POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9076, 9 June 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

tBY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. THE 'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. Owing to the movement made in tho Upper House against the 'Frisco mail service, and Mr. Beetham's proposed motion in the Lower House, Mr. Peacock is watching the question, and will shortly eee the Premier on the subject.

THAMES AND ROTORUA RAILWAY. A return was furnished to-day of all District Railways affected by the District Railways Amendment Bill. I give figures for the Thames and Rotorua Railway. The cost of purchase was £155,187. In the year 1886-7 the gross revenue was £2,238, and the expenses £3,396. In the year 1887-8 the gross revenue wap £3,544, and the expenses £3,350. In 1886-7 the rates recoverable under the present Bill were £2,085, and in 1887-8 the rates recoverable were £3007. With regard to the last two amounts, such proportion of the expense of collection as will nol; make the total exceed two per cent, on the amount of debentures, will be added to thane amounts. THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACT.

A petition was presented by Mr. Goldie ! from 539 residents of Auckland in favour of the Bill for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act. Amongst the signatures were those of three modical men and nine clergymen. A petition was also presented by Sir G. Grey from Mrs. Steadman Aldis in relation to the same, and praying it may be repealed. Mrs. Aldis states in the Ereamble of her petition that it having een publicly stated in the House that, though having taken an active part in promoting the repeal of tho CD. Act, she is nevertheless unacquainted with the provisions of the Act, she now declares that the following are among the provisions of the Act. Then follow twenty paragraphs giving a synopsis of the Act and its scope, with a view, apparently, of contravening the statement of the " nigh judicial functionary," that she was unacquainted with the Act. Sir G. Grey gave notice of motion, " That the petition of Mrs. Aldis be printed." Mr. Fulton caused some merriment to-day by giving notice to ask the Government what they had done with the roport of the debate on the CD. Act, which the House had decided should not appear in Hansard. He said they had not yet done with the business. THE STOCK COMMITTEE. The Select Committee have passed the following resolution : —"That one or two ports be declared quarantine, ports, and a quarantine station, if possible on an island, be established, and that district quarantine regulations be adopted." They recommend that the Government add the following diseases to the schedule of the Diseasea Cattle Act, namely, tuberculosis, cancer, ulcer, and all tumorous sores, and that fresh legislation be introduced, giving extended powers to the police for the examination of skins suspected to have belonged to stolen sheep, wheresoever they may be found. THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY BILL. The Waste Lands Committee reported to-day that, after having gone carefully through this Bill, and after hearing the evidence of the Surveyor-General, the Assistant Engineer-in-Chief, and Mr, Pyke, M.H.R., they are of opinion that the Bill should not be allowed to proceed. Mr. Pyke, as soon as the report was laid on the table, moved, " That the committal of the Bill be an order of the day for the sth of July," and it was carried on the voices. The hon. member for Dunstan, who was " sitting on tho ragged edge of despair," ia again jubilant. SMUGGLING. Mr. Goldie asks the Commissioner Of Customs what steps he intends taking to put down smuggling ? I understand the Government have been informed that thie is being done extensively in certain country disbriots north of Auckland. Ex-Inspector Shearman, before leaving the police service, I hear, informed tho Government that it was a mistake to keep tho police Jind detectivo force undermanned, inasmuch as through false economy of this sort, the loss to the Customs through smuggling was I above £150,000 a year.

PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. This committee reported as follows in the cases mentioned:—L. B. Nelly, of Auckland, dismissal from Defence Department; no claim against the colony. Mangonui County Council, re license fees from gumdiggers; referred to the Government for consideration. John Borrie and others, of Tβ Aroha West; referred to the Government for consideration. Chairman of Waitemata County Council; committee of opinion that exchange of land for roads should be made loss costly and cumbersome. Joseph Corby, of T« Awamutu, for compensation for dismissal as cavalry instructor ; committee had no recommendation to make. PETITIONS. By Mr. R. Thompson, from sundry County Councils, praying that the process of exchanging lands for roads may be simplified. Further petitions wero presented to-day from Canterbury, for the abolition of the totalisator. TARIFF SUGGESTIONS. A private committee, consisting of Messrs. Goldie, Moss, Percival, Levestam, Fitchett, and Fish, have been examining the batches of telegrams and letters received by them and others in regard to the tariff, with a view of ascertaining the real wishes of those concerned, and attempting to procure such modifications as may bo deemed necessary. Many of the telegrams were based upon a misunderstanding of the list of duties and exemptions as published. THE ABT SYSTEM. A discussion took place to-day about the application of the Midland Railway Company to make an incline on the Abt system instead of tunnelling the mountain ranges. It appears that the plan of working the Abt system is as follows:—In the centre of the line is fixed what may be called a substantial iron ladder (rather than cogs), and on the locomotive there is a solid spoked wheel working perpendicularly, which enables the engine to climb up the steepest inclines with fight loads. It has been used in Switzerland, and it is now proposed to adopt it to overcome the difficulties of Arthur's Pass. The Honse is getting impatient at the continual applications for concessions, and it was said to-day nothing but a flat refueal to go farther would lead to the contract being ever signed. DAIRY FACTORIES.

