PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5827, 24 July 1890, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

[fi¥ TSLSGJUPK,] (FROM OVS, OWN OOaRESSONDENI.)

:-. ' . ... Wellington, last night. Notwithstanding the rotioence of all patties in any way connected with what is known as the Hutchison Charges Committee a good deal of information connected with the proceedings finds a place in the newspapers. To-day there was a contest upon the question whether the Bank of New Zealand should be compelled fco produce its books. Messrs Bell and Stafford appeared in support of the confc&rition that the Bank, as an incorporated Company, could not be compelled to disclose the accounts of its customers (Bankers' Accounts Act); that it would be a very serious inconvenience if a precedent was now made by a Parliamentary Committee which should afterwards be recoguised as giving the authority of Parliament' to the disclosure of private accounts. This, on the general question, was urged as a matter of great public importance. On the other hand it was contended that the Bank could not produce certain accounts asked for without the direct authority in writing of those who •were immediately concerned with such accounts., Mr Hutchison argued the case from his own point of view, and in reply to Messrs Stafford and Bell, he contended that the committee had power to call for persons and papers and to examine witnesses. The argument occupied the whole of the sitting, and very considerable interest is manifested in the proceedings both inside and outside of the House. It is understood that the business of the committee to-morrow will be to deliberate on the arguments urged by counsel to-day, Wellington, to-day. The House rose at 1 o'clock this morning. The following Bills were read a second time :— Employment of Females, Dog Registration, Coroners' Inquest, and Board of Conciliation and Strikes. Mr. Sydney Taiwhanga objected to Mr Arthur as a member of the Native Affairs Committee. Mr Carroll defended Mr Arthur's appointment, and Mr Marchant also deprecated the attacks upon Mr Arthur. The nomination of Mr Arthur was agreed to. The Dog Registration Act provides that the tax upon farmer's and drover's dogs be reduced to 2s 6d, and that person not being resident of town or borough may register dogs.

The wells which we're sunk in the main streets of Invercargill in the early days fbr the purpose of fire prevention are now being filled up by the Corporation employees, the town now having a splendid trater supply which can be utilised in the base of an outbreak of fire.

The jubilee of the hoisting of the British flag (August 10, 1840) at Akaroa is to be fittingly celebrated by the unveiling of an obelisk, suitably inscribed. The Government propose to vote LIOO for the purpose, and ifc is expected that Admiral Scott ■will send one of his ships to take part in the proceedings. The Dramatic Mirror of New York asks the following pertinent question: — " Patti now admits that her good complexion is due to her eating prunes. How about those soap and cosmetic testimonials ?" There is a proposal afoot in Christchurch

to provide nurses to attend to sick people

tvlio are in indigent circumstances. A in an effusion to a local 'paper, says this is an undoubted wants and he hopes the idea will be carried into effect. A number of evils arise from the "■ lack of proper nursing in the homes of the poor. The doctor's instructions are no} attended to ; the medicine is not given at the prescribed times; the dwelling become, the reverse of clean ; and the children run tvild.

? .In France, when a young man's extravagant follies reach a certain limit, he is Eronounced to be incapable of managing imself or his affairs, is put in charge of a guardian, and treated as a moral lunatic. If this plan was adotfced by us there would be. a good many moral lunatics, not only in England, but likewise in the colonies.