IN AND ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 16

IN AND ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26. OPENING "UP THE NORTH ISLAND

The Native Townships Bill introduced by the Minister of Lands is an Act to promote the opening- up and settlement of the interior of the North Island. As the preamble of the 'measure states it is essential for the purpose that townships should be established at various centres. Owing, however, to its being impossible, in many cases, to extinguish the Native title in the ordinary way (purchase by the Crown) the measure is introduced to give the power. It provides that the Governor may from time to time, by Gazette notice, set apart ■ any Native land as a site for a Native township; conditionally on such parcel of land not exceeding 500 acres, and in no case shall any two such sites be situate within 10 miles of one another. In every such Native township there shall be laid eff and reserved for Native owners, for the purposes of residence and cultivation, "Native allotments," the whole area of which is not to exceed 10 per cent, of the total area of the township. The Natives are to be consulted as to these reserves, and in case of disputes the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court is to decide the matter in dispute. Persons having any encumbrance over land taken under this Act and losing the same thereby willbe paid compensation provided that such encumbrance was not created after the gazetting of the proclamation under which the land was set aside as a site for a Native township. All streets . and reserves are to be invested in the Government, and in the case of Native allotments are to be held in trust for the use and enjoyment of the Native owners. Any Native owner may sell his interest to the Government, and any such interest so purchased may be dealt with under the provisions of the Land Act then in force. Reserves other than Native allotments may be leased by the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district in which the land is situated, rents therefrom shall be paid into the public account, and any surplus after defraying costs of surveying the township, &c, be paid to Native owners in proportion to their relative shares and interests. The allotments to be offered to the public will be put up for sale by auction or tender on a 42 years' lease. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The House on Tuesday granted leave of absence for a fortnight to Mr McGuire, and for a week to Mr W. Hutchison. The former is absent from the Colony, and the latter, we regret to learn, is suffering illhealth. PAYMENT OF CORONERS* JUBIES. The Hon Major Steward, in his Coroners' Inquests Bill, makes provision for the payment of jurors attending coroners' inquests, at the following rates:—lf a juror shall have travelled over two miles to attend such inquest, 6s for every day for which he shall have attended for over four hours, and 4s 6d for every day's attendance of less than four hours. For jurors who have a less distance than two miles to travel, the'payment will be respectively 5s and 3s Gd. IN BBIEF. Mr Grace, ©f the Native Land Office here, will act as Native Interpreter in the House during the present session, i When the motion to set tip a Customs

Tariff Committee came on on Tuesday afternoon, Sir Robert Stout held that it was needless, and would merely mean postponing the revision of the tariff. Mr Seddon explained that it was necessary machinery for carrying out the proposed tariff reform. The motion was carried by 34 votes to 22. Petitions praying for the Amendment of the Shops and Shop Assistants Act were presented to the House on Tuesday. Cecil Augustus Victor Halezzi de Cortando von Blarenberg, of Palmerston North, is petitioning the House with a petition even longer than his name. It is about six yards in length. The receipts at Costley Home, Auckland, last year were .£1213 10s, and the expenditure <£1205.

Mr E. M. Smith wants an expert sent up to the Taranaki petroleum wells to report thereon.

The Post Office Bill (Mr. Cadman), the Slander of Women Bill (Dr Newman), and the Licensing Act Amendment Bill (Mr McNab) were given notice of on Tuesday. The number of permits granted under the Gaming and Lotteries Act to religious denominations and to racing clubs during the year ending March, 1895, is asked for by Mr Meredith. The success which has attended the use of diphtheria anti-toxin distributed by the Government is inducing Mr Graham to ask the Government to import a larger quantity. Mr Montgomery is asking for a sufficient number of cool cars for the carriage of dairy produce. Mr Larnach wants the Government to issue railway tickets at any hour of the day in the same manner as postage stamps. THURSDAY, JUNE 27. THE WELLINGTON-MANtWATU RAILWAY. With unfailing regularity for many sessions past the Government have been asked what their intentions are in regard to the purchase of this railway, and the answer has always been that the Government had no intentions, or at any rate they could not think of taking over the railway just yet. Yesterday afternoon, however, when this question cropped up, the Premier stated that the Government had the matter under consideration. The present was the last year, he stated, upon which the Government could take over the line under the existing conditions, and the matter would therefore be dealt with in the Public Works Statement. CO-OPERATIVE WORKS. The Minister for Labour was asked yesterday, " If, before men are sent from a distance to co-operative works, he will cause enquiries to be made, *&6 as to ascertain if the local men are in want of work, with the view-of letting men who live on the spot have a fair share of the work, if it is found that they are really in need of it ?" Mr Eeeves stated that the Labour Department endeavoured to be as fair as possible in distributing the work to the unemployed of the different districts. It *vas not to be thought, however, that because there were some big works going on in any one particular district all the unemployed in that district were to be found work before any from other districts in which there were no works. The people of the Colony as a whole paid for Government works, and because these works happened to be in a particular district the unemployed of that district were not to have the whole of the benefit of them. THE MANAWATU GORGE BRIDGE.

Messrs Whitcombe (Mayor of Pahiatua), Haggen (Mayor of Woodville), Lethbridge (Chairman of the Manchester Eoad Board) and Cotter (a ratepayer), were yesterday introduced to the Minister of Lands as a deputation desiring the Government to re-erect the bridge over the Manawatu Gorge. It will be remembered that another deputation recently asked the Government to abandon this road and adopt a new route. The deputation yesterday urged the continuance of the present route, and that the Government should take over the maintenance of the road and the toll-gate thereon. They disapproved of the other route.

