PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1846, 21 May 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From oub own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 16. One of the principal topics of conversation m Wellington jast no<r, both m and out of the Parliament buildings, is the prevalence of vice of a very low type amongst young girls. The local papers have taken up the matter m eager rivalry to make things appear as'bnd sp ms»y be, and petitions on the subjects are presented to Parliament, all of which tend to give Wellington the unenviable reputation of being the most immoral town m the oolony. It appears if all that is aald is true, tbat matters have reached a dangerous stage, snd it is anticipated that legiplation of Borne kind will be made on the subject. The Idea is befng stupidly circulated that the Opposition have virtually agreed to make Sir George Gaey leader of the party on his arrival ; bat there is bo far, I *m credibly Informed, not the slightest foundation for such a runv-ir. In the meantime matters are going smoothly enongh under the management of the Commiitee appointed on Thursday, compriiing Messrs Samuel,. Walker, ani Steward, who after consulting direct ail joint movement i. The effect of this com bination wrß very manifest m connection with the rules of procedure yesterday afternoon, and the same taotics will be pursued on each occasion that they are to come on. By this means it is thought Government will learn that they must drop their fad, though the Premier says privately that be #111 have them through at any rate. lam afraid it will be the old adage over again, about proposing and disposing. The Chinese question Btill occupies a prominent position as a topic for discussion, and It li believed that lively times will be yet held over this same matter. The Premier ttates that he is qnite prepared to bring In another Bill before the end of the session, which virtually makeß the Bill now before the House only a tentative maasure, and possibly will be a block In the way of having the question finally settled, fie is endeavoring, I beiieve, to have a Conference between (ho colonies before the end of the session, so that if necessary action may be taken before the prorogation. The risking mania has aefz^d members, In common with other mortal clay, and on a spare afternoon or evening little groups of them are to be seen wending their way towards Te Aro, to join the mi zy whirl at the Colombia Rink. This afternoon, looking m, I observed several members of both Houses gracing the floor. One sedate lord was moving round with action alow and stately, while one of the young New Zealand bloods was making frantic efforts to grasp the situation, which he did by sitting on It. Altogether they seemed to be having a " high old time" Great indignation is being expressed on all sides of the Honee at the statement made by Sir F. Whitaker m the LegiElatlve Council yesterday, during the debate on the Loan Bill, to the effect that if the loan was not granted the country wou'.d bave to file its schedule. The assertion is considered to be utterly untenable, as it is known that Government had made provision to carry on In the event of the BUI being thrown out. The matter may be brought up m the House, and it is felt that tbe publication of euch a statement from "Hansard " m the London "Standard," or any other antagonistic paper,. would act strongly against the credit of the colony m the London money market. Mr F. Lmwry is going to introduce a Bill relating to foul brood amongst bees. Mr Joyce is receiving a number of encouraging telegrams m regard to his Shop Hours' Bill. Government olalm to have a olGar majority of seven for the Loan Bill, even if the Opposition had voted for Mr Macket zie's amendment. Mr E. Thompson's North Auckland Railway Construction Bill provides for the extension of the Kaipara railway by a i syndicate, on the land grant principle. Ministers have decided to open the Northern kauri forests to gum diggers during the six winter months. Tbe new Electoral Bill contains 263 olauses, and accupies seventy-nine pages. Wellington, May 21, The Loan Act w«b transmitted to London by the 'Frisco mall on Saturday, Not a single harbor Bill haa been introduced this session. Jt is understood that there will be a lot of opposition to the District Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill mainly on account of tbe olanee which enables rates overdue for two years to be collected. Rumor has it that an attempt will be made to have the Electoral Bill postponed to force the Government to bring m more nrgent measures. The young New Zealand party have a " spree " on to-night at Bellamy's. Mr Vincent Pyke is getting better and will be about again m a few days. Sir G. Grey arrived this morning. The Fonl Brood m Bees Bill, which will be Introduced by Mr Lawry at the request of the New Zealand Beekeepers' Association, Is likely to get a considerable amount of support, and he informs me that he has received offers of support on all sides. Petitions are coming In from all paris of the colony praying for legislation to deal with the foul brood disease and there is every probability of the Bill passing.