PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2204, 20 August 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From oub own Correspondent,) ' Wellington, August 19 HOW lONQ. It Is thought th»t ia face of the general desire of members to get home business will be put through with the quickest possible speed, and the session brought to a oloae m throe weeks. This idea is put forward m answer to a statement that the Opposition mean to make another fight over the Property Tax Bill, and that the session is likely to last another five or six weeks; At (he close oE the present week we shall be better able to say what is likely. THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE. I have anthoiity for saying that Mr Fergus will not resign at the end of the session as previously stated, satisfactory arrangements having been made by the Minuter m connection with his private business by whloh his retirement from Parliament is rendered unnecessary. There are, however, other rumois current which point to possible changes m the Cabinet before long. THB WABD HKLOP OASB. Judge Ward is being examined this morning before the Oooami too of the Council which is enquiring into the VvardHis op correspondence. MORE COXOHB<IONB TO COUNTRY. In ounsequonce of the greater advantages possessed by city candidates for scholarships tha Mioislor for Ednoation intends to make a differenoo between oily and country candidates m favor of the latter m the examinations. GOYERNMBNT BUSINESS. On the House meeting this evening the Premier m answer to Mr fr'eddoa said he would at ate to-morrow what Government Intended doing m referenoo to responsible Government for Western Australia. Government instead of proceeding with the Property Tax Bill this evening, as it was understood they would do, moved the Becond reading of the Selectors' Land Revaluation Bill, which provides for the revaluation of deferred payment and perpetual lease lan'ia. In consequence of this change m ihe programme a rumor found currency to the effect that owing to the olpse division on Friday niftbt the «0 r »BiamouvTrTbto^nviHg"Tiu-uTbp tne .Din. I was apsured by a Minister, however, that Government would press the Bill to its fioal atago. ■ Wellington, August 20, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, At a meeting of the Leo»l Government Committee this morning an Intrlm report «raa moslved from the Sub-Committee wbioh briefly was m the dlreotlon of decentralisation!