HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1010, 26 August 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Tomoana, the Hon. Major Atkinson said Government had not yet determined to impose the same duty on maize as upon other cereals. MISCELLANEOUS. Colonel Britt’s piece of eccentricity, termed the Vagrant Bill, has been laughed out of the House. The number of railway hands employed last year was 3505, the number this year is 3205, being a decrease of 300, notwithstanding that 106 additional miles have been opened. Probably, the general elections will coma off before the end of this year. Owing to the very favorable return for the first three months of the current year, it is now deemed practically certain that the railways will pay 4 per cent, net profit this year. ! Mr Murray’s Duration of Parliaments ! Bid was lost by 63 to 3. There is said to 1 have been great amusement in the House : over the affiir, and Mr Murray was utterly I disconsolate.

The “ Evening Post ” is agitating for a very big graving dock for Wellington, in view of making Wellington the headquarters tor ocean steamers when the Panama Canal opens.

It is understood that at a meeting of the Goldfields Committee, held on Tuesday morning last, Mr Reid in the chair, the question of the abolition or reduction of the gold duty came on for discussion. After the matter had been pretty fully debated, the question was put to the vote, when there voted for total abolition—Weston, Pyke, De hauteur, and J. (J. Brown ; and for a reduction—Hirst, Seddon, and Gibbs.

The Public Petitions Committee of the Legislative Council have reported on the petition of 64 Lincoln farmers that some steps be taken to abate the “small-bird nuisance,” from which the petitioners suffer great loss. The Committee recommended that county councils and road boards be empowered to deal with the matter.

Mr Dick’s Dog Registration Amendment Bill is circulated. It provides that the dog registration fee shall not be less than 5s nor more than 10s, at the discretion of the local authorities. Mr Kelly has given notice that in Committee on this bill he will move that in the case of dogs kept and used solely for the purpose of tending sheep or cattle on a farm or in the exercise of the occupation of shepherd, exemption from the payment of registration fee may be claimed by the owner in respect of such dogs, not exceeding two iu number, kept by him solely for use in tending sheep or cattle, or in the exercise of his occupation as a shephead. This is a matter in which great interest seems to be taken by the country members and their constituents, so it will probably evoke considerable discussion. Mr Macandrew’s notice of motion in favor of quasi Separation or dual Provincialism has created much comment, and forms the subject of another lengthy debate next week.

A IJTTr.E RCEXE. There was a little scene between Mr Pyke and the Speaker during the week. The latter had taken it on himself to cut down one of Mr Pyke's notices of motion very materially before placing it on the order paper, because he said he considered it to be intended to burlesque the proceedings of the House, which ho refused to per"dt. Mr Pyke made quite a score of attempts to explain, but each time was peremptorily ordered to “ait down." Ho persisted, however, until at length the Premier moved a vote of censure on him, when the Speaker said Mr Pyke could bring the matter before the House by notice of motion ; with which Mr Pyke expressed himself satisfied, and gave way. The opinion is that the Speaker was somewhat needlessly “ peppery ” and not over-cour-teous in his manner to Mr Pyke ; but he evidently was annoyed at the tone of Mr Pyke’s motion, and possibly by the previous conversation which confessedly had taken place between them. Mr Pyke’s notice was palpably intended as a “skit,” and Sir Maurice sets his face sternly against such levity in regard to public business.

A WISE MOVE. It is rumored that the Government are considering the advisability of closing the majority of the smaller country telegraph offices on Sundays, experience showing that many are hardly ever used on that day.