IN AND ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1222, 2 August 1895, Page 25

IN AND ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1. THE ESTIMATES. Amongst the votes on the Estimates of interest to Wellington are the following : Government Printer an increase from ,£420 to .£440, Superintending Overseer from ,£277 to £289, the Chief Clerk and Accountant from .£230 to .£240. The Law Draughtsman receives an increase from .£SOO to .£650. The Interpreter in the Wellington Native Office an increase from ,£165 to ,£175. Provision is made for a Registrar and Cleric at .£2OO and a Clerk and Interpreter at ,£2OO for the Validation Court. The Assistant - Secretary and Inspector to the Postal Department receives an increase from .£550 to .£BOO, and is raised to the first division in the classification. The Nautical Adviser receives an increase from ' .£350 to .£4OO. The Clerk to the Wellington Stamp Office gets an increase from ,£l2O to .£l3O, and a cadet is provided at .£OS. «£l2oofor the establish ment of dairy schools. A salary of ,£6OO is provided for the Military Adviser, and .£4OO for the Under-Secretary j for Defence. The Land Purchase Inspector's salary is set down at .£BOO. In tho Public Trust Office the post of Deputy Public Trustee is set down at .£SOO a year, and in the Insurance Department the post of " Office Examiner " at <£2so a year. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. The Minister of Education, in answer to a question of Mr McGowan, stated that he had grave doubts as to the advisability of sacrificing any of the subjects now taught in our primary schools for the sake" of technical education. It was a matter for j the education boards to decide, not the head departments. The department, however, was issuing two text books on agricultural and geological matters, and he was of opinion that in rural districts the use of the first mentioned book should be made compulsory. IN BRIEE. It is probable that the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill will be amended so as to allow harvesting machinery agents to keep their shops open on the statutory half-holi-day for the sale of harvesting machinery only. Mr T. Thompson, the new member for Auckland, took his seat in the House last evening. The Agricultural Department has under consideration the advisableness of offering a bonus or otherwise encouraging the production of European flax in the Colony. In answer to a question by Mr Buchanan, the Minister of Justice yesterday stated that he knew of no reason for further enquiry into the supposed death by drown-

iiir* in the Manawatu Eiver on 12th April last of ft boy named Herbert Mullins. He, however, woiild cause further investigation to be made if sufficient gfotsnda were shown for it. The Government have under consideration the best means of preventing the spread of the codlin moth to districts at jri'esent free from the pest. It is the intention of the Government to do something in the direction of planting those waste lands of the Crown not suitable for settlement purposes with forest trees with a view to as far as possible keeping up a supply of timber in the Colony. t The 1000 Martini-Henry rifles which arrived by the Tainui will be distributed ariioir'gst the volunteer corps of the Colony. The Premier hopes to have the balance of the 4000 rifles ordered hers by the end of the year.

Dr Newman wants the Government to assist country settlers by burning wood for fuel in their railway engines. The Minister of Eailways says the Government railway engines are not suited for burning wood as ftiel, and there are too many objections to altering them.

Mr Stevens is agitating for stock loading yards at the Makino railway station, between Feilding and Halcombe.

Mr Graham wants band knife leathersplitting machines admitted into the Colony free of duty, so as to enable local tanners and curriers to compete successfully with American importations. The Premier hopes before the end of the session to bring down new regulations dealing with the question of police promotions. He does not think that a trivial offence, if followed by good conduct, should prevent promotion. The Government have invited offers of land in the vicinity of Wellington and Petone for the purpose of being divided into allotments for artisans. Up to the presSQty however, no suitable land has been offered.

The reduction of duty on fencing wire from Is to 6d per cwt and on barbed wire from 2s to Is, and the admission of woolpacks free, will be very Avelcome to farmers. The loss of revenue involved is .£4BOO on wire and .£4400 on woolpacks.