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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1165, 29 June 1894, Page 20

With this week's issue of the New Zealand Mail, published to-day, our readers are presented with a special supplement, giving the portraits of the members of the new Parliament. Tho portraits have been prepared from photographs received from the various members, and the likenesses are in every case most i excellent resemblances of their originals. As only a limited number of extra copies have been printed, early application for the same should be made at the office in order to prevent disappointment. In the next issue of the New Zealand Mail will appear a very interesting letter from Asuncion, Paraguay, which has been sent to this journal by an ex-New Zealander who is now residing in Asuncion, and who has recently visited the "New Australia " settlement. An interesting letter on South Africa, from the pen of Mr Putman, formerly a member of the Parliamentary press gallery, and now on the staff of the Cape Times, will appear in an early issue. We are compelled to hold over the continuation of P.L.C/s interesting travel sketches, pressure on our space being exceptionally heavy this week. In the House of Representatives on Wednesday, a motion proposed by Sir Robert Stout for an address to His Excellency the Governor p,sking him to appoint a Sergeant-at-Arms was treated by the Premier as hostile. An animated debate took place, the motion being eventually rejected by 48 votes to 19. The Address-in-Reply debate was concluded, the address being agreed to. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Harbours Act Amendment Bill, Prescription Law (Light) Amendment Bill, Arms Act Repeal Bill, were read a second time*. The Address-in-Reply was agreed to in the Legislative Council. The local agents for the Shaw, Savi and Albion Company have been advised that the lonic left Rio for Plymouth on Saturday last, with her cargo of meat in good condition. The Department of Agriculture has obtained through the liberality of the Secretary for Mines and Agriculture, Sydney, a small quantity of the seed of the coast she-oak, salt-water swamp-oak, shingleoak (Oasuarina stricta), which is now ready for distribution, but, as the supply is very limited, it is requested that only those settlers who have land on the coast will apply. In Australia this tree grows on coast-sand and barren places right down to the water's edge, and attains a height of 60ft. Baron V. Mueller says, " For arresting the ingress of coast-sand by means of belts of timber this is one of tho most important trees." It is a rapid grower, stands exposure well, and is therefore valuable for shelter, and affords a fmeedy supply of fuel, for which purpose it is excellent. It yields a handsome timber for cabinetware and turnery purposes. A meeting of the Managing Committee of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association was held on Wednesday at the rooms, Dr Adams presiding. Tho principal business before the meeting was the election of judges at the approaching show, which resulted as follows -.—Messrs Laget, Hyde, Ames, Pettie, E. J. Hill, Christensen and Earnshaw, The Committee decided to arrange for Mr Tolhurefs fowlyard competition to bo carried out from 1894 show to 1895, and appointed Mr Doyle, City Inspector, as judge. Entries will close at the same time as the show entries. The competition is for the cleanest and best-kept poultry houses and yards for a period of twelve months. Inspector Pender received a telegram on Wednesday stating that Constable Lawlor, of Masterton, had had one of the fingers of his right hand broken while arresting a man there, and was consequently incapacited from duty. A contractor, who gave evidence in the libel case was asked point blank if be did a certain work according to plans and specifications? His reply was quick, and characteristic of the nation from which he hailed: "Yes; I thought it was near enough, any how" Bus Honor laughed with the rest of the Court, and counsel smilingly remarked that it was aa Irish way of putting it,