PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1890, 11 July 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 10. More interesting information was given to the House to-day, m the shape of a re'.uca presented to the order of Major Steward, touching the period that members of the present Parliament have been on tho roll. By far the oldest member is Sir John Hall, who was first sworn m 1856, though he has only Been service during fifteen sessions. Next to him comes Sir M O'Rorke, who was returned on June 30, 1861, and has sat continuously ever since, there being no lees than thirty-one sessions m whioh he has been m the Houee Next oq the roll is Mr Ormond, who was sworn eight days after Sir Maurice, and has sat during twentyeight sessions. Then oomea the Premier, who oame into the House m July, 1861, and has sat out twenty seven sessions. Sir J. Vogol entered the House m 1862, and has a record of twenty sessions ; the next m order being Mr J. 0. Brown, who entered politics m 1870, and has remained continuously sinc9 through twenty-two sessions.

Mr Taylor has given notice to aek the Premier on Friday whether there is any truth m the rumor that the AttorneyGeneral and Minister for Defence, "owing to urgent private business," intend, after the close of tbo cession, to resign their seats m the Cabinet, if so, will the Psemier, before the olose ot the session, inform the House of the names of their successors, and of any proposed readjustment of portfolios m consequence of such resignations. The Minhter for.lniids, when speaking on the second reading of the Land Act Amendment £111 thla afternoon, a aid the amount of land brought under the operation of tha Land Act of last year was as follows .'—720,000 acres had been taken np, and the sales for settlement had been good. Between March 2 and June 8 this year the following Bales were effected : — Total number of selectors, 593, with 95,517 acres ; cash sales, 171 selectors 21,000 aoreo, £13,700; deferred payment, 120 selectors, 14,300 sores, annual instalments, 41385; perpetual lease, 299 selectors, 60,000 acres, annual rental, £2774. The Minister aIBO stated that the perpetual lease system waa the most aooeptabla to the people.

Wellington, July 11. . The Cabinet it is said had under consideration yesterday do less than three, times Mr Withy's amendment, mat-loot-ing Government to s'uve another £100,000, and as to the course whrch should be adopted respecting the amendment. It is eflid that Mr Withy was a*ked to withdraw it, but positively refused tq do bo, and an a'tiyo 'whip on the question took place during th,e day, with the result that a majority of 1£) a^airmt tliQ amendment appeared certain it it wore opposed by the Government. It was accordingly reßolved last evening, I understand, that the amendment should bo opposed. Several Ministers, however, favored the purport of the amendment and the n>atter was reconsidered during tha supper adjournment wh £ n, it is slid, the decision come to earlier m the evening was confirmed, namely, that the amendment should be opposed. A rumor to a contrary effect was m wide circujatioa during the evening. lv. the meantime at 'any rate the Government appeal* to have decided riot to gfae the House an opportunity of discuseiJDg the amendment as, I believe, it has been decided, to first take the Rebate qn tijo Native Bills, which if the I second reading ig agreed to will bo referred a select committee.