PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9292, 30 August 1893, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[BY telegraph.— correspondent.] W Ellington. Tuesday. AUCKLAND DOMAIN VESTING BILL. This Bill was brought up before the Waste Lands Committee this morning by Mr. , T. Thompson. Numerous errors in boundaries, however, had been discovered in the Survey Department. These wore simply marked in ink, thero having beon no time to print the corrections. Mr. Thompson tried to got the Bill considered as it stood, but tho committee insisted upon its being reprinted. One of the amendments suggested by Mr. Thompson himself restricts tho powers of the Corporation to leasing within a period of three years only. In consequence of the delay it is not improbable that the Bill will not be finally dealt with this session, time not allowing. NORTHERN RAILWAYS. Mr Lawry has received a telegram from Mr. Ividd stating that at a meeting of the Railway League it had been resolved to ask what progress was being made with the survey now going on, and to what extent the Government are proceeding, with the works on the central route, tho League sincerely hoping that Auckland members aro not losing sight of this most important work. Tho Premier has replied that there aro three survey parties out now in connection with tho North Island Main Trunk Railway, but tho frightful weather of late has very much retarded the work. NATIVE AFFAIRS. Very little progress was made this morning, in the Native Affairs Committee with the Native Reserves Administration Bill, only six clauscs being passed. The first order on tho paper was tho Niramona Pini Land Grants Bill, the second reading of which was moved by the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, who explained it was to validate a devise of land at Ohinemutu North by Niramona Pini in favour of Jane Stephenson Graham. The Bill, Mr. Mitehelson further said, had been introduced last year by Mr. Cadman, but had been ruled to be a private Bill. Mr. Kelly said there was other land in the Rotorua district similarly placed, and ho would try and get them included in tho Bill. Tho second reading of the Bill was agreed to. THE IvAIHU RAILWAY. Mr. Houston has asked the Minister for Public Works to place a sufficient sum on the Estimates to provide timber tracks on the Kaihu Railway. There was, he said, a largo quantity of kauri timber, but it could nob bo brought away because the bracks were ineffectual to carry it. Mr. Seddon said tho matter had been brought under his notice some time ago, and the Railway Commissioners had promised to send better trucks from Auckland. Ho would again make inquiries, and see what could be done to meet the requirements. PETITIONS. Amongst the petitions presented to day were the following:—By Mr. R. Thompson, from J. Bell and C. Tothill, of Whangarei, reviewers for land and incometax assessment, asking payment of their charges of £10 10s for acting in the capacity named, and from settlers and others directly interested in the selection, formation, and maintenance of the most direct line of road obtainable as a main North road between worth and Whangarei, via the Watigaripa Valley and the Mangawai Gorge, as set out in the plans of Mr. H. Munro Wilson ; by Mr. Lawry, from John Howe, for military services; by Mr. Jackson Palmer, from John Ryan, military services, and from perpetual leaseholders in Matakana, Rodney County, praying for a reduction of expenses entailed upon selectors under that system, who seek for the re-valuation of the land. ROAD WORKS. ( The Government have been asked by .Mr. Houston in the event of grants being given for road works if they will arrange that the local bodies entrusted with its expenditure may be able to commence work in the spring, and not as ab present in the beginning of winter. The question, he said, was a very important one. Work was now delayed so long that the expenditure ! meant simply throwing money away. The work could not be properly done at the beginning of winter. Mr. Houston's suggestion was to allow local bodies to call for tenders on the strength of the vote they were to get. The Minister for Lands said this was a more difficult matter than was generally supposed. In the first place the colony had not the whole of the money to do the work at once, and it had to be spread over. Then if the work was done during the summer months the staffs would be idle in winter, or too large a staff would have to be kept. PUKEKOHECOURT HOUSE. Major Hamlin has asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider tho advisability of procuring a permanent piece of land at Pukekohe for tho purpose of erecting a house thereon for the constable. The policeman at. present, said Mr. Hamlin, lived a great distance from the lock-up, and when he had two or three prisoners there he had to stay up all night to look after them. During the recent bad weather he must have had to spread tarpaulins over the roof, or he would assuredly have been swamped. .Mr. Reeves said he would be glad to take the matter into consideration. FLAX INDUSTRY. I understand that the manufacturers and industrial committee in addition to reporting in favour of the Government appointing an expert to grade flax will recommend also to grant a substantial bonus for improved machinery, calculated to materially economise labour and material in flax-dressing operations. The regulations as to the matters indicated were submitted by Mr. Ritchie, head of the stock department to day, and after considerable discussion the consideration of the report and regulations was postponed until Friday next. AN AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. Sir John Hall is anxious for the Government to issue periodically a journal or other publication by the agricultural department providing information of value and interest to the agricultural community, and similar to publications issued by the agricultural departments in Sydney, Brisbane, and other places. The Hon. Mr. McKenzic, however, says this would require experts to select the information and compile it. The matter had been under consideration, and the Government had been in communication with the Canterbury Association, but they had not beon able to come to a satisfactory arrangement. The Government were, however, willing to open the correspondence afresh. LOCAL BILLS. Messrs. T. Thompson and Lawry have seen the Premier respecting local Bills which aro blocked, and the Premier has promised to take into consideration the question of the Government taking up these Bills, and which would involve no discussion. Amongst these are the Newmarket Hall Exchange Bill, and the Domain Vesting Bill, if the latter can be reprinted in time. I understand there is no opposition to these Bills, but they are blocked by Bills which would, probabty, be stonewalled. WANTED TO KNOW. A large number of questions of local and general importance are to be asked, amongst them being tho following Mr. Buckland to ask the Premier whether lie will take into consideration the special case of John Alfred Floyd, of Onehunga, in the matter of a claim for land for military services, and whether he lias made provision in tho Public Works Estimates for tho erection of a Courthouse and new police dwelling and lock-up at Otuhuhu in fulfilment of a pro mise made to that effect by tho Hon. Mr. Cadman, and to ask the Government in view of tho present empty condition of the various Government residences, what steps, if any, they propose to take in the matter; Mr. W. Hutchison to ask the Minister of Justice whether he proposes to introduce any legislation this season to deal with what appears to be a growing evil to the colony, namely, " baby farming" Mr. E. M. Smith to ask the Government if they will lay on tho table a return showing for each land district in -the North Island the amount of money added to the upset price for roads, also tho amount of money expended out of that sum for road work up to July, 1893 Mr. Taipua to ask the Minister in charge of Native Affairs if he will tako immediate steps to relieve the great distress existing at present amongst the Lower Waikato natives which has been caused by the rocenb heavy floods;

