PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1736, 15 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our Correspondent.) I Wellington December 14. PASTORAL LICENSES. A question of interest to settlement m the South Island was to day referred to by Mnpr Steward, who gave notice to move for a return of all pastoral licenses m the South Island, whloh will expire between Ist January, 1883, and 31at December, 1890, showing the acreage of each run, and the name of present lessee. TH' SEAOLIFFfi ASYLUM. It hes been a matter of notoriety for some time past that the Seacliffa Asylum, □ear Dunedin, haa been m a very unsafe condition, and with a view to ascertain' the oorroot position of affairs, Mr Fish is urging on the Government to have acmething done m the matter! Mr Livrgon, a local arohitect, has recently issued a pamphlet, showing that the foundations are really dangerous aDd unsafe. Mr F.ah will oa Friday bring thla before the House. THE COLONIAL OOKFKReNCE. Mr Jayca Is sotting a perfect " whale " at questions, to use a vulgarism, and his rising to give notice to enquire something of the Government is as regularly "looked for a3 the day. In pursuance of his uaual custom, he to-day gave notice to ask if the Government had received ar.y report from Sit Wm. Fitzherbert, of bis attendance as representative of this colony At the Colonial Conferenca, held m London recently, or any recommendations from him m connection with tbe Conference. BAILWAY COMPANIES The.'Uaperlng-off" tone of the Public Works Statement, and the fact that little money will be available for railways during the next /ew yesra, Is causing a deolded movement gin the direction of having important lines constructed on the land grant system, as was agreed to m eonceotion with the Otago Central line » day or two back. Several proposals of thin kind are on the board. la addition to the Kamo-Kawakawa line which was talked of the other night, amongst others It is suggested that the North of Auckland trunk line shall be so extended, Mr R. Thompson has taken the matter m hand, and is urging the Government to bring m a Bill next nesßlon authorising the construction of the Una on the laiid grant Byafcem, A reply Is expected by him m a d»y or two NATIVE liiND. Notice of an important return has been given by Mr Hutchison, which will Bhow the names of all persons who olalm to have purchased or leased the shares of several native ownera prior to January lat, 1837, under section 24 of the Native Lands administration Act, 1886, the extent of each transaction and their effjot, cases m which oertific»teo have been granted, and caaea In -yhioh notices have been given of extension to proceed with suoh transaction under seotlon 25 of the Act. BABBIT EXTEBMINATIOH A lengthy discussion on the interim report of the Joint Rabbit Committee, th* effeot of which han already been wired to you, took place to-day. There was, however, nothing remarkftble m the discussion beyond a display of selfish envy on tbe part of members whose districts are not likely to be benefited by tbe present proposals, and the report was eventually agreed to. INCOMPLFTE LEGISLATION. Major Steward to-day gave notice to ask the Premier whother, m view of the exceptional circumstances m connection with tho present session, he will propose thit an order be made enabling Bills, the progress of whloh will be interrupted by the prorogation, to be proceeded with next Beßalon from the stage they have now reached. REPORTERS AG.AIN", The Lords this afternoon made a strong protest against the practice adopted by the chief reporter of " Hansard " of condensing their speeches. The Lords hewevar, are not likely to meet with much sympathy outside their pirn Chamber, CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL CLAIMS. The Education Seleot Committee has declined to enter into consideration of a number of petitions presented by Roman Catholics, praying for State aid to denominational schools, on the ground that the whole question is now under the oonsideration of Parliament. FINANCIAL DEBATE. It was understood early m the afternoon that the finanoial debate would be resumed at half. past seven this evening, As however, the Committee of Supply is the* fourteenth order, and there are a large number of Important Bills set down for consideration, it Is hardly likely that the debate will come on as early as was anticipated, unleia by arrangement con. sideration of these Bills is deferred to some other time. It is said there fa to be a good deal of talking over the financial debate, but at this period of the session I take leave to doubt the statement very muoh. RESERVED LANDS, «. T 2;£ a ? Mr Dnnoan We notloe to ank the Miniate* of Lands if the reservation of lands set aiide for railway purposes 'm South Canterbury has been withdrawn or will shortly bo withdrawn, and If bo, will tbe Government take steps to have rogulatlons put In force co that persons already having large holdings may not acquire this land to the detriment of settlement. The Minister, who was not distinctly heard, was understood to say matters were m staty qno t but that ample notice would be given of any proposed action. POOR BUNNY. The debate on the report of the Rabbit Committee was taken to-day, when the Premier stated it would bo impossible to briug In a Bill to deal with the question this session, but Government will take steps to carry oat the most urgent and Important recommendation during the reoeoa, for which they will ask authorisation next session. During the discussion it transpired that the late Government had, prior to gotog out of office, let contraots for very large works In con* nectlon with the tabblt question without the authorisation of the Bouse, and rather a lively diacuaalon followed, bat no steps were tak.en. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT. This Act, whioh was Introduced by the Government m the Counoil, but went through such emasculation that not oven its fathers would recognise it, has been introduced Into the Lower House, and will be brought on for the second reading to-morrow. Ib Is anticipated that an effort wi I be made m the House to have the important clauses relntroduced, m the hope that subsequently an arrangement may be come to with the Counoil over the matter. DEFERRED PAYMENr SETTLERS. Dr Newman has discovered a Bore point m tho administration of the Land Act m regard to deferred payment settlers, who he haa ascertained are treated differently m some districts to otheiß. Ho will eonpequently enquire of the Minister of Lands to-morrow whether deferred pay meriJ ■ottlera are sued for acrears of payment m one **!? d district and nod m another, if bo, on whose authority are these oanas brought, OVERWORKED LEGISLATORS. What with all-night sittings and (ho fact that a largo number of Committees are sitting dally with the Idea of getting through their work before the close of lh& sesaloD, it is very difficult for Committees to get a quorum on mornings now, and If this i* dono there is just the bare nomber. The Importation of Stock Committee, who are now considering their final report, were unsuccessful m getting a mooting this morning, and today had to ask for the privilege of meeting during the tlm? the Hoqao was sitting thja gfterooon. g^ j ,

Wellington, Deoomber 15, REDUCING PROPERTY TAX Mr Turnbull has given notice to move on going into Committee on the Property Tax, that an abatement of 20 per cent be made m the tax m case of persens resident i m the colffny, absentees beln^ compelled to pay m full. He takes this course m consequence of being uDable, according to forma of the House, to move for an lnoeasa on the tax m the casa of absentees. THE LOAN BILL. The Loan Bill, which was circulated last, night, contains a proposal for a loan of one million, proposed to be appropriated as follows: — immigration, £70,000: roads, £225,000; P urohas3 of Native Lande (North ißland), £15,000 : telegraph extension, £40,000 ; harbor defecca, j £130,000 ; costs and charges o£ loaa and contingencies, £20,000. Railways,' (ex- \ elusive of permanent way, sleepers, and rolling stock) :— HelensviUe northward, 125,000 j Putaruvi-Rotoruo, £90,000; Woodville - Palmorsfcon, £98,000; BJen-heim-Awatere, £9000 ; Mount Somers, ' £J?°,?nL Livin S aton > £100 ° » ota ?° Central, «85,000 ; Eeaward Bush, £5000 ; additions to opened Hues, £57,000 ; surveys a new lineß of railway, £6000 ; permanent way, sleepers and rolling stock for above railways, £125,000 ; engineering and supervision, etc, £35,000. Costs and charges of loan and contiogoncies, £30,000. Total, £1,000,000: