N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2371, 10 August 1899, Page 28

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1. In the Legislative Council, on Tuesday, the motion affirming that the Council should be an elective body, and that the question Bhould be submitted to the electors by referendum waß again discussed. The Wages Protection Bill paseed its second reading. In the House of Representatives on Tuesday formal business and replies to questions took up. the afternoon sitting. .. In the evening, after the delivery of the Financial Statement, the Government Acoident Insurance Bill was committed. QUESTIONS. • Ministers replied to questions to the following effects — ■ It might not be wise to do away with licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquors at railway stations. The custom was that suoh places should open a few minutes before the first train and close immediately after the last train. Inquiries would be made as to what arrangements were made for the comfort of clerks and others who are engaged at banks and various commercial houses, and a* to what overtime was worked. The Government would prefer' to set aside portion of a reserve of 70 acres st 3 a site for Victoria College. • The Hon. J. M'Kenzie is in receipt of salary and allowances while absent from the colony, which (Mr Seddon said) would not be grudged by "tlve people, looking at the nature of the hon. gentleman's services to the colony. The Premier supplemented the reply by saying that he had received information to the effect that Mr M'Kenzie's health had so recovered that it was probable he would be able to re-enter public life. Information is in course of being obtained as to the mono-rail system of railway. A recent appointment to the Legislative Council was not illegal. The Local Government Bill to be introduced will contain similar provision ac to the franchise ac the Municipal Corporation Act ! It is not intended to bring in a bill making j memhers of Land Boards elective. The report of Mr Marehant on forest conservation on Crown land will be printed and considered. No payment has been made to Mr Wrigg either on account of the New Zealand Cross or on account of attendance in Wellington before the Petitions Committee. GOVERNMENT ACOIDENT INSURANCE. On the motion to go into committee on the Government Accident Insurance Bill, Mr SEDDON said that the Workmen's Compensation Bill, which had passed another place, and the Accident Insurance Bill were in sympathy. The bill was designed to undertake accident insurance business, as a branch | of the busine93 of\the Government Life In- ! surance department. Provision was made for raising a capital of £25,000 by means of debentures. That sum was considered to be amply sufficient for the purpose. Looking at policies issued by some of the companies doing business in the colony, they were not "worth the paper they were printed on as security to the person insured. Under the bill the premiums would be reduced, and all business be kept within tihe colony. The House went into Committee on the bill, and progress was reported. ' THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. There was a full House and galleries tonight on the occasion of the delivery of the Financial Statement by the Right Hon. the Premier and Colonial Treasurer. Towards the close of the Statement there was a good deal of laughter and some ironical applause, «specially at Mr Seddon's peroration and his advice (after announcing another loan) to the people to put something by for a rainy day. Towards the close of the Premier's narrative Captain -Russell, the leader of the Opposition, fresh returned from the banquet given in his honour at Hastings, entered the Chamber, and was received with' pplause. A ROLAND FOR HIS OLIVER. It will "be remembered that the other day. just as the House was adjourning, the Premier made an attack on Mr Scobie Mackenzie for not being present at a, meeting of the Local Bills Committee, and that ho talked to the half-past 5 adjournment, so that the member for Dunedin had no opportunity of reply. To-day, however, Mr Scobie Mackenzie had his revenge, for when a report from the Goldfields Committee was being considered the Premier said the recommendations made had been carried by one vote, and he had not been present at the meeting. This gave Mr Mackenzie his opportunity. He was, he said, a member of the Goldfields Committee, and he had been present at the meeting referred to, and saw the business through. The least the Premier, above all others in that House, could do was to attend to his -duties, especially hiß duty on committees. The House laughed at the Premier's discomfiture. MINER'S RIGHT FEE REDUCTION BILL. The Goldfields Mines Committee recommend that tho above bill be allowed to proceed as amended. In the bill a-3 originally introduced tho fee was reduced to Is. The committee has altered this fee to ss. The committee express the opinion that in order to render equitable to the North Island the reduction of the fee for miners' rights the Government should use every endeavour to acquire all the Native land on the goldfields. LABOUR BILLS. The Labour Bills Committee has amended the Premier's Employment of Boys and Girls Without Payment Prevention Bill by fixing the minimum rate of wages at 2s 6d for girls and 5s for boys. ! The Labour Bills Committee have amended the Government Publio Contracts Bill by ■making ''t apply only to contracts exceeding the value of £20. The working time shall not exceed eight hours, exclusive of overtime. Thero ar* other amendments of locs importaiica.

. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2. ] In the Legislative Council on Wednesday j the Hon. J. MaoGregor's Companies Bill, the Assignment of Small Debts Bill, and the Summary Conviction for Indictable Offences Bill were read a second time. In the House of Representatives on Wednes*day, the afternoon sitting was largely taken up with formal business and replies to questions. In the evening the Companies Act Amendment Bill was shelved, after being discussed in Committee, and the Property Law Consolidation Bill met a similar fate. PETITIONS AND NOTICES. Mr HOGG presented a petition praying that 'interest under the Advances to Settlers Act I should be reduced to 4 per cent. j Mr RAWLINS presented a petition praying for the extension of the Otago Central line of railway to Clyde. j QUESTIONS. I Ministers replied to questions to the fol- i lowing effect: — ■ • j There is no intention to amend the Land Act to allow a, licensee with the right to purchase to acquire the freehold in three instead of ten years. ■ The Government have inquired into the case I -of two boys sentenced to two months' imprisonment for the 'larceny of a small sum of money at Featherston, and did not think under the circumstances the sentence too severe. I A survey will be made and an estimate I of the cost prepared for straightening and duplicating the railway line from Sawyers' Bay to Dunedin, as well as the Lyttelton to Christchurch, Wellington to Petone lines, the cost of which is estimated at £600,000. Inquiries will 'be made as to the wisdom of removing the restrictions on the size and weight of migratory indigenous fish. J The cost of making a resurvey of the coast j of Now Zealand would amount to between I £30,000 and £50,000. The Admiralty are be- | ing communicated with in regard to the mat- | ter. The Government will endeavour to abolish plural voting in counties. ' Mr HUTCHISON moved that the corre- I spondence with regard to the purchase of the , Waikakahi estate under the Land for -Settle- i ments Act, the proceedings of the Purchase ! Board, and a copy of the transfer be laid on the table. The PREMIER objected to furnishing the return. CALIFORNIAN THISTLE. Mr MASSEY moved the second reading of the Californian, Thistle Bill. i The Hon. W. HALL- JONES suggested that j the bill be referred to the Agricultural Committee. Messrs PIRANI and MOORE supported the bill. The Hon. Mr CARROLL suggested that the bill be postponed with a view to the sub- | ject being provided for in the Noxious Weeds J Bill, now before the House. Mr KELLY hoped that the measure would be passed, and said that it would prove a great benefit to farmers in Southland. | Messrs FLATMAN and SYMES supported the bill, the latter urging that the blackberry should be included. - j Mr MONTGOMERY claimed that unless i Parliament passed the bill great injury would I be done to the colony. , ! Mr MEREDITH did not think the Californian thistle the general nuisance that some people represented it to be. j Mr M'LEAN thought that instead of mak- ] ing speeches, members ought to go into Com-*.] mittee and deal with a nuisance which threat- . ened to destroy large tracts of land in the colony. | j Mr Massey having replied, the second read- j ing was carried on the voices. j GOVERNMENT ACCIDENT INSUR- i ANCE. j Mr John Duthie, member for Welling- j ton, sounded a note of warning last night in j regard to saddling the present Government Insurance department with accident insurance business. "lam a very old policyholder in the Life Insurance department," he said, "and decidedly object to the Governmant Life Insurance department having this sort of thing put on its shoulders. Il is all very well to say there is to be an adjustment of accounts as to the cost of management, but i if this Accident Insurance is to be worked conjointly with the Life department, I say the latter will suffer." Mr Duthie went on to point out the great loss that had accrued to the Life Insurance^ department in consequence of its Government control through recent financial transactions. " The policyholders," he added, " have had to suffer a loss of some £31,295 through the conversion of matured debentures of 3 per cent, inscribed stock, and this enormous loss haß, been put on the shoulders of the policy-holders, owing to the necessities of the Government's finance. This departments now holds £625,900 in this 3 per cent, inscribed stock, for which a Stock Exchange quotation is refused, thereby further reducing its sale value. Our 3 per cents., when the market was tested last February, were worth £95 0s Id net cash. The department had to accept this debased stock, men- | tioned at par, although entitled to payment in cash for the debentures it held, and which fell due in May of last year, and beyond this loss it now stands with about a fourth of its interest-bearing funds invested at this low rate — a rate much lower than the investments of its competitors. The Government Life policy-holders have no right to have that loss put on them ; it ought to be made up to them. I do not know if it ia the intention of the colony to do so, but the department will suffer unless the Treasurer accepts the burden of the loss through this London trouble." TAXATION OF FORESTS. Mr Monk asked the Premier if he would introduce some measure to mitigate the taxation on forest, as a matter of public interest, by reducing the pressure now imposed upon mill owners to accelerate the utilisation of their bushes? Mr Monk said the longer the forests lasted the better it would be for tho country, as there was very little chance of the forests being replaced. The Premier had stated that logs were not taxed. Mr Monk, however, said they were. It was just as if the Government taxed a piece of land ! and then taxed its produce in the shape of | wheat before it fell into the hands of the miller. At present they taxed the land, the timber, and the miller in converting the timber into labour, and it was also a tax upon labour. The Premier said Mr Monk attached too much importance to the question. It looked like an attempt to create a scare. Nothing waß said while private owners were paying income tax, ] but the moment a company like the ; Kaxiri Timber Company was touched j there was a great howl. — (Mr Monk: "This is virtually the property tax.") Tho company had been let off for some years, while others ! were paying. The logs were not taxed, but j when they wore converted into lumber income tax had to be paid. However, he would consult the department, and further inquiries would be made. He would be (he last in the

world to tax labour. There was now ,aai officer of the department in Auckland, and he would be asked to make full inquiries. OIL ENGINES. Mr Bollard asked the Minister for Marine (1) if he would take steps to allow men, not marine engineers, but otherwise thoroughly qualified to take charge of oil engines at sea? (2) If he would appoint a qualified man, who thoroughly understood oil engines, as examiner at Auckland, in order to grant certificates to the above-named competent men? Mr Hall- Jones said the department had been ex«, tremefy lenient in this matter. They had no power under the act to permit separate examinations and issue ipeoial certificates. He did not see the necessity for a separate examiner, but he promised to look into the matter again. POMAHAKA. Mr J. W. Thompson, M.H.R. for Clutha, presented a petition this afternoon from George Harvey and 16 others, who were settlers on the Pomahaka Downs estate. The petitioners pray that the cost of roading, surveying, and value of reserves, should be deducted from the capital value of the estate, and that the interest on the balance of the capital value should be reduced from 5 to 4 per cent. The petition was reoeived with cries of " Oh " from the hon. members who take an interest in the Pomahaka purchase. SIZE OF FISH. Mr E. G. Allen asked the Minister for Marine if he will, during this session, bring in an amendment to the Fisheries Aot of 1894-, or alter the regulations thereunder, " so as to remove the restrictions on the size and weight of migratory indigenous fish." -Mr Allen's query would imply that the Liberal Government had placed certain restrictions to prevent fish growing to any size and weight they pleased. The Minister, however, did not notice the slip, and proceeded to state that the matter should be left over till they could take the advice of the fish expert whioh the Government proposes to appoint. SURVEY OF THE NEW ZEALAND COAST. Mr E. G. Allen asked the Minister for Marine if he would approach the British Admiralty with a view of inducing them to make i a re-survey of the coast of New Zealand. Ho ! said there had been a good many alterations in the soundings since the survey 50 years ago. Mr Hall-Jones said the cost of a new survey would be between £30,000 and £50,000, and he doubted very much if the Admiralty would undertake it. MEIKLE'S CASE. The Petitions Committee state that Meikle, of Southland, having given a receipt in December. 