PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9616, 14 September 1894, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

\ '■' ; ♦' '■'11 11 {BY TELEGRAPH.-— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. PETITIONS. ■ .7 — A Petition was presented by Mr. Button, from George Rhodes and 20 other Auckland builders and contractors, stating thab in tendering under the Government they are placed at great disadvantage, owing to the severe and extraordinary character of the conditions attached to all specifications for works, and praying that the same may be amended. Four more petitions from Auckland teachers protesting against being charged rent for school houses were presented by Mr. Lawry (for Sir G. M. O'Rorke) and Mr. .W. Kelly. The Public Petitions Committee reporb on the petition of Thomas Fisher, of Mangonui, alleging that ruinous loss has been entailed upon him as chairman of theFairburn Road School Cammittee by the action of the Auckland Education Board, and praying for redress, that as there are actions now pending in the Supreme Court respecting the case, until they are disposed of the committee can have no recommendation to make.

ROAD FROM TARANAKI TO AUCKLAND. A large deputation of Auckland and other North Island members waited on the Premier to urge that a driving track be completed between Awakino ana Kuiti, to permit of cattle being driven from Taranaki to Auckland. It was pointed out that nearly all the country traversed has been taken up, and that only some 18 or 20 miles of track would have to be cleared to complete communication. The Premier would give no definite promise, but would consider the matter on the supplementary estimates. LAND DRAINAGE BILL. The Hon. J. McKenzle's Land Drainage Amendment Bill, besides making othor amendments in the principal Act, adds the following subsection to clause 19 :—" The Board may, without any previous agreement with < the owner or occupier of any land within the district, upon giving twentyfour hours' notice, enter upon any such lauds, whether the same be Crown lands or not, and take levels of the same. The Board may join with any other district in the execution of any works, the construction of which will be either wholly or partially within or without its district. The Bill also provides for the appointment of assessors by private owners." ' HARBOUR AND EDUCATION RESERVES.

This Bill, introduced by the Minister of Lands, provides that the Governor may by Order-in-Council declare that any lands now or hereafter reserved as a harbour or education endowment shall be subject to the provisions of this Act upon the gazetting of such Order-in-Council. The lands described thorein may.be leased by the Land Board of the district. Any lands included in such Order-in-Council, which had theretofore been already leased shall not be affected until the expiration of the existing lease, provided that any lessee with the consent of the Board may by endorsement of his lease become subject to the provisions of this Act. As to valuations and renewals, every lease shall be for a term of 30 years, and shall be renewable three years before the end of the term. A valuation shall be made by arbitration of the then value of the fee simple of the lands included in the lease, and also of all substantial improvements of a permanent character made by the lessee ; then the lessee shall elect whether he will accept a fresh lease for a further term of 30 years, at a rental equal to £5 per cent, on the then value of the lands, after deducting the value of the improvements. If the lessee does not accept renewal, the lease shall be offered for public tender. He shall be paid by his successor the value of his improvements.

THE BANKS' AMALGAMATION. I have nothing further to add to my despatch yesterday upon thepubjectof theßank amalgamation, unless to say that my statement of the terms of the agreement are, I believe, fairly reliable in all essentials. KEREI KAItfAU.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. Hone Hoke, VVi Pere, Te Ao, Lang, W.Kelly, and Button waited upon the Premier this afternoon to urge a recommendation of a remission of the sentence of Kerei Kaihau. HoneHeke introduced the deputation. He stated the prisoner was understood to have acted under the influence of Tawhiao, and as the latter was now dead ib might be expected that no danger of a repetition of the offence need be apprehended. The Government mighb make it a condition of the remission of the sentence that Kerei should promise good behaviour in the future. The Premier regretted that he was unable to recommend a remission of the sentence. Kerei had been twice previously convicted for similar offences, and had been released on each occasion on a promise of good behaviour. As to the reference to Tawhiao'a influence, he (the Premier) had it from the late king himself and his friends, that Kerei had acted in the matter of the offence on his own responsibility, and against the express advice of Tawhiao and his people.

MINING DISTRICTS LAND OCCUPATION. The Bill just introduced to provide for the issue of occupation leases within mining districts, provides that the Governor may make regulations for the issue of leases for the occupation for agricultural purposes of any Ciown lands within a mining district, of any reserve not being a native reserve, or land reserved for native purposes. Every lease under the authority of this Act shall be issued by the Land Board of the district, and shall be subjects to the provisions of The Land Act, 1892, relating to leases and transfer. Every application for an occupation lease shall be referred to the warden of the mining district for his opinion as to whether the granting of the same would prejudicially affect any mining right acquired under the provision of the Mining Act) 1891. Every lease shall in no case exceed one hundred acres, and the lease shall contain an express condition that the lessee shall reside upon such area. The yearly rental in respect of every lease shall not be less than sixpence per acre per annum. No holder of 100 acres or more shall become the holder of an occupation lease under this Act, and land which has been leased may be resumed if required for mining purposes upon payment of compensation. NEW ZEALAND CONSOLS.

The New Zealand Consols Bill distributed this evening is intituled an Act to afford facilities for the investment of savings by the creation of Now Zealand inscribed consols. It provides that the Colonial Treasurer may receive from persons in the colony by way of deposit sums nob exceeding in the whole one million pounds sterling, bearing interest at four percent. The Treasurer shall fix the duration of deposits, which shall not extend beyond 40 years, and may be made at any post or money-order office in the colony. The depositor shall be registered as a holder for inscribed consols for .the amount of his deposit, which shall be paid into the public account, and form part of the consolidated fund of New Zealand consols. Every person registered will be a holder of consols,'with the right to receive interest half-yearly. . The registrar shall give any holder a copy of the register entry relating to such holder's consols, which shall be prima facie evidence in all courts of such entry. Notices of trusts will not be entered in the register, while a Judge may prohibit dealings with any consols, and. the registrar must obey the order. Consols certificates may be issued to depositors for nob less than five pounds, or a multiple of five pounds of the amount deposited, and these certificates will be transferable on delivery of a certificate to the registrar.' The bearer becomes registered as proprietor of the consols described in such certificates. Provision is made for easy tranfer of consols and recognition of title of executor, administrators, and assigns. A warrant for accrued interest will be issued through the post to persons entitled, and will be made transferable by endorsement. The Governor-in-Council may from time to time declare all consols or certificates convertible into consolidated stock. All consols interest, charges, and expenses are to be a charge on the consolidated fund without further authority or appropriation. The Registrar may with consent of the Treasurer accept Government securities in lieu of cash for consols. 3

JOTTINGS. On the motion of Sir Maurice O'Rorke ib was agreed thab the proclamation in the schedule of the Railways Bill;, for the

taking of land .in the Kaipara-Waikato, Onehunga branch, be cancelled, so' far as Onehunga in concerned. " Mr. Houston wants the Minister for Public Works to extend the railway from Hikurangi to meet the Kawakawa-Opua line.

The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson is to ask the Premier if he will, in the Public Works Statement, announce the decision of the Government respecting the route determined upon for the North Island Main Trunk Railway. , Mr. Houston wants to know when the extension of the telegraph line from Dargaville to Opanake will undrtaken. The Premier is to be asked by Mr. Massey in what way he intends to give effect to the promise which he made to a deputation of settlers of Warkworth, when he told them thab the Government would either take over the main road or provide funds for the local bodies to do the work.

The Government have decided, according to the Premier, that they have no intention of granting a special enquiry into the case of Major Brown, whose license as native interpreter has been cancelled, and whose name has been struck off the list of Justices of the Peace. The Premier says the Major has the right to petition the House. Sir R. Stout and several other members thought an enquiry should be granted.