PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LV, Issue 9970, 3 August 1893, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

BUILDING CONTRACTS. A petition from the Builders’ Association of Wellington, for alteration in the Govern* ment renditions far contracts, was presented 1 st year, but could not be considered then, owing to want of time. The A to L Petitions Committee of this session have referred the application to the Government, recommending it to their favourable consideration. THB NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK SURVEY. The Minister for Bublio Works stated yesterday that the statement that Mr Donkin, who is exploring the route for the North Island Main Trunk Railway line, had refused to go into the bush with inexperienced men sent np to him from Wellington, was absolutely without foundation. There were two young men whom be discharged as not being suitable for the bush, and the Goi vornment considered him the best judge, though ono of the young men had been brought op in the bush. THE THRESHING OF GRAIN. Major Steward is preparing a Bill designed to secure to the owners of threshingmachines a preferential lien over grain threshed by them, and the Government are to bo asked to take up the measure. LAND AND INCOME TAX. The amounts yielded by the laud and in* 03DQ9 lax to the 30th June wore Land Ux—Persons, £163,220; companies, £69,355. Graduated tax Persons, £44,234; companies, £23.646. Income tax Persons, £34,889; companies, X’38,738. SHEEP FARMING IN THE COLONY, An interesting return submitted to Parliament yestsrday shows the rapid development of sheep-farming in the Colony diving the year ending 30th April last. In that period tho total number of sheep in New Zealand by 756.978 —or 4G1.C64 in the Nortn island, and 325.914 in tho >outh Island. The following were tho Increases in the various districts : —Auckland, 49,758 ; Napier, 168,435 ; Wellington-West Coast District, 242,871 ; Marlborough-Nelaon District, 8243 ; ConterburyKaikoura District, 224,132 ; Otago, 93,539. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. Mr Hogg intends to propose a now clause to bo added to the Noxious Weeds Bill, to the effect that any local authority may prohibit ths introduction of any plants named in schedule A of ihe Bill, © ther as hedges or otherwise, and may, on the pa} meat of reasonable c'cipeneafcioo, destroy existing fences or plantations. Schedule A of the Bill comprises Bathurst burr, Noogcora burr, blaokberrs', bruoru, goree, owestbriar. Canadian or Californian thistle, giant bnrdock, and star thistles Tho County Clerk at Pahiatna states that only one gorge fence is

known to exist la the county, and a few plants In the riVor-bod. TUB MARTINI HKNIif KIKhEH.

Id reply to Mr Dnthle, tbo Premier stated yesterday, that an order for the MartiniHenry nfi :a intended for the Hifio Asa-iciat tlo'o wan a nt by uabhgram to the AgentGeneral on the 24th March, IBif2, and, id answer, it wak promiaed that they would b 6 ready by the 2S;h Mircb, 1803 The Goi 1 vermhent did not know the reason Lr the delay, but they expected the rifles daily.

LARK Ki I-KHMERE LAND 4.

The Go-erncuenfc intend to put £750 on the Estimates to bo given to the Bolwyn County Council to omplo’o the drainage works at L*k i Ellesmere, and it in sjso intended to propose legist-.lion enlarging the dralrfago sred, and Cd grnnt a reierVß as an er-doWmdnt f-t* 4he b’oafd.

•.m.uini;}:’ and if * XiAiD.*fE Bf>*aht-

MENT. Yesterday iir Sapdford askcd j the Premioi' v>h3lbef.iho attention of the Govern* ment bad been,drawn Id a signed ‘Mariner,’ published In the New Lealand Times of the Slat July, dealing with matters within tbo provincs of the Marine Department ; and whether the Government w;>uld iQiitftate enquiries ss to the accuracy or otherwise of the statercent* written there. Mr Soddon, in reply, denied that the ini tcrosts of the seamen had not received fiir considoratioo. Tha Government had gone tn flousidcrable expense to have alterations made bti board tba.Hmemoa, and further scconuicHeitioh Thcfe had been no coaiplaittta whatever lygdrding the llghti bouse service. The redrc'fbo of (henrimbtr of days allowed tbo keepers of pilot stations hid boon decided on in ord*r to reduce the lime these stations would be without their full complement of keeper?, and no hardship was involved. THE KAIf.WAY INSURANCE BILL. Yesterday morning a deputation com* piiabg Mr Wi Hoban, pfesidenfe of th* Amalgamated. Society of Railway Servants ; tho Hon Mr JeaUinson, M.L.O, ;und Messrs Farnshaw, Tanner, J. W. Kelly and Bandford, M.’sHR., interviewed the Premior, when Mr Hoban represented that the recent confereXice to consider tho Railway ' nßuran:e Bill was not representative, that certain of the delegates had not been appointed by majorities. The society wished to have, an Insunuico scheme, hut claimed that all t?i) men ehould have the right to express tuVir opinions on it, without coercion or persuasion. members of Parliament having also spoken, the promised to consult the Pailway Conaraisaionsrs on tho subject. It was Suggested that a plebiscite of tho railway employees afiodld Bo taken regirding tho Bill. ... ...