The Minister pointed out that the Government could not assist both the Hokowitu route and this one, and while he agreed that some assistance should be given to the local bodies concerned in the re-erection of the Gorge bridge, he did not think the Government could bear the whole cost. He would lay the. matter before the Cabinet. WHITE PINE. Another deputation, comprising Messrs Cornfoot (Halcombe). Spurdlo (Wanganui) and W. L. Bailey (Feilding), sawnnllers, waited upon the Minister of Kailways and requested a reduction in the railway charges on white pine for export. They pointed out that there was a good demand for the timber in Australia, but owing to the railway charges the return for the timber was not sufficient. A reduction in rates similar to that made on firewood would cause a valuable industry to spring up. The Minister promised to lay the matter before Cabinet, but could not promise reductions to the extent asked. ADDITIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. This question, which has of late been the cause of a great amount of speculation among members, came before the House yesterday afternoon in the form of a query from the member for Invercargill. Mr Kelly asked if the Government intended to make any appointments this session. The Premier, in replying, said there had been communications on the subject; but further than this he could not at the present time say. THE CLAIMS OP OLD SOLDIERS. To deal in a comprehensive manner with the claims of old soldiers, the Minister of Lands states, would cost .£60,000. He is opposed to dealing with any claim by special legislation, and would wait until

the House saw its way to vote the amount mentioned, and then settle the matter once and for all.

Mr E. M. Smith, who asked a question on the subject, moved the adjournment of the House to discuss the matter.

Several members spoke urging that the claims of those who had done military and naval service for the Colony should be recognised. The Minister pointed out the abuses ■* practised under the Act, and the Premier > thought that as a limit of time for receiving the claims had been fixed, all claims which did no£ -come in within the limit should be ignored. It was, however, a matter for the Hotise to decide. IN BRIEF. An Imprest Supply Bill is to be introduced by the. Government to-day. The improvements in flax - dressing machinery brought under the notice of the Government last year did not warrant the granting of the Government bonus. ■ The offer is to be renewed for an extended period. The Premier is in favour of granting scenery preservation and other societies legal status. The Government are doing as much as possible with the means at their disposal, the Premier yesterday informed Major Steward, to put the unemployed on certain railway works. There were 288 men now employed on the Otago Central line; and on the North Island Main Trunk line and the Canterbury -Midland men would be put on as circumstances permitted. In answer to a request that provision should be made in the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Amending Bill for preventing the transfer of a publican license from one township to another, the Premier pointed out that this could be done when the Bill came before the House. The work of erecting the new Auxiliary Asylum at Avondale, Auckland, is to be put in hand as soon as plans and specifications are ready. Sir Maurice O'Eorke and Mr Mitchelson arrived from Auckland yesterday. The Government do not see their way to set up a Eoyal Commission to enquire into the Chemis case. - Provision is to be made in a Fencing, Bill to be introduced this session that all rabbit fences shall be deemed legal fences. In answer to a question by Mr Morrison, the Premier yesterday stated that he thought it only a reasonable thing to exempt Volunteers from service on juries as a recognition of the large amount, of time given by them to the Colony gratuitously. He would be willing to move in that direction when the Juries Bill came before the House. Mr Montgomery yesterday asked the Premier to amend the Standing Orders to prevent the House sitting after midnight. Mr Seddon thought that if members would make up their minds not to obstruct the business of the House they could go home at midnight every night. The Government are obtaining a report upon the advisability of establishing a fire insurance department upon the same lines as the Government Life Insurance Department. Pending the report,'the Minister of Lands yesterday informed Mr G. J. Smith the Government could say nothing. Civil , servants are not compelled to work overtime except in cases where it cannot possibly be avoided, the Premier yesterday informed Dr Newman. Only in special cases is a small allowance made to such officers. Mr O'Eegan's suggestion to change the name of the Colony to " Maoriland " does not find favour with the Premier. The Minister of Education thinks that about the beginning of next session the time will have arrived for placing the several inspectors of schools underthedirect control of the Education Department'. Mr Joyce is asking for the establishment of an inebriates'' home. Finance will not permit just now, is the answer of the Minister of Justice. 's'■'■■ The Premier has promised to reconsider the question of continuing the grants to fire i brigades. He, however, is of opinion that the insurance companies should be compelled to support the brigades. The question of travelling allowances of railway servants is receiving the careful consideration of the Minister of Eailways. He finds it a very difficult subject to deal with. A Bill to amend the Shops and Shop Assistants Act is to be introduced during the session. In it the Minister will endeavour to do away with the exemption's put in the Bill of last session by the Legislative Council. Eegarding a reciprocal tariff treaty with New South Wales, the Premier states that the Government are willing to enter into negotiations on this subject, but New South Wales, when apjjroached, offered no encouragement. The Government, in answer to a question by Mr Larnach, have promised to ascertain whether any persons in thepublic service hold seats on the directorates of public or private companies. Mrs Catherine Barnes, of Wellington, is again petitioning the House for redress. Will the Government make the Porirua Asylum watertight is a question appearing on the Order Paper in the name of Dr Newman.

A reduction in the haulage charges for potatoes is being asked of the Minister of Kailways by Mr G. W. Russell.