PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3525, 28 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[FROM OUR SPECIAL COrtRE3PONDENT.J

THE TWENTY PER CENT. OF LAND

FUND. FRIDAY, August 27. — La3t night a general engagement took place on the Financial Arrangement Bill. The portion objectei to clause which took a.vay the 20 per "cent*, of the" land fund from the Counties. When in committee a division took place on this clause, anl it was only carried by the casting vote of the Chairman of Committees, a considerable number of the Government supporters voting against the clause. Af erWard 3in the House an attempt was ma le to recommit the Bill for the purpose of re-con-si ierins? the clause, but this w« negative I by a majority of 10, the Government in the meantime having whipped up their supporters.

The Otago and Canterbury members generally voted for striking out the clause, an.i the Auckland members voted with the Government.

LAND FUND COLONIAL REVENUE.

The whole of the land fund will now be Colonial and the Colony will be responsible. for the opening-up of lanls for settlement. END OF THE SESSION.

The Supplementary E.^imate3 are down, and are expectel to pass thi.s evening, and it is anticipated that to-morrow will see the last of the session so far as the House is concerned. Delay may, however, be occasioned by the Council, and it is not probable that the prorogation will take place before Tuesday.

WATERHOUSE OUT OF HIS DEPTH.

A motion has been made by Mr. Waterhouse to tha effdet that the ,25 per cent, for the New Plymouth Harbour, given under the Act of 1874, does not apply to the confiscate 1 lands. The motion was withiravn on the Government promising to consider the legal question. WHAT SOME WOULD WISH TO SEE.

To-day a notice was given by Mr. Murray that the New Plymouth H irbour Works be stopped, an I the Government accept the liability of the loan, and apply the money to finishing the Maori line of railway. This announcement was received with cheers.

THE INIQUITIES OF TARANAKI 111

During the discussion on the Financial Arrangement Act last night, Mr. Tnompson again referred to the iniquities of Taranaki, and how it manages to bleed the Colony by the 25 per cent, by votes for roads and bridges, by votes for opening up land for sale, and by constabulary expenditure. These four sources of gain to Taranaki were owing to the of the anmbsn of the Government, who followei Major Atkinson and did what tae Tara iaki members bid them. Mr. Tuontson pronounces ln-ra'tia-ki very broadly, au i his constant reiteration of the vvorJ was very comic ; but ultimately it became tiresome. TARANAKI NOT TO HAVE CEMETERIES

The Waste Lands Committee has struck out the proposals from the Special Powers and Contracts Bill to provtle cemeteries for Okato, Urenui, Mauutahi, and Oakura. The House followed suit, evidently considering that Taranaki was not even entitle I to the usual "six-foot by two" of lan-1 as a freehold in possession for ever. Taranaki is not very popular no<v, especially after the 20 per cent, of land fun.l has baen absorbs I by the Colony.