In accordance with the suggestion of the members interested in dairy lactones, the Minister for Lands has temporarily appointed Mr. McCallum, manager of the Edendalo Factory, to go through the colony, and confer with farmers in the districts where these factories axe situated. Mr. McCallum will commence his operations in the North Island. SIR GEORGE GREY AND THE SPEAKER. On the resumption of the tariff debate this evening, the debate was interrupted by the Premier, with the permission of the House, moving the appointment of a committee to consider the advisability of the new concessions asked for by the Midland Railway Co. This was agreed to, and the debate was again resumed. Sir G. Grey, it seems, was a few moments late in coming in, and desired to call attention to the manner in which tho appointment had been made, as in his opinion it was in contravention of the Standing Orders. He was informed, however, that the question was not before the House, and that Mr. Kerrwas in possession of the floor. As Sir George at a later hour desired to return to his lodgings, Mr. Seddon undertook to watch his motion, challenging the Speaker's ruling. But before the adjournment of the House, Mr. Seddon rose to give notice of Sir G. Grey's motion, when Sir Maurice O'Rorke ruled that this could not then be done, as being a motion challenging his ruling it would have to be given in the usual way on Tuesday. So far as I can learn, Sir G. Grey is not satisfied with the composition of the committee, and desires to intercept its report by -his motion. As they meet to-morrow, and may possibly bring up their report on Tuesday before his motion may come on, it is

doubtful whether he will succeed unless he getfi precedence by consent of the House. Sir George considers that the appointment of the committee as effected is in a sense the taking away of a privilege of the House. Therefore, he gives notice on Tuesday of the following motion : —" That in the opinion of the House the Speaker exceeded his powers by allowing the debate on the second reading of the Customs Duties Bill, to be interrupted by the motion appointing a committee to consider the proposals in reference to the amended terms of the Midland Railway contract, the debate not being adjourned, and Standing Order No. 95 not being suspended, and there not being a sufficient number of members present to enable the Standing Orders to be suspended." Standing Order No. 95 defines the various ways in which a debate may be interrupted. Sir George contends that the interruption made was not one of them, and that the Standing Orders could not be suspended as there were nob 64 members in the House.

THE TARIFF DEBATE. This debate still drags its slow length along. Not a single vote is altered by the discussion, which is expected to go on till the middle of next week; but hon. members have to talk to their constituents through Hansard. The only Auckland members who Rpoke to-day were Messrs. Withy and Peacock, who made good speeches, the former being the best freetrade contribution which has yet been given to the controversy. He spoke, however, to an unsympathetic audience, and, owing to interjections and interruptions, expressed an intention two or three times to close his remarks and sit down, but he was urged by the Freetraders to go on to the end. On Tuesday probably Colonel Fraser, and Messrs. Monk, Moat, and Lawry, will speak. Colonel Fraser swallows the tariff whole. Mr. Moat supports the Government, and goes for encouraging local industries. Mr. Lawry also supports the Government, though opposed to many features of the tariff, because he dreads tho present Ministry being replaced by a worse one. Mr. Moss will not speak at all I learn, as he regards it as a waste of time to go over ground already traversed by others. MISCELLANEOUS. The return of articles of prison labour other than for prison purposes, was granted to Mr. G oldie to-day. Mr. Thompson got his motion on the proposed abolition of the Public Works and Native Lands Departments discharged from the Order Paper to-day, with the view of moving it on going into committee. Correspondence lias been laid on the table between Lord Sandhurst and other gentlemen, interesting , themselves in tho establishment of pensioner settlements in New Zealand. A formidable return showing the tenders for railway sleepers for the past two years, has been laid upon the table, but no facts ot importance are disclosed. Mr. Hobbs has been endeavouring to induce the Government to construct a telephone line from Mangonui to Kaitaia, as a preliminary to carrying on the line to Ahipara Bay, which is said to bo the spot selected for landing the Pacific cable. A return circulated shows that the cost of the Governor's establishment for 1887-88, was £9740, as against £10,493 in 18S6-87. The maintenance of Ministers and their following was £10,484, against £13,036. Some important changes are being made in the Customs Department. Mr. W. J. M. Larnach took his seat today, having returned from Melbourne and the South.

The decrease of sheep in Canterbury is given by a return at 302,000. The export of frozen meat had increased by 224,559 carcases.

The petition from Lyttelton r praying for the abolition of the totalisator, points out that wives and families of the working classes are often brought to a state of semistarvation through the machine. The Inspector of Prisons has been made Inspector of New Zealand Volunteers, without extra pay. Tho one duty will be made to work in with the other. Captain Hume was formerly an officer of the 79th Highlanders, from which he retired on halfpay. He was afterwards promoted to a company in the 2nd Itattalion Royal Highlanders. He finally retired from the service in 1876.

The Hon. Mr. Larnnch, who has taken hie old! seat on the Opposition benches, is moving the Government to issue a second edition of the " Handbook of Mines," with any additional information available. An endeavour is being made to get the Minister of Lands to set apart the Te Puna township at Tauranga for a Highland crofters fishing settlement. Sir (i. Grey asks tho Government if directions have been given for placing depots afc the Kermadec Islands for the relief of shipwrecked crews. One of the native members (Hoane Taipua) 1» moving the Government to favourably consider the petitions of the Thames chiefs for the release from gaol of Hoera te Mitniha, on the ground that he is wrongfully imprisoned.