PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7013, 27 June 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(from our own correspondent.) Wellington, last night. SYMPATHETIC MESSAGES. Both branches of the Legislative have passed resolutions of condolence with the French nation on the assassination of President Carnot. In the Legislative Council Sir P. A. Buckley said that he thought it his duty to move a resolution expressing the regret of the Council at hearing of the assassination of President Carnot, and he moved accordingly that the Governor be requested to convey to the Secretary of State for the colonies, for transmission to the French nation, the deep sympathy at the loss sustained by this dastardly and untoward event. In the House a motion was proposed by the Premier and seconded by the. Hon. Captain Russell. The latter made au excellent speech, in which he paid a touching tribute to the assassinated President. He prayed that his blood had not been Bhed in vain, but that the nations of Europe would take united steps to suppress Anarchiatß. HANSARD REPORTS. A brief debate took place this afternoon on Hansard. In setting up the reporting debates committee, Mr Geo. Hutcbinson suggested that the House should take into consideration the question of making some change in Hansard, which as at present issued, was too late in publication to be of interest and utility. He suggested that they should consider the possibility of getting a more up-to-date published record of the proceedings, perhaps in the shape of a bi-weekly publication, with condensed reports of proceedings. Major Stewart and the Minister of Education said the difficulties were too great for such a suggestion to be entertained. Mr Russell (Riccarton). suggested there would be a saving in time and expense, if members reviewed the reporters' typewritten copy instead of the printer's proofs. NEW STANDING ORDERS. The question of amending the Standing Orders will not be taken till Wednesday week. NATIONAL BALANCE SHEET. Mr Button is urging that the balancesheets of the colony should be presented in a simple understandable form. STATE COAL' MINES. Mr Russell (Riccarton) is advocating State coal mines, and Mr McKenzie (Buller) a duty on foreign coal. SCHOOL ENDOWMENTS. Mr E. M. Smith wants the lands now administered by school commissioners to be placed in the hands of Land Boards. LEONARD HARPER. Mr Russell (Riccarton) asks the Government} if they will take steps to prosecute Leonard Harper. TRUST FUNDS. Mr Kelly (Invercargill) desires Government to legislate, preventing the banks appropriating trust funds in payment of overdrafts. COUNCIL CHAIRMANSHIP OF C9MMITTEBS. The Hon. Captain Baillie has been again elected Chairman «of Committees of the Legislative Council. . NEW MEASURES. The Colonial Secretary has given notice of a number of Bills, among which are the Criminal Code 1894 Amendment Act, Married Women's Property, Coroners' juries, and Gambling and Lotteries. The Minister of Lands presents to this Parliament another Noxious Weeds Bill, also a Dairy Industry and Land for Settlement Bill. SUNDRIES, The Speaker was to-day instructed, by resolution of the House, to issue a writ for Tuapeka. Mr E. M. Smith this afternoon brought up the case of Major Charles Brown, of New Plymouth. The Government replied they were fully warranted in writing his name off the roil of Justices of the Peace. If Mr Brown felt aggrieved, he could petition Parliament. With reference to withholding the publication of last quarter's public accounts, the Colonial Treasurer to-day explained that it was not obligatory to do so. In due time they would be published, and would be found to be eminently satisfactory. OLD SOLDI BBS' CLAIMS. The total value of land scrip for old soldiers issued for the year ending March, 1893, was £44,000. Since then 1800 fresh claims have been received, which will need about £56,000 worth more, and the claims are now coming in at the rate of 10 per day. The Cabinet will presently deal with the whole matter. GRANTS TO LOCAL BODIES. Mr Pirani has a sensible motion, that grants to local bodies should be made in the spring, instead of the autumn. . OTHER MATTERS. Mr Duthie attacked the appointment of Captain Hannay, the Premier's brother-in-law, aB Fire Inspector- * In reply to a question as to whether the Government proposed to take any steps to restore to the Electoral rolls the names struck off after the recent licensing election, the Premier said the Government were not interfering with any of the Registrars. The Colonial Treasurer told the Hon. R. Pharazyn, that the Government intends to bring in a Bill amending the Juries Act 1880, to obviate the necessity of looking up jurors for an indefinite period. A peculiar hitch occurred in the Legislative Council to-day, by which the Address-in-reply has been put back a day. The Hon. T. Kelly had promised to perform the duty, but when the order of the day was called on, it was well down on the Order Paper, but he was won eat. The Hon. Mr Oliver offered to move the Address, but Mr Speaker ruled that this could not be done without his conßenfc, and the motion therefore lapsed. Mr Kelly turned up a moment later, attired in the orthodox swallow tail and black gloves, and an attempt was made to have the order reinstated, bat there being one dissentient

