PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9186, 25 July 1902, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. THE AUDITOR-GENERAL AGAIN. 'i'iie disputes between Mr Warburton and some of the departments are becoming so frequent that members are beginning to wonder whether another Public Revenues Bill will not be introduced this session to further clip the wings of this official. The Public Accounts Committee have plenty of work in hand to decide how far the Minister or his official is right, and how far the Auditor-General is justified in his "tags" and actions. PRESENTATION. At a meeting of citizens held last night arrangements were made for a presentation to Mr Frank Hyde, who has resigned his position as Private Secretary to Sir Joseph Ward, to take over the control of the Winton Record. The presentation will take the form of a piece of plate and a purse of sovereigns, and will be made on Saturday evening, August 2nd, at which Ministers, members of the Legisla-1 cure, the Mayor of Wellington, and prominent citizens are expected to be present. THE VAILE RAILWAY SYSTEM. No session of Parliament seems to be complete without a discussion as to the merits or demerits of the Vaile railway system. The Auckland reformer had, as usual, petitioned that a trial be given to his stage system, and the Railways Committee found an easy way out of the difficulty by referring the question to the Government for consideration. To the motion that the report be received, Mr Pirani moved as an amendment that a trial be given to the system. The Minister of Railways offered to give it a trial, if a guarantee against loss were provided, but this did not appease the Aucklauders, nearly everyone of whom took a hand in the discussion and agreed that the system should be tested on the Auckland-Waikato section of the Government . railways. Despite constant reminders that there were several local Bills on the Order Paper (they are only taken on Thursdays), the question was ventilated at length, and eventually the amendment was negatived by 33 to 26, Mr Vaile being thus "crushed•again."

SECOND READINGS. The Wellington Harbor Boards Em-* powering Bill, Hawera Borough Betterment Bill, and Christclmrch Tramways District Bill were read a second time. In the course of the discussion on the last-named Bill, Sir Joseph Ward spoke strongly in favor of the nationalisation of the tramways in the larger centres of the colony. After the Telegraph Office closed, Major Steward's Statutes Compilation Bill was read a second time. The House rose at 12.20. JOTTINGS. Wellington would not have a, dock at any price ; now it wants a- dock at a big price, £250,000, and all due to the,eloquence and influence of "Our George" (Mr Fisher).—Mr E. M. Smith. The illuminations at the public buildings in Wellington on Coronation night will be on an extensive scale. It is stated that the General Post Office will eclipse its display on the occasion of the Ducal visit, both in the number of lights and in the variety of devices. The electricians have made elaborate preparations. Mr Fowlds lias decided to contest the new electorate of Grey Lynn, near Auckland. This means that there will be,a vacancy iii the representation of Auckland. "When the Panama : CaiKil is opened, and it will be completed, all going well, within" six. years.from now, Auckland will be the finest pity in the Southern "Hemisl phere." so Mr Smith, of Tarannki ironsswid fame, says, and that settles the question. . " ■ ■ ' ■ . : A meeting of North Island members re f'.ie Not1 Hi Island Trunk Vwe rwftived fo interview the Actincr-Premier and Minister of Works this afternoon. An Imprest Supply Bill for July will be taken this afternoon. tftpT which the debate on the Loan Bill will be continued.