PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1698, 29 October 1887, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

■ <-, r—. -'♦— : HOUSE OF REP RESENTATIVES. Friday, October 28. The House met at 7.30 p.m. MIDLAND RAILWAY. Major Atkinson laid on the table papers relating to tho Midland Railway, on whioh a long debate took place. ' THE BUDOBTi Mojor Atkinson eald he was sorry to have to Inform the House that the hope ho had enterteined when he last addressed it, of being able to deliver a Financial Statement that night, had proved deIu»lvo. Ashe viak not able to deliver it, ha would oek tho Indu'genco of the House to postpone it till 7 30 p.m. on Tuesday, when he would deliver the Statement without fail. He aho aßked the Houbo to allow questions to stand over till Tuesday. Sir J Yogel said, while he objected to the tfhole business of the House 'being delayed m order that tho Financial Statement might bo prepared, still, if the honorable gentleman brought down his S'atemont on Tuesday, he would have prepared it with coneiderable celerity, with wblch the House would bo well satisfied. Questions were then postponed till Tuesday. . <■ ENGLAND AND' KRANOB. Sir J. Yogel called the attention of the Premier to the fact that statements had appeared m the papers during tho Inst two or three days to the effi ot tbat the English Government had agreod to cede to France the Island of Ralatea. He was under the impression tbat Raratonga wosuaoant, and If that was so it would be a serious misfortune to Now Z. aland. He asked whether the Government had any Information on the subject, if not, whether they thought it worth while to telegraph Home In reference to It?'" Major Atkinson said he had no information, and it wos hardly worth while to telegraph Home, which would bo very expensive. Moreover, if the ITngluh Government had. completed negotiations our protest would, be useless. He quite agreed with the hon geatlenian oe to the Importance of Raratonga. He should, however, oommunloato with the Victorian Government. REPRESENTATION AOT. Col. Fraior Introduced the Representation Aot Amendment Bill 1887> I'ROTEST FROM THB AUDITOR-GENERAL. ' The Speaker read a letter from Mr FitzQerald concerning a copy of correspondence In reference to the passing of certain vouchers for salaries of offioers appointed, as It seemed to the Auditor and Controller-General In contravention of the provisions of the Civil Servioe Reform Act. Mr Fl'zGerald'o letter concluded :— " The salaries In question were passed m oomplianoe with the opinions .of the Attorney and Sollolto .-General, but as the Controller and Auditor-General's view did not coinolde with that of the law officer's, only on tho condition that the correspondence should ' be laid before Parliament." The House adjourned at 9.15 till Tuei&*J ifttroooq.