PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

|bt telegraph.—special

■DENT.j

r Wellington, Friday. i RETRENCHMENT IN THE COLONIAL FORCES. I understand that the Government intend to largely reduce the general permanent forces in the interest of retrenchment, but that the torpedo and artillery branohes of the force will not be interfered with — least to any appreciable extent.

THE LOAN BILL. At twenty-five minutes past two this morning Dr. Fitchett'a amendment was loßt by 34 to 5, and the Bill was read a seoond time. The House rose at half-past two a.m.

THE BADDELE* PENSION CASE. There are some curious features in connection with this oase. Mr. Baddeley, R.M., resigned, evidently expeotldg that his retiring allowances would be computed under the Pensions Act of 1881.- This would have given him a pension of about £300 per annum, but after his resignation had been received, it was found that he could not retire under that Aot, as he was only 47 years of age, and must, therefore, come under the Aot of 1858, which only gave him £225. I understand that Mr Baddeley was willing to give the three years'additionalservice,making his age 50 in order to retire on the larger pension, bnt the offer does not appear to have been accepted. The average of the fees for the offioe of Sheriff for the last three years is £218, so that Mr. Baddeley is receiving £443, or within £7 of his former offioial salary, he on his part agreeing to give two days duty per week as Assistant Resident Magistrate in addition to his duties as Sheriff. I hear that Mr. Baddeley ia en route to, Wellington, presumably in reference to this pension business, or his recent judicial sentences, whioh the Minister of Justice said a week or two baok in the House would be enquired into.

THE SEAOLIFff EMBROGLIO. The Publio Petitions Committee reported to-day on a petition from the settlerß in the neighbourhood of Seacliff objecting to the appointment of Mr. John Christie to be bailiff at the Seacliff Asylum. The Committee reports that as the matter seems to come within the scope of the Royal Commission appointed to deal with the affairs of Seacliff Asylum they have no recommendation to make.

PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The Committee report re petitions from sawmillecs and other workers in Auckland that an export duty may be imposed on kauri timber in baulk, that in the opinion of the committee the sabjeot deserves serious consideration of the Government. In the case of S. J. Edwards, of Auckland, praying for compensation for the destruction of the cutter Kate by rebel natives at Whakatane, in 1864, the committee adopted the report «f the committee of 1878 on this claim—namely, that fair compensation should be given for the direct loss occasioned by the aot of rebel natives, and that the matter should be inquired into, by the Government with a view to some settlement of such claims ; but with respeot to the special case, the committee has no opinion to offer to the House.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. A batch of native petitions were reported on to-day. In the great majority, the committeo had no recommendation to make, In the case of Jas. Maxwell, the petitioner stated a block of land was purchased by his father at Luois Creek from Captain Stone for £400, and that after hiß father's death, the Government took possession of the land and sold it. The committee report that the petition be referred to the Government to make careful inquiry, and if it is found that the petitioner has any claim to the land immediate steps be taken by legislation or otherwise to satisfy it.

WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE REPORT. The Waste Lands Committee reported t0« day on a batch of olaims of old soldiers and volunteers. The committee reported that these petitions and other cognate claims be referred to the Government for consideration, with the recommendation that they be dealt with on equitable grounds.

THE CHINESE. A return under the Chinese Immigrant Aot, 1881,, was laid on the table to-day. It is interesting and instructive. The number of Chinese that have arrived in the colony from the 31st of March, 18S6, to the 30tn of November, 1887, and who have paid the poll tax, is 138. The number who have arrived during the above period, and who have claimed exemption from paying the poll tax on account of their being holders of exemption and naturalisation certificates, is 323. The number exempted on account of holding naturalisation certificates, 8 ; total number of exemption certificates issued to Chinese in the colony under the Aot sinoe it came into operation, 123. This shows that all but 89 returned to the oolony after leaviug it, or that a majority of those leaving the colony pass their exemption certificates over to their friends coming out in turn to the colony. As to the eight holding naturalisation papers, it appears that the industry of preparing bogus naturalisation papers is regularly carried on at Hongkong. Tho total number of certificates of naturalisation papers issued in the colony, nil. In 1881 there were in the colony of Chinese 4995 males and females. When the last census was taken there were only 4542, being a decrease of 462. The reading of this last sentence of the return in the House elicited a chorus of "Hear, hear's," and " welly good."

