HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1900, 1 December 1877, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

IAND Bill. On tlio Housa resuming last night, tho Land Bill was further considered ia Committee. Mr Stoul's amendment to clause 1, appendix G, the effect of which would haye been to open pastoral Linds in Canterbury for ta'e on deferred payments, was lost on a divinion by 30 to 27. The Bill wns then reported, read a third time, and passed. CIVIL LI3T BILL. On. the third debate on the Civil List Bill, Dr Hodgkiuson supported the reduction in Ministers' siLiries. He saw no necessity for any udditional Minister. Mr Gisborno supported tho Bill. Mr Reid opposed the Bil!, as calculated to attract popularity am.-.ngst Iho unthinking. It was ii weakness of Democracy to underpay.public men. Considering the amount of inconvenience members were put to in taking office if they lived away from Wellington, he did not think (he Ministerial salaries at all too much. Mr Wood supported Iho Bill. Mr Thomson supported the Bill, and said that members Buffered inconvenience as well as Ministers, but questions of personal convenience should not be considered i" the matter. £1000 a year was an ample salary, and he also tLouyht Ministerial residences should be eold. Mr Sheohan did not think the present Ministerial salnries too extravagant, but the Government felt it became imperative to enter on a systematic course of retrenchment, and, to show their earnestness, they proposed to begin with themselves, as they believed it would liavo a good moral effect. He believed at least eight Ministers were really required to do the work of tho colony, and a couple of political under-eecretnrieß to assist in parliamentary and departmental work, but without seats in tho Cabinet. Such officers would bo most valuable in a variety of ways, and although they might not be appointed now they would soon have to bo if good parliamentary Government wai to be secured. The Bill was a part of the Government policy, but, of course, if tho House would not reduce- their salaries, Ministers would have to draw the full amounts. Mr Reynolds opposed the reduction of salaries, and if the Bill passed it should only apply to the present Ministry. Mr Moorhouse was from experience sußpicious of such proposals, and as to the present one the public wonld see through it, and not be deceived as to the real value of these proposals. If Ministers were so disinterested, they need not draw the higher salaries, or indeed, a salary at all ; and yet, they might leave the law ai it was," for the benefit of successors. He did not think redactions in the general salaries ia the Civil Service possible, and so Ministers' example could be of no use. The number of civil servants might be rednoed, but not the salaries. Mr Bowen 'opposed the Bill. He joined, issue with the Government on the question

of reduction of civil servants' sjlarie3 for •which this was to be an example. He kunw ', of no salaries in the s?rvice which could be [ cut down, although the lite Government had besn desirous of the amalaavnati n of ofll ers. £1000 a year was not enough for Ministers to keep their families on in Wellington, when their homes were in other parts of tha colony. The proposed reduction was a paltry one in amount unless as an example. He nzreert that nnothcr Minister in the C>.u:icil was required lo undertake departmental work, but he- did not believe in Parliamentary Under-Secretarie3. There would be no reil distinction between them and Cabinet Ministers. Mr Kowe approved of the Bill. H> would be sorry to see the number of Ministers increased, as it would give tha Ministry too much voting power iu the House. He thought there should only b.- one Maori member in the Executive, and ho should be better paid. Mr Gibbs Baw a great objection to any increase to the number of Ministers. Ho would vote for the Bill. Mr Hunter opposed the Bill, ns he did not think it would bo any uso ns an example. It was not possible lo effect any appreciable reduction in the Civil Service salaries, and he did not think Ministerial salaries at all too high. Mr Montgomery thought men desiring to occupy a public position must be prepared lo make sacrifices. Membqr3 had to do so, and he did not sec why Ministers should not. He did not think the Civil servants overpaid. Good men could nol be got for less than the pres?nt salurie*. He hoped the Bill would pass. Mr Kelly supported the Bill. He thought€looo a year and a houso ample salary, in addition to the number of Ministers being increased. The