N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2159, 11 July 1895, Page 20

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3.

In the Legislative Council this afternoon a notion r-ropoeing the appointment of » caminiifcee to inquire into tho cunency system was talked out. Tho Institute of Surveyors Bill and two bills sent up from the Houao were read • second timo. INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS. The Hon. Mr WALKEK moved the second reading of (he New Zeaknd Institute of Surveyors Bill Ho fxplained that the bill waa one of incorporation. The difficulty was that at present joung survey ore, no matter how expert they might be, experienced a diffioully in obtaining work in the sister coleuivs, and it itTAB to obviate this disadvantage that the bill !was brought in. If passnd, the bill would prove of advantage to the public as will as to individual surveyors. if The Hon. Mr KELLY regarded the bill us a dangerous one. There was a g;eat quantity of surveying work in the country which did not require certificated surveyors, and yot the bil! sought to take away the livelihood of these gentlemen merely for the purpose o! creating a close borough. Tho Hon. Mr JENKINSON expressed the opinion that the bill should be sent to tho Labour Bills Committee . Tbe Hon. G M'LBAN conridercd the public were at prrpent perfectly well pr..ttcted. Tho feronrl reading was agreed to and the bill rt^i it A to the Labour Bills Committee.

In the Hriftße of Representatives thia afternoon it wo* decided that the Speaker chould c*ble to -~fcfa»-Agtyit-fceneral respecting Sir George Grey's resignation. After the Midland railway quc* tic-n had been disposed of, qunn!icns were replied to, and a minor bill dealing with a Native malter was passed. The Adoption of Children, Contagious Diseases Act Repeal, Pharmacy, Industrial Schools Act Amonduient, and Corrupt Practices Prevention Bills were read a eecond time. BKPLIES TO QUESTIONS. RepljiDg to Mr G. J. Smith, Tbe Hon. Mr BEDDON said there had been "no correspondence between the Government and the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company respecting the proposed disposition of the property of the company by chance, and he was Dot going to take a lo*p in the d*rk. Repljing to Major St<- ward, • The Hon. Mr fciEDDON eaid designs had le ii prepared for a statue of the Ute John Ballance. The work was now in hand, anri^ when complete the etatue would be placed in th parliamentary grounds. Replying to Mr Allen, ')he Hon. Mr CADMAN said that since tbe Gorerttmrnfc took over the railways concessions varying from 14 to 28 per cent, had bten made in th. f might of lime, and the Goverum* nt were favou^bly considering a further reduction in frei lit. Kei/lying to Mr Hogg, whether it is proposed to amend the Advances to Settlers Act this EpsMon so that applicants may be able to obtain further advances on their improvements without necessitating fre*h mortgages, . he Hon Mr SbDDON faid he should consult the chsirrofcuof the Lending Board to see if fcbif conld be done. * Rallying to Mr Collins, whether the Government are aware that the premises occupied by Ctiii>e<e in the larger cities of New Zealand are in many instances used for gambling purposes, and will the GovernineDt take such steps as m»y be acc.etßa.ty to have suoh gambling houses luppreaxed, 'JLe non Mr SEDDON said this WBs a morion fur 1< ca' bcdics, and if Mr Collini would give the Government any particulars an to the places be would have tho matter referred to the lor>-1 anthorities. Replying to Mr Rusnell (Riccarton), whether the GoverDm«-nt; would introduce legislation this se*pion to enable them to open one or more eo*l mines in the colony"T:o be worked by the State, The Hon. Mr CADMAN said an interesting exi>t riment was now being tried at the Mohikinui mine on the co-operative principle, and he Would wait tho remit of that, but the Government at present saw no reason for startirg a Slot coal mine Kepi} ing to Mr Guinness, The Hon Mr CADMAN said it would not be wise to alter tho regulation to give railway surfacemen tbe same half-holiday on Saturdayo ma is given to the men in <hf railway workshops. THIRD RBADrNQ. The Hikufcaia Block Boundary Bill was comtniUed, read n third time, and passed. ADOPTION 03? CHILDBKN, The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved the second reading of the Ad< pi ion of Children Bill. He said the bill was an amending bill and the Government desired to