PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1915, 11 August 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From our own Covbespondent.)

Wellington, August 10.

On Taeßday next Major Steward will enquire frcm the Mlaiat-r for L?nda whether he is taking Bteps— (l) F>r defin Ing " Beco.id class " landa m r.corchncf wiih the termß of Section 10 <f "The Land Act Amendment Ac , 1887 ?' (2) Whether he will without delay open up for application areas of such land m various parts of tho Provincial district of Canterbury I

In consequence of the alleged olcßiag of public sobouls npon any sU^ht protest, m order to enable them to Koep up thoir average and Buve the Bo^rc'.. finance and head teachers' salaries, Mr Go die ia makleg enquiries frooa the Minister for Education as to whether he i* avrare that thin custom has grown up since the rue of payment? upon ''strict average" was determiued upon, and urgtß tho Minister to make immediate enquiries us to the extent of the evil, and, if necessary, take such Bteps as will put an end to the practice.

As a counter-blast to the return recently presented to the order of tho Auckland members, whioh showed that the earing to The colony from a financ'al point of view by tha abolition of the S n F. at c'aso service would be email, Mr Ward mcved fora return giving tbernicnntof cargo brought to and from New Zealand by all services, and this was presented today. It Bhow3 very clearly m favor of the direct services. Whereas the cargo inwards during 1887 oarrled by the New Zaaland Shipping Company wbb 16 687 tons, and by Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's steamers, 23,101 tore, on y 1335 tons were brought by the San Francisco steamers. la the outward service the difference is even more marked, the figures being:— New Zsaland Shipping Company, 16,854 tons ; Shaw, Savill aud Albion Company, 21,400 tona j San Francisco service, 569 tons.

Dr Newman has discovered a flaw In the present system of finance which affect very considerably the receipts to the public drear. Though it is not generally known, nnder former Governments, it wan the practice m Financial Statements for Premiers to disclose the amount of revenue which bad been anticipated, but not reoeived, and the country members was able to see where the money waa going ; but of lata the Colonial Tie&BVxeo has dropped thla system and large bogm are leaking a iray which have to be made up. For instance about £50,000 which should have come as rentß from the Rotorua levees never came to hand, and were never accounted for, and there are large sums outstanding for deferred payments, rents and other purposes, and there Is no prosptct of this being shown to the country. In consequence, Dr Newman is [ directing the attention of the Premier to the matter, and aeking him to bave dis tributed without delay a paper showing the details of revenue now m arrears. If presented, it will prove interesting reading.

Wellington, August 11. Politics yesterday might be summed up m one word, "Btbnewalllng " for nothing else was thought of or talked about ia the lobbies.

The Goldfielda Committee met yesterday morning and took the evidence of Messrs Tol he rat, Brown, andGordon, Mining Inspector, and Mr R. B. Gore, with reference to the number and quantity of minerals exhibited at the Melbourne Exhibition. The Committee have taken the evidence and adj mmcd till Monday to consider their decision.

Oonslderablo expectation Is being manifested as to the object of several West Ooaut members who have joined the stone* waller*, and rumor has It that there Is an element of reoiproolty about it, and the Natives In faot shall, m return for services tendered to them, aßsiatio the blooklng of the Grown and Native Land Eating Bill should it be passed m by the Government. The Harbor Bill will also, it is stated, share the same fate. '

One of tho most Interesting features of yesterday's proceedings was the reception of Taiwhanza by the' Ohlefa when be left the Chamber, before the 5.30 adiournment, yesterday. He had then been continually In the Housa since eleven o'clock the previous night and Bhowed wonderful determination, which wpb duly appreciated by his oountryfben, who, when he appeared m the lobby fairly rushed him, pretty well rubbing his nose off m their ecstasies of greeting, and only 1 stopping 1 short at gesticulation. It la considered I that Sydney has made sure of hia seat at 1 least for the next eleotlon.