority ; (b) in respect of any reserve for primary or secondary education, subject to the provisions of the Education Reserves Act, 1887, or tho High School Reserves Act, 18S0, or any amendments of those Acts respectively, and until it is so approved it shall have no effect. Leases may be granted to sub-tenants with the consent of the lessee of any part of the land, and the provisions of this section shall apply although no lease shall have been actually executed, but only an agreement for a lease entered into.

GOLDFIELD3 COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Goldfields Committee report on the Mining Act Amendment Bill No. 2, that they have considered the same, and recommend that it be passed with the amendments attached. The most Important are the follow* ing new clauses:—Clause C: "All Native land within a mining district, whioh has at any time heretofore or hereafter may be ceded by the Native owners thereof to the Governor for mining purposes, shall for auoh purposes, and no other, be deemed to be Crown lands, open- for mining under the Miaing Aot, 1886, subjoot to the terms of the particular agreement under whioh such land was ceded, and the Warden may deal with any such land as if it had ceased to be private land during the subsistence of the agreement. Clause 13; if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Court that

any special claim heretofore granted has remained unworked for six months and unprotcced, the Court shall declare the same to be forfeited, or the Warden, at bis discretion, on sufficient cause being shown, may substitute a fine for forfeiture, and may allow thereout a sufficient sum to defray any reasonable expenses incurred by the plaintiff, if any, in the proseoution of his suit. AN ECONOMIST OCT OF OFFICE.

| The hon. Mr. Reynolds in the Council took occasion to express his belief that sufficient retrenchment in the public service had not been attempted hitherto. Consider* ing he was a member of a Ministry which was responsible for the returns recently made concerning the Ministerial residences and travelling allowances and expenses, the sentiment is regarded in some quarters as rather a good joke. The hon. gentleman, in quite pathetic tones, gave an instance within his knowledge, as pointing to the consummation so devoutly to be wished for. There were, the hon. gentleman remarked, two watchmakers employed during the session to wind up the Government clocks, and he oonld cite numberless other oases of equally wasteful extravagance within his ken. He could tell the Council that if he could but get the country to listen to him with a patient ear, he would reform it altogether. "But," continued the embryonic Cromwell, "if ever I should become dictator, I would make an alteration, and would show the colony what retrenchment really meant. ' There is a tradition in the Civil Service that the Hon. Mr. Reynolds once bitterly reproached a Private Secretary for using four penuy stamps in a letter instead of a fourpenny stamp, on the ground that the time oconpied in affixing four stamps instead of one was lost to the service of the country, to say nothing of the waste of stamp paper. Yet the hon. gentleman was a member of a Ministry indulging in "pianos on hire," "satin cloth bedhangings," "and handpainted toilet sets," at the expense ol! the colonial taxpayer. DR. POLLEN'S EXIT.

