PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1867, 14 June 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.) Wellington. Jane 13. The return to the order of Mr Taylor which waa presented to-day showing the names of persons having pensions from the country provides some very Interesting reading, a similar return cover having been previously prepared. The total ■mount paid annually is £29,737 lla 43, the bu'kof which, £21.971 2s 3d, is under the Olvll Service Act, 1886, while £2485 is for native purposes, and £2140 19a 7d under the Military Pensions Act, of 1866. The other amonnts are principally small. The select Committee of the Legislative Council who have been for some time considering Me Buokley's Criminal Law Code Bill reported to-day to the effect that they reoommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed with the exception of two clauses, one of which abolished the term "Penal Sarvitude " .and the other gave the prisoner power to give sworn evidence at his trial. Mr Buckley moved for a c mmlttal of the Bill for to-morrow, but an amendment th-t the proceedings of the Committee be printed was agreed to. More petitions against the Codlin Moth Bill were presented m the Council today. There was utter.stagnatlon m the lobbies to-day. Ministers decline to state without notice In what position the Governor's Salftry Bill passed last session now stands. Two petitions m favor of the Contagions Diseases Act were presented to the Council to-day. The evidence before the Poblio Petitions Committee shows that only ten eases of young girls living Immoral lives m Wellington can be proved instead of hundreds as alleged. jStrious crimes are said by the Oommtsilonar of Police to be on (he increase m the South Island* andjon the decrease m the North. The Freetraders are now said to be talking of a hslf-penny duty on sugar, which, itlßßftid, woold raise £115,000 a yeir. There 1b a good tleal of comment on the revelations from Southland as to Mr Hatch's sealing expedition. The Raogltlkel County Council to-day petitioned In favor of the abolition of the totaltsstor. Mr Seddon'a Mining Partnerships Bill, makes provision to the effect that an express agreement, to beoome partners, or to share profits of mining, is not necessary to the formation or existence of a miniog partnership, which Is caused by a joiut ownership cf share?. Individual partners may convey their Interests to another without dissolving partnership, but the new purchaser becomes a member of the partnership! and Is subject to liens which then exist for debts due. No member of the partnership can bind the partnership except by written authority of a majority of the whole. ' Government 'have promised to ap point a Commission to enquire into the Native land olaims of Joahaa Jones, of Mokau, who Is said to have been treated In a most rascally manner, The following petition, signed on behalf of the National Women's Temperance Union of New Zaaland was presented by Sir John Hall:— •' An E'ectoral Bill being now before the House, proposing to amend and consolidate the law to regulate elections and the qualifications of electors, we are much disappointed to find that the representation clauses of that Bill expressly exclude women from exercising the franchise, although the House has but recently voted by forty-one to twemy.three that they should take equal part m the eleotion of members for yonr honorable House, and nothing whatever has been proved or ever asserted that throws any doubt npon their intelligence, their loyalty, or their nndtvided interest In everything affecting the country to which they are so devotedly and in* separably attached . We, therefore, humbly pray that no Buch exclusion will be permitted m any Electoral Bill pawed by your honorable House, and that the women of New Zealand will be placed by you In that just position which will entitle them to an sqnal part m the voice of the Legislature to undertake the constitution of laws which ail are called upon to obey." A little inotdent was narrated by Mr J. M'Kenzie touching his speech on the financial debate to-night, which gives an insight into the way things are worked m rffiolal circles. He stated that he knew of a case In a certain part of the Colony, m which the DJstrlot Traffio Manager was the son-in-law of a Stationmaster on his section. A guard on the section bad oeoMion to report at head -quarters some irregularity on the part of the Stationmaster, but no notice was taken of the matter. A few days afterwards, he himself was repprted, and as a consequence was djßfnlssed \he service \ and it was not till then that he was airare that he had reported the father-in-law of bis chief. Air Hutchison is renewing bis agitation to give railway surface men a half -holiday on Saturday afternoons. Mr Guinness wishes that tenderers for Gpvarnment wprk shall have an opportunity of being present when the tenders are opened. A general idea of the Pablio Works Statement has been sketched out, but its compilation has not been commenced. WEixnroTOH, June 14 It Is generally anticipated that the debate will conclude to-day either at afterncon or evening sitting, and tbat the Honse w|ll Immediately go into Committee j pn the $111. 'The adjournment was moved by Mr P'Callsghan who will probably reiume the debate, and there are one or two other speeches anticipated, Amongst others Mr Sydney Tawhangl and probably the Premier will reply. The Protectionists held a meeting this morning at whioh about 30 were present, Mr Lance vras In the chair. The question of the action to be taken over the Tariff was discussed at some length but no motion was proposed. It was generally agreed, hpwever, that the party, ffoqld stick to fhe Government tiyer the Tariff and assist' them to carry it" through m toto; As regards the fotare policy no resolution was arrived at, and it will be left an open question, A meeting of Freetraders was held yesterday, at which fifteen were present. Mr Beetbam presided' T,he object 6f the flieetjnrg was to odnsider what course the arty should take with reference to the tariff, and after discussion it was deolded to appoint a Committee to go through the Tariff and make a report on which the party will base their line of aotion. The Committee which will report either to-day or tomorrow consists of Messrs Withy, Birron, Mo Arthur and Macker.sle. It ¥*»• tk\uo decided at the m.eet)Dg tQ-fcake a fHvieitfn qn' Jl Mr B.e.e.tha'm's motion, and they expect to get 35, to vote for it. Sir Qeorge Grey. Mc&er>};te and three others who voted with the Government o.n last division w|H "uppn»t Ik,

P Speaking of gtooets there is one m Napier, who ia co mean that he was seen the other day to oatoh a fly off his counter, hold him up by his hind legs, and look m the orao^ p( fcia feet to see it be hada't l^eea Stealing ponire |5{ hig Bj>g4r.U^^wS.'V ; : '