encourage as much as po-sible the sdoprion of children. Mr T. MACKENZIE (Clutha) thought the bill was more likely to discourage the adoption of children than to encourage it, and in Committee he should move *n amendment. The motion was agreed, to and the bill sent to the St&tuUs Revision Committee. THE PHARMACY BILL. ■ The Bon. Mr SEDDON moved the second reading of the Pharmacy Bid, to amend and consolidate tbe law relating to pharmacy. He B»id this bill removed the objection made to Dr Newman's bill liut yrar as to its restrictive nature and giving undue power to chemists. The bill had been cent to the Pharmacy Board, •who approved of it and returned it to the Government with proposed modifications, some of which were accepted and others were not. After explaining the detail! of the bill, he said the board were of opinion that no candidate should be entitled or eligible for examination for a pharmaceutical chemist until he was 21 years Of age ; but he thought 18 years was a better •ge, and that was provided in the bill. Aftor debate the motion was agreed to. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. The Hon. Mr REEVES moved the second reading of the Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill. He explained the various clauses in tha bill and amendments made from the original apt. Tbe bill gave additional powers for commitment of destitute children to industrial schools by removing certain technical difficult^s which had previously existed, and it also provided for an extension of tho boarding-out system. The cost of maintenance of children at the industrial schools in cases where the; came into property was also dealt with. He ■aid the amendments were found to' be necessary by pract'cal experience. Mrß«r» Buchanan, Allen, Green, and HallJones spoke on the bill. The mo'iou was agreed to. CORttUPT PKACTICES PREVENTION. The Hoa. Mr Si DDON moved the second reading oi the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, to limit thecoßt of parliamentary election*. He said every member in the House would admit there wai a necessity or passing the bill owing to the amount of blackmail that wat levied from candidate! standing tor election for Parliament. If they were desirouo of allowing every man to stand for Parliament they should •gree to a bill of this kind. He proposed t?

refer tha bill to til's Statutes Revision Coin mitfcee after being read a second time. Section 3 provided that no payment rh >uld be made for election expanses exrcut by a candidate. Ifc was also provided that payment of election oxponses should be raado in 30 daya after the day en which tho candidate was declared elected. He he'd that the maximum amouut of flestion expenses should be fixed by the act, and thought no man's election expenses should exceed £200. The motion was agreed to, and the bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. JOTTINGS. In his Asiatic and o^her Immigration Restriction Bill, the- Minis 1 er for fj-ib^ur proposes to raise the poll tax upon Asiatics 'to £100, also to decrease ihe number of these people that a vessel may carry in proportion to tonnage, and to prevent such pauperß and deformed persona as ara likely to become an- imm* dUte burden upon thtt taxpayer from landing. The bill also aims at prohibiting the iutro'luction of cod tract labour except in ths- c «e of teachers and skilled labourer* such as caunob b's secured within the colony. The Minister has taken precautions to exclude from his new bill all provisions that would in any way injuriously interfere with the tourist traffic. A p-fcition was pre*entad this evening from 10 settlers of the Pomahaka est ite prayiug for a revaluation o? that estite-by practical and impartial men, as otherwise the'r d-eira to cs'ablisb homes for -themselves and their families cannot be accomplished. Th<> Minister for LVnds has sent a circular to all agricultural societies anking for certain information regarding the iimu question. A bill has been introduced by Mr W. Hutchison to enlarge the franchise at municipal el' ctions. It provides that every ratepayer, m- un'ng any man or woman not resident in the bor -ugh, who is owner, leaseholder, or tenant of any property on which there is no resident householder, and every housthnMer, meaning »ny person of at least 21 years of age, who has been for at least 12 months an inhabitant and for tbree mouths tha occupier of a dwelling house in the borough, miy vote for councillors ; no person to have more than