The Times thus describes the Hon. Dr. Pollen's exit from the Legislative Council:— The hon. gentleman did not occupy his seat yesterday during the sitting of the Council, but shortly aftei- tho Chamber rose Dr. Pollen entered the Council Chamber for the purpose of taking some private papers which were in his desk drawer, and immediately upon his appearing his friends in the Council pressed around nim, and expressed the deepest regret at Ilia determination of retiring from the service of his country. The hon. gentleman, albeit " not given to the melting mood," was somewhat overcome at the spontaneous expressions of good feeling expressed on the occasion, and having bade a hasty good-bye to those of his fellowmembers who happened to be present, all of whom assured him of the pleasure they would feel if ho again took ,his accustomed seat among them on tho General Assembly resuming next year for the despatch of business, he hastily withdrew. TELEPHONE EXTENSION. Mr. Hobbs is moving for the extension of the telephone system from Mangonni to Kaitala. The Government will make inquiries as to whether such a line will be selfsupporting, with the view of proceeding with tho work. THE RAILWAY BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. Messrs. Fish, Seddon, and Moss kept the j discussion lively in committee in the small | hours until three o'clock in the morning. Several Government supporters had Intended introducing amendments, but the prolonged speaking by the abovenamed members de» l barred these amendments being brought up or the measure receiving necessary criticism, except at the risk of imperilling the passage of tho Bill. Tho Government besought their friends accordingly to stay their hands. The fifth clause, dealing with the constitution of the commissioners, was carried at a late, or rather early hour, by 33 to 11. Mr. W, P. Reevo* then announced his intention and that of other members to go, and complained that the Government were not allowing independent discussion, since the smallest matters were made party questions. The Bill proceeded rapidly after this, being practically disposed of and rushed through committee in a House averaging throughout little more than 25 members, by five o'clock in the morning, Mr. Monk, yielding to the appeal of the Government, refrained from pressing his amendment for the appointment of commissioners being subject to 12 months' notice, but it will probably be introduced when the Bill is before the Lsgislative Council. Mr. Thompson to-night moved the recommittal of the Bill to get in his Vaile Railway System clause, but failed. On tho motion that the Bill do pass, Mr. Seddon made a final protest. He said it was whispered ni the lobbies that the Commissioners would reduce wages to save £50,000 a-year, thns influencing the wages rates in other branches of labour. He read a letter he had received from Auckland. Several members interrupted with " Who from, S. 1" He replied, " The Radical Reform League," an answer which elicited some laughter, although he averred he could see no cause for it. Air. Seddon read the League's protest against the creation of a Board. He repeated the canard of the lobbies that Mr. Maxweli was to be made Chief Commissioner, a statement which elicited a chorus of "noes."

Mr. Mom made a final protest against the BUI, principally on the ground that the result would be to lower wages, aud injuriously affect the labour market. Ho let the House into a historical secret. He had boon called

" The Cassandra of the House," but the title was first given in the English Parliament to Sir Robert Walpole, because he opposed the 'South Soa scheme, which subsequently brought misery to thousands of homes. Ho shared the title in good company. Mr. Monk gave a good sample of Maxwelliana in his speech. He said, according to Mr. Maxwell's Waikato tariff, if he was rightly informed by a settler, a ton of bonedust carried from Auckland to Waikato cost lid more than to carry two tons the same distance. The story elicited shouts of laughter, and Mr. Reeves, of Inangahua, requested Mr. Monk to tell it again, ho being no admirer of the general manager of New Zealand railways. The Bill then passed its third reading on the voices.

vaile's railway svstsm. In a chat with Mr. Thompson (City North) to-night, he informed me that he was rather disappointed at none of the Auckland members backing him up in getting the Vaile clause inserted la the Railway Bill, so far as speaking on behalf of it was concorned. He read in the Bouse quotations having reference to Vaile's railway system from speeches of Mr. Mitchelson, Sir G. Grey, Major Jackson, and Mr. Whyte, Mr. Thompson informed me that it was predicted he would not get six men to follow him into tho lobby on tho proposal. He, himself, reckoned on a dozen, but to his gratification 24 did so. The Auckland members who voted for the insertion of the Vaile railway clause were, Messrs. Cadman, Uoldie, Jackson, Lawry, Moat, Moss, Withy, T. Thompson, and Sir G. Grey. Mr. Thompson was, however, so much disgusted at his failure to get the Vaile's railway system claim inserted, that he voted against the third reading of the Bill. THE PERSONNEL OF THE NEW RAILWAY BOARD. The Post considers the colony will not get a man of large experience and first-class ability In railway management for £1500 a year, while Victoria pays £3000, and New South Wales £2500. As to the assistant commissioners, it will probably not be necessary to import them, and the proposed salary may therefore be sufficient. Publio opinion undoubtedly points to Mr. Hannay as eminently fitted to fill one of the vacancies, and if it were possible to induca Mr. F. Back, the present general manager of the Tasmanian railways, to return to New Zealand, it would bo difficult fiud a better man to fill the other commissionership, It is to bo hoped Mr. Maxwell will be permanently shunted.

THE ALLEGED QUALIFIED LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS.

