JOTTINGS PROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1182, 23 September 1885, Page 5

JOTTINGS PROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

In the Legislative Council on Friday, the Railway Authorisation Bill was read a first time. The Local Bodies Contractors Bill was considered in Committee and passed. It. was resolved not to insist upou the amendments in the Mortgages Debentures Bill. Ths Land Bill was re-committed, and held over to be reported later on. The following bills were than committed :— Waimea Plains Railway, Police Offences, Enforcement of Judgm*ntf>, New Plymouth Exchanges Completion, Costley Training Institution, Local Bodies Finance and Power?, and Special Powers and Contracts. The Waimea Railway Bill wai reported and passed. The Land Bill was road a third time and passed. In Committee on the Police Offences Bill, a motion that the Chairman leave the ohair w.is carried. The Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill and the Local Bodies Powers and Finance Bill were reported, read a third time, and passed. The Municipal Corporations Bill was read a second time. r'Xhe Dist iot Riilwajs Purchasing Bill was committed .and reported.— lv the House of Kepresentalives, replying to questions, Mr Lurnach said that the Government intended during the recess preparing a Consolidated Mining Bill. Mr Balknce said it was not in-

tended to increase tbe allowance to volunteers, but they would be allowed to purchase stores from the Governmsnt at posh price. Sir Julius Yogel moved that the House go into Committee on the San Francisco mail service, to consider the following resolution :—": — " That the Government be authorised to contract for a service between Sydney, Auckland, and Honolulu, or Auckland mid Honoluiti, with efficient. provi*i><n for the carriage of the mails to and from San Fra.icisco, bo that the whole time between Auckland and Son Francisco shall not exceed 20 days, at a cost to the Colony (after computing estimated receipt*, if any, from the other Colonies) not excue ding £18,000 ; and failing such arrangements being practicable, that the Government be aui horisid to contract for a service between Auckland and San Francisco, or between Sydney, Auckland, and San Francisco at the same rate of time, at a cost to the Colony (after computing estimated receipts, if any, from other Colonies) not exceeding £28 ,000." After considerable debate the resolution was carried on tha voices. The House went into Committee on the Supplementary Estimates. The Land Bill was received from the Legislative Council with amendments. Som« of the amendments made by the Council were disagreed with, and M«ssis Stout, Rolleston, Macandraw, and Ballance were appointed to oonfer with tbe Council on the amendments.

In the Legislative Council on Saturday, the Threats and Molestation Bill was read a second time, us was aho tha Railway Authorisation Bill. The Council then went into Committee to consider these Bills, which eventually were read a third time and passed. A free conference was appointed to confer on the Land Bill. The Property-tax Bill was put througl 1 all its stages. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill was reported from Committee and passed. It was agreed not to insist upon the nmcndmenls in the Local Bodies Powers and Finance Bill objected to by the House. The District Railways Purchasing Bill was further considered in Committee. A clause was inserted to prrvent the construction of any more lines under the Distrist Railway* Act. — In the House of Representatives, replying to questions, Mr Bcllanca said that it was the intsntion of the Government during the recess to settle all outstanding accounts under the Forest Trees Planting Act. Mr Ballance said that 25 mtn would be kept at Otago Heads, and of these 10 would constitute a torp do corps. After a nice little storm in a teapot over the sendiDg of Commissioners Home to represent Now Zoaland in the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, the House went into Committee for turther consideration of the Supplementary Estimates. A message was received fr m the Legislative Council insisting on their amendments in the Land Bill. A conference was appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with tbe amendments, The Local Bodiei Contractors Bill Mias road b second time, considered in Committee, and passed without amei dm«nt. Ihe second reading of the Property-tax Bill was agreed to. The Bill was then committed, read a third time, and pnsssd. Mr Stout movod lhat tho House at its rising adjourn until Monday at 10 a.m. Agreed to. Sir Julius Yogel introduced the Appropriation Bill, and Immigration und Public Works Appropriation Bill, which were read a first time. At 9 p.m. the House adjourned until 11 p.m. for the report of the free conference on the Lund Bill. As no agreement had been arrived at, the House was further adjourned, and finally at 11 45 adjourned till Monday, with still no sign of an agreement being p.rrived at.

Th« following from iho Wellington correspondent of Ihe •' Daily Times " appears in yesterday's issue of that journal: - To-nisbt we had a regular no-confidence debate in all but tho name on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill. Major Atkinson spoke for an hour and a-quarter, and criticised very incisively the policy and conduct of Ministers during the session. Mr Stou^ replied in one of his tailing and clever addresses, mainl/ in the tv quoque strain. He spoke for thicequarters of an hour, as did Mr Wakeflcld, who followed. The latter spoke better than he bas generally done this session, but at too great length, and soon nearly emptied the House, members being weary and very anxious to be off. Sir Julius Vogsl concluded the debate, and made a rather smart snd personal Bpeech. Those four speakers occupied the House just four hours. The Appropriation Bill was then passed, and at about midnight; the House adjoarred till to-morrow afternoon, when, as already stated, the prorogation will take place in due form.

In the Legislative Council on Monday, the report of the frea conference on the Land Bill was agreed to. On the motion of Dr Menzies another conference was appointed on the Mines Bill, and the report afterwards agreed to. A mesiage was received from the House of Representatives to the effect that the insertion of clause 26 in the District Railways Purchasing Bill infringed the privileges of the House. It was agreed not to insist upon the amendment. The Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill passed throagh all its stages. — In tbe Houne of Representatives, the Agricultural and Postoral Societies Sill was read a second time. The Bill was then committed, read a third time, and passsd. It was agreed to aocept the amendments agreed to by the conference en the Mines Bill. Mr Stout explained that owing to amendments in tho Land Bill making it necessary to re-print tho bill it would be impossible for the prorogation to take place that day. The Customs Tariff Interpretation Bill was passed through all its stages. A return showing how many days members of both Houses have been absent during the session was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Brown the return as far as poisible was to be laid on the table next day, and tbe complete return next session. Mr Ballanc* moved the adoption of the report on the Land Bill, which was agreed to. On the motion of Major Atkinson, it was resolved that the Council's amendment of the District Railways Bill by the insertion of a new clause was a breach of the privilege of the House. Sir Julius Yogel moved leave to introduce forthwith a bill to deal with tho District Eailways Act. Negatived. He tho n gave notice to introduce a bill next day. Sir Julius Vogpl moved the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, and the Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill. Agreed tc. Both bills we c then committed and passed. On the motion for the third reading of tbe Appropriation Bill, Major Atkinson availed himself of the opportunity to review the work of tbe session, which he did with a meroiless hand. Mr Stout retaliated, and compared the work of the present session with that of former sessions under the leadership of Major Atkinson. A message was received from the Council infcim-iting thnt they did not insist upon the amendments in the District Railways Purchasing Bill The hill wai read a third time and passed. Mr Stout moysd that the House meet at 4 p.m. next day for prorogation, \ihich was agreed to.

Too strong — A French gentleman having been but a very little while in England, was invited to a friend's house, when a large bowl of punch was made — a liquor he had never seen before, and which did not at all agree with him ; but having forgotten the name of it, he asked a person the next day : " Vot za call ze liquor in England zat is all ze contradiction — vhere is ze brandy to make it strong, and ze vater to make it small, ze sugar to make it sweet, and ze lemons to make it sour?" "Punch," answered the other, "I suppose you mean." " A y» ponch, begar !" cried monsieur : ' 'It almost ponch my brain out last night!"

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