POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4136, 24 October 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[UY TELEOItAI'H.]

(FIiOJI OUR SrKCIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, This day

Sir George Grey's Printer* and Newspapers Registration Act Amendment Bill has been circulated. Section 20, part 3, of the act of ISGB-is repealed. Any person under clause 2 who prints for publication any book or pamphlet, and omits to print tho name and place of abode of the printer, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than £.;, provided that if the number so printed be not more than 25 copies, he shall not be so liable ; under clause 3, none but the At-torney-General shall have the right to prosecute, and no part oi the penalty recovered shall go to the informer. ')Pjo debate on the North Island Trunk Railway Line Bill v. - as described by ilie N.Z. Times yesterday morning as being "as dull as dull could be," it seemed to me quite up to tho average in quality, though certainly the Hon. E. Richardson and Mr Montgomery -were in every sense weak.

About half-past twelve Mr Smith rose and mudo a very creditable speech, chiefly advocating , the central line as against the other two. He .said it was not the fact, sis stated by Major Atkinson, that the House was pledged to any one particular line. If it had been so, why did that hon. gentleman himself spend £10,000 in surveys. Ho would remind him that the line between the East Coast and Auckland was ten times bettor than that of the West Coast and yet they proposed now in favor of the latter to throw out the former altogether. The next best line for the colony to the East Coast would be the central. The East Coast would have no chance whatever of making connection if the line was taken by way of Taranaki. Already the Taranaki people had 105 miles of railway and a breakwater constructed at the expense of the colony, and now they wanted a line which would only benefit Auckland and Taranaki, and tins was called the North Island Main Trunk Line ; the East Coast people were willing not to bring forward their own line at present, but would support the ccutral one, for then there would be some chance of preserving their trade with Auckland. Mr Montgomery had opposed the extra £300,000 required for the central line, but if the line were one in the South Island that would not stand much in his way. If the central line Avere made branch lines from Hawkts's Bay and Poverty Bay, which are rapidly increasing their trade and produce, could be made from them. On Mr Samuel moving the adjournment of the debate Captain Kussell seconded it, but said he would prefer moving the adjournment for six months. Mr Smith had anticipated a great deal of what he intended to say. He gave the committee credit for yreat industry in collecting so much information in so short a time, but they had not epitomised that information. The East Coast people had not finished forwarding their claims, and so Auckland, Wellington, and Tarauaki had had a great deal to say for themselves. He preferred the central line, for if it were formed branch lines might be made to the Enst Const, and serve as feeders to the

trailic, but 'there were good reasons why no lino at all should bo made at present in the central part of the colony. There were the largest number of natives, and they were better armed there than elsewhere. There two railways hud already been taken through the most populous parts of the colony, and the} , had not paid. How could it bo expected they would in places where at present there is no population, it was an entire folly also to support that under any circumstances. The Taranaki people couldnot send their sheep cheaply to Auckland by rail for the reason the East Coast can supply them cheaper, the trade in the timber of vast forests also was talked of, but they had numerous large

forests already far nearer to their markets. There were the Kauri trees in the North of Auckland and others. Then too if Taranaki completes her harbor, what will bo the use of her trade with Auckland, it will last a few years and then must vanish altogether, he believed. As to Auckland and Wellington neither of them will get much additional trade from this line. Taranaki will get the oyster and they will get the shells. Looking at the line in every way it can do no possible good to the colony at large. Captain Kussell's amendment to adjourn the debate for six months was lost by a very large majority, and the House shortly lifterwurds adjourned. Sir Julius Vogcl, 1 am informed has had a sijeeially bad attack of £:out, and \v:is not in the House yesterday afternoon. Though it was the liist private members' clay of the .session, it was chiefly wasted. A determined attempt was made to block the passing of the Wellington College Kestrves Confirmation Bill, though the reserves in question had been promised by three successive Ministries. Mr Seddou made an eloquent hut frothy speech on the inquity of granting subsidies of county lands to Institutions for secondary education in the large towns, especially as some large towns like Hokitika and Greymouth had only £Gi)o each subsidy for their high schools. Mr Seddon was making a very fiery peroration when he was quietly reminded that it was the dinner hour, and he suddenly collapsed as a, good Brit'sher should do on such an appeal. Evidently the private members don't know what to do with their time, and their meeting on an extra day every Monday under a show of earning their honorarium, is apparent humbug. Members now talk of closing the session on the 7th proximo, but I don't see how they can manage it. Mr Shriinski presented a petition from ninety of the unemployed at Oamaru, complaining of the Government's low rate of pa}-, namely Is Cd a day. Mr Macandrcw gave notice that he will ask the Government if they will, during the recess apppoint a Iloyal Commission to enquire into the currency laws, and the advisability of establishing a Government Land Bank to enable money advances on landed .security. In reply to Mr Bradshaw, the Minister of Public Works said that a trial had been made of creosated colonial timber for sleepers, and the Railway Department would consider the advisability of making further use of it. On the School Committee Election report passing, Mr Hhrimski said that the Act should be entitled a bill to repeal the Education Act. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon in reply to Mr T. Thompson Mr Tole said that it is the intention of the Government to publish the Governor's recent lecture on the defences of the colony and send it for distribution throughout the colony. In reply to Mr Seddon. who urged that the telephone exchange should be kept open on Sundays from 0 a.m. to r> p.m., the Premier said the opening would only be really Avanted in the case of patients wishing to communicate with their doctors, and on the other hand the Government objected to needless employment of their officials on Sunday. In reply to Mr Wakefield the Premier .said that the Government could not promise to make a grant to St. Joseph's Orphanage at Wellington, though he believed it to bo

an excellent institution. It was connected "with one particular religious denomination, the Catholics, and if this wore granted they would bo pushed by all the other denominations for similar assistance In reply to a further question from Mr Wakcfield the Premier said this was by no means the only orphanage in t\a colony; there were others ut Lyttelton, Nelson, etc. Mr SamiiL'l gave notice that ho will ask the Government whether in case of the central line in the North Island being , adopted for tho main trunk railway the Government will bu favorable to the construction of a branch line to N«w Plymouth. In the Legislative Councii yesterday afternoon the East and West Coast railway line was discussed. The opinions expressed were for the most part unpardonable. The debate was adjourned. Sir George Grey has just unexpectedly withdrawn his Constitution Amendment and Cruelty to Animals Bills. It is reported that the Public Works Statement will bo delivered to-night, but as tho debate on the North Island Trunk Railway Line Bill is not yet finished, and several members arc mentioned as likely to speak, I do not think it probable that anything , will be done with the Public Works Statement to-day. As for the bounecablo motion, of which the Premier, on behalf of Sir Julius Vogel, has given notice, also for to-night, in defiance of the Council's rejection of his Bill for ordering- the purchasing , of the district railways by resolution instead of by bill, that will probably bo withdrawn, Mr Stout seems like '■Fighting , Bob," in the Critic, to have "Wo won't run. Sir Julius; we won't run;" \, u t like him also may have found his courage oozing out at his finger ends; indeed, it would be anything but prudent to risk a dead-lock between the Houses just now, as the Canterbury members, who_ are the backbone and general marrow of the Government party, want to get back to their beloved Christchurch in a few clays, as the races and the annual agricultural show are taking place early i°cxt month, and the Canterbury members must sec these two events.