PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1738, 17 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

« (Fiiom our Correspondent. ) Wellington, Deoembor 16. VE&Y DULL. Aa ,tho end approaches things are jotting very dull, and all the Ilfo ieema to be knocked out of members Many are making tholr final preparations for leaving Wellington. WOBK3 ESTIMATES. It is understood that a considerable aum, probably £100,000 or £150,000, will bo knocked off the Pablic Works Statement. WBSTPjBT HARBIR. The report o? the Weotport Harbor Board Oomraittoa was brought Ep thta aftornoon. A motion was ruado that it be laid upon the table, and ba reforred to the Government f ; r consideration. Mr O'Oonnor contended that the evidence ahould be produced, and not allowed to be kept m obscurity. He wanted the House to discuia the question, and not have so important a matter slummed over; He moved that the report be reforred bask to the Oommittee In order that the evidence might ba attached to the report. The report was read, and was to the effect that the works were not being carried out satisfactorily ; that they should not ba continued by the Harbor Board, but that the colony should resume control of them, GETTING THROUGH. The Government hope to get both the Financial Statement debate and Estimates dlapoaed of to-night, and to-morrow the House will probably sit m the morning to got through this part of the work. The Legislative Council will Bit to-morrow, and also on Monday. OTAGO OENTftAL. The Attorney-General to-day gave notice of motion to the ef! ;t that it ia Inadvisable to proceed furtr. r this session with the Otago Central P ■■'■ vny Bill. OVERWOKKED LKCiS'.ATOUS. Members of tho Opp U.iaiabar hay been really hard worked ..urlog the last few days, as compared with tnelr usual onstom, and last night they aatually eat till twenty minutes to eleven, whloh is more than flish and blood can stand and some of ' the members are en strike against the system. To-day the AttorneyGeneral moved that the Council at its rising adjourn to Saturday next at 230 p.m., and that the Council Bit on Monday at 2.30 p.m. The Hon Mr Reynolds moved to insert m reference t > Saturday " and adjourn not later than 11 35 p.m." The amendment was negatived by 18 to 12, and the motion was carried on the voices. Some speculation ia being exhibited as to whether the House will sit on Sunday morning, m view of getting through by Thursday, whloh day la now mentioned for the prorogation. (fIrAGO CENTRAL, As waa anticipated a few days back Government have '! chucked " over Mr Viuceut Pyke'a Railway BUI, whioh they fathered m the Lower House to gain his Bappoit, und m the Council Sir F. Whltaker has givon notice- of tho following resolutions : — (1) Thut this Council ia of opinion that uo authority should be given to construct the Otagq Central Railway as proposed by the Bill before tho Council. (2) That any Kill to authorieo its construction should provide for the contractor taking over upon reasonable terms that portion of tha lino constructed by Government. (3) That ifc la too late this to deal aatisfacfactorily with the subject, and therefore the present Bill should not be further proceeded wltb. Naturally Mr Py lre Is furious at Government, and it is bolieved that he will In consequence withdraw his support; VACANCIES. In the HoDse this afternoon Mr Samuel explained that on looking up the journals of the Council he found that Mesars Holmes and Menziea had bee a m their deals for one or t,vo sessions m which he h&d believed they had been absent, and ' his roraurka In regard to them were incon-eot. He had ascertained, however, these were two soseiocs Sir F, } Whltaker had not taken his seat, and as the question of the legality of those Oounoillorß taking their seats was referred to Sir Frederick, the qaes'.ion was a very Important ono, No discussion took place on the question, but the Premier intimated that the subject wan now under consideration of the law offioera of the Grown. WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED, Numerous proposals have been .made during the present session to ameliorate tha lot of the unemployed, and they have apparently, m the vioinity of the empire oily at any rate, found a new friend m Mr Fi'zherbert, who wishes to have the line from Wellington to Petone straightened. *SLq is urging on Government to introduce next session a Bill authorising the straightening cf the line by a company or a syndicate. To anyone who has been over this line the Idea of having such a work done for any other purpc se than providing work for the unemployed 1b very amusing. SCORED ONE, The tabloa were turned rather unexpectedly on the momber for Buller, Mr Eugene O'Oonnor, this afternoon, but whether he got the worst of the position fs a matter for discuasloD, The Chairman of the Westport Harbor Committee was cxplttlilngto tho Houbo the reasons why, m their opinion, the evidence taken before them should not bo printed, and he stated that the Committee had rooeived from the loading man lie the diatriot a letter whioh fully bore out their ideas, and had had some effect oa their deliberations. Some iiitoreßt was manifested as to the nature of this letter from the " loading man," and as the Chairman did not state who waa (li 3 correspondent, Mr O'Oonnor enquired his name. " Eugene O 4 Oonnor " replied the Chairman, and he proceeded to read ihe letter — which fully corroborated all ho had said — amid roara of laughter. LOAN BILL, Rumorß of various descriptions have been floating about to-day as to an attempt which is to bo made to reduce iho ap propriationa m the Loan Bill • A c^uons or combination of members, principally now man from districts which do not drop m for aoy of tho pluma was hold to-day, to dltoaea tho position, and arrango aoina plan of action, bub so far aa 1 can garhor they dodder! to do nothing moro dnngorous ihan watch the Estimates, and endeavor to effect reduoiioiiß whore they cm bo mado, without inflicting injury up m looalitioe. It io generally thought, however, that tho Bill will get through without any difficulty. Tllffi HEATHEN CHINEE, " From a return laid on the table to-day, I eather that during the' laut six montliß 133 Chinese have qowo into tie colony who have paid poll tax, and 323 who have exemption certificates, while eight athera have naturalisation certificates Since the Chinese Immigration Act came Into force m 1881, 412 exemption ceriifioatea on'y have been issued, while no naturalisation certificates have boon ;rantod p.t all, bo that there haa been lome haokoy-pankey work aosiewhere, Wfli^iNGxoN, Dooombor 17. THE EDUCATION BY3TKM. Mr Birron is going to nek tljo Minister if liduoitlon whether ho will act oa the ecommcmUtion contained In a repott rom tho Select Committee on Education ' o that no material charge ahull h.e effected a the present system of education pendho reeulfc of (ur^hor Inquiry next session, SCGGESTIVK, Tho following aug^oatiro qurslioa haa ppu tablod by Mr O'Oaliashsm — . Whether Government will next session jiw.j; m a Bill to provide that i\ny liuisler of the O>ovm appropriating üblio money to othe? pur^oeea than tboae 4

for which specific authority of this Houbb nhall have neon provided Bhall be subject for indictment forouoh misappropriation." MILITARY. I undorntand that considerable redaction aro contemplated m the Permanent Military shortly, but that the Torpedo Corps and Permanent Artillery will ba „ continued at their present strength.