ore vote. Evs-ry householder and everyone who3e name appears upon the roll under " The Electoral Act 1893" for the district comprising tho bjruu^h shHll be entitled to vote for the eleation of major. An important measure is proposed by the Premier iv the shape of a bill to limit act/ions for debt aud to prohibit actions for goods sold and delivered. It in p'-uvirlad that ac ions for debt ahull be limited lo two y<-ars af-<.r the ciuse of action arose if it arises after the comm neemerit of the act, and iv all other cases lo two years af er the commencement of the act, but not-excet diug six years 1 after the cause of aotion arose. It is also declared that there shall be no recovery of a debt under £20 for goods sold. THURSDAY, JULY 4. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the motion to appoint a committee to inquire into the currency quesHoo was rejected TJie Animals Protection Act Amendment, Uniforms, and Dog Regis' ration Act Amendment Bills were passed, and the Adulteratiou Act Amendment Bill read a second time. In the House ot Repreßen'atives this afternoon tho Speaker announced that be had received a cable message fiorn Sir George Grey resiguiug his Feat lor Auckland. The Patea Fore- ; shore Vesting Bill and Property Law Counuhd»tiou Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. Mr Mormon'n bill to abolish all imprisonment for dt-bt was rejected afcer a long debate by 34 to 28, but Sir X Stous was successful with the Institute of Journalist* Btll which was atrongly opposed. Tho Family Homes ProU-ctiou Bill wf>s read a second time, and tho Industrial Snho'jln Act Am'-nr! orient and CD Act Re^al Bi'lit were passed. PROTECTION OF HOMES. The Hon. J M'KENZIE moved tho sscnud reading of the Fa'uily Homes Fraction Bill, to uinkc pr> vi>ioo fot securing homes for the peoplti He paid the bill was a departure from Ifgislution generally pas«ed by the House, but he assured thiru there waß a necessity for a bill of this kiud. Thare were at one time in the colonj psople who were in a position to pro- ! vide homes for their families, but w<-ie now ! unable to do so, And the opportunities tliis bill would give to people of this cl-<ss for sttting aside homes in this way should be encouraged. The bill now before the HoiiEemi.de full provision for the manner in which these homes are to be provid-d, and ataoenacbt d that no pe^on should make over land in this way un'fss he was able to pay the expeuses incurred It might be objected th-»t the sum provided was too sm^ll, but he th' ught a home worth £1000 would be always a home for a family, and if th-'y were thrifty they could make a good living. He was not wedded, however, to £1000, and if the nouse thought the sum should be increased he had no objection. Hp again asserted there was great necessity for thin bill, aud it seemed to him that thy; was a proper way to deal with tue qnes'iou He should not refuse any reasonable AUieinlm^ntß so long as they did not interfere with the principal of the bill. Sir R. STOUT supported the bill, as it was similar to ODe he introduced last year. The only point in which his diff-red from ihe prts n»- bill was in the amount, and he thought £5000 a mire suitable sum. He hoped the House would agree to the iucre^se. The bill was not a new one. It had been tried in the Uuited States aud Canida, and had been the means of securing homes for men who might have baen I driven away from the place altogether. The I bill provided that land should be set aside for the use of a man and his family, and anything ! they could do to attach a man to th^sjil who ald be welcomed. The great thing they had to loak to was the preserving of family and home life, and he regarded the bill as a step iv the right direction. With respect to the mortgage question, it would be seen that this bill protided that once the land was settled in this mauuet the owner of it might not mortgage it, aud he would have to raise money on bis perm nal property. Mr BELL tani the diffijjlty which he saw in the bill was that circumstances might arise which might ueces«itate alienation in the case of it family leaving the colony. He thought a borne of £1000 was sufficient for the purpose required Mr M -GO WAN said the principle of the bill was good, but there were dungirous eleraeuts in it. He thought it was thu worst clb«s of j men who wuuld take advantage of ihe bill by } making these homes over to their wivt-.-, aud thus escape their ]U3t debts. The tendency of the bill, he thought, would make man reckless, not thrifty. 9 $r T. MACKENZIE (Clutha) also regarded the bill us a step in the right direction, and he congratulated Mr M'Keuzie on bringing it in. Wich a few amend sjeuts in Committee he thought it mirfhb be made a useful measure. Mr MA^LIN suppo ted tho bill, but he did not think many people would avail them-.elree of its provisions. Mr a J. SMITH supported Che bill, and