Premier, he thought, should not have any d'pirtmental duties. Mr Murray supported the B 11. He vrou'd oppose any increase in the number of M inistera. Mr Murray-Aynsley opposed the Bill. Mr Rccs supported, the Bill. He thought Mini-ters overpaid in proportion to members. Mr Ormond thought members were in a very different position lo Ministers, aud the comparison wns quile unfair. He opposed the Bill. Sir George Grey said tho grout object ol Bill was to cheek the 6yste:n of gro?s extravagance which had grown up in the Government, and spread to other bodie3 within the colony. The Government now drsircd to show tfio public nn example of economy. The effect of the mcaauro was not fo bo estimated by tho amount of money saved. It was a rebuke to public extravagance. Ministers merely refusing to draw salaries would not huve had a similar effect. Consolidation rf offices was a direction in which savings could be effected in tho public service. Ho would not hold (flic. 1 on tho condition of entertaining people nt public expense, to tho injury of health and waste of time. If the House refused to support the Government in the first st^p towards economy, it was a poor step to enter on a largo reform. The House would be treating them very badly if it did not aid the:n in this measure. On a division for the motion for going into Committee, Ihe votes were equal — 31 each. The Speaker said ho felt bound to give his casting vote on tho eido of economy, and for going into Committee on the Bill, although ho wished it understood he did not go the length of the proposals contained in it. On going into Commit ice, Mr Rolleston moved, '* That tho Chairman do leave tho chair." After some discussion, during which Sir W. Fitzhorbert, while urging economy by exarnplo, maintained that the Premier's sulary should be at least £1400 a year ; this was carried by 32 to 30, and the Bill is accordingly shelved. Dr Greenwood's Pension Bill passed. The Houso rose at 12.35. The House met at 2.30 to-day. NATIVE AFFAtES. The Nativo Affairs Committee reported that they thought the Native Marriages Validation Bill entirely unnecessary, and that it bad better be withdrawn. MINISTERIAL ItESIDENOES. The Public Accounts Committee reported that Ministers retiring from office during tin* session should be allowed to retain ministerial residences for thirty days after leaving office, but that for the present session, the Into Ministers should be allowed to retain them till the prorogation. Mr Sheehnn suid the late Ministers should pay a reasonable fee for the time they oceuthem. Sir George Grey thought fourteen days quite enough to be allowed for removing. Mr Eolleston thought tho matter one as between outgoing and in-coming Ministers, not ono for the public. Mr McLean pointed out he had left his official residence soon after leaving office, but none of the present Ministry had called to occupy it. Long after ho had received a circular from the Under-Secrotary demanding rent, and asking him to appoint an arbitrator to fix the amount. He thought such conduct anything but creditable to the Government. Mr Bowen s.iid ho and his lute colleagues would be very glad lo pay rent from tho day they vacated office, rather than have any discussion on such a matter., Mr Swanson urged to sell tho Ministerial residences. Mr Reynolds thought this would be very unwise. Ministers could not be required to leave *;heir residence during the session, and it was contemptible to try and screw rent out of them. After considerable further discussion, tho report was ordered to be printed, and tho matter dropped. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr Seymour, Mr Sheehan said the Government woul-.l fulfil the promise) of the 1-ite Government to complete the unfinished portion of the Picton and Blenheim railway. Enquiries would be made, and if possible the bridge over Opawa would be •: n<\-. suitable for dray as well as railway Ir.iflii!. Jlep'ying to Mr Barff, Mr Macandrew said the survey of railway from Duntroon to Kuruw would bo mule durng the r< cess. SECOND HEADINGS. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill, the West Coast Hiirbor Bill, and the Borough Mayoralty Election Validation Bill, woe read a second time. Sir George Grey has just introduced the Waste Land Sale Bill, embodying tho Government land policy. No remarks have been mide. % Pbeaching.