PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8927, 16 December 1887, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. STATE JOBESTS.

A return laid on the table of the House today discloses the following facts :—Total revenue reoeived from State forests since the appointment of the present Chief Conserve* tor, 16th October, 18S5, to 25th November, 1887, £6580 18s4d ; total expenditure during the same period, £12,003 5s Id. The revenue of the department for the year ending 3let March, 1886, was £3874. The average amount of revenue obtained from all the New Zealand forests by the Crown Lands Department for timber cutting licenses, from ISS3 to 1885 was £2930. The reporte states that the loss by waste and useless destruction of standing timber has been reduced. Within the State forests last season not a single kauri was destroyed by fire. A total area of 4270 acres at Manitoto, Wairangi, Kioroli, and Papatawa has been planted with blaok and golden wattle, red gum, iron bark, jarrah, stringy bark, etc. Portions of the plantations are estimated to yield a minimum net income of £1500 per annum within six years, increasing fifteen per oent, per annum for five years. BUMOURBD ABOLITION OF STATE FOREST

1 c DEPARTMENT. As there are rumours as to the proposed abolition of the above department, Mr. Moat has put a question on the order paper to elicit the information. He asks the Government whether, as oommonly reported, it is the intention to abolish the State Forest Department; and, if ao, do they intend to adopt the eame precautionary means to preserve kauri forests from fire as were so successfully adopted by that department last summer; also whether they intend to take steps to preserve the young forest plantations, or extend them ?

IMPORTATION OF STOCK. The Importation of Stock Committee, which was appointed to enquire into and report upon the desirableness or otherwise of New Zealand ports being opened to the importation of stock, has reprrted to-day as follows:—"The committee is of opinion that the resolutions arrived at by the Stock Conference held in Sydney in October, ISS6, in so far as they apply to the importation oi foreign animals, be adopted by New Zealand, and that the Government should be requested to take aotion accordingly, such importation to be subject to the general regulations recommended by the Conference; that one, or at mont two ports, be declared quarantine ports, aud that the quarantine ground, should lu all cases be an island." I understand there was an animated discussion in committee over the report, which will be continued in the House at the proper time. Captain Russell is strongly opposed to the removal ot any ot tho existing restrictions, while on the other hand Messrs Anderson, Pearson, Lawry and Valen tino think that as there is no disease except a " swine fever" prevalent in England, sufficient guards to safety, except in the case of pigs, will be found in the length of time taken on the voyage, and the 14 days' quarantine whioh it is proposed to provide for. I understand that the main objections entertained by Captain Russell are (1) that we oannot do away with all the danger of introducing disease ; (2) there is no evidence to ehow that any new blood is required. Messrs J. B. Whyte, Duncan, and Kerr, generally support the opinions held by Cap* tain Russell.

THE EDUCATION OOMMITTBU'S KEPOBT. In the House this afternoon the Eduoation Committee, through Mr. Wilson, presented thu following report:—That in consequence of the evidence not being all to hand, and the nhortaess of time at their disposal to consider such a large question, they are not in a position to make any report this session, but recommend that a similar committee should be again set up next session, when there would be time to take any further evidence necessary to give full consideration to the question, and make an exhaustive report ; that ponding such report it would be inadvisable at preeent to seriously interfere with the education system.

PETITIONS. By Hoani Taipua, from Tahiara and 214 others, stating that they object to doings of the Ngati Tirwharetoa in the Amapehu, Tonganro, and Araahoe blocks, aud that the people of Wanganui did not approve of that tribe disposing of the heritage of our ancestors and fathers; by Sydney Tai« whanga, from Paora Tuhaere, of Orakei, Auckland, praying for the rehearing of the Little Barrier case before tbe Native Land Court; by Major Jackson, from residents at Waipa in favour of Bible reading in the public schools; by Sir G. Grey, from T. B.Hnnaford, in which he narrates Garrard's encounter with him in his shop, and his (Sannaford's) subsequent imprisonment for aeeault by Messrs G, P. Pierce and U. D. Whitcombe, J.P.'e. He prays that the House will inquire civilly into the matter and give such relief as it may deem meet. By Mr R. Thompson, from residents of Waipu in reference to the manufacture of votes to inflence the local option and county elections through bogus subleases whereby 49 persons were put on the roll, the expense of rates, leases, etc., being borne by one individual. They pray the House to remove thja irregularity and to prevent it being practiced in other parts of the colony.

BKPOKT OF PENSIONS COMMITTEE : THE BADDKLEY CASK.