thought the principle of it would commend it.'elf to the House. Mr BUDDO congratulated the Minister on the bill, aud said with sjtne safeguards it might be made a very good measure. Dr NEWMAN thought the bill would only affect rich people, «ho c uld afford to set aside ] land in this way. The bill might be amended i so as to make better security for a struggling man than this bill did. Mr FLAT MAN thought provision might be made iv the bill iv case of a husband dying and the widow marrying again. The motion wai agreed to. The OontagioaM Diseases Act Repaa.l Bill was comtii'ted. and pacsed without amendment. The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill was committed. The Hon. Mr STEWARD moved anew clause that no inmite of any Industrial School should be c mfiued in a dark room for any offence whatever, nor shall such inmate for insubordiuntion or other misconduct bs pub on bread and water for longer than 48 houra, any breach of the provisions readcring the •mannger liable to a penalty of not loss that £5 nor m >re thau £50 The Hou. Mr SEDDON did not objrct to the clause in Mr Reeves'* absence, but he would not guarantee that his colleague in charge of the bill would accept it. Mr COLLINS moved that 24 hours be (substituted tor 43 hours.— Agreed to. The new clauses wera passed, and both bills read a third time and passed. I CHARITABLE AID REFORM. The reform of the present system of charitable aid that is proposed by the Govern in-nt ha* been the subject of some lobby talk to-day because of come remarks by the Hon. W. P. Beeves in moving the second reading of the lud-^trial Schools Act Amniidmeut Bill, which provides for an extension of the present board-ing-out syatem. Thiro is naturally mur-h interest an to what the natnre and scope of the charitable aid reform may prove to be, and a hint of any of its provisions will be timely, I c\nnot gather muob, but thick it will be found that the special features of the bill will bo the care of destitute children by the State and the establii-hment of labour colonies for those of the unemployed who, from from age or other di3*bilities, cannot hold their own in the Btruggl^ to obtain work. ENDOWED SCHOOLS BILL. The Minister for Education in his Endowed Schools Bill iutends to provide that every endowed schi ol shall, after the Ist Jnnuary 1896, in every year afford frea education by giving a Fr»e place for the year to one bchoUr for every £50 of the net annual incmip derived by the school from end >wm*nts, including contributions made by sohool comnvssioi'era acting under "The Eduction Re-er^s Ac' 1877." In lieu of free plar-o*, the governing bod> may substitute sf.h< la-sh'p3 accruing to the following scile : — Two scholarships each of an tmnual sum equal to h-Uf the ordinary s hojl fees of one scholar for the year in lieu of oue free p!ace ; one sob ilarahip of an annual sum equal to the ordinary school fees of one, two, three, or four scholars respectively for the year in lieu of one, two, three, or four free plucks respectively, provided that no scholarship in lieu of tbree or four free i luces shall be granted except to a ncholar whose home is so remote fro>n tbe schoal as to prevent him from living at home whilst attending school or college, wholly or partially maiutain-d by enrlovim-uts, but does not include any institution affi int^dto the University of New Zca'anrJ, nor any school maintained chiefly for the benefit of the Maoris. OPPOSED NOTICh-S OF MOTION. ¥Vsreidty when noticesof mo'ion w» re called on, the first upon the list was by Mr George Hutchison for a return of the tran -actions und«r the Consols Act to show the dates of investments, their natnre and amount, and where the moneys are invested. "Opposed," cried the Premier. " Did I understand the Premier to oppose ? " asked Mr Hutchison. " Yes," was* the answer, with some asperity. " Thun I oppose all the rest," said the m°mber for P<tte& in bis blandest tones, and so 45 no 1 ices of motion went by the board. Lntrtr there was qui'ea breezy time on the su'vjtict of opposed returns, members of