Mr. Samuel is doubtful whether if the Councillors were disqualified penalties could be recovered, though he is inclined to think the honorarium which they received could be demanded. An Auckland member, who has an eye to turning over an honest penny, suggested at the outset forming a syndicate to recover the penalties as the correct thing. I understand that the Attorney-General is of opinion that there is nothing in the point raised in the House by Mr. Samuel as to vacation of seats by certain members of the Legislative Council. In any case, as the hon. Mr. Holmes had leave for a year from his Excellency the Governor, no disqualification can possibly attach to him by reason of his absence, H.M.S. RATEX. A party of officers of H.M.S. Raven were entertained at Bellamy's to-night, and were afterwards for a short time in the gallery in the House. '

the MEMBER for MARSDEN AND his

constitoentjj. Mr. R. Thompson has received a copy of a resolution passed at a publio meeting at

Whangarei thia afternoon, giving hearty thanks for his independent conduct in the House, and determined opposition to the waßtefnl expenditure of the late Government and especially with reference to his oondaot towards Sir Julius Vogel, AUCKLAND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL ACT AMEND*

MENT BILL. Contrary to expectation a formidable opposition was developed to the third reading of the above Bill to-day. It provided for mortgaging an education endowment situate In the North in order to raise £5000 for the erection of a new Girls High School. Mr. Turnbull had discovered that the endow* ment had been gazetted for primary educa* tion, and protested against its being appropriated to secondary education contrary to law. It appears that, according to the Land Act of 1885, a list of all educational endowments has to be submitted to Parliament each session, and if no objection is taken then the reserve iB made permanent. This was done with the present reserve, and according to custom, as regards Auckland educational reserves, although there seems no reason for it, it was classed and gazetted as a primary education reserve. It appears that it was arranged between certain Auck< land members and the late Premier and the Minister of Lands, that* this particular reserve should be given as an endowment to the Auokland Girls' High School. Messrs. Goldie,' Peacock, and Moat spoke in favour of the Bill, and pleaded that the reserve had only been for two months a primary school reserve, that the classing of it as such was a technical error simply, and that it was intended all along to make the reserve for the Auckland Girls' High School, being taken for that purpose from the Crown Waste Lands. Sir G. Grey sympathised with the object of the Bill, but he could not be a party to violating the law as It stood. Here was a reserve gazetted as a primary education reserve about to be taken for the purpose of secondary education. Colonel Fraser took a similar view, as also did many South members. On the question that the Bill be now read a third time, the motion was lost by two votes, the numbers being — ayes 30, noes 32. Sir G. Grey, Colonel Fraaer, and Mr. Graham voted with the noes. Had the Auokland members been united, the third reading would have been carried. On the motion that the Bill be read that day three months, the supporters of the Bill succeeded by lobbying in reversing the previous decision, as the motion was rejected, ayea 29, noes 35. Among the ayes are Sir G. Grey, Colonel Fraser and Mr. Cadman. To add ts the complications, word ha 3 been received that the Auckland Education Board has obtained a certificate of title under tbe Land Transfer Aot of the reserve as an endowment under the Auckland Girls' High School Act, Inquiries made here show that the Gazette notice claiming the reserve was prepared by a clerk whose reply was, that it had always been the custom to deal with Auckland educational reserves in that way. Tho Southern members opposed to the Bill have got the idea in their heads that calculating this timber reserve at one shilling per hundred for th« standing tim* ber, its value Is over £30,000. Accordingly I learn late to-night that Mr. Tnrnbull will withdraw his opposition if a clause is inserted in the Bill providing that any excess in receipts over £5000 shall go in aid and for the benefit of primary eduoatlon. I understand the Auckland . members supporting the Bill are prepared to accept this proposal. Tho third reading of the Bill comes on again to-morrow. THE ONEHONGA SPRINGS AND CEMETERIES BILLS. Further evidence has been taken by the Select Committee. Among tihose who have given evidence that the reserves were intended for the benefit of " the inhabitants of the County of Eden" was Mr. Peacock. The passage of the Bills will be stoutly contested in the Legislative Council. THE PROPERTY TAX. Mr. Turnbull intimated that ha will move the following olause when the House goes into committee on the Property Tax Bill "That erery person who has resided in the colony for six months during the twelve months previous to the date of the property tax being payable shall, if he pays the tax on the due date thereof, he entitled to a deduction therefrom of twenty per oent."