; Mr. Kapa to ask the Government (1) what steps they intend to take with reference to the petition of Major Kemp and the Federated Maori Assembly of New Zealand, praying the Governor and the Government to grant them the powers conferred on thorn by the Treaty of Waitangi and the Now Zealand Constitution Act 1552, (2) whether the Government will take any steps in the matter during this present session to give effect to the prayer of the petitioners ; Mr. McGowan to ask the Minister for Education if he is aware that the endowments made by the General and Provincial Governments for hospitals in Auckland are monopolised by one institution ; if so aware, will he take steps to set apart a portion of the 250, acre? of land mentioned in section 88 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885, as an endowment for the Thames and Coromnndel district hospitals ; Mr. Palmer to ask the Government if they intend to fix a time for the House to discuss the gumfields report, and do the Government intend to introduce any legislation in regard to the gumtields and gumdiggers this session; Mr. Kelly to ask the Government if the provisions of soction 88 of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, 1885, have been complied with since the passing of the said Act, if not will the Government tako immediate steps to havo the provisions of the section quoted carried into effect in order to relieve the present struin upon the finances of the local bodies, which havo to contribute an unduly largo share towards the maintenance of institutions; Mr. \V. Hutchison to ask the Minister of Defence if during the recess he will order a scheme of superannuation for tho police force to be formulated, tho said scheme with such amendments in detail as ho may consider necessary to be based on the lines of a scheme agreed to almost unanimously by the members of the force and submitted to the Government in 1592; Mr. Sheratoaskthe Minister in charge of Native Affairs when the Native l.and Court at Otorohanga will again sit there. Mr. W. Kelly to move that there be laid before this House copies of the correspondence that passed between Mr. Goorgo Vesey Stewart and the lato Sir Harry Atkinson during the - months of December, January, and February, 18S7 ami 1888, referring to the introduction of Crofter immigrants. THE LIQUOR BILL.

A considerable portion of the afternoon and evening sittings was taken up in committee on the Alcoholic Liquor Bill, the whole of tho clauses being got through. Division after division was takon. There was no alteration of moment. Tho project to remove clubs altogether from tho scope of tho Bill was defeated, bub as things stand they are only subject to a mild overlooking on the part of tho police without reference to hours of closing or games played. In the absonco of Sir R. Stout the third reading was allowed to stand over in accordance with a promise given by the Premier. Ib is anticipated that even then there will bo a close tight. Tho whips are taking every precaution. JOTTINGS. The Postmaster-General has told Mr. Lowry that there is only one telephone exchange in the colony in charge of a young woman, and that is Auckland. This lady, he added, was a very old servant, and owing to her arduous duties had been allowed a month's holiday. The young ladies in the Post Offices received the same holidays as those in tho telephone exchanges. A report on the Northern coalfields is shortly expected. The Postmaster-General docs not think it advisable that local postmasters should report names improperly appearing on the electroal roll. It would bring them into active conflict with largo numbers of people. Tho Otaki Education Board have been informed that they will bo paid the valuo of tho school buildings burned down last week.

The proposals of the Midland Railway Company are being considered by the Public Accounts Committee.

For the remainder of tho session Government business takes precedence on Thursdays at half past seven. Mr. Bruce considers the S.S. Company the finest steamship comuany in the world, and adds that he speaks with a considerable amount of knowledge on this subject. In reply to Mr. Meredith, the Minister for Lands has said he could not at the present time see his way to providing that compulsory simultaneous action should be made by local bodies for the abatement of the small bird nuisance.

Mr. Fish asked tho Government, why the Premier had refused to supply Mr. Martin, the secretary of the Municipal Association, with copies of the Bills affecting local bodies? The Premier said the matter involved a very heavy and unnecessary expense, as members forwarded copies of Bills to the different local bodies in their districts.

The Hon. Mr. jenkinson wants tho provisions of the Inspection of Machinery Act extended to the railway workshops and Government printing office. On Thursday the Hon. Mr. Bolt will move for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the conditions of female labour in the four principal cities of the colony, such commission to have power to take evidence on oath.

Mr. Bruce recommended the House to place every labour Bill brought forward on the statute book as it would be the first tiling to hang the present Government. Sir Robert Stout returns from the South to-morrow, and it is understood that he intends to speaks strongly on the motion for the third reading of the Liquor Bill. Dr. Newman has given notice of an amendment to the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill, placing farmers' partnerships on the same basis as to separate estates, as business partnerships.