TROUBLES OF NEW PLYMOUTH HARB3UR

BOARD.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the financial position of the New Plymouth Harbour Board reported to-day that the Board will have great difficulty in meeting the intereat charges after the next half-yearly payment falls due (Ist May, 1S88), and that unless some change is made as regards the land administration it will be unable to do so after the Ist Novena* ber, 1888. The full rate, £d in the £, on the capital value ia now imposed, and added to other rates retards settlement. The difficulty might to some extent be decreased by raising the landing charges, but even after that the Board would still be unable to provide for its annual charges. The oommittee consider that it may be possible to devisa some means of relief without entailing any additional burdens on the colony, and recommended that the evidence attached to the report be referred to the Government with a view to proposals to that end being submitted to the Government.

THE WESTPORT HARBOUR BOARD. The evidence taken by the Select Committee, of which Mr. J. B. Whyte is chairman, gives, I understand, some curious revelations as to the development of looal Board management on the West Coast, and the necessity for the Government resuming the control of the Westport harbour works. The oommittee, as so many reputations are assailed in the evidence, did not deem it prudent to put the evidence on the table. It was suggested that such portions of the evidence should be excised, but the chairman of the Select Committee said the whole of it would have to be excised, as it was one long series of recriminations and accusations. The O'Conor, better known as the Bailer lion, the ex-chairman of the Board, got a bad quarter of an hour at the hands of his fellow member, Mr. Downie Stewart, and Mr. Larnaoh made it lively for him, the latter saying that, when Minister of Marine, Mr. O'Conor had come to his office, and had the audacity to say, as the Government did not- seem to fall in with his views, he would have to consider his position as to giving the Government support. Mr. Larnaoh went on to say, amid roars of laughter, that he told Mr. O'Conor to repair to " another place." Mr. Withy, who spoke as a man conversant with harbour works, and am a member of the Committee, strongly sustained the condemnatory report of the committee. The gist of the report was: 1. That Westport harbour works were not carried on satisfactorily or economically, 2. That the Board shall be discontinued. 3. That the endowments have not been satisfactorily administered; the conditions of the mining leases having been so far relaxed as to permit the growth of an undesirable monopoly. Mr O'Conor's motion to attach evidence to the report was lost on the voices. This Harbour Board business shows the financial dangers looming ahead for the colony, and justifies the action of the young New Zealand party in blocking, this session, every Harbour Board Bill with its little loan which it was in their power to accomplish.

ONBHUNGA WATERWORKS BILL.

Sir G. O'Rorke was examined before the committee of the Legislative Council in respect to this Bill, He was examined as to the concessions to Dr. Campbell for giving a reserve for the site, but he apparently was not thoroughly conversant with them. The

Allegation was that Dr. Campbell was to get a six-inch pipe supply from the reservoir to the Onotree Hill gratuitously, so that if a township were formed there this concession would be a serious business. The chairman of committee telegraphed to the Town Clerk of the Onehuoga Boroueh Council for information on the matter. The reply given put a different f«oe on the Dr. Campbell is to get the water by meter, to pay 15 per cent, over the net cost of the raising rate to the reservoir, provided it does not exceed 10d per 1000 gallons, and in the event of insufficient supply be is to suffer a pro rata reduction. The information oame too late to save the Bill, and it waa withdrawn, but one of the Auckland members of the Legislative Counoil informed me that had it been forthcoming in the first instanoe the Bill might have been saved.

ONEHUNGA CEMETERY RESERVE BILL, s The Select Committee to which this Bill was referred reported against it. It is down for the seoond reading on the Order Paper in the Legislative Counoil, but will be with* drawn, or suffered to lapse.

NATIVE LANDS BATING ACT REPEAL BILL.

