PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2073, 27 May 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FENCING ACT. Mr Soddou has igiven notice to ask tho Minister of Lauds, if it is the intention of tho Government to introduce this session a Fencing Act Amendment Bill, and, if the answer be in the affirmative, will the Minister amend the schedule so as to legalise the barbed wire fences now in use iu various parts of the Colony. charitable aid. Mr Beetham is going to suggest to the Government tho advisableuees of following the French system of collecting a small tax iu stamps on all tickets sold for theatrical aud other amusements, such tax to be for purposes of charitable aid. DISPOSAL OF CROWN LANDS.

A return was presented showing the disposal of Crown lauds in each district since 1880, a period of seven years. Sales for cash or scrip were 881,859 acres, and sum realised £1,194,154; on deferred payments, 448,921 acres. £82,271 per annum; on perpetual lease, 117,001 acres, £10,848 per annum ; on village settlements, 8509 acres, £895 per annum; small farm settlements, 1391 acres, £4389 per annum ; special allotments, 61,470 acres, £33,978 ; small runs, 105,857 acres, rent £3805; village homestead settlements, 28,779 acres (held by 890 persons), £49. MAIL SERVICES. Captain Sutter has given notice of his intention to move for a return, showing the comparison between the San Francisco and Direct Mail Service .—(1) Showing the number of letters and newspapers carried outward and inward, and passengers arriving and departing by the San Francisco Mail Service ; (2) showing the number of letters and newspapers carried outward and inward, also passeugers arriving and departing by the Direct Mail Service. Ims« risen in the wairaraim. Mr Buchanan on Wednesday afternoon asked the Minister of Lands, Whether his attention has been called to the destruction by lire of 2000 acres of the forest reserve at the sources of the Waio. bine River, in the Wairarapa District; also of a large area of the same reserve where the railway crosses the Kimutaka; and, if so, whether he contemplates takiug any stops to prevent a recurrence of such damage. The Minister said those fires occurred through the exceptionally dry season. Ho was authorised by his colleague (the Minister for Public Works) to say that all the latest appliances were used, aud every jiossible precaution taken to prevent the spread of fire by s]iarks. Tnc Department, with the limited means at its dis. posal—the number of rangers was not large—did all in their [tower to prevent the destruction of forests by fire. THE DERATE ON THE FINANCIAL I'ROI’OSU.S. On Wednesday afternoon the Treasurer moved the second reading of t he Customs Duties Bill. Alter a short speoelion the Bill by the Treasurer, Major Atkinson, who was received with Op|K)sition dicers, moved that all the words after - That ’’ Irj left out, and the words “ i;; the opinion ot this House thy taritfami other financial proposals of the Hover mneut are I unsatisfactory'’ bo inserted. Hu made a good speech attacking the Government on their alleged savings on last year's appro, priatious, which ho said wore arrived at by holding back payments duo to local bodies ; through uu over-estimate of id. tercet due; aud from the diminished railway traffic involving redud-d exiiendlture. ‘ the debate conliimed until 11.30 p.m. aud waft then adjourned until Thursday.