PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8632, 30 July 1891, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

f (BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL OOBRE3PO DENT, ] ' ' ' M : Wellington, Wednesday. ! ; THE rotorua RAILWAY. ' The Auckland members are moving in the i direction of having the railway to Rotorua i completed by the Government, and intend to ask that a vote be put on the .Estimates | this session for that purpose. - The 'mem* ber. for the Bay of Islands, Mr. Houston,; is, however, of . opinion that the money could be spent : with better advantage in making roads iii the North of Auckland. Owing to this unfriendly attitude on the part of the member,for the Bay of • Islands, a meeting of Auokland members is proposed to So held to ; consider the question, and to endeavour to induce him to withdraw his opposition to the work. i NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK ROAD. The petitions of the Waitemata County Council and 68 settlers of various districts northward of Auckland, asking that a sum of money may be voted for the completing of the North Auckland Main Trunk Road from Devonport, have been considered, by the Public Petitions Committee M to Z, who referred them to-day to the favourable consideration of the Government. LAND FOR ROADS. A petition m presented day by Mr. R. Thompson from the Whangarei County Council, setting forth the urgent necessity for amending the . Public Works Act, so that the laws under which land is taken or exchanged for public roads may be simplified, as unnecessary expense is now entailed under the Aot. It is pointed out that at present, more particularly in the Northern counties, roads surveyed in the early days are boing discarded daily for better routes, and in the majority of canes owners are willing to give or exchange land, but the expense of obtaining a title amounts sometimes to more than the value of the land taken or exchanged, and then, from want of funds, the necessary improvements cannot be made. It is asked, therefore, that a simple document; given under the hand of the County chairman, and sealed with the seal of the Council, may be deemed sufficient title of the transfer of land from an individual to the County Council, or from the Council to the individual, when laud is required for public roads. THE KAIHU VALLEY RAILWAY ' . COMPANY. The Public Petitions Committee, A to L, reported to-day, in regard to the petition of the Hobson County Council, who complained that all the lands owned by the Kaibu Valley Railway Company were not included in ! the property tax valuation roll for 1889; that, through this omission the county had no power to levy rates on the land, that the value of the portion omitted was £50,0i)0, and that they have therefore suffered loss of rates to the amount of £833 6s Bd. The report of the committee was read as follows — That the Hobson County Council having neglected their interests in nob amending the statements of values prepared from the property tax assessor's list, which were forwarded to the County Council with the request that the Council . would assist in perfecting such statements, this committee is of opinion that the Detitioners have no claim against the colony.' 5 Mr. Houston maintained that the Hobson County Council were altogether free from blame in this matter. The valuer appointed by the Property Tax Commissioner happened to bo at the time the engineer ana valuer for the county. He made a valuation on behalf of the Pro-, perty Tax Department, furnishing that department with a value to the amount of. £75,000, and j the department then com- ■ municated ; with their valuer.' There was no doubt from the evidence that there hod been some collusion, so that the information was kept back from the Council. The same valuer, he remarked, had been arrested for embezzlement, and was now in gaol in Auckland. There was no doubt that during i the time that man occupied the position of collector of j rates and . engineer for the county, the Council bad no information to enable them to make this claim ; it was only when , the last election took place that the circumstances came to light. 1 He thought it very hard that justice should be denied to the Council. He moved, therefore, 'That the report be. referred back to the committee for further 'consideration.*" Mr.; Shera seconded the motion. Mr. T. Thompson, as chairman of the Public Petitions A. to L. Committee, thought that unless Mr. Houston could produce more evidence than: had already been placed beforethecommibtee ib would answer no good purpose to send the petition back. There had certainly been no evidence before the committee of any collusion. Mr. R. Thompson thought the petition had been treated in a high-banded way by the committee. He had complained that the Council had been deliberately defrauded of rates to which they were justly entitled, and it was monstrous that ib should be sought to throw the . blamo of that on the Council. After further discussion Mr." Houston's motion was agreed to. AMENDMENTS TO TAX BILLS. The following amendment will be moved by Dr. Newman on the motion for the second reading of the Land and Income Assessment Bill:—" That in the opinion of this House the tax upon the unimproved value of land should bo increased upon the land belonging to absentees. Notice of this was given in the House by Dr. Newman l this afternoon. ' A LAND BILL AMENDMENT. ; In Committee on the Land Bill. Dr. New- ' man will move that the following new clause be added to the Bill:—" That 5000 acres shall be set apart to be owned and managed on co-operative principles. The rules to be drawn up by the Governor in Council."