— The Rev. B. T. Hallowes, Congregational minister, will preach in the Mechanics' Institute to-morrow morning ; and in the evening it is anticipated that Mr B. Short, of Nelson, will conduct the service. RE3IDENT MAOISTEATE'S COUBT, TIUAEtf. — At this Courton Thureday, before F. Archer, Esq., J.P., James P. Cassey was brought up op romand from Waimate, charged with larceny, and waa remanded till Monday. Ceeswick, tub Thagedian. — The Bishop of Melbourne has invited Mr Creswick, the tragedian, to give readings at Bishop's Couit in the presence of tho clergy. '■■■ The Natiyb Mimistbb. — The Te Wananga, a Native paper published at Napier, thus speaks of Mr Sheeban as Native Minister : — ; " In him (Mr Sheehan) we have a man born in the colony, brought up amongst the Natives, and possessing _ the confidence of a very large section of the aborigines of New Zealand ; and the Maori population may rest satisfied that no stone will be left unturned by the Native Minister till a complete reconciliation has been arrived fct between the whole tribes of New Zealand and the Europeans." Scabcbit Cbedible. — The following highpressure snake yarns are given by a Victorian paper : — The warm weather has been the means of giving a little vitality to snakes in this neighborhood. We heard of one the other day being killed, about sixf eetlong, which

r on being dissected was found to contain un r entire rabbit. Another having paid a visit to s 'a kitchen, was shopped in two by tho la<ly of 1 the hou-e with an axe. A mouse dropped out .. of one of tho piece, which wa3 immediately > poiincd on hy a cat and carried away in i triumph. j Pettt Labcbnt.— Willium O'Neill, far- ; mer, cf Masterton, has been arrested in 3 A ucklind on a telegram, clinked with stealing 1 linen from Ihnt plac. Defendant's counsel , stated that O'Neill had run away witli Mrs • Thompson, wi'e of a neighboring settler, und I t>ie charge was m.reh prcfc.red in order to . get f tliem ba<-k ; he asked that Mrs Thompson's evid.nej be taken to show Low tho linen was procured. The Bench, however, decided " that, as the charge was one of larceny, they . must grant a remand to Mneterton, to be , heard there. They r. leased tho accuW. however, on buil in his own recognisances of £50. . The Ciitthcii Militant. — Under this hca-ling the Xao Zealand Sun has tho following incredible piragraph: — A Meihodist parson called to preach in an out-of-tho way town on a New Z-nlun-1 digging was informed before entering the pulpit, that he must be careful, as many of the assembled congregation wcro " roughs," and would not h^itato to disturb him if his remarks didn't suit. The h -ly nvm made no reply, but having reached the desk, ho took from his pockets two revolver.*, and, placing one on each side of the Bibl:', gave a sharp glance ronnd tho house, and snid, " Let us pray." Report says that a more orderly service was never condue'ed. Tub Jackson's Bay Settlement. — Tho long lookrci for steamer from your port having at last roiiched our Special fettlemcnt., I profit b.p tint opportunity t> give you an I'.ccoiiMt of our sufferings during (lie last fivo or six weeks. As I nhvaiy lo'd you wo wero running short of provisions ai. the lime ofthc sirrival of the Maori on the 22nd of List month. Tint slcamer, however, brought us 170 sicks of Hour, but what is that for -100 mouths to feed upon ? Be uood enough lo consider the situiiion of tho ihirty-eight malo adult, settlers nt Okura, who aro supposod, when I hoy arn not at work for the Government, to be laloiing hard nt clearing their bush lnntl ; putting in their crops, &c., and who are ut every instant in Iho painful obligation to repair to the Government store whiTt? they can only obtain fiour by tho lOlbs ; sugar by |tho lb, and tho rest in tho saino scanty proportion. The blame i* not to bo attached to any of the officials bore ; but, surely there is " something rotten in tho Kingdom of Denmark " when matters are all iwcd to come to such a pass as this. A public meeting attended by almoat every settler, took place last Saturday at Okura, to consider the situation. Mr De Montulk was voled to the chair, and in his introductory remarks observed that, as a new Ministry had now taken office, it appeared to him that no lime should bo Irst to lest the feelings of tho present he id of the Immigration Department with regard to the Special Settlement at Jackson's Bay in general, and to the Okura in particular. He (tho Chairman) was not a supporter of Mr Macandrew'a views on colonial politics ; but he was glad to have an occasion to state publicly his high estimation of thai, gentleman's administrative tulonfs as manifested in his able management of tho affhirs of the lato Province of Otago. If Mr Macandrew's interest in our Special Settlement could onoe be raised, he hod no doubt but his administration will be fraught with goi'd praclicnl rc.