PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8354, 6 September 1890, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[Br TKLKGRArH.SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Wellington, Friday.

TOE END OF THE SESSION. The end of the present Parliament is now rery near. Members are growing restless, and are beginning to take their departure. Messrs. Guinness and Ormond have already gone. Messrs. Pyke, Ward, and Hutchison, End some other members will probably follow to-morrow. Another sign of the times is the way in which business is being hurried through. The Public Works Estimates were all disposed of early this afternoon, the various votes being unopposed. Vet another indication is the entire dearth of political news. The usual flood of petitions is ceasing to flow, committees are concluding their labours, and even rumours are now few and far between. In all probability business will bo concluded by the middle ot next week, or, at any rate, by Friday at the latest.

BLASPHEMOUS LANGUAGE.

During the debate this afternoon on the action of the Railway Commissioners in regard to the strikes, Mr. Fish created a great sensation by declaring that the action of the Commissioners deserved " the curse of Almighty God." This assertion met with strong dissent from all sides of the House, and Mr. Fish was promptly called to order by the Speaker, who said the remark was blasphemy. Mr. Fish at once withdrew the expression, but explained that ho had used it with all reverence. He substituted a declaration that the Commissioners would deserve the curse of every man, woman, and child in New Zealand. This was allowed to pass. M tSCELLANEOFS. This afternoon Mr. Cadman asked tho Minister of Justice why tho Government had so persistently refused to appoint another Justice ot the Peace in tho district of Mercury Bay. He said the large towns sw:irmed with" Justices, but in country districts it was often necessary to travel many miles to get a Justice's signature. Captain Russell in reply promised to have the matter seen to during the recess. A Bill to amend tho Counties Act., ISSrt, was given notice of this afternoon by Major Steward. Mr. Seddon wants to know whether the Government- during the present year intends :-c continue the very commendable practice )f offering medals "for colonial and district Drize-tiring ? A question is being asked by Mr. Brown o ascertain on what conditions the bonus if £1000 is paid on tho exportation of fanned and cured fish.

Dr. Newman is moving to have grants of land for military services made to those who were prevented from completing their terms of sorvico by blindness or ether bodilv misfortune.

Mr. Hamlin is going to ask Ministers whether they will give effect to the report .if committees on the petitions of Andrew Maxwell. P atrick Maxwell, and Major D. H. Lusk *

The Legislative Council, after two conferences, has refused to agree to Mr. Samuel's clause in the Coroners Inquest Bill, providing for payment of jurors, and as the House of Representatives insists on the retention of this clause the whole Bill will be laid aside for this session.

The Government have taken up Mr. Samuel's Administration Bill for the pur pose of causing all the property of a married woman dying intestate to be distributed as if it were properly vested to her sole and separate use. The Bill was read a second lime on the voices this evening. Dr. Hodekinson has drawn up a report on local government, and it will be considered by the committee to-morrow. It will probably be presented on Monday next.