Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 913, 30 August 1889, Page 29

The Government have decided; to appoint a commission dv,ring the recess to inquire into and upon the condition of friendly, societies.

The Waste Lands Oomruitfcee have amended tfi® Selectors d,and Revaluation Bill ip the direr^on of extending the operation of * ulie gpj to village settlers.

Mr Marchant wishes the Government to make inquiry as to what steps the Cattle Boards are taking to deal with diseased cattle, and inform the House of the result at an early date ; and also to state whether it is true that some persona who are either dead or who have left the district have been gazetted members of the Wanganui Cattle Beard ?

A number of Taranaki Native Chiefs, who state that they have come to Wellington as delegates to observe the progress of legislation relating to Native matters, have petitioned the House praying that they be beard at the Bar of the House on the subject. They state that the Native Meetings Bill fills their hearts with fear snd alarm.

The Public Petitions Committee report once more that Caroline Guthrie, of Wellington, has no claim on the Colony.

Mr Smith is urging the Government to purchase the Waikopiro Block, Seventymile Bush, as soon as possible, in order that the block may be used for settlement.

Nearly the whole of yesterday afternoop* week was occupied by the House in discussing the Onehunga Cemetery Bil) u which was hotly opposed by the Auckland city members. J ust before half-past 5Mr T. Thompson suggested that the Speaker (who was in charge of the Bill) should agree to yqpprt progress, it being evident that he, could get no further with it. The Speaker refused to adopt this, suggestion* remarking that he looked on. it as a reflection on the dignity of ; the House to. say that a member should lie down and submit to, anyone who threatened to stonpwall: a. Bill.

The Committee appointed by the Legislative. Council to report on the condition of the harbours of New Zealand presented an interim report yesterday week, which deals with the Auckland and Gisborne harbours. The Committee are of opinion that the Auckland Board is not likely to get into financial difficulties if

they do not borrow any more. With respect to the Gisborne Board, the Committee recommends that they should not be allowed to raise any more money than is now authorised. The Committee i 3 of opinion that the scheme of harbour improvement at Gisborne was hastily devised, and that the facilities for increased shipping, &c., which will be given when the amount now authorised (L 105,000) iaspent, will not be adequate to the burdenEto be imposed on them.

Mr Dodson has presented a number* of petitions from Marlborough landowners praying for legislation enforcing; equality of contribution among landowners for the erection of rabbit-proof fences.

The Premier informed Mr Joyce that* he did not see the advisableness of issuing a circular forbidding Civil servants to practice outdoor photography for gain ; but if the lion, gentleman knew of and would report a case in which a Civil servant was not doing his duty, that case would at once be inquired into.

Me O’Conor asked the Government whether they have considered the report of the Petitions Committee upon the petition of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company ; and what action they propose to take in the case upon the recommendation of the Committee. The Premier replied : The Government have given some consideration to this matter and so far as they have gone they do nob see their way to take any action.

A return has been made showing the estimated cost per lb of the carriage of mail matter by the San Francisco and Direct services. By San Francisco the cost of carriage per lb is, with the present subsidy, 18s 8d for letters, Is Id for books, and 4d for newspapers. With a subsidy of L 15,000 and' no bonus, the cost per lb would be 10s 9d for letters, 7d for books, and 2d for newspapers. With a subsidy of LIO,OOO and no bonus, the cost would be 7s 2d for letters, 5d for books, and Id for newspapers. (The fractions are omitted.)The cost per lb by the Direct service is. 255. Id fox* letters, Is 5d for books, andi 5d for newspapers.

The following reply to the Legislative Council’s congratulations to the Governor upon Lord Cranley’s convalescence was received by the Speaker last Friday, and by him was read to the Council:—“ Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of the resolution forwarded by you from the Legislative.Council, and request that you wifi convey to the members of the Council my sincere thanks i'or cheir kind congratulations on the recovery of my son, and for the consideration and sympathy manifested toward myself and Lady Onslow* . throughout the course of the late dangerous illness from which, by the blessing: of God, he is now convalescent.—l have? the honour to be, &c., Onslow.” A, similar letter was read in the House.

Mr Ward asked the Government last day to endeavour to have the present cable rates reduced ; or, in the alternative, to endeavour to arrange with the other colonies for a second cable to be laid. In asking the question, Mr Ward said he understood that the Eastern Extension Company had made a offer to the Government to sell the present cable for L15Q,000, and that there was also an independent offer to lay a new one for less than that. He pointed out that the Company assessed their present cable at L30Q,000, and based the computation of profits on working on that value,, Exclusive of the subsidies formerly paid by the Government, the earnings of the Company in 1882, 1883, and 1884 were at the rate of 5 per cent, and for 1885 and 1886 5£ per cent, which clearly showed that if a cable were laid for L 130,000, upon the old rates over 10 per cent would be earned. He asserted that the commercial rates for commercial: cable messages amounted to nearly 40 percent. The Premier said the Government, would do what they could to get the rates: reduced, and also in the direction: of having a new cable laid, but in the latter case he was afraid there was not much chance of getting the co-operation of th© other Colonies.