., Dr. Newman gave notice to-day of his intention to move this new clause. FROZEN MUTTON. Mr. T. Mackenzie intends to ask the Minister of Agriculture, " Has the attention of the Government been called to the practice prevailing in England of vendors of mutton selling New Zealand frozen mutton as home produced, and inferior mutton as New Zealand frozen mutton to the great injury of producer and consumer ; if so will the Government call the attention of the English Government to the fact with the view to having legislation introduced ther* to regulate the sale of mutton." THE CROWN LANDS REPORT. The annual report of the Crown lands was presented to Parliament to-day. It shows that during the past year tho land sales for cash amounted' to 100,222 acres as against 47,47$ or the previous year, and those on doferied piyments to 35,081 acres against while that taken up on perpetual lease was 290,248 acres, as against 238,904. While the number of cash purchasers and of perpetual leaseholders is not materially different from those of the previous year, the area has largely increased, and this points to the fact that the average size of individual holdings has increased. Those sold for cash average 263 acres, instead of 128, and on perpetual lease 366 acres, as against 313, this being deemed due to the more remote and broken nature of thecountry dealt with. The average price of rural land during the year has boen slightly under £1 per acre for cash, J4s 2d on deferred payment, 18s 9d on perpetual lease. The area of land open for selection at the beginning of the current year was 959,961 acres. The conditions of settlement generally are fairly well carried out, indeed in somo districts the improvements largely exceed the requirements of the Act. The chief laxity is in respect of the residence conditions owing to the difficulty of access. Forfeitures and surrenders during the year amounted to 385 acres, in addition to 25,137 acres ot small grazing runs. The forfeited sections generally taken up again as soon as offered. , There are 9589 selectors on tho books of the department, and 1266 pastoral tenants. During the year, 195 pastoral rune, aggregating 1,596,600 acres, chiefly in Nelson, Canterbury, and Southland, were disposed of by auction ; also, 43 small ■ grazing runs, aggregating 86,160 acres, and revaluations nave been made under Act of 1889, involving the following decreases in valuation : —Deferred payment, £147,879 ; , perpetual lease, £1664. The loss j>or acre was 14« 8d deferred payments, and 2« 7d per acre perpetual lease. ' THERMAL SPRINGS. In his annual report, the SurveyorGeneral states that the number of visitors : to the Rotorua and Hanmor Plains Hot [ Springs have largely increased. The num* | ber of baths taken at Hanmer was 6437,

and aii Rotorua, 10,442, the fees re- [ spectively- being £228 and v £227. The number of visitors to Rotorua last year, from all parts of the world, was boat 2500. -As. both places become better known oatBide the colony and the curative properties of the waters '* more fully appreciated a large increase in the number of visitors is anticipated. *;

STATE FORESTS. / la his annual report on State forests, the Secretary ' for Crown 1 Lands says s—"The area of land reserved either for preservation of timber or for olimatfe purposes, : remains the same as at the date of last reportviz., 1,327,533 acres. , A good deal of timbered land, both inside and outside State forests, has been sold by auction during the year, especially in cases where such timber had boon injured by fire. It is useless trying to preserve small ciumpe of timber in the neighbourhood of settlement, for they almost invariably get burnt, and this is especially the case in the North, where there are a great number of kauri trees, themselves inflammable. It is best, therefore, to dispose of them before- their value is deteriorated. The Wairangi plantation still remains in charge of the department. The wattle and gum trees are all in good condition, and the "former have now arrived at such a stage that systematic thinning-out must soon be taken in i hand. It is probable that some revenue will be received from the sale of bark next year. The amount received for licenses to dig gum in State forests amounted to £254. The rangers have had their hands full to keep down fires luckily none of any consequence have taken place." MR. WITHEFORD AND HIS SYNDICATE. With regard to the negotiations of Mr. J. H. Witheford for the sale of the New Zealand railways to an- English syndicate, mentioned in cable messages from Sydney, it may safely be assumed that no such proposal will be seriously entertained for one moment. A