Tuesday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 10, 27 June 1884, Page 11

Tuesday.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, a discussion took place on the flogging of criminals, tir.George Grey and Mr; Moss maintaining that to impose such a duty upon warders wan unjust in the extreme.— A motion proposed by Mr. Seddon for, the alteration of regulations connected with the Kumara sludge-channel, and by which certain hardships are inflicted on the miners, was negatived. — On the House's going into Committee of Supply, a debate took place on the motion of Mr. Holmes that £43,000, proposed as the honorarium of Members, should be reduced to £21,000.' The Committee divided on the question : Ayes, 25 ; noes 35. — Mr. Munro moved, as an amendment on the motion for going into Committee oE Ways and Means. " That immediate action be taken for the improvement of the harbours ©f Greymouth and Westport," pointing out the great importance of the coal trade. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Petrie and Major Atkinson, who said Government was not now in a position to prosecute the work, as it would otherwise have done, but he admitted tbat this was a Colonial affair. A bill was prepared, and would have been submitted but for the adverse vote. Whether the Government retained office or another Government came in, he hoped they would take up the matter as a Colonial work. The local coal companies were greatly to blame, as instead of paying off their money they had kept it back. Tbat was the cause of delay in the matter. The Government recognised the importance of the work. The amendment was negatived on the voices, and the House went into Committee of Ways and Means. — The Revenues Bill was passed, and the House adjourned until Wednesday.

On Saturday afternoon a man named Louis Jean, employed by the contractor for removing piles on the wharf at Hokitika, was the victim of an explosion of dynamite. He was ramming dynamite into a tube, when it exploded, shattering both legs. He was removed to the hospital, where he died two boms after the accident.

A skeleton was found while digging on J. N. Carr's farm, Three Kings, Auckland. Ihe police are investigating. Burglaries are becoming frequent in Auckland. Coxley's store, Queen street whaif, and a jewellery store adjacent, were entered on Saturday or Sunday night, the object apparently being money, as only one ring was missing, of the value of £5. Mr. T. A. Bell's house at Hamilton was destroyed by fire, cansed through the accidental falling of a kerosene lamp. In reply to a question of Mr. Barren's on Saturday, the Premier said that the Government, finding there was a deficiency for the year, had determined to give railway works more likely to be immediately reproductive a preference over those of the Central Otaero line. >

General M'lvor. who some time back endeavoured to organise in England an expedition to New Guinea, is in Melbourne endeavouring to carry out a similar project. He had an interview with Mr. Service, who declined to accept his proposal. In consequence of fears^ of dynamite outrages on the Vatican buildings, stringent precautions have been taken to frustrate any such plot. The House of Lords on Saturday had under dicussion a motion by Earl Rosebery for toe appointment of a committee to consider the best means of promoting the efficiency of the House of Lords. An amendment moved by Earl Granville favouring the creation of life peerages was, after a lonp debate, negative;!. The discussion on the original motion stands adjourned. The Moscow Gazette urges the employment of armed volunteer cruisers for the purpose of strengthening Russian interests in the Pacific.

In the debate in the House of Lords on the recidiviaie question, Earl Rosebery complained of the inadequate representation of the Colonies in that Chamber.

Lord Lyons is still hopeful of a satisfactory settlement of the recidiviste question.

A telegram to tho Melbourne Age says : — In the House of Commons last night Mr. Redmond asked a question with reference to the verdict in several recent kidnapping trials in Queensland. The

Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Political searetary to the Colonial Office, replied that the verdicts were of a surprising character, but that it was impossible for the Imperial authorities to interfere. Prince Bismarck is urging the Clerical party to withdraw their objection to the subsidy of the direct mail line to Australia.— How the questions of religion and navigation, nevertheless, are mixed up in this particular matter, it is difficult to understand. Major Kitchener, who for some past has been in command of a body of Bedouin irregular troops stationed at Korosko, telegraphs from that town that he sighted the rebel army during a recent reconnaissance. Detailed accounts from independent resources confirm Major Kitchener's report, and show that a strong body of rebels is marching from Korosko town, about half-way between Assouan and Wady Haifa, 100 miles from the southern boundary of Upper Egypt and commanding the passage of the Nile. Another body of Arabs is known to be marching towards Dongola, an important Nubian town above the third cataract of the Nile. In view of the threatened attacks of Arabs and their possible advance farther northward, the Sussex Regiment has been ordered to proceed at once to Assouan, the frontier town of Upper Egypt, and an important strategical position. The increasing gravity of the sitnation is causing considerable alarm, and anxiety is felt for the garrisons and inhabitants of Dongola and Korosko, wnich are believed to be threatened with attack. Another regimant will follow the Royal Sussex to Assouan within a short time, in order to strengthen the garrison at that place.