PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1922, 18 August 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wellington, August 17. ' Conflicting reports wctj curreijtin the lobbies last night as to the proepocts of the San F ahciaco Service. Ite friendß ha!d that its chances were better and that at the worst it would only be lost by two or three votes. Its opponents aa positively declared that it would ba abolished by a majority of fully a dozen, but all seemed to agree m regarding service as doomed. Some members who ace strongly opposed to the Frisco Service, are, on the other hand, inclined to support the Vancouver route and posiibly this may be adopted, but my own impression is that the Direct tier vice pure aud simple will be the only acceptable one to the House. The only southern membera, it is understood, who favor the Frisco route are Mr Joyce, Sir John Hall and Mr Mills. Had the debate been finished last night Mr Mitcholson would^have delivered hiß Public Works Statement tbis evening. As it 18, the mail debate may last until lute to night, or if it even does not, there is a poseibility of the second reading of the Property Tax Bill being brought on before the Statement. As the events of yesterday afternoon appear to show an intention of opposing and obstructing the Bill the rejection of which would involve the resignation of the Ministry it is unlikely, therefore, that the Statement will be made before next week. When the District Railways Bill comes on agtio m (Jomcnittee I understand a sttoog effort will be made to meke the exemption of rating below £2 10s to be prospective as well as retrospective whioh is provided for m the Bill at present. In this case it is believed the Ministry will support the proposition, whioh really will effect the vital portions of the Bill, The G.)ldfi-jlds Committee who have been for some time considering the queation of the representation of the minerals of the oolony at the Melbourne Exhibition met this morning to adopt their repoit, I understood that the report is a very voluminous affiir, but it practically goes m the direction of censuring the Mines Department very strongly for not giving greater assistance In the display of mining exhibits aud recommends that another £500 be spent m securing exhibits from various parts of the oolony, of quartz, etc, whioh will be forwarded at once. In regard to the representation of the oolony at the Paris Exhibition, the Committee reoommand that the sum of £600 be also appropriated for the purpose of forwarding the exhibits at the Melbourne Exhibition to Paris, provided, of courae, the consent of the exhibitors be obtained. Toe report on the mining exhibits presented to-day is a most voluminous affair, but virtually it is to the efLot that every effort should be made tv provide for a full representation of the m'neral products of the colony, and that the sum of £500 be allotted to the further purchase of exhibits for the Melbourne Exhibition On the subject of the action of Government m tho matter the report says that it is to be regretted that the Mines Department left the collection of mineral exhibits entirely to the Commissioners and declined to take any active part, limiting their aoklon solely to supplying specimens m its possession, especially stating from correspondence, the Oammlsilooerßdrsired the mining industry to be dealt with by the Minus Depattment. The report alao states that the Commissioners did not do the subject justice, after the Mines Department had requested the Oommißalonera to undertake the mansgament of the mineral exhibits, for the specimens m the possession of the Mines Department were not forwarded, nor the chief officer asked for information or for assistance. The Committee express the opinion that there were Insufficient funds to properly display the mineral wealth of tha colony A matter virtually Bff.-oting the lntereita of their order was to-day discussed by tbo Lorde, m the shape of a roport of the Committee appointed to enquire Into the question of whether several of the membera 'had not disqualified themselves from sitting by absenting themselves from two sessions without leave from tbe Governor. The Committee reported In effect that m no case had the members m question been absent for two successive sessions without leave, and this evoked considerable discussion. The members affected (Sir F. Whitaker, Messrs Waterhouse, Oliver and Pbarezpn) wete eaoh heard on the question at length and then requested to retire by the Speaker, when tha Oounoll proceeded to dlnoußS the position. Eventually, howt .or, they decided to stand by their order and despite the decision of the Privy Oouncll on the subj ot, it was agreed that there were no grounds of dlf qualification. The Oonnoll have adjourned till Monday when they will hear the Native Chiefs as to the Native Bills. The Live Stook Committee to-day reported to the effect that In accordance with the suggestion of the Stook Department of New South Wales, the Oommlttee reoommend that the period m quarantine for cattle bo fixed the same as that for sheep, viz., 90 days Mr Feldwlck has given notice of his intention to aßk the Minister for Public Works and Landß, l f , with a view to the prosecution of publio works and promotion of small settlements, they will take j into Immediate consideration the expedlenoy, where authorised, but only partly constructed railways are laid off wholly or partly through or adjacent to Orown Lands (1) of defining certain areas of selection, subdivided into moderate s'z<)d seotions suitable for small farms, and (2) of letting contracts for formation only to persons willing to take up such sections by way of payment for work done, and with a view of the ultimate settlement of such contractors on the land. It is the opinion of tho hon member that the Seaward Buah railway, Otago Central, and others similarly situated In respect to Crown Lands, might well be carried oc on the system he has lndioated In hiß question. Shortly before the supper adjournment the House went to a division on Mr Ward's amendment to the Premier's resolution, on the Mail Services, with the result that the first olauso of the amendment, affirming the desirability of discontinuing the subsidy to the San Franoi«o3 Mall Secvlce, waa oairied by a majority of 18. sir Samuel then moved thai tho subsidies to the Direct Servioe also be discontinued. This was negatived by 24.