IN THE LOBBY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1011, 2 August 1883, Page 2

IN THE LOBBY.

[FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, To-day.

A somewhat singular method of testing the Haro system of voting has been set on foot by the Government, with a view to its possible adoption in connection with the Legislative ; 'onncil. A circular has been sent by the Premier to each official in the Government Buildings, enclosing a list of English authors, and asking the recipient to write down his ten favorite authors in the order in which he prefers. Tiie circular, after being fi led up, will bo examined in accordance with the Hare system, and it will then be seen who. are the writers most affected by the occupants of the “ big buildings,” or what perhaps may be not precisely the same thing, the authors whom they wish it to be thought they most affect. Rumor has it that a number of the younger clerks somewhat hastily jumped at the conclusion that af paternal Government, smitten with remorse at its past conduct iu regard to the ten per cent reduction, and anxious for the intellectual improvement of the Service, intended to make them a present of books, and this was the reason for enquiring into their literary predilections. The disgust of these young men with representative institutions in general and. the Hare system of voting in particular, now that they have ascertained the real purport of the memo, may be better imagined than described. The prevalent rumor yesterday with reference to the proposed new portfolio is that should Parliament consent to the recommended increase in the number of salaried Ministers, the portfolio of Railways would be allotted to the Hon 'R. Oliver, who at present holds a seat in_the Cabinet without a portfolio. An impression prevails that this course may mot improbably be adopted for several reasons. It would have the effect of disposing of various rival claims, while it would not increase the actual numerical strength of the Minis ry, and moreover would place at the head of the department a Minister under whose regime some valuable reforms were effected. It is also , thought that it would be hardly fair to pass over Mr Oliver in favor of an outsider, seeing that hefras sa long given the Cabinet tr>e benefit of his services without salary, more especially as the proposed new portfolio isone which he practically held formerly in connection with that of Public Works., , . The following paragraph is extracted, from last night’s Post :—“ An effort is being made to place the cheese manufactured by the Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory upon the Wellington market. A sample of the Company’s manufacture has been handed to ns by Mr Ivess, MH. R., and appears to be a good sound cheese of excellent flavot. If it can be sold at a moderate price it should have a large .‘ale.” A meeting of members interested in the Rakaia branch railway was convened by Mr Wright to meet Mr Hart. There were present Messrs Allwright. Holmes, Ivess, McMillan, Mcllraith, White, and Wright. They dissented from powers being given to levy rates for 188L' and 188 i, and ad ocated the appointment of a Commission to readjust the rating boundary, Mr Hart to get the clauses drafted and to submit them to an ad- ■ j earned meeting. Mr Ivess is to ask to-day whether the Government will, in determining upon i any. further extension of the Mount Somers railway, provide that the line should cross the Ashburton river at or near a point of the terminus of the contact now in hand, in conformity with the unanimous wishes of the Mount Somers and tlford Forest districts (as brought before the Government by means of a petition and deputations, which waited upon the Hon Mr Johnston and the Premier), and in order to promote the settlement of those districts and to render the working of the line reproductive.

It is understood that the Government will not make the proposal for the appointment of a Minister of Railways a party question, but will allow the House to decide it on its merits. The majority of the members are adverse to the appointment, seeing there ia_ already a Manager of Railways, and in this case the proposal will probably be rejected. Mr Lerestam is to ask with whom rests the responsibility of keeping in a gaol fora engthened period peiisoners of such a desperate character as the late Davidson without a sufficient number of warders to ensure his safe custody. Mr 'V. 0. Buchanan is to ask whether the Government will place a sum of money on the Supplementary Estimates for the further importation of the natural enemies of rabbits. Mr Hutchison is to ask if attention has been drawn to the complaints of certain immigrants by the steamer Catalonia, and if the Minister will _ indicate his views on the same and. similar questions, and state generally what steps he proposes to take in future with 'the object of ensuring proper treatment for nominated immigrants on their voyage-tp ibis colony. , Mr Rolleston is to move that this House concurs in the arrangement made by Parliament, subject to the approval of Parliament, with the New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, for the conveyance of immigrants and freight from Great Biitain to Now Zealand, as set forth in the correspondence laid before the House.