Parliamentary Items.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6217, 13 May 1887, Page 2

Parliamentary Items.

It is rumoured in the lobbies of the Hoqso (says the Post) that a card having been pricked, a majority haa been found to be in favour of the reduotion of the number of members to 71 ; and alao of tbe 20 per cent concession to country distrlcta, Mr R. J. O'Snllivan'a report to the Education Board on the working of the Auckland Education Department haa attracted the attention of the Auckland Members. Steps are about to be taken to get the report laid on the table of the General Asaembly, aa affecting the interests of the system of colonial education.

Captain Russell has given notice to move the following new clause in tbe Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteer L%nd Bill : — " The Governor may grant to the several naval and military eettlers who, on or beforo the 31st March, 1890, shall prove to the satisfaction of the Defence Miniitei that he arrived in the colony of New Zealand, or was discharged from Her Majesty's force for the purpose of settling therein, on or before the 31st December, 1872, land free of payment to the extent of forty acres, to be held under the provisions of t- c Land Act, 1885, relating to tho occupation and improvement of Land under the deferred payment system " Is ia probable that an effort will be mado j to have the sitt'nys of the House adjourned from Thursday, the 19th inatant, | to the following Wednesday, in honour of the Queen's birthday. Tho ceremony of unveiling tbe Barns atstn'o also takes place iv Dunedin at about that time, and the Premier ond Sir George Grey are expected to be p-esent. The Chinese question Is about to be raised in a new and rather comical shape by Mr Seddon, who is going to ask the Premier, (1) Whether the Government have any reason to believe thnre is any foundation for the rumour that Chinese in New Zealand get naturalised undei tho Aliens Act, and forward the certificates of naturalisation home tc their friends and rehtives in China j and that these frienda and relatives impersonate the Chinese in whose favour the certificates were issued, and on arrival in the colony prodacj these certificates and evade paying the poll tax ? (2) If the amwer bo in the affirnntive, will tbe Government tako steps to have this evasion of the law prevented ? (3) Will the Premier put himself in communication with the Chinese Commissioners now in New South Wales on the subject, and also ascertain from the said Commissioners whether they intend paying a visit to New Zetland?

The Estimates show au increaae from £292,750 to £300,000 in the grant) to Eduoation Boards. The vote for maintenance of children in private ludnatrhl Fchoola is;inoreaFed by £500. The oapitatiou allowance to Volunteera is increased from £20,723 to £21,000. A now vote, "Commissioner of Police, £400," ia added to the Estimates. £1000 ia set down aa a new vote for "conveyance of settlers to village homestead blocks, and expenees of persons engaged in the location of settlers and inspection of settlements" Another new vote is £5000 for "one-third receipts for special settlement associations."

Among the savings shown in the Eatimatea may be mentioned the following : — Kxpenees of working Cattle, Rabbit, and Sheep Brands Acts, £10,003 ; destruction of scabby sheep on Crown landa, £2000 : encouragement of local industries, £■250 ; costa of work to be done by Sur-veyor-General's Department, £350. List year £5000 waa voted for the £ for £ an fasidy on ratea levied within connties containing one or more goldfielda in excess of tho three-firthinga in tho £ of ratea under the Crown and Native Lands Bating Aot. This year no vote is proposed. The vote act down for conveyance of miils between New Zealand and tin Pacific Islands is £1200 as against £3509, nnd £1000 ia knocked off the vote for direofc service to Plymouth, The £850 vote of last year on sccoant of tho cruiser Hawk ia discontinued, as also the vote of £650 on account of the schooner Kekeno, The special capitation in connection with education is reduced from £21,250 to £17,500 ; subsidies to public libraries, from £4000 to £2000 ; Judges of Native Land Courts, from £4200 to £2400 ; aud travelling allowances to these Judges, from £2500 to £1500. Tho vote of £100 for Under-Seoretary of Defence ia omitted ; the prize-fiting vote is roduced £200; volunteer encampments £500, and school of instruction and musketry, £1000