cablegram has been received by the Government from Mr. Witheford making the offer spoken of, but Ministers have not given the question serious; attention, It is certain that any proposal to sell the railways would be at once negatived if submitted to Parliament. The Hon. W. P. * Reeves stated that any cable message on the subject would be received with the utmost caution by the Government, and it waa not ab all likely that a favourable reply would be given. Mr. Rees gave notice that be would ask for information as to the nature of the offer made by Mr. Witheford. MR W. S, ALLEN'S DISQUALIFICATION. This afternoon Colonel Fraser gave notice that he would to-morrow ask leave to introduce a measure, entitled William S. Allen's Disqualification Removal Bill, which is to provide for its removal, since, as he was absent in England, he was ignorant of the illegal practices which rendered his election invalid. > THE RAILWAY REVENUE. The Chief. Railway Commissioner, Mr. McKerrow informs me that the railway revenue shows a satisfactory increase. There was a deficit in the early part of the year, on account of the falling-off in the yield of grain in Canterbury, but now, with the grain season over, the revenue has gone back to its normal condition, and is, in fact, better than at this time last year. \ ILLNESS OF THE PREMIER. i The Premier has'been confined to his bouse to-day by indisposition, believed to have been caused by a chill and over-fatigue through the protracted night sittings recently. It is hoped he will be able to attond the House on Friday. It is doubtful, however, whether he will be well enough to move the second reading of the Land and Income Assessment : Bill as soon as that. If not, the second reading will be postponed till next week. PETITIONS. Amongst the petitions presented day were the following :—By Mr. Shera, from I J. C. Fitzgerald, Sussex-street, Auckland, asking for a gran of land for military services; by Colonel Fraser, from residents of ' Kirikiri, Thames, asking that native licensing district may become part of the Hastings licensing district; by Mr. Buckland, from E. P. Donnelly, Auckland, asking for a grant of land for military services as a member of the Hauraki Royal Troop of Cavalry. A report was submitted to-day by the Native Affairs Committee as to the petition of John W. Matthews, of Kaitaia, who complained that, owing to the state of the law relating to the purchase of native lands, bo and others bad suffered heavy loss in the purchase of a block of land known as Kaitaia. The committee reported :— 'It appears that the . petitioner has lost considerably, because he has been compelled to pay twice for his property by acting on what was believed to be a decision of the Supreme Court on the Kotaripaia case ; when the decision was given, the petitioner entered upon the purchase of his land in perfect good faith, and with every intention to comply with the requirements of a law which has been rendered useless. Up to the present time the attempts made by the legislature in the Acts of 1886, 1888, and 1889, to provide a remedy have proved inoperative, inasmuch as the technical requirements of the said Acts have shut the petitioner out from any relief, notwithstanding such relief has i been extended to others. . The committee therefore recommend the matter to the favourable consideration of the Government.. In regard to the petition of Robert Paul Hodge, Waipu, who asked for further relief, as he was incapacited whilst a member of the transport corps, the public petitions committee report that they see no reason to alter the decision given in 1885, that the petitioner haa no claim against the colony. The committee also reported - with reference to the petition of Charles Ealley, Auckland/ who asked for reinstatement in the Telephone Department, or for compensation for loss of employment, that they have no recommendation to make. ' VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. In his annual report on the village settlements in the Auckland district, Mr. H. P. Kavanagh states that he considers,the progress made by- the settlers during the year to be very satisfactory, and this is shown by. the general improvements, the increase of stock, and the amount of land added to their holdings. " The amount of advances this year," says Mr. Cavanagh, "is much less than in any previous year. This looks as if the settlers are in a better position or more self-supporting, but the real reason is that they are compelled to leave their homes and sometimes go great distances to obtain emvloyment to enable them to support their families, or to obtain money to buy stock, consequently the improvements for which advances are made are not so great as in previous years ; still in the various settlements there is work done of value to the settlers representing a great deal of time and labour, and may be claimed as general improvements, but for which no advances are made. At the same time cultivations on some sections are not so good as could be desired. This to some extent may be owing to the sections being mostly bush, which requires (in the absence of capital) a great deal of time, manual