SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11229, 27 September 1898, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

POLITICAL AInD GENERAL,

The current session of Parliament, has proved peculiarly barren in legislative enactments, and on more than one occasion during the past month there has been a trial of strength between the Government and tho Opposition. The 6rst pitched, battle was fought over the question of illustrating Hansard with a map used by the Minister for Lands when making a defence of his land policy. The map purported to set out that previous Governments had permitted what is colloquially termed gridironing—that is, tho selection for purchase of Crown lands in such a way that tho sections selected are alternated with sections of inferior land, .which are not likoly to be applied for by others than tho contiguous landowner, who, therefore, gets the uso of these Crown lands for nothing. Tho map which, the Minister for Lands has prepared shows Sir John Hall's estate. in Canterbury as at first purchased from the Canter-

bury Provincial Government, which permitted that system of land selection, After an all-night sitting, and a late sitting the succeeding night, the proposal to insert the map was carried by 25 rotes to 21. The now famous illustrated' Hansard has been issued with the map as an inset inside the front cover. The Opposition fought against the insertion of the map as the commencement of a practice that might establish an undesirable precedent; but confident in the strength of their majority the Government were not amenable to reason, and consequently we hafe made a new departure in the history of parliamentary proceedings in a British colony. The stonewall over the map showing Bir John Hall's estate took place at the end of the past month, and again ■on the 7th inst. the Opposition made a determined stand against the Government in their attempt to force through the Estimates without supplying Parliament with the necessary information as to the proposed allocation ■of certain items. The leader of the Opposition pressed for an assurance from ' the Premier as to when the Public Works. Statement would be laid before • the House, and when a certain impor- . tant return ordered by Parliament should be produced. Consequently, when the first item of the Estimates was called On in Committee of Supply, a stonewall was promptly commenced, and kept going from the afternoon of the 6th inst. till 9 a.m. on the Bth. when a compromise Was arrived at, the Premier agreeing to bring down the Public Works Statement on the 27th inst., and to furnish the belated return as soon thereafter as possible. During the debate the galleries were cleared, but as the order to clear the galleries did' nob include -\the . ladies' gallery, a lady representative of the press watched the proceedings and reported them with a crispness of detail that must have made anything but delecfable reading for the participants in the combat, many of whom cut but sorry. figures in'the silent watches of the night when the demands of nature ov.erpowered them. On. that occasion the lady reporter scored, but it is doubtful whether the House will be caught napping (literally) again in tho samo way. Captain , Russell and liis following fought for an important principle, as the prosont Government

have persistently uSod their majority to block all attempts to Wring returns from, them or to obtain information that might be used against them. The practice in tho past has been to delay delivery of the Public "Works ' State-

ment till near the end of the session,

when the flouse had not tho time, nor was it in the mbod, to deal properly with the various items of expenditure proposed. But'the result of th6 stonewall set tip against the continuance of such xtuparliamentary practices has boon hailed with delight throughout the colony, and the members of tho representative chamber will now have an opportunity to discuss the Public Works Statement. The Banking Bill has not passed yet. Several consequential amendments were made while the Bill was in Committee in the Leglislatiro Council) but tho House of Representatives has yet to deal with these. The Municipal Frahchise Reform Bill passed the Legislative) Council on tho 2nd inst. This measure extends tho municipal franchise bo as to include householders as well as ratepayers nfc elections! but ratepayers alone vote when a poll k to bo taken for raising bans, etc. A Bill to restrict alien immigration has passed the Legislative but remains Id be dealt with by, tho Lower HoUse. In view of the small amount of business done so far this session it has been decided by tho House of Representatives to sit on Monday evenings, and Government business is to have precedence on Wednesdays. But it 19 only too evident that tho Government measures are not going through this session without due criticism. ' The Old Age Pension Bill passed its second reading on the lGth after a

fihorb debate by 35 votes to 12; but if the Government imagined Hhat argued well for their Dill they have since been undeceived) as it is being fought clause by clause through Committee, and in spito of all-night sittings, very little progress lir& been made.' Before the Bill emerges from Committee its character will bo considerably altered. The ultimate futo of the measul'e now seems doubtful, as thero is a strong feeling throughout the country against throwing tlio whole cost of an old ago pension schemo upon the consolidated funds. Even if the Bill is forced through iho Houso of Representatives it is extremely doubtful if it will pass tile Legislative Councili • An important case has been dealt with by the Supremo Court sitting in Admiralty jurisdiction —the first of the kind in this colony. On tho morning of Anril 2nd last; while the barque Laira

■wiis lying alongside the Duueclin wharf "• Joad'J mul lfiitly for sen, tho Union g -Mr. Ship Company's! steamer Wakatipli ran into her, cutting her down and sinking her.' - The owner of the kirn souiliCio l'frcDVPr damages for the loss of stores, charter, etc. The case was heard before Mr Justice Pennefather and two nautical assessors) and occupied tho court from the 10th insfc. till thd 20th, wlich judgment was given against the owners of the Wakatipu. The qnestiaii bf 'costs find the amount of damages have yet to bo decided. Although tho Mnrino Gourt of Inquiry exonerated the captain of the Wakatipu from culpability, the more complete evidence elicited before the Admiralty Gourb led to tho conclusion that the only point to be decided was. whether the loss of the Laira was to be borne by her owner (who was in no way respon-

sible) or by the owners of the steamer that cut her down. Tho decision of tho Admiralty Court is of course subject to appeal, but in the meantime the Union Steam Ship Company are held to be responsible for the damages.

The question of the disposal of the city sowage, which has been a matter of dispute between the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Harbour Board for some years, is again to the fore. Tho Harbour Board object to the continued discharge of sewage into the har-

hour, claiming that the cost of dredging tho channel and keeping the shipping basins clear is thereby considerably increased. An attempt is being made to have the''matter in dispute settled by p.ibitration, and Mr Napier iicll, C.E., has been asked to report upoa the alleged silting up of the upper harbour from tho deposition of sewage. It is only a question of time, however, when tho city sewage must be carried out to fei instead of being discharged into the harbour. ■

There was rejoicing throughout vl-.a colony at the fall of Khartoum, as great interest is taken in these colonies at the progress of England's forward colonial policy. An interview; with the sister of tho Sirdar, which wo publish elsewhere; will be read with interest p.t Hcnie.

By the death of Sir.George Orey one of the most prominent figures in tho history of New Zealand has disappeared from tho scene. A fitting tribute was paid to the memory of the deceased statesman in Parliament, when on u>ceipt of the intelligence of his death the leaders of both Houses made eulogistic speeches, and Parliament' adjourned out of respect to his memory.

Death has again thinned the rank? of the fast diminishing band fif early settlers who came to Otago half a century ago to found a new colony. Mr Robert Chapman, who was a member of tho Otago Association in Edinburgh, and one of tho first to take up land under the" Otago Settlement scheme, passed away from the scene of almost,; a life's labours on the 10th inst. at the advanced ago of 86 years. Mr John Cbisholni, another well-known figure in the early days of Otago, died about the same time, in his eightieth year.

Somo excitement has. been occasioaed near Gisborne at the alleged discovery by a Maori of a gigantic lizard-like reptile, known only in Maori legend. The Maori who saw the creature was so terrified that he fled without further investigation, but the researches of a party who went to the spot to investigate lead to the conclusion that some , uncanny beast has made its home in the 'hollow treo pointed out by the Maori, :and no doubt this survival from a raco of ancient reptiles will in time be ran to earth and duly dissected and. classified. :