the Opposition alleging that informa'ian dirtct'id to be supplied to Parliament by statute law wa3 being kept back in order to screen the Treasurer 1 his Mr Seddon indignantly repudiat'-d, and changed the angry mood of his opponents to one of ! mirth by saying that he would not give the | information to enab'e hon. gentlemen opposite : to out his absent colleague's throat behind his back. To-day when notice? came on the first proved to be by Mr G*orge Hu'chison for a re urn of I correspondence betwuen the Agent general aud ' the Government on the snhjact of the recent loan This the Premier opposed, and P/itea promptly answered by effacing the rest of the notices for the day But he was not to go scot free for this wholesale slaughter, for presently he had to move the peond reading of the P-tea Foreshore Bill, and Mr Pirani called for a divi-ion, the second readii'g being saved by 38 to 23. The significance of all tbia is that it looks like the beginning of tactics that if continued, as seems likely, will speedily create much bitterness of feeling and consequent obstruction of public bu.-mi*-s3. " Obey the l«.w aud the beat tradi'ions of Parliament," say the Opposition. "We won't," says the Premier in effect. "Then we will employ the forms of the House to make you pay the penalty." BILLS REVIVED. The Government have reiutroducod their bill of last session to authori-e li.cil au<horitie3 to convert and consolidate their loans. They have also brought forward again their measure to authorise rating on the unimproved value of land ; and a short bill poviding a bonus to encourage the production of sugar from beetroot aud sorghum. The two bills first mentioned have been altered in soms details. THE ESTATES COMPANY LOTTERY BILL. The Bank of New Zealand Estates Company Assets Special Realisation Bill, which has been entrusted to Mr C H Mills, the senior Government wh ; p, sets forth that the company cannot for a uumbcr of reasons dispoe of its property by the ordinary methods of realisation, and it ,ia therefore provided that the directors of the company may, with the consent in writing of the president and two directore of the Bank of New Zealand, dispose of its property by lottery. Mr Millr, of coursa, anticipates some oppo«ition to his measure in certaiu quarters but he cunti nds that the principle is tlready .•idujit'vd by tbe legislation ot lotti-ries in-cotmectiou wirh work* .»t ait. t.'ie >o'.dU«t.>r ( ia , with the permission of the C loi.ial Secretary, and that his bill is in no way <qitivaltat to the authorisation of a Sta'e lottery, but will divide many Urge estates aud facilitate settlement. It i 6 expected that Ministers will support the proposal, and its fate will depend in a large measure upon the attitude of the members of the Opposition IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. The member for Caversham (Mr Morrison) bad charge of an Imprisonment foe Debt Aboli*

tion Bill, which provides that no person shall ba imprisoned for making default in payment of a sum of money with certain specified exceptions. Though the Premier threw in the whole weight of his iuflueuoo in favour of this bill, which i< almost ideutical with the Government m->nsare brought in with the same object i last ye^r, the Houso igmmiuioufily rejected it by a vote of 34 to 28, bb one of the moßt widely accepted arguments against the measure was that it would injure poorer people by preventing traces .nea from giving them credit. The result of the robe may be regarded as an indication of tha attitude of the House towards Mr S ddon's Debt 3 Recovery Limitation Bill, which m<kes it impossible to recover debts for goods under £20. CO-OPERATIVE WORKS. Instructions h%ve been given through the Public Works department that in the future the maximum number of days th.it co-operative hands will be allowed to work is 20 in any one month. The men are to bs entitled to eeleat thair own holidays. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. The EU ctive Executive Committee has now dra f ted i^s bill, which provides for tho election of six M mi»ters by the Lower House. Nominations are to be sent in to the Speaker after his election, and each is to ba signed by 10 members and the candid »te ; each number of the executive mu*t ba eltctod by an absolute majority of those voters taking part in the first ba'lot. Votes of want of confidence are ab)li<*hed in favour of a system by which a r. qui -ition, signed by 25 members, is to be bander! tJ the Speaker asking thnt a motion of want of c >nBdenoe in any individual or in tie whole Executive may be placed on the Order Paper, and such motion shall then be fixed for discussion on the second sitting day after its appearance oa tho Order Paper. THE RABBIT PLAGUE. Mr Hogg asked tho Minister for L-mtfs if he had considered the repreHent&tionß that had bten made for the encouragement of rabbitproof fencing, and in doing s.o said it might be i assumed tint at.