1897, in relinquishment of all claims on the Government, they have no recommendation to make with regard to his request for further compensation. THE WADSAKAHI PURCHASE. The Government, still refuse information. J This afternoon Mr G. Hutchison moved for : a return getting out the correspondence lead- j ing up to the consideration of the purchase of the - Waikakahi estate under the Land for Settlements Act, the proceedings of the Purchase Board as to the purchase' of such estate, and a copy of the transfer of the same to the Queen. Mr Seddon said there was more i behind this than appeared on the surface. Why did not the hon. gentleman move for a similar return in regard to other estates? i As to the debentures, he, as Treasurer, was I responsible for giving them in payment, and he would be glad to give anyone else the same payment, as in the first place those debentures j were short-dated, and in the rocond the in- ; terest was payable in the colony. Then, , also, there was no brokerage to the middle- j man. Mr M'Lean first wanted £8 an acre for the land, but subsequently he came down I to £7. The Land Purchase Board went carefully into the matter, and decided to give £6 15s. They were satisfied they were set- I ting a good bargain at that price, and he (Mr ' Seddon) said that if the Government, cut : up the property into four or five small stations they would have got the £8 an acre asked for by Mr M'Lean. Mr Rawlins: " That shows you the advantage of the freehold." — (Laughter.) Mr Seddon : '•' No ; they haven't got the money to buy stations." Hon. Members: "Oh! haven't they." Mr Rawlins: "They're afraid to buy." The Premier said the estate, he felt convinced, would turn out a second Cheviot, and it would change the entire features of the country. The member for Ashley had been over this estate.— (Laughter.) 'An Hon. Member: "Did he make any offer for it?" — (Much laughter.) Mr Seddon: "No; but he is a very good judge of land."— (Laughter.) There was no getting over that." — (More laughter, and A Voice: "No, there isn't.") Mr Seddon went on to argueat some length that it would not be advisable to give the information asked for, as it would prevent offers being made to the Land Purchase Board. Why, he asked, single out Waikakahi? An Hon. Member: "Why not?" The Premier: "ril tell you why.' It'» be- \ cause of rumours it's been singled out, and j I'm satisfied there is not the slightest foundation whatever for the rumour I heard," Mr Hutchison: "What was it?" Mr Seddon: "The hon. member absolutely refuses j to give it to me, even in confidence." Mr Seddon having spoken for his full half-hour, sat down, and, it wanting only a, minute to the 5.30 adjournment, Mr Hogg, a prominent Government supporter, was put up to talk out time. This he did, and there was no opportunity permitted of putting the motion. ONE MAN ONE VOTE FOR COUNTIES. The Premier made a rather startling announcement this afternoon in answer to a question by Mr O'Meara, who wanted to know whether he would bring in this session a short act to_ put the voting in counties on the same footing as boroughs so far as single voting was concerned.' Mr Seddon even went farther than the question seemed to indicate, and spoke about one man one vote in country districts. He also made some vague references to larger franchise., It was not quite clear exactly what the Premier intended, but he expressly accepted the principle of one man one vote for all the country local bodies. If Mr Seddon makes any attempt to give legislative effect to this principle he will meet with very strong opposition from a very large section of the House. It would be a very serious experiment to apply the one-man-one-vote system, to the country districts. LAW AMENDMENT BILL. When the Law Amendment Bill waa in Committee, the Hon. Mr MacGregor proposed two important now clauses, which gave rise to considerable discussion. One was drafted by Mr M'Gregor for the purpose qt giving the Supreme Court powers in cases of encroachment between adjoining owners. As 'the law stands, when a building has by mistake been ereced so as to overlap the adjoining section, if it be only by, say, a few inches, the court has no option but to order the removal of the wall, and the alteration proposed would enable the court to allow compensation instead of ordering the removal. This proposal

