The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 31.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 429, 31 August 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 31.

Want of space compels us to hold over our usual summary of Parliamentary Items. The debates however, that hare taken place since our last issue have not been of great interest. Briefly stated, what has been done is as follows : —The Beer Tax Bill has been passed, but the duty has been reduced from Gd to 3d. The Colonial Treasurer opposed the reduction, saying that they would want every penny the sixpenny tax would bring. As a consequence of this reduction, the Government, stated that they could not afford the loss of revenue proposed by the further reductions in the Property Assesment Act. In consequence of this determination, in Committee on the latter Bill, the Premier moved that tho chairman report progress, which was carried by 43 to 29. This shelves tho Bill, and haves matters in statu quo. A Bill was proposed, amending the Financial Arrangements Act. The new measure provides for the payment of half subsidies for nine months, or in other words to the extent ol 7s 6d in the £. An

unsuccessful attempt was made to strike

out the clause suspending payment of 20 per cent of the land fund to Provincial districts.

On Friday a discussion ensued on a motion that the ten per cent reductions shod 1 not affect salaries of £150 anl under ; which was negatived by 32 to 21. When the House got into Committee of Supply, a series of long discussions ensued which at 4.30 a.m. finally culminated in a scene described by those who witnessed it as "disgraceful" and " unparalleed." Though members were naturally somewhat reticent on the subject, it nevertheless appeared certain that some of them had been visiting Bellamy's too frequently during the protracted sitting. Finally the member for the Dunstan. Mr Vincent Pyke, flatly refused to obey the orders of the chairman. The matter was reported to Mr Speaker, Mr Pyke declining to apologize, was ordered to retire, and subsequently was expelled from the reporters' gallery by the Sergeant at arms. The House did not rise till 8.30 on Saturday morning. -On the same evening the debate on a vote of censure on Mr Pyke was resumed, and ended in an explanation made by that gentleman being accepted. The remainder of the supplementary estimates, were then passed and the House adjourned at 11.40 p.m.