(e<npt* to suppress the rabbits hid be^-n a fa-l'ne. Ai th' 1 settlers recognised wire netting ai Ihe ouly prevail tfve, wouM the Government d > anything to help the aultter.i to procure it ? To this the Minister answered that a bill would be introduced to make advauces to settlers for this purpose upon the same lines as to local bodies. ANTI-TOXIN. The Premier had a tilt at the medical profession on Tuesday, and had a very sympathetic audience It arose out of a question by Mr Graha.ni, who wautel to know if the Govf-rn-me.ut would "consider tbo propriety of procuring from Home direct, under medical supervision, a supply of pure anti-toxin " beciuse of the present prohibitive price of thut healing agent. The Pr ruier, curiously enough, did not auswer the question, but ho did give sonif information that d-Krrves wide publicity. The Government bad imported auti toxin, and its cost in the colony, brought fiom France, was frcm 2s 6<\ to 5s 6d par hot/file, acwrd-ng to size. The bottle was u-mally Buffic'eut to effect a cure. Druggists charged double the cosh, and ai to the .Kedical i)rof<-ssion, a cure had come under notice where a physician had charged a guinea fur the treatment and a guinta for the auti- toxin that only cost 6d. Moat extortionate charges had been exacted. He thought the time had almi fit come when the charges tor txx gical operations should be fixed by law. JOTTINGS. The small shopkeepers are in a sorry plight, according to Mr T. Mackenzie, between the Shops Act and tbe proposal to prevent the. recovery of Hinhll debts supported by the Government;. One Government member declared the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill a measure to protect rogues at the expense of tho s trading community, and another that it was a blow struck by the professed friends of the working men against the working man himself. S<>me of the most notorious scoundrels in New Zealand, says Mr T. Mackenzie, have b -en made justicr s of the pence Traction engiuedrivera may present themselves, the Premier gays, for examination at Chriptcharob, Dunedin, or Invercurgill, to the inspector of machinery when travelling. Mr Thorn ts Mackenzie having directed the attend n of th> Minister for L-mrle to the exiut- | ing nio npoly ot li'n.- fo.- agr : cu'.bu'nl purrees j in the S mth Island, tho lion, gentleman was . understood to say that he realised tbe position and pr<>p<.std introducing a bill to deal with it. Replying to a question on Tuesday, the Premier said that a special official bad reported upon the donv'Mic relations of the co-operi-tive labourers in Otag >, and it was found that tbe sy Klein was not being abused as stated to him at Dunedin in November last. FRIDAY, JULY 5. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the business was mostly of a formal character. ; The Sale of Goods Bill was considered in Committee, but cjn=idi'ra'ion was adjourned. Bins The followi: g bills came up from the House and were read a firnt time : — Contagious Diseases Act Repeal, Industrial School Amendment Bill. In the House of R> p"-esentativrs this afternoon after questions h*d oeen replied to, a debate took place concerning the dt lay ia publishing tbe public accounts and the delay and refusal ' of Mmistrrs to place returns before tho House. In the evening theCuronero' Inquests Tim shit g Machine Owners' Lien, Crimin*l Code Act Amendment, Emplojers' Private Beuefit So -ieties, and Deceased Husband's Brother Marriige Bills were read a second timo. After spending some time over the Native TowiiSbips Bid in Committee, progress was reported. HEPLIE3 TO QUPbTIONS. Replying to Mr Lari acb, The Hon J. M'KENZIE said instructions had been sent to the commiMhioners of Crown lands in the colony not to dispose of any more live forests. The question of a reduction of freights was being dealt wi'.h. Replying to Mr Buddo. Tbe Hon. J M'KENZIE said uo land had been acquired at Kniapoi or Rangioia under the Land for Settlements Act, but the Government hoped to be successful in getting