was well received in «*he Gounoil. The othec new clause is one of importance to insurance companies. It reads thus: — "Notwithstanaing any condition or declaration contained uf any polioy of insurance against fire, or any application for suoh insurance, statements contained in any such application shall not be deemed to be warranties, but material statements contained therein shall be deemed to be representations/ In explaining the clause, Mr MacGregor stated that as the law. is standing, a pus-statement in the nroposal^ by reason of its being warranty, however innocent it may be, invalidates the polioy, and the effect of making the statements in the proposal mere representations, instead of war* ranties, will be that they must be shown to be fraudulent before -they tain be held to invalidate the policy. The clauses .were, inserted on^he understanding that the bill was to be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee before coining on for third reading. JOTTINGS. The income tax paid by companies last year amounted to £58,717; private persons paid (up to £1000, at 6d in the £) £34,0*7 r over £1000 (at Is in the £>„• £22,714 ;— total,' £115,480. | The Local Bills Committee recommended that the University' of Otago Leases and! Securities Aot Amendment. BiUL.be Allowed to proceed, with certain amendments of an unimportant character regarding the desorip- " tion of the land in the schedule: Petitions from Central Otago continue to come in in regard to "an amendment in the mining laws and the prosecution of the Otagb Central railway- works. ... THURSDAY, AUGUST 3. ' In the Legislative Council on Thursday the motion in favour of the Council being mad« an elective body and referring the alteration to the electors was rejected' by 20 to 13. The debate on the second reading of the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill was commeaced, but not concluded.' The Council divided on the question- that that Council be made eleotive. This was negatived by 20 to 13. The following is the 1 division list: — Noes.— Messra T. Kelly, Kerr, W. Kelly, ti. Walker, Richardson, Scotland, Harris, Barni-' coat, Arkwright, A. L. Smith, Jones, Rigg, Jenkinson, Gourley, Feldwiok, Pinkerton, Jennings, Twomey, Bolt, W. C. Walker. Ayes. — Messrs Fraser, M'Gregor, Swvinson, Shrimski, W. C. Smith, ' Stevens, Ormond, Bowen, Johnston, M'Lean, Williams, Holmes, Montgomery. The question that the subject be referred to the people by referendum, was then put to the vote, and also negatived, the voting being 27 to 6. The ayes were : — Messrs MacGregor, Swanson, Shrimski, Smith, Bolt, and Barnicoat. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. The Hon. W. C. WALKER, moved the seoond reading of the Land for Settlements Aot Amendment Bill. The Hon. Mr ORMOND questioned the ; necessity for retaining the compulsory power !to acquire land. It had not been shown to' ! be necessary, as land could be voluntarily 1 purchased everywhere. The .Hon. Mr Rigg supported the measure. ' •The debate was adjourned till next day. In the House of Representatives on Thursday formal business and consideration of Local Bills engaged attention, both in the afternoon and evening. Most of the time was spent over the MarlboVough High School Bill which passed .through Committee, after being amended by substituting an annual subsidy for the endowment proposed. A MOLE. A political " moodlewort."' This was th« term applied to Mr Pirani by the Premier duriug a debate in the House this evening, and an astonished House pricked up its ears and asked for further information. The Premier simply smiled and repeated the epithet. "You mean mugwump," said someone. "No, moodlewort." reiterated the Premier; and Mr Scobie Mackenzie, overcome by curiosity, rose to a point of order. " If," he said, " raoodle. whatever it iB, is a scholastic term from the University of Cambridge, of which the hon. gentleman is a distinguished ornament, we shall allow it to pass. But if it is intended to be an offensive term, the hon. gentleman should withdraw it." — (Laughter.) Mr Seddon said he was surprised that a " Liberal " man and a writer like the member, for Dunedin did know what a moodlewort was. To this Mr Mackenzie