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PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.) • Wellington, May 31. ' An important statement was made by ' tbe Premier to-day with regard to the ' Midland Railway qaestlon, whioh tends to show that the matters in dispute between tbe Government and the Company will soon be settled on a satisfactory basis, He Btated that the negotations which had been going on between tham were now practically concluded, and he propiaed to lay on the table the telegraphic correspondence that has taken place, which will show the whole position. The Company had asked permission, Inttead of cutting tunnels, to have a clause insdrted in the contract which would enable the Government, if they like, to agree to the line being taken over ranges, Government proposed to have such a clause Inserted, to the effeot that if the Company oan satisfy the Government that the proposal will not interfere with tbe working of the ' line or effect the timber or mineral pro* daots of the oonntry, permission to make tbe proposed deviation may be given. It would be a stipulation, however, that the land grant mnst be decreased proportionately to the oost ol the line, is so built. The following is the fnll text of the proposed amendment in the contract with the Midland Railway Company, suggested ' by the Government : tl Provided also that the Oorrpany may oonatruot an ' Incline line,' instead of a 1 tunnel lire', if the Governor, after having obtained the opinion of two eminent engineers to be nominated by him, is satisfied that an inoline line oan be made suitable for mineral and other heavy traffic, and, inhla oplnloD, worked at a satisfactory oost, and if the ooat of construction of the entire line from Springfield to Balgrove shall be less tbau £2,500,000. a reduction shall be made in tbe grant of land to the Company, proportionate to the amount saved by tbe substitution of an ' tnciine line ' for a 1 tunnel line ' " A return presented to the House to-day shows that during tho pa*t year the Bum of £9691 17h Id was spent on* advertising by the various departments. Of this sum the bulk goes to the working R til ways and Lands Departments, which expended £3798 l'.ls lOd and £2526 8s 8 i respeo tively The Public Works Department had an expendi u e o~ £853 Is Bd, and the Defence £705 10s lid. A batch of correspondence b^tweon the Government and the Agent-General, as to the appoiatm nt of the Chief Commis- : feioner of Railways, was presented to day, j showing that on April 21st, the AgentGeneral in conjunction with Sir Edward Watkin and Mr bindlay, two railway magnates of consummate abi'ity, had decided to interview personally seven of the applioints Ihe result of their deliberations is conveyed in the following cable meaßage, of j date May 1 : — "Messrs Watkin an,'i r-indlay ond myßelf are unanimous against taking the responsi— bili y of recommending any of the applicants . Our opinion ia that none possess the combinaticn of qualities necessay. It is quite o'ear that men of that kind will not compete We believe the only way is to take time and endeavor to find suoh a man Please instruct " The reply of the Premier was :— f ' Message of May Ist received. Endeavor to find such a man." This finishes tho correspondence. During the morning the rumor gained ground, and was credited on all hands, that in oonsequenoe of the action taken by Mr Fisher in bringing forward a motion thronL'h an Opposition member rt fleeting on his colleague (Mr Mitchelson), the litter had resigned his port foils Before the Houbo sat, I was informed by a prominent supporter of the Government, who is well known to be in their eeoreta, that Mr Mltchelßon had resigned j but that the Premier had noted as peacemaker and smoothed matters ovar. When enquiry was made lu iho 9ouae, therefore, the Premier was in a position to say that tbe Mlniater for Publio Works had not resigned his position ; though In effect he bad Bent in his resignation and had aatsiqnently withdrawn it. One ramor current afterwards was that at the time the Premier had In his band the resigoation of Mr Mitchelson, and that five minutes afterwards Mr Fisher was apologising to Mc Mitohelson In the Cabinetroom, which put things right again. A gentleman who profess^ to have seen Mr Mitohelson bimaelf on the subject informs me that tbe latter states there was serious , difficulties between himself and Mr Fisher, whioh he thought would have caused bis resignation, though he did not resign. 1 ' give this for what It is worth. Whatever is the position, however, It la very , certain that things are rot all they might . be In the Cabinet, and that though i patched up in the meantime there will be a big burst before very long, i The Public Petitions Committee to--1 day virtually recommended the imposition of a duty of imported fruit ' The report of the Minister for Edoca- ' tlon on the institution for deaf mutes at Sumner shows a highly satisfactory state of affairs theie It is rumored that the Hon R. Oliver ia to represent tho colony at tha Ohiuuso Conference in Sydney. Government will consider the question of imp sing a duty on hop bitten, which are Bnid to contain 25 per cent of alcohol. Mr So-ib'e Mackenz e Is underetood to be leallog tho free lance section of the Hotiao in regard to tho tariff. Toe Royal Commission appointed to secure tho repreaentali-n of the colony at the Melbourne Oenteunlal International Exhibition presented their first progrees report to--day, which, shows that the matter basbeea taken up with great enthusiasm In the colony, Wellington, Juno 1. Considerable sensation has been caused In the lobbies to day by the fact becoming known that Messrs McArthur, Bruce end Wilson have written to the premier stating that efter the finanolal proposals of the Governmont they oould no longer continue to support them. The letter Is signed by the throe gentlemen named who . expressed their sympathy with the Premier in the position but stated that they could not support his financial policy, I learn from one of the gentle? men named, tbat the future course of the supporters of the Government in other matters than Tariff la left an open question, and will depend on clroumstanoec If tho opposition endeavor to make obo of their defection to throw out the Govern- . ment proposals it Is probable the gentleI men mentioned will not vote at all, but otherwise tht>y may be compelled to vote against Government. Ia addition to the names mentioned I hear that Mesßrs Bjotham, Buchanan, and Izird, who have been staunch Atkiueoaians, will have to opposo the Government en their i Tariff proposals, and 'ttya defection jf turned agalast Government would moan 'a difference of 12 votes with Mesara Sew- < man, Menteath, Barron, Allen, Sooble I Mackenzie and others, who give a qualified support, but will opposo the Tariff. There ia a strong array should the j Opposition doolde to oppose the pro- ( posals as not being aufliilontly Proteo- I five. J understand t|ut the probable t debate on tb.9 FinaDo'al Statement will e not oomo oh 1 to-night, and if in*y fo t further adjouruod for noarly a week or so. as a oomparajtlve statement of the new i and old Tariff has not; been received and the Customs Duties Bill has not bean c distributed. t At a meeting of the Goldflelds Committee this morning Mr Seddon was vi elected Chairman. It was deolded that n he should be authorised to propose reso- p lotions In the House agreed to last r. session, by whioh the Committee had b powor to discuss all questions affeotiug the la tereata of gold mining . ] k

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG18880601.2.6

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 1 June 1888, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,298

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 1 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 1 June 1888, Page 2

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