an estate there. Replying to Mr Carnell, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE 6aid no land for settlement had been acquired north of Napier, as the land there was not suitable for small settlement. R-plyi'igto Mr H»wt, Ttis II >v. J. M'KENZIE said it had been ftund nect-ts<\ry to make a change in the scale of f»-es payable by borrowers under the Advances to Sel tiers Act, and the change had been made by O'dcr-in-Council. Replying to Blr Flatman, Tbe lion. Mr CADMAN said the concession of carrying on the railway passengers' bicycles free was granted in oth^r places, and each pas iMiger was allowed 1121b personal luggage. Rt-p'yiog to Mr Alien, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government

had not received any complaints as to the working of the Kaitaugata Coal Company's railway. He thought the whole of the lines of the colony should be in tbe hands of the Government, bat they could not purchase the line out of ordinary revenue. Replying to Mr Duncan, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said mating provision for taking land containing gold, minerals, and lime would be dealt with in a bill ° to be brought down respecting the lime question. Replying to Mr Wilson, The Hon. J. M'KBNZIE said he would bo glad to introduce a bill making ih illegal to travel f>heep at night in the North Island. Replying to CapUin Russell, The lion Mr SBDDON said there was ho doubt the Treasury did not comply with the act by sending to the Audib Office an abstract of revenue and expenditnre for the past jenr. The responsibility for not publishing the revenue and expenditare in the Gazutta and Uying it b&foro Parliament must rest on his (Mr Seddon'n) shoulders. Replying to Mr Mo'rkoci, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government would communicate with the Agent-general as to the inquiry made by the Imperial Government rcp'-'cting admission into the country of pri"on-m»de articles. The Government were strongly opposed to priion-mado boots being admitted into New Z -aland. COnONEBS' INQUTSTS. The Hon Mr S E'.VARD moved the second rending of the Coroners' Inquests Bill, to amend the law relating to coroners' inquests. He said he had introduced this bill in 1882, and carried it through all its stages, t>»t, unfortunately, it was thrown oat in tho '"' uuoil. He had brought it in several times since, but it never got th'ougb, and he was again trying to pans the bill on this occasion. He said one of tho principal provirions of the bill was that where persons were called on to serve their country on coroners' inquests they should be paid a reason able amount for their services. Other provisious in the bill related to making the dead house of a hospital a public morgue. Ho hoped the bill would be allowed to pass.— • Agreed to. THRESHING r,IENS. The Hon. Mr fTEW.iRO moved the second reading of tho Threshing Machine Owners' Lien Bill, to make p'ovision for securing to tlu celling machine owners a preference claim for the cost of threshing grain or seeds. He said the bill was a very simple one and bad b>-on twida before the House already. He instancod vases wibhin his own knowledge to shovr the necessity for the bill. Mr BUDDO supported the bill, and said there was a necessity for parsing it. He was aware of several oases of hardship that occurred owing to the waut of such a bill. Mr M'LACHLAN bUo knew of oases of hardship in this direction, and ho supported the bill. Mr T. MACKENZIE (Cluth*) entirely disapproved of the principle of the bill, which waa opposed to tbe trui-st interests of Liberalism, The second reading wa<* agreed to by 42 to 8. THE KAIWAHRA MURDER, Mr MILLS ro^e to move the second reading of the Criminal C- de Act Amendment Bill (No. 3), providing for Louis Chemi» having the right to apply for a new trial to the Court of Appeal. fc?ir R STOUT rais-d an objection that this was a private bill, and dealt with an individual case. The SPEAKER ruled that the bill proposed to amend a public act, end ho could not, therefore, arrf st tho progress of the bill at present. Mr MILLS then detoiled at considerable length tiie circu instances a' tending the trial and couvict-o i of Chnmisfor the murder of Hawkins* at K'i\v.MT.», some years ago. The second reading was agreed to. PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES. Mr MILLAR moved the second reading of the Eraplojers' Private Benefit Society Bill, to bet'er rcgu'ate the working of benefit societies estnblihed or