-ults. Tho meeting p:is.-ed a series of resolutions which can thus be summarised : "That it is expedient : — Ist, that a township bo established at the south entrancs of the Turnbull river. 2nd, tliut a Government officer should attend at least once a. month, on a stated diy, to the settlers at Okura. 3rd, that tho price of Inud be reduced. 4th, that the present foot track on the north side of the Turnbull bo converted into a dray road. 6th, that the Central Board of Education of tho provincial district of Westland be requested to proclaim tho Okura a school district. 6th, that representations be made to the proper authorities thai the site chosen for tho school does not n eet with the approval of the majority of the settlers. 7th, that a committee to promota tbo welfare of the community at Okura be appointed for a year, such committee to bo composed of Messrs Baretla, Boardman, Calumi'j, Fraiidi, De Montalk, Mooney, and Stout." The meeting was characterised by the utmost harmony and good order, every resolution boing carried nem. con. Petitions.— Sketching the probablo fate of too many petitions to the House of Representatives the Wellington Argus says :— "A petition is got up with great care and much iabor iu some quiet locality, suy the Bay of Islands or Outrara. The parson wrote it out in most idiomatic English, making three or four foul copios. The best acribe iu the district engroß.«ed it, and painfully added some pictorial embellishments, probably a cabbage tree or a kiwi, on margin. It was carried round, exhibited as a work ii art, talked of at every tea table, signed, and duly forwarded lo " our member" for presentation. It was presented at an hour when everyone was talking lustily to his neighbor, as careless of the petition as if it had been a piece of waste paper, and it has never been heard of since." Thundebstoiims.— Tho size of tho district over which a thunderstorm spreads is usually somewhat limited ; b'jt oceasionfllly they stretch over hundreds o! miles. One is recorded which stretched two hnndrcd miles— from Antwerp to Mindcn — and another iri India, which covered a district of six hundred miles from north to south, and fifty inbreadth. The flashes of lightning frequently extend a mile or two in length, and inatuntar.eously divide tho air throughout their whole course. Tho sudden rushing together of the air also tales place nt once, but the sound which is thereb/ produced takes som« time to travel to the ear. When th<? storm is immediately overhead, tho flash of the lightning and tho crash of tho thunder are simultaneous; but ordinarily the first thunder sound comes from that p irt of tho path of the lightning which is nearest to us, and the rolling noise is produced by the waves of sound as they successively reach the car. Tho lightning of the near thunderstorm darting through the air passes where it meets with least resistance, and, therefore often appears zigzag, or it gives off branches which makes it seem forked. Sheet lightning, when flash alter flash illuminates the murky sky, sometimes, at dusk or at night, looking blue or violet, or eren pale green, is generally accompanied by low and distant thunder. The silent lightning, or summer lightning, which with its quaint quivering radiance fitfully lights up the evening sky for hours in summer.is the reflection of the lightning of distant storms. Sometimes lightning takes the form which is called " bull lightning," but this is one of unusual occurrence. The lightning appears like a globe, sometimes.' moving slowly, sometimes b^ing stationary, but in a short time exploding with violence. This form of lightning has not as yet been satisfactorily explained. The rain that comes with thunder pours down with extreme violence, and among tho hills the brooks and rivers become swollen so that they rush along their channels with increased fojee, and sweep all before them. The trees bend and Bw.iy under tho weight of the storm-wind, and the commotion of the elements is such that it seems as if nothing but destruction can follow in its train. But t) those who know how to regard wisely the phenomena of the ttonn, the magnificent spectacle which it presents is but another manifestation of tho power of nature's God working through laws to the carrying out of a definite end. The disturbed electrical condition of the air must be righted , in order that life may be carried on, and the storm is the means by which the normal state : of things is regained.— Sunday Magazine.