PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1927, 24 August 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWtf CORRKSPONDBNT.J Wellington, August 23. Local Bills will be taken to-morrow morning, and an the Honse will probably ait on Saturday, things will bo pretty lively for the next few days. One of the closest and most exoltlng dlvialonß of the session wbb witnessed this afternoon over a motion to recommit the District Railways Purchasing Aot Amend* ment Bill, for the purpose of making the 2£ per cent rating exemption retrospective. The debate was adjourned on Taesday night to give an opportunity for reconsideration of the question by a fall House, and aa the Interests involved wore very large, there was considerable anticipation •a to the upshot. During the division it was manifest that the numbers would bo very dose, and it was whispered round that there was a tie, In which case it would depend on the Speaker as to whloh way the division would go. Before the numbers were declared, Mr O'Oallaghan stated that, contrary to the Standing Orders, Mr Feldwlck had given hla voice with the noes, but had voted with the ayes. Mr Fold wick explained that he was reading at the time he had spoken, and had given his vote for the ayes m error. Under the olroumßtancos the Speaker allowed his vote to Btand as given, and he annonnoed that the numbers were thirty-one each, for and tjatnst the recommit il. To allow of further discussion, however, he gave his casting vote for the recommittal. Sqbsequsntly m Committee, on a division, being taken over the olans 1 proposing to make the exemption prospective as well as retrospective, the olaaae was thrown oat by forty-three to twenty-eeven. Mr Qoldle who all through the session htt taken great interest m the granting of olub licenses, has discovered from Napier papers that the Colonial Secretary has promised to grant, at the expiration of its present provisional lloonsd, a oharter to Napier Olub, whloh holds its meetings at the Masonio Hotel. Thfg Is In spite of the resolution passed this session, affirming the undeslrability of granting charters to olubs which hold their meetings m licensed premises ; and Mr Qoldle Intends to bring the matter before the House.