The committee reported to-day on the claims of Messrs. Austin, Muir, and Baddeley, K.M. Aβ respects Mr. Baddeley, the committee find that ho has served thirty years and upwards. He was in receipt of £450 a year, aud was entitled to the retiring allowance given by the Civil Seruriod Superannuation Aot of 1858. The committee see no objection to the punsion proposed. From the evidence before the committee, he

been appointed Sheriff of Auckland, and titled to the fees of tbe office, on the understanding that he will act as second magistrate at Auckland, and, subject to arrangement, hold a Court at Onehunga. The committee reported that the information in tho papers on the oase was imperfect, and they had to resort to other evidence to consider the oaie. They recommend that in all future cases the Controller and Auditor - General should report fully upon the case, as required by sections 4 and 6 of the Pensions Act, 1884, setting forth the grounds on which the application for pension is based and proposed to be granted.

TDK CASE O? JOHN NOAKES. Mr. Moat asks the Minister of Lands whether it is hie intention to take any action on tho recommendation of the Public Petitiona Committee on the petition of John Noakes in the direction of compensating him for the loss of his land, improperly sold by the Crown.

ONEHUNGA WHARF CIIAUOES. Mr. llamliu asked the Minister for Publio Works whether he would give directions that the Government charges levied on the Onehunga wharf shall be in all instances assimilated to the charges levied on the Auokland wharf by the Harbour Board in accordance with promises made by hio predecessor. The Minister of Public Works replied that all the promises had been fulfilled with the exception of the tolls on drays. Mr. Hamlin said he was afraid that the Minister had been misled, and that the answer was inaccurate. Hβ had received a letter from Onehunga calling his attention to a fresh charge which is now being imposed, of one shilling per ton measurement, on all goods shipped to Raglan, Kawhia, Hokianga, WaJuku, and other places within the harbour. Mr. Hamlin intends to see the Minister of Publio Works again in reference to this matter.

QUARTERLY BAILWAT TICKETS.

Mr. Lawry asks the Minister of Public Works if he will cause such alteration to be made in the railway regulations as will provide that persona taking monthly or quarterly tickets, shall not be required to pay more in proportion for travelling on the New Zealand railways than those persons pay who take annual tickets.

FUKKKOHE BOROUGH BILL. Mr. Hamlin gave evidence to-day in reS:d to this Bill before the Legislative nncil Committee. It is down for the second reading to-morrow in the Council.

THE AUCKLAND QIRLt' HIGH SCHOOL BILL.

The present understanding is that the Bill is postponed until *o- morrow. Owing to the Legislative Council throwing oat the Wei* lingtoa Girls' High Sohool Bill, it is doubtful whether i<; will puss or indeed be brought on. The Wellington Bill was thrown out by one vote, but it would have been carried had not Major Ropata's vote been rcoorded amoui; the aoee, when he really gave his vote in favour of the second reading of the Bill. It Is doubtful whether the vote can be rescinded.

THE PROPERTY TAX. The Bill now before the House gives the tax at Id. Mr. Smith's amendment for a land and income tax was decisively rejeoted, many oi the members, and some of the

Ministers, letting up on their election pledges, owing to the short time left in the session utterly precluding any change at present of the incidence of taxation.

PUBLIC RKVKNUBS BILL.

The preamble to the Bill sets forth that the total amount of Deficiency Bills now outstanding and unpaid under the authority of several Public Revenues Acts aforesaid, is £995,000, and it is expedient that Deficiency Bills to the amount of £400,000, being the estimated deficiency in the revenue of the Consolidated Fund at the close of the financial year ending 31st March, 18S8, should be paid off, and that debentures should be issued in lieu thereof. The Bill then provides the machinery for the issue of debentures to pay off Deficiency Bill*.

THE YODNO NEW ZEALAND PAKTY. An informal meeting of the Young New Zealand Party took place to-day, in reference to the borrowing measures. There was a pretty general manifestation of opinion that the JNorth Island Trunk Railway extension and the otago Central extension could well afford to be hung up for a time and the loan tapered off to half a million. The Government, while willing to abide by the deoision of the House, are of opinion that they will not be able to keep a Public Works policy moving with less than the million loan.

" THE GRAND OLD MAN."

Aβ Mr. Gladstone will attain hie 73th year on the 29th instant, a movement is, I understand, on foot among members of the Assembly, headed by Sir G. Orey r to send home a congratulatory cable to " the grand old man."

THE NEW LAND BOARD. The new Land Boards will be elected early in the new year, the machinery for election being left in the hands of the Minister of Lands to devise. The system will be similar to that adopted in the election of Education Boarde. Three members are to be elected by the County Councils and one by the Borough Councils in each land district.