assisted by employers for their emp'oyees. He said the bill was introduced last sef-s ; ou. aud was, almost the game as when it came back from the -Labour Bills Committee last jear During the last three yenrs there had been no growth of friendly societies, and he had during the recess placed this bill before a large numbar of fritndly societies, who had approved of it. He should bo prepared to take any reasonable amendmeiit3 in Committee. — Agreed to. DE KASED HUSBAND'S BROTHER'S BILL. Mr LA WRY moved the second reading of the Deceased Husband's** Brother's Marriage Bill, aud said it had been before the Ho'So on two previous occasions. He was indebted to Major Steward for drafting the bill, which he wurtoly approv d of. He felt convinced that if a Dduewsed Wife's Sister Bill wer« ccceftnary this bill was also necessary, and he had seen f cores of letters from women urging him to got this measure passed. THE LOTTERY BILL. The E-tates Compiny's Lottery Bill has been reported as contrary to the Sanding Orders, as 30 dvj ft' notice of the measure had not been publinh- d in the Gazette previous to the i>peniug of Parliament, and the bill has b-en referred to the Standing Ordurs Committee. It is only a technical informality aud does nob necessarily kill the bill ; indeed, it may be considered safe, so for as this point is concerned. However, it is ctrtain to be subjected to a very vigorous attack upon the fkft reading, and it is feared by som»* that even the support of the Government m»y not be able to wcure the passage of ihe bill. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. I have made it.quiry at the Agricultural department to learn if the recent protests of the Queensland Government have in any way affected the determination of Mirmters to prevent ships carrying Australian CitUo touching at New Zealand ports. I flad thsre is no r intention to modify the rigour ef the rule. Pleuro - is to be kept out of the country at any cost, and properly so. It may be mentioned th*t the danger from infection would Dot be by any moans confined to Queensland cattle, for by the last returi s of the chief inspector of stock in Syduey n t less than 124 cattle eUtioos io New South Wales were known to be infected. As to stud cattle imported from Australia, all those provinces are to be put on the same footing — that is to «ay, that all such cattle will be subject to strict quarantine and supervision for 90 days. All stockowners in Australia who have suffered by tbe pleuro plague will know that this is but a reasonable act of self-nreeervatioa. THE DIVORCE BILL. The Hon. John MacGregor has returned to the charge with his Divorce Bill, of whioh he has given notice. The measure has, however, been modified, and in the new bill the grounds for divorce will be reduced to two— namely, adultery on the part of ei'her husband or wife, or desertion. A scale of co*ts is to be introduced in the bill, which will greatly reduca the expense of divorce proceedings. JOTTINGS. Discussing certain extraordinary charges for anti-toxin treatment a fen evenings ago the

Premier expressed the opinion that the time bad almost come for the regulation by law of doctors' charges, and now Mr Willis is asking ior the introduction of such legislation. A enriuus coincidence — a little pa«snge between the Premier and Sir Robert Sboub during the Midland debate— should be pub on record. Mr Seddon quoted the knight according to Hansard as having said, "It would be better to borrow three millions and take the line," and there he stopped amid the applause of his following. But when his opportunity came Sir Robert, rising for a personal explanation, quoted the next few following lines, which were these :—*' Than to give the company a million and a-quarter, aud have to buy the line afterwards. I submit the proposition is absurd." What might have resulted in a serious con- , flagrttion took place this morning. On Mr Button going into the Opposition whip's room, he found the table smoking, the w»ter-bottle having foouased the rays of the sun and caused them to burn one or two boles through the cloth into the table. He called in tbe Hon. Mr Swunson and one or two other members of Parliament, who expressed their surprise at what they saw. Mr T. E. Taylor, ths prohibitionist enthusiast of .Christchurcb, speaking ab the temperance meeting, held here last night, used language of such an extreme and virulent kind about the Premier that the local paper 3 have avoided its publication.