labour, and perseverance to obtain remunerative returns. I notice that the settlers who 1 - can manage to work a great part of their time on their sections are doing well, and will do bettor than those settlers who are almost continually working away from home. The former may not earn so much money in wages, but they are improving their sections, and their produoo helps to support them when they obtain occasional employment, but it takes all the money the latter may earn to support themsolves and families whilst their sections are not being improved, nod yield, them little or ■nothing'." The total area now occupied as a direct result of the village settlement system In addition to the village homesteads still held is 7087 acres. It is evident that there is now in occupation a larger area of land than there would have been if< all the village settlers had remained on their holdings. JOTTINGS. It would be difficult, says Mr. Fisher, to over-estimate the satisfaction which the people of Wellington fool at bho fact that the Wellington Electric Lighting Bill has been _ shelved for a time at least. Mr. Duthie, on the other .hand, says that numbers of people, talking to him, deplored that the Bill had been thrown out. . s A petition from residents of Blenheim and district, asking that the importation of stoats and weasels be prohibited, was presented to-day by Mr. Buick. I

The Labojr Bills Committee mot to-day, and considered the Factories Bill, making some technical alterations. One material amendment which .was made is that boys under sixteen shall not be employed more than forty-eight hours per week. Nine petitions in favour of Mr. Joyce's Licensing Bill were presented to-day. * The Government have ordered 100 copies of Mr. Tregear's book, " Maori Polynesian Comparative Dictionary," for distribution amongst members of the House and others. A sum to defray the cost is to be placed on the » supplementary estimates. , Sir 6. Grey thinks the Government are to be complimented for their action in publishing a book of tins kind, and he suggests that copies should bo sent to the learned societies in Europe. Commencing* on the fact that while tho Wellington Electric Lighting .Bill {was lost the Christchurch Bill was Carried, Mr. Bucklund said that there was . a danger in the House that private bills would be made the subject of party questions. Th« Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Acts Amendment Bill, the introduction of which was given notice of day by Captain Russell, is a Bill to allow the Registrar of the Supreme Court at Napier to perform certain formal duties as provided in the Supreme Court Act, 1884, for New Plymouth. According to a return placed before the House to-day the quantity of sugar, including glucose, used by brewers in this | colony during the year 1890, was 1,290,540 pounds. / The Public Petitions Committee, A to L, have recommended that Mr. C. T. Browne, formerly of the detective force, be paid the sum of £75 Is 6d, not having received three months' notice before his services were dispensed with by the Government. j. It is intended by Mr. Buckland to ask 1 the Postmaster-General whether he will open a post office at East Tamaki. The' Premier is to move to-morrow that after the 30th instant Government business shall take precedence of all other business on.Thursdays. The Public Petitions Committee, M to Z, have recommended that Mrs. White should recoive the bonus in proportion to the work done by her late husband, Mr. John White, and that a sum be placed on the Supplementary Estimates accordingly. They are also of opinion that the passage of Mrs. : White and family to Auckland should be j paid. She desires to return there. j It is the intention of the Premier to ask tho House on Friday next to adjourn till 7.30 p.m. on Monday, when the question of federation is to be discussed. Certain | resolutions on the subject will then be proposed by Sir George Grey. Mr. Houston intends to ask the Government if they will take some steps to stop the wholesale destruction and exportation of oysters at the Bay of Islands. To-morrow Mr. Bryce will ask the Premier whether the Government have decided how the expected vacancy in the Agent-Generalship is to be filled up. He will also ask Mr. Seddon when the Public Works Statement is to be brought down. The Postmaster-General is to be asked by Mr. R. H. Reeves if the Government intend joining the other colonies in the guarantee to the Kastern Telegraph Company, so that the people of this colony will have the advantage of the reduced cable rates to Europe; and, if not, if they will appoint an agent in Melbourne to receive and despatch messages as is now done by Router's Company ? Mr. -Buckland wants a sum of money placed on the Estimates for the Turanga Creek Wharf, and has given notice of a question on the subject. . , Notice was given to-day by Mr. T. Thompson of the Auckland Harbour Board Loan" Act, 1886, Amendment Bill, of the provisions of which I informed you yesterday. Mr. Wilson has given notice that he will move that, in the opinion of this House, the Government should exercise their right to purchase the Wellington-Manawatu railway line.