There is no foundation for the rumour that the Government intend to drop for this session their Crown and Native Land Rating Aots Repeal Bill. They anticipate saving £36,000 a year by the measure. The new Bill is to take effect from the end of the current fiuanoial year—that is to say, from Ist April next. It repeals the Act referred to in its title with a saving of all matters actually current under the repealed Act.

THE POINT RESOLUTION FOBCHASE. Sir G. Grey informs me that he has been to-day with the law officers of the Crown in relation to this matter. He stated the case and his views as to getting the Crown grant embargoed so as to prevent further dealings with the land held by Mr Kissling. The matter is under consideration of th 9 law officers.

THE ALLEGED DISQUALIFICATION OF LEGISLA-

TIVE COUNOILLOBS. Mr. Samuel is still proceeding with his investigations, and is determined, with the aid of other members, to make the Government fabe the issue which he has raised. Mr. Samuel informs me that he has submitted the case of the alleged disqualified Councillors to five or six lawyers, and they agree with him as to the legal opinion he entertains on the matter.

THK OTAOO CENTRAL AGAIN IN PERIL. Mr. Pyke has buen all day in the Legislative Council waiting and watching over the fate of the Otago Central, the second reading of whioh is well down the order paper in that Chamber. He has a blooming rose for eaoh Legislative Counoillor, so as to make no invidious distinction between the Upper and Lower House representatives, bat the prospect at present does not look rosy for the Bill, as the Attorney-General (Sir F. Whitaker) has given notice that on the resumption of the debate on the second reading of the Otago Central Railway Bill he will move : 1. That this Council iB of opinion that no authority should be given to construct the Otago Central Railway, as proposed by the Bill before the Council., 2. That any Bill to authorise its construction should provide for the oontraotor taking over upon reasonable terms that portion of the line heretofore constructed by the Government. 3. That it is too late this session to deal satisfactorily with the subject, and therefore the present Bill should not be farther prooeeded with.

SPKCIAL POWERS AND CONTRACTS AOT. Owing to the number of little arrangements which appear to be put through in the last hoars of the session without anybody being much the wiser, as clauses in the Special Powers and Contracts Act, the hon. Mr. Waterhouse gave notice to-day of a motion that the Council should refuse to sanction any proposed legislation in the nature of Special Powers and Contracts Act. DEPUTATION, TO THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC

WORKS. A deputation waited upon the Minister of Public Works with a view of encouraging dairy factories, by getting a reduction In the rates for the carriage of oheese and butter. Mr. Mitohelson said he recognised the importance of the industry, and would look into the matter of rates. They also made representations as to the carriage of lime, and he promised to give the reduction consideration.

SIR GEORGE GREY. The long hours and protracted sittings of the House are evidently telling on Sir George Grey, and this afternoon he looked thoroughly jaded and exhausted, falling into a dozs on his seat for some time. To-night he made his appearance for an hour or so, and then left the House.

THE ESTIMATES. There has been the usual wrangle to-night over the votes, each representative complaining that he had not got enough, or had been worse treated than his neighbour. The Opposition men complained that the Ministerialists had all the good things going, and so on. There was an amusing sally on the item the " Roads," when Mr, R. Thompson pointed out that the whole four North Auckland members were Government supporters and yet there was not a penny for roads north of Auckland, the amount down being for an old liability. " Why," said Mr. Reeves (Inangahua) amid roars of laughter, "Isee £800 down for Thompson's Track !" The young New Zealand party beld a meeting in the morning with a view of getting the estimates reduced by a quarter of a million, and ex* pected the opposition to help them in this direction. The Opposition held a meeting in the evening, and as the yonng New Zealand party bad voted against the Opposition oa the one million loan question, the latter "dished" the former by substantially supporting the . estimates as submitted by the Government. Sir Julius Vogel termed the Young New Zealand Party "a few stnpid boys." Mr. Mills promptly got up and defended the action of the party, and stigmatised the language of Sir Julius as being undignified. There was a determined attempt in Glasa 8 (publio buildings) by some of the Southern members and Taranaki members to get rid of the vote or reduce it as setjdown for the new Auckland Castom House, but the motion was decisively rejected by substantial majorities.