surveyors' disabilities. The Auckland Survey Club petition the House with reference to the disabilities surveyors labor under, with respect to survey liens on Native lands, owing to the delays in their being able to make the liens of value. THE UNIVERSITY TROUBLE. [ Professor Aldis, of Auckland, petitions the House in reference to the trouble with the Auckland University Council, claiming that through no fault of his own he has • suffered grievous loss, and practically been professionally ruined through the action of the Council. TRUST FUNDS. Mr Kelly (Invercargill) asked the Government whether they would take any steps to compel the Union Bank to refund the Trust moneys seized in Harper and Co.'s estate. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY. ■ There was a full house to-night when Mr Montgomery, the young man who defeated Mr Rolleston for Ellesmere, moved the Address in Reply. He spoke strongly on the importance of the dairy industry, and on compulsory arbitration. ~Mr Montgomery's speech was a sensible one, but suffered in the delivery from the speaker's nervousness. Mr O'Regan, Inangahua, created a favorable impression. He expressed regret that the tariff reform had been left untouched, and urged local Government reform, chiefly in the direction of extending the franchise. He deprecated spending large sums for defence whilst settlers in the back country required roads and bridges. Captain Russell made an excellent speech, pleasantly but trenchantly criticising the action of the Government in various matters. He declared that if the Native land scheme propounded by the Premier at Moawhanga was carried out, it would result in something like a rebellion amongst the Native people. Mr Pirani, a garrulous little gentleman from Palmerston, took up the debate. colonel Phaser's appointment, y , There was some discussion this afternoon over the position of Sergeant-at-Arms, when, the Premier answering Sir Robert Stout's, question, said that no appointment had yet been made, but the Government would afford the House an early opportunity of discussing ;-. the matter. Later on Sir Robert Stout asked the Speaker by what right Colonel Fraser occupied the Sergeant-at-Arma seat. The Speaker said that he had received a letter from the Premier, asking if he had any objection to Colonel Fraser temporarily carrying on the duties, and he replied that he had none. Sir Robert Stout and Mr Russell and Dr Newman contended that the appointment should be made, and that the Premier should not attempt to override the provisions of the Disqualification Act. Sir Robert Stout gave notice that he would move to-morrow, as a matter of privilege, that a respectful address be presented to the Governor, praying him to appoint some eligible person as Sergeant-at-Arma. The Premier : — " There is only one way I can take such a motion as that." He said that he would give notice of a resolution re appointment to the office to-morrow. This afternoon. The Premier said he could only treat Sir Robert Stout's motion re address to the Governor, requesting the immediate appointment of a Sergeant-at-Arms, as hostile, com* ing from a gentleman of standing such as the senior member for Wellington. Ministers would be wanting in self-respect if they went on with the business of the country with such a motion on the order paper. Neither he nor his colleagues were time servers, and sooner than be dictated to as to how their ministration was to be conducted they would give way to other members. As the rules asked that all notices down to Sir Robert Stout's be postponed Captain Russell raised a point of order that a no-confidnnce motion of the character indicated, could be considered till the Address-in-Reply was disposed of. The Speaker ruled that a want of confidence motiou superseded all other business. juries' acs. By the amended Juries' Bill, which the Colonial Secretary iB introducing, it is intended that when juries cannot agree after being locked up one hour, they may ba discharged. ' CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT. The object of the Criminal Code Amendment Bill is to raise the age of consent from fourteen to sixteen years.