POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7119, 17 July 1886, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SCANDAL. Saturday, July 17.— Tho greater part o£ ycBtciday afternoon and for some time during tho evening, tho House was occupied discussing iho sa!o of the railway d -bentures by -Mr. Steward to tho Govern meat, by which that gentleman pock'ited as commission some £1030. It was only j talk, however, but n-. • 'rt'ieless most or" I the membuis spok-j ilnir minds pretty freply. Major Atkins «v spoke most to the pi pose 1 , anil intimated that Mr. Steward could only regain his jrood name by r.-turn ing the commit-sion he had received to 'he Co'np.iny, or haudi , i it over to th.' Go vcuiiifnt ; neithci oE which, no doubt, lv wiil be inclined to. SHEEP AXP "TTLEINTHE CJOi.'JNY. Mr, Samuel wishu., the Government to obtain through tho agricultural census lakers annually in February or March, statistics showing the number of sheep and cattle in the colony. Such returns are, he saye, obtained in Australia. • THE SEAT 'OF GOVERNMENT. , The.Be&sion will not be allowed to close without the annual shot at Wellington as the Seat o£ Government. Members are being whippod to secure support for a proposal to hold the next session of Parliament at Christchurch. A similar motion was carried some years ago, but was not acted upon by the Government. BEER DUTY. ■ The Bill introduced by Governmsnt to amend tho Beer Duty Act provides tint brewers shall not be required to take out a license for the sale of beer of their own brewing. Bulk beer in only to be sold in stamped casks. Scamps on c.isks oi! less than the proper duty shall be deemed to be fraudulent stamps. No business but brewing is to be carried on in any brewery under penalty of £20 ; in tho event of conviction licenses may be refused .