interjected, "But I am not a D.C.L.," and the House laughed again. The Premier explained that moodlewort was the common name for a mole. It. was blind and always, burrowing into the~ grouhd, and " you never know where it are." He then proceeded to explain that Mr Pirani, like the mole, was always burrowing, and wa»= blind to everything but what suited himself. He was, therefore; a political moodlewort. Subsequently the Premier explained in private that he had often killed " moodleworts " with./ a Crooked stick. The: Premier, no doubt, has given the word in the Lancashire dialect. The' nearest approach to it given by philologists such as Skeat is " mouldwarp," or, according" to Wycliff, " moldwerp,", of which mole is but the shortened modern form. FRIDAY, AUGUST 4. In the Legislative Council on Friday, the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill'was read a second time, while two Canterbury local bills were passed. In the House of Representatives on Friday, ' the business transacted at the afternoon sitting was trifling, replies to questions lasting till the dinner adjournment. In the evening the Municipal Franchise Bill, intended tc. permit those entitled to vote under the act of last session to have their names placed on the roll at any time, passed the second-reading stage after debate. The Employment Without Wages Prevention Bill evoked a lengthy discussion, but it was finally passed. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Ministers replied to questions to- the following effect: — It is intended to introduce an amended Kauri Gum Industry BilL Charges had been made against the Canterbury Land Board of having allowed the names of applicants to go to ihe ballot in connection with the Waikakahi estate without the said applicants appearing before the board for examination. Tins roply.was that in the cases where a number of members of one family were applicants only one or two were examined by the board. The sum of £52 had been paid to H. Wrigg on account of his attendance before the Petitions Committee with respect to his claim for the Victoria Cross. The inquiry had cost a total of between £6UO and £400. A. bill ia to be introduced amending tjig

law with, respect to tne imposition of income tax upon the dairy produce of the colony. _ "Ah Imprisonment for" Debt Abolition Bill jwill be introduced this session; The present rate of interest under the Loans to Local Bodies Act cannot be reduced. ,The onl7 .way to c ect relief would be to extend the date of repayment, into which matter inquiries aTe being made. A committee is to be set up to consider alterations in the customs tariff, with a view to reducing the duties on necessaries of life. Th« matter of extending the duration of Parliament to four instead of three years is a matter for constituencies to determine. EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT WAGES. The PREMIER moved the committal of the Employment of Boys and Girls Without Payment Prevention Bill. He explained that the bill was designed to prevent the practice growing up of young persons being employed in factories and workrooms without payment. Captain RUSSELL contended that the bill •was simply playing into the hands of rich people, as if wage 3 were required to be paid employers would demand a premium. Mr HOGG thought the sum stipulated as payable to girls (2s 6d) and boys (ss) per week required adjustment. The former sum was too small, and the difference in the amount of pay was too great. He thought the sums mentioned in the bill as wages was simply playing with the question. It was hardly creditable that, as had been stated, there were employers who got the labour of young people free for a year and then turned them adrift to take on a fresh lot. If such a state of things did exist it was' high time that legislation was passed to prevent it. The House went into Committee on the bilL Clause 1 was postponed. Clause 2 was amended, making the minimum amount payable 4s per week. The bill was reported with amendments, and read a third time. PAYMENT OF CO-OPERATIVE WORKERS. Mr Taylor asked the Minister for Labour whether he would take steps to insure the prompt monthly payment of wages due to men engaged on co-operative works. He had received correspondence regarding one case, in which the pay sheets had been made up to the 26th of the month, and the men did not re- j ceivo their pay for three weeks or a month afterwards. Another case occurred on- the Midland railway. The wages were due on the j 30th June, but the men did- not get the money j till the 12th July. The Minister for Public . Works said he had several times given insUuc- j tions that payments should be made as close I up to dat-e ac possible. He was astonished to 1 learn that there had been such delays, and he j would like Mr Taylor to give him the particulars of them. Mr Taylor said he would show the Minister the correspondence later on. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE. An unpleasant rumour has gained currency here. It is that recently two hotelkeepers, in conversation with a Minister of the Crown, complained of the over-zealousness of the Commissioner of Police, and that the .Minister, in reply, said it would be inadvisable to take any steps in the matter before the general election, but that afterwards some steps might be taken in reference to the matter. It was suggested that then some combination might be formed by hotelkeepers and betting men, the grounds of the complaint being that Mr Tunbridge takes care that the laws in regard to the sale of liquor and street betting are strictly carried out by the police. NEW BILLS. Notice was given of the following new bills to-day: — The Whakatane County Bill (Mr Hernes), the Local Government Voting Reform Bill (Mr Seddon), the Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment (Mr Seddon), the Trustees Act Amendment Bill (Mr Seddon). the Electoral Act Amendment Bill (Mr Seddon), the Thames Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mr M'Gcwan). WAIKAKAHI AND STARBOROUGH. A return showing the terms of purchase of the Waikakahi and Starborough estates was laid on the table of the House to-day. Waikakahi was purchased at £6 15s an acre, and the land tax value was £6 11s 8d per acre. The terms of purchase were: Cash, £73,090; debentures at 3| per cent, per annum, £250,000. The terms of purchase of Starborough were: Cash, £350; debentures at 3J per cent., £99.000. The debentures have 10 years currency from the Ist April, 1899. THE WRIGG INQUIRY. Mr Herries asked the Colonial Treasurer this afternoon whether any sum of money had been paid to Mr H. Wrigg on account of his attendance before the Public Petitions (M to Z) Committee. The Premier said the chairman of the committee and the officer in charge of the legislative expenditure were reeponsible for this matter, though he, a3 Colonial Treasurer, had to pay th,e money. £52 had, been paid to- Mr Wrigg. and" the irqeiry would cost between £200 and £300. No good resulted from this heavy expenditure, and he wondered how long the long-suffering taxpayer would put up with this wilful and wasteful expenditure. Mr Pirani : " Hear, hear; on the part of the Government." FIRES CAUSED BY ENGINE SPARKS. In reference to the destruction of property Ijy fires caused through sparks from railway engines, the. Railway Committee recommend that certain petitions be referred to the Go.vernment, and that a full investigation should be made by a stipendiary magistrate, and a report obtained from him. They also express an opinion that the provisions of " The Crown Suits Act, 1881," which bars those who have olaimß against the Railway department from taking legal proceedings without first obtaining the permission of the Crown law officers should be rescinded. The matter was discussed in the House td-day. MONDAY, AUGUST 7. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. The Financial Debate opens to-morrow ievening, the leader of the Opposition being the first speaker. He will be followed by the Hon. J. Carroll. The debate is expected to be a long one. Many members will take advantage of the opportunity to place their fpiews before their constituents, and there is a probability of almost every member in the Houso speaking. There are the usual rumours of a" no confidence " amendment. It is said that the report of the Marine Commission will form the subject of a hostile amendment to the motion for supply, but ■until that report comes down it is impossible to say what will be done regarding it. The New Plymouth Gas Company made a profit for the year of £1021 13s 2d. The Tuapeka Times reports the destruction ■by fire of the house belonging to Patrick Tracey, at Munro's Gully. The building and furniture were insured in the Royal Insuranoa Company for £150.