On the motion of Major Steward* 3 return was ordered recently giving, information as to the amount of revenue which would he derived from a land and in com eta*'x, A memorandum was laid on the table of the House last Friday, signed by Mr Sperrey, on behalf of the Propertytax, as the result of this motion. The instruction with reference to income-tax was to, show the revenue given by a tax exempting up to L2OO a year, and taxing the first LIOO after that at 3d in the pound, with a progressive increase of Id for each additional LIOO up to LIOOO, after which the tax would be 5 per cent, up to LSOOO, 7£ per cent, up to LIO,OOO, and 10 per cent, above that. Mr Sperrey reports that he has no information winch will enable him to give an estimate. He points out that certain companies (excluding shipping, fire, and life insurance companies, and foreign banks) paid Property-tax in 1889, L 74,870 5s lid, and -would on the proposed plan pay L34..209 14s 2d iftcome-tax. The amount borrowed by these companies on debenture® is L 8,467,029, the interest on which is L 378,625, so that the incometax would be L 31,022 2s fid. JEstimatMaj|

the .exemption at Ll5O instead of L2OO. 6330 people would pay income-tax on Major Steward’s proposal, in respect of income from personal exertion, and on about 5000 persons, such as merchants, tradesmen, etc. Major Steward also asked for information as to the revenue derivable from a tax on unimproved land with an exemption of "LSOO, at the l’ate of Min the pound on the first taxable 1/1000, Id thence up to LSOOO, 2d thence up to LIO,OOO, and 3d over 1/10,000. it is estimated that 15,000 persons would pay this tax, mortgages not ■ being deducted. Some who paid income-tax would also pay land tax, so that the total number would be 22,000. Mr Sperrey adds tables showing results in suppositious cases, but does not give definite information as to the revenue derivable. Further progress was made with the general Estimates on Saturday morning. It is just possible that the Otago Central Railway Rill will be re-introduced this session. It is said that all the electoral Bills now before the House will be dropped, with the exception of the Registration of Electors Bill. The question when the session will come to a close is now being generally discussed. It is thought that prorogation will take place in about a fortnight. There i 3 no truth in the rumour that Hew Plymouth is to be included ill the Wellington Supreme Court district. The Government do not propose .to make any change at all in this matter at present. The Premier told the House on Monday that, the Government saw no reason why Parliament should not be prorogued in a fortnight hence. It is improbable, apparently, that the Raw of Libel Bill will pass this session. The Premier stated on Monday, in answer to Mr W. P. Reeves, that the Government would go on with the Bill if they thought the House was in a frame of mind to proceed with it. Judging by the results of the session, the House is not likely to be caught in the frame of mind for anything in the shape of work. Apart from that,. the Bill has to face a good deal of opposition.

Vague rumours were afloat on Monday of combinations between members representing various parts of the Colony with a view to forcing the Otago. Central line, the Puhipuhi tramway, the GreymouthHokitika line, and the Eketahuna-Wood-ville line through this session. As far as can be ascertained, however, no such united action has been generally contemplated by the members interested. There is, indeed, such a strong feeling against anything that could be reproached as log. rolling, that such a movement would be avoided by many whose local interests might lead them to sympathise with its object. A meeting of members favourable to the Otago Central Railway Bill was held on Monday afternoon, there being present Messrs Pyke (in the chair), Allen, Barron, Fish, Humphrz-ys, Scobie Mackenzie, Marchant, McGregor, J. McKenzie, Ross, Downie Stewart, Tanner, R. Thompson, and Valentine. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Fish, That the Government be requested to proceed with the Otago Central Railway Bill during the present session, with such amendments as may be deemed advisable. On the motion of Mr Scobie Mackenzie it was further resolved, That as the Otago Central Railway Bill is, in the opinion of this meeting, a decided step in the direction of closing the public works policy, the Bill should not now be abandoned- ; that failing procedure with the Bill the Government should in any other way proceed with the line. One or two members dissented from these resolutions, Mr R. Thompson (Marsden) offered to support the Otago Central if the Otago members would support the construction of the Puhipuhi tramway, but not otherwise.

Local Industry. —A new boat is now building by Mr Holmes in Auoldand for the Wairoa trade. The engines are being made hy Messrs Luke and Sons, of Wellington. Tha steamer will be of wood, dimensions 85ft on keel, 15ft beam, depth of hold 6ft 6in, draught between 4 and sft. She will be fitted with a handsome cabin on deck, containing twelve sleeping berths, steward's pantry, and lavatory, etc. She will al3o have a ladiec' cabin, with sevt n sleeping berths, lavatory, <stc. Her speed will be about 12 knots. She j.a to be &fc Napier at the end of October. Her name will be Te Itapu, and she will cost about £.IOOO.