PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3635, 24 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(FBOM OUB OWN COEEESPONDENT.)

Wellington, June 19,1880. The session drags slowly on; much time is spent in doing very little. Exoepting the Financial statement of the Treasurer and the Native Minister's speech in moving the Native Lands Bill, the Gov* ernment has done but little in putting forward their measures. The Treasurer's statement has not been very well received by hon. members of cither sido of llouso, and will certainly have to be considerably ! modified. Sir George Grey opened tho ' I debate on the Government proposals on

Thursday in an eloquent and ablo speech. He spoke against the Property Tax, and Bhowed clearly that, although the Government said it would only reach those persons who owned property valued at £500 and upwards, it would be felt very heavily by all classes. Your readers are aware that it is proposed to tax a merchant's stock in his store, the farmer's crops and stock, and the manufacturer's maobinery and materials. It is not at all likely that parties will pay the tax and not increase the price of their wares to the consumer, thus throwing the burden of this objectionable impost on the latter. As the articles thus taxed are usod by all, rich and poor, owners of property or not, it is quite evident that payment of it does not fall only on those fortunate possessors of five hundred pounds worth of property, It is generally believed, that tho beer tax will become law, but an attempt will be made to reduce it to 3d per gallon. There, are those here who believe that by re-imposing the tea and sugar dutios, making the beer tax 6d, maintaining tho land tax, and reducing the cost of education by doing away with all such luxurios as singing, drilling, etc,, tliat the properly tax might be avoided, There can be no doubt its effect will be injurious to the best interests of tho colony, especially at this time, when attempts are being made in various directions ,to establish manu» factures. These are 'sure to involve tho expenditure of large amounts of capital, a great deal of which must come from foreign sources. The question is will capitalists in England and elsewhere be induced to expend their money in plant and machinery which will be taxed whether it yields a profitable return or not. I doubt it. The disclosures made by the Native Minister have caused some sensation, aud have revealed a state of affairs which must cause any right-minded colonist to feel ashamed of the manner in which our affairs are managed. We in the North were not ignorant of the many pounds recklessly expended in connection with the Native Department; but that money should bo spent in such abominable ways and obtained by such fraudulent means, is almost beyond my conception.' I think, however, it is too bad and going too far to throw all the blame of theae doings on the shoulders of your junior member. Ho did not create the Native Department, indeed, I think he found it very muoh as he left, while his generous nature provented his exposing the faults of his predecessors, some of whom spent more money with nothing more to represent it than Mr Sheehan lias left. I would not attempt to defend Mr Sheehan's administration of native affairs, only I think he should not be made the scape-goat to bear the sins of a rotten system of native management which has been going on for many years, but which it is hoped is now on its last legs. There appears to bo. a row about the diamond drill. Dr. Hector, who suggested its purchase, and intended using it first at the .Thames, has had the control taken from,; him, and ; the drill is now in charge of the' Mines Department. Tho man in charge of it has been brought from Queensland to superintend its working, and it is most likely that it will be sent on to Mahurangi at once to test the coal seams in that locality. Most people here are pleased to hear of the improved prospects of your goldfield, and there is a more general feeling prevailing here that more attention should be paid to the auriferous reefs than has been done in the past. The party formed under Mr Wm. Deeble, of the Thames, to prospect on the ranges, have : received much encouragement at the hands of Mr Ollivor, the Minister, and Mr Wakefield, Secretary of Mines, and there is no reason why energetic prospecting should not be prosecuted forthwith on such liberal terms. The Crown grant is being made, out for the Euakaka biook at Te Aroha, and it is presumed Messrs Burtt and Stephenson will immediately lay it out in a township and put it in the market. It may be interesting to know that many of the Southern members are shareholders in several of our mines, some of them holders of long standing, and their eager enquiries as to whether they should hold on to their Tookeys or sell their Kuranui Hills, evinoe how deeply they are interested. Colonel Walker would appear to have struck|gold this time, and no mistako. More power to him. He deserves success, and no one here was more pleased to hear about the Colonel's luck than "Your Own." Sheehan's speech to his constituents, which has just Seen received here per Thames Advertisers tho theme of conversation in political circles, and both friends and opponents consider it a most ingenious and able speech. He is anxiously looked for here to answer some of the canards industriously circulated by his detractors. Messrs Brodie and Bagnail arrived here on Wednesday last. They had a very stormy passage on tho way down. Members have been chaffing Brodie, telling him there aro no pickings to be obtained this year. Brodie rejoins thoy prophesied tho same thing last year. Mr Bagnall's mission is not known. Many persons bore are expecting Ehrenfried, jand wondering why he has not camo down, inasmuch as ho promised 'that' ho would come, The Auckland people are very jealous of Mr. Speight's interference in Thames affairs, consequently he will abstain from doing so muoh in the future. I have very grave doubts about your railway, and am anxiously looking for the Public Works Statement. No doubt tho Thames people are also looking forward with an equal amount of interest. I intended writing a longer letter, but the martial strains of tho church call music, presented by Major Murray, oftho Wellington Guards, who are parading in honour of Her

Majesty's accession to tho Throne, has knocked tho news out of my mind, I will therefore say for the present—hoiano, Dr Wallis is to move, "That this House is of opinion that iho nment should oease to borrow further, either for tho purpose of continuing tho policy of Immigration and .Public Works, or for the purpose of defraying tho ordinary expenses of the Government, Mr Richmond is to ask " Whether any charge is to be made in Education, and whother grants aro to bo mado to the Wellington College, Otago High School, I Auckland Girls' High School, and the Thames High School. Mr Shrimski is to ask what was tho result] with rggard to

the claim of Mr Thomas Eussell for a largo portiou of land in the Te Aroha Block.

Mrßallanoo is to move that tho boor duty be reduced to threepence. Several gentlemen are now in Wellington as delegates from tho Licensed Victuallers' Association, and are bringing pressure to bear upon members. It is said that tho threepence duty will bring in as much as tho Treasurer ostimates, and in that case tho Government may yield. Mr J. M, Clarke has arrived, and the Eailway Commission will get to work in the preparation of their report.