SATURDAY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 22, 25 September 1885, Page 9

SATURDAY.

Iv the House of Representatives yesterday Mr. Pyke gave notice to move— "ln the opinion of tni9 House, it is not only desirable, but absolutely necessary in the interests of the public weal, and for the completion of the unification of the Colony, tbat a proper system of local government should be devised and formulated by Ministers, and brought down to the House in the next ensuing session ; and further , ♦hat copies of proposals to this end should be widely circulated by Ministers during the recess before next meeting of Parliament." — Captain Sutter moved tbat the vote of £10,000 subsidy of pound for pound on rates collected in goldfields counties be reduced to £5000. Mr. Pyke said he had been in the House for 14 session* aud he had never heard the mining interest so vilified as it had been this session. He wan ted to know what it all meant. Mr. W. V. Buckland opposed the vote. He did not see why goldfielda should be treated in an exceptional manner from other districts. Mr. Turub ill supported tue vote. Mr. Seddon asked the committee to pass the vote. He quoted from returns to prove that the goldfields were eutitled to the subsidy asked for. The amendment was lost by 35 to 30. — Captain Sutter moved to strike out the item £1000, bonus to La Monte's gold-mining process. After a long discussion, the item of £1000 was retained by 31 to 20. — Captain Sutter moved to btrike out item £2000, aids to prospecting and rewards for mineral discoveries. The amendment was lost by 30 to 20.

Cardinal vioran, Archbishop of Sjdney, is a passenger for Australia per the Liguria.

Sir Michael Hicks- Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, addressed a public meeting of electors of Bast Gloucestershue on Wednesday night, at Cirencester. In the course of his speech, he denied the existence of a compact between the Parnellites and Conservative parties. Regarding the Home Rule question, Sir Michael expresbed himself in favour of an extension of loc il self-government for the three kingdoms. He states that the Government will not support Mr. Parnell.

The